It appears that some people are still not convinced that the 44th president of the United States legitimately assumed the office. What exactly is the issue?
With all the problems still plaguing the country – health care, the economy, unemployment – why are so many people intent on keeping the supposed controversy of the citizenship of the President of the United States in the forefront?
The Birthers
“The birthers” as they’ve come to be known, are a group of activists, theorist and attorneys dead set on proving that this particular president, under constitutional grounds, should not be in office (which is in itself a bit ironic being that the president was a Constitutional professor). Using a nationally refuted interpretation of the Constitution, the fringe group claims that what they are arguing is that Obama is only a “citizen” of the United States and not a “naturally born citizen” (much the way countless immigrants are now citizens of the U.S., but were born elsewhere in the world).
The birthers’ main argument is that Obama’s father was not a citizen of the United States - Barack Obama Sr. was a Kenyan national - and that this makes the president simply a “citizen” and not a “naturally born citizen”, even though since August 21, 1959, any person’s born in Hawaii would be recognized as being a naturally born citizen as per article II and the 14th amendment of the Constitution. Major research isn’t needed to prove this point. Just a little reading. Yet, the controversy continues.
Hawaii Vouches for the Authenticity of Obama's Birth Certificate
Earlier this week, state officials of Hawaii again saw themselves forced to confirm that Barack Obama is in fact a natural-born citizen of the United States. But this will likely do little to squelch the fringe groups’ fervor. It didn’t do anything to quiet them in October 2008, the first time Hawaii’s health director and other Hawaiian government officials issued a statement saying that they had personally seen the president’s birth certificate.
Birthers Find a Receptive Audience
In a just released survey conducted by Daily Kos Research 2000, 77% of the country believes Obama was born in the United States; 11% believe he was not, and 12% weren’t sure.
Broken down by regions, 93% of those in the Northeast; 90% of those in the Midwest; and 89% of those in the West believe Obama to be a U.S. citizen. The glaring difference comes in those surveyed in the South of whom only 47% believe Obama is an American - 53% believe that either he is not an American or are unsure of his citizenship.
Republicans are Silent or Deliberately Hazy on the Question of Birth
Unfortunately, many Republicans are not speaking out against the birthers extreme group. Conservative commentators and even some politicians are fanning further doubt by what they say publicly; both overtly and subtly.
When asked whether or not he believed that Barack Obama was an American citizen, Republican Representative from Missouri, Roy Blunt replied, “I don’t know why the president can’t produce a birth certificate.” The fact is, the State Department demands a certified birth certificate in order to issue a passport. Obama has had a passport since childhood. His documentation was seen long before Obama ever dreamed of a political life.
Some in the Republican Party are Fed Up with the Birthers' Hype
Luckily, not all republicans are blinded by the side-show issue that the question of the president’s birthplace has become. Appearing on “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” Republican strategist Todd Harris said today of the Obama birth issue, “I think this whole issue is ridiculous… I think the people that are pushing this issue are not a bit nuts, but a lot nuts.”
The Burden of Proof Has Been Met
Regardless of political affiliation, whether republican, democrat or independent, the truth behind the president’s citizenship is an easily proven one. Barack Obama is a natural born citizen of the United States of America. Documents have been brought forward. Birth announcements in old newspapers have been retrieved. Sworn statements have been taken. Congress confirmed him. Chief Justice Roberts swore him in. Like the man or not, he is an American and he is our president. Perhaps the birthers’ energies would be better served opposing Obama on actual issues instead of beating dead horses.
The copyright of the article Barack Obama in US President is owned by Elvira Nieto. Permission to republish Barack Obama in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
This birthplace business is silly. What is not silly is how he has
actually spent more money than Pres Bush. How was it even possible?
Aug 1, 2009 10:24 PM
Guest :
Great...then Obama should have no problem being "transparent" and
showing the actual long form birth certificate. Complete with the
physician's name, place of birth, parent's names, etc... The media is an
absolute joke. Even after Bush released his complete Air National Guard
records, the media wasn't satisfied, and had to present a forged document
to discredit Bush. Why not release all the other sealed documents as
well? Aren't you people even a little curious about the background of the
man with his finger on the button?
Aug 1, 2009 10:29 PM
Guest :
Do you all get your talking points from the same place? How about actually
investigating it? I counted at least 3 mistakes (or lies) in this piece and
strangely, its the exact same ones all the others use.
