Birther leader Orley Taitz battled MSNBC's David Shuster today on the topic of President Obama's citizenry. Most of the interview consisted of the two talking on top of each other and resulted in Taitz calling Shuster a "Brownshirt".
(YOUTUBE screenshot)Photos (1 of 1)
Birther leader Orly Taitz implodes on MSNBC
By Jimmy Orr | 08.03.09
Maybe today was the tipping point. The point where finally the birther movement starts to lose its steam.
And it may not even be because of the outcry directed at CNN’s Lou Dobbs for giving the birther crowd an air of legitimacy. And no matter how many high-profile conservatives criticize the group questioning Obama’s citizenry, it hasn’t slowed them down.
After all, Ann Coulter won’t give them any support. She’s calling ‘em “cranks”. Don’t look to FOX News host Bill O’Reilly. He doesn’t care. Further, he compares them to 9/11 conspiracists. Michelle Malkin has no time for it.
But it keeps growing. Like a mutation. In fact, it went into overdrive this weekend with the release of a supposedly newly found alleged birth certificate showing President Obama’s birthplace to be Mombasa, Kenya.
So what might be that illustrious tipping point today? An inside job. An implosion. A self-cratering. Whatever you want to call it, it wasn’t pretty. But, strangely, you can’t look away.
The circus began when Orly Taitz, a longtime chieftain of the birther posse (and a dentist), appeared with MSNBC host David Shuster this afternoon to discuss the document.
Shuster, who is no friend to the right, was actually pretty gentle with his guest seeming to be aware that he really didn’t need to do much — at all — to precipitate the train wreck. It was like he was a super-gifted weatherman who accurately predicted a 100 percent chance of meltdown.
No need to antagonize, belittle, or bully to get a reaction. Shuster instead relied on an even more sinister media trick — he asked a question.
All he wanted to know was if President Obama was born elsewhere why were there birth announcements in both Honolulu newspapers. “How could these birth certificates have been fabricated 48 years before President Obama possibly took office? How would they have that foresight to know that?” he asked.
It’s a fair question. And someone who has the facts on her side should be able to answer that question easily.
Taitz began her answer by asking Shuster how much time she had to respond, explaining that she had a bad experience with CNN’s Kitty Pilgrim who said “a lot of lies” and didn’t give her an opportunity to respond.
Shuster said if she would just answer the question they would give her plenty of time to respond.
Already appearing to be worn out, Taitz took a breath and began explaining that all you needed in Hawaii for a birth announcement was a statement by a relative and that’s why they were demanding the original birth certificate.
“What would be the motivation?” Shuster asked, stepping on Taitz. “What would be the motivation for Barack Obama’s family…”
“Give me an opportunity to answer,” Taitz said, stepping on Shuster. “If you could show some decency and integrity as a journalist to give me an opportunity to respond.”
“OK. You can talk about integrity and discipline. Go for it,” Shuster replied, while stepping on Taitz. (OK, he was a bit surly there).
“A parent could just fill out a form and lied,” Taitz said (stepping on Shuster). “If Obama was born in Kenya and the mother wanted to lie — she didn’t want to go through immigration, she didn’t want to pay an immigration attorney, she would fill out the form and say ‘my son was born in Honolulu’ and mail it to the health department…”
“Just to be clear, your allegation here is that Barack Obama’s mother was somehow motivated to lie …”
“Let me finish!”
“Orly!”
“You don’t let me finish! No I don’t. You are unable to listen!”
Believe it or not, it went downhill from here. Jerry Springer show comes to mind. Although no chairs were thrown, Taitz accused Shuster of being one of Obama’s “Brownshirts” in the media.
Offended, Shuster asked Taitz if she refused a cab ride to the NBC studios because the driver had a Muslim-sounding name. She denied the accusation.
Meanwhile, she said she had a problem with another MSNBC host. This host was then piped in via a split screen and they talked on top of each other until Taitz was eventually thrown off the show (or they just cut off the feed).
We’ve included the video below. As the Chicago Tribune’s Mark Silva said: Fasten your seatbelts.
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2. nijme | 08.03.09
She has worked her off and we who believe her stand together.How dare you play with peoples heads! Shame on you sitting on your thrones.
We are doing this for the people with hearts brains and beliefs, too bad you think it is a joke…Just the same Ann Coulter loves herselve too much most of the time….Stop with your cuteness!!!!! It just is not cute….grow up!
3. samuel m. | 08.03.09
The interviewer’s facile pontifications in reaction to Taitz’s use of the word “brownshirts” is revolting. Don’t you think a woman speaking from Tel Aviv whose family emigrated from Eastern Europe would know more about such things than some talking head on MSNBC. Why should Taitz give any credence to Coulter, who also believes that Jews should be “perfected.”