Aug 1, 2009 11:13 PM
Guest :
Birthers are NOT intent on proving that he is not natural born. Birthers
want to see the original documents once and for all.
To say that
the State of Hawaii confirmed where he was born without showing the
originals does not prove anything. If there is anything we know it is that
governments lie and the press that supports government lies as well. Right
now stae and federal government is lying big about the economy. Obama is
lying in just about every speech about healthcare and the economy and you
want us to beleive them?
It is important to resolve this in
court once and for all.
Obama has something to hide otherwise he
would not be spending millions to prevent access to the documents. Get
real. Birthers want to see the originals and want the originals out in the
open once and for all. Birthers want the original documents to tell the
true story about Obama once and for all.
What is Obama hiding?
Aug 2, 2009 6:51 AM
Guest :
Its not silly its plain stupid!Why doesnt he just produce his Birth
Certificate the long form not the short form and prove it?And why has there
been over a million dollars spent to seal all his records unless there is
something to hide?And he is a liar I dont trust him!!!!
Aug 2, 2009 8:13 AM
Guest :
Until he proves IT he is not a true office holder, he is a fraud until
then.
Aug 2, 2009 12:13 PM
Guest :
Long form?? Short form?? I only have one form of my birth certificate at
my disposal and if I needed to prove my citizenship to someone, I would
have just that. Maybe you more informed birth certificate historians might
be able to illuminate me on how someone can falsify the "short
form". I might be able to start a lucrative business!
Complainers and hypocrites, get a life, wait for the mother ship to come
in, or simply move to another country if being under the leadership of a
black man is so reprehensible to you. I mean, this is ultimately WHERE all
this garbage is coming from. Racism.
I would bet anything that
at least a good 98% of those whining the loudest were the biggest
cheerleaders for Pres. Bush. Ultimately Bush left this country in the
worst shape its been in a long time. Stop listening to the radical
wind-bags that for some unknown reason are able to control your narrow
minds and start seeing things for your selves.
Elise
Aug 2, 2009 1:51 PM
Kris Spinks :
This has never been an issue for any prior presidents only because they
have been of Anglo descent. Our nation begins to move forward and finally,
we have a president of African descent. So why is this such a big issue?
Is it because of Obama’s Kenyan father? Did you know that Woodrow Wilson's
mother was a citizen of London, England? If Woodrow Wilson was running for
president these days, do you think the same question would be whether or
not he was a Naturalized Citizen? Of course not... Should we be looking at
Woodrow Wilson's birth certificate to discredit his presidency? Not just
his birth certificate, but the long form because apparently the long form
has more credibility? If you look at the verified birth certificate that
the Hawaii State officials have provided, it doesn't hide the fact that his
father is of African Race. Do you REEALLY think the long form is going to
put this question to rest? So then it's going to show exactly what his
fathers name was. So what?? How much more does that prove? Hawaiian state
officials are the ones providing the document, not the media. So, if we
are to go by with what the officials provide, and not the media, then go by
that. How in the world is releasing the long form on the birth certificate
going to show us what kind of president is running our country? Where do
you get this information that Obama is spending millions to hide official
documents? Show me your sources... This article has its credible sources
referenced, where are yours? You know that the Birthers would not be
satisfied once all the documents were furnished, they would find other ways
to discredit them. Not only that, but if the Birthers intent was not to
find that Obamas not eligible for president, then why is their web-site all
about it? If anyone else is thinking of posting a comment stating that this
article is full of lies, name the lies for one thing, state your argument,
list your sources and lastly say who you are.
Aug 25, 2009 12:05 AM
Guest :
It matters, because we are talking about the HIGHEST OFFICE. And the
founders of the country were smart to require Natual Born Citizens. This
is not something to be brushed over. His own Grandma says he was born in
Kenya.
If it's no big deal, then let's see the original birth
certificate from Hawaii then; if that exists. The computer print Hawaii
issued is B.S.
Sep 1, 2009 6:44 PM
Guest :
Elise, you are so correct! No matter how, long form or short form, it won't
make Barack Obama WHITE. That is the problem here, and along with the
crazies taking their guns to town hall meetings as another example (that
helps in health care debates, how?) RACISM crawls out of the shadows.
Shameful, but there it is, and it has to be pointed out as what it really
is, not some imaginary boogey man. Gloria B. Smith