How did the talking head in America know about transportation details in Tel Aviv in order to make this inflammatory accusation.
4. Travis | 08.04.09
So if anyone wants a copy of Orly Taitz birth certificate saying she is born in Kenya the same day as the “Obama Birth Certificate” I can print up and few and fold them over and over until it looks aged.
Oh and second… when did both parents have to be US citizens? I thought it was “natural born citizen” which means born on US soil
Natural-born citizen
Who is a natural-born citizen? Who, in other words, is a citizen at birth, such that that person can be a President someday?
The 14th Amendment defines citizenship this way: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” But even this does not get specific enough. As usual, the Constitution provides the framework for the law, but it is the law that fills in the gaps.
Currently, Title 8 of the U.S. Code fills in those gaps. Section 1401 defines the following as people who are “citizens of the United States at birth:”
* Anyone born inside the United States *
* Any Indian or Eskimo born in the United States, provided being a citizen of the U.S. does not impair the person’s status as a citizen of the tribe
* Any one born outside the United States, both of whose parents are citizens of the U.S., as long as one parent has lived in the U.S.
* Any one born outside the United States, if one parent is a citizen and lived in the U.S. for at least one year and the other parent is a U.S. national
* Any one born in a U.S. possession, if one parent is a citizen and lived in the U.S. for at least one year
* Any one found in the U.S. under the age of five, whose parentage cannot be determined, as long as proof of non-citizenship is not provided by age 21
* Any one born outside the United States, if one parent is an alien and as long as the other parent is a citizen of the U.S. who lived in the U.S. for at least five years (with military and diplomatic service included in this time)
* A final, historical condition: a person born before 5/24/1934 of an alien father and a U.S. citizen mother who has lived in the U.S.
* There is an exception in the law — the person must be “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States. This would exempt the child of a diplomat, for example, from this provision.
Anyone falling into these categories is considered natural-born, and is eligible to run for President or Vice President. These provisions allow the children of military families to be considered natural-born, for example.
The point of this… IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE HIS PARENTS ARE FROM OR WHAT CITIZENSHIP THEY HOLD!
5. Captain Steve | 08.04.09
I don’t trust ANY politician and almost no one in the media. I still want two answers.
1) Why can’t we see his long-form? Obama knows that millions of citizens want to see it yet he continues to hide it. What/why is he hiding?
and most disturbingly,
2) Why don’t BHO’s supporters want to know the whole truth, especially since there’s a reward of $100,000 for proof that Obama is a “natural born” citizen of the United States.
OBAMA, STOP HIDING. SHOW US THE LONG FORM BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!!!!
6. N.M. | 08.04.09
While the President has not yet demonstrated that he deserves the vote I cast for him back in November, I can hardly believe how facilely ignorant some of my countrymen can be… get over your paranoia and prejudice, everyone - we elected a black man to be President of these United States. Calm down and move on.
7. origen | 08.04.09
For shame on all of you…President Obama is a good, well-intentioned man, and he is chosen to lead our country out of the darkness. The devil is the father of the birther movement, seeking to blind all good people to the truth of President Obama’s good works.
8. Fair is fair | 08.04.09
Thanks for a lively and balanced recap of the Shuster-Taitz kerfuffle. Unfortunately, you undid your appearance of objectivity with the headline over the video: “Orly Taitz loses her damn mind on MSNBC.” Those words may have been inadvertently imported from elsewhere — still, it’s not worthy of the Monitor. You should either be more restrained or more careful.
9. Mole_Kind | 08.04.09
Steve. Seriously, man: I just want to let you know, you’re not going to get what you want out of this- because you’ll never be satisfied. But more importantly- you’ve gotten more than you deserve. Taitz destroyed the movement tonight. Your movement. And she made her own (already idiotic) argument, the delusional thesis she and the rest of you believe as burning truth, look as bad as the most delusional September 11th conspiracy nut.
She’s that out there and it’s only because you’re _that_ out there too that she seems rational, valiant even.
You want to know who the Manchurian candidate is? It’s Taitz. She just did a “Queen of Diamonds” on all of you, your movement- including herself. That’s the beauty of what happened today. And from Tel Aviv, no less.
And frankly, that’s probably for the best because if she and the rest of you decide, say, to keep charging the windmill on this one people are probably going to wonder just exactly why she had to flee to Tel Aviv after after submitting what has now been proven as a forged Obama birth certificate to a Federal court in California.
And her relationship with the Israeli right- if not flat out the current Israeli government or Avigdor Lieberman, or Shas. Like who pays for the plane tickets and the hotels. I doubt the kooky depths have been plumbed.
10. ThatGuyOverThere | 08.04.09
So is this just the latest example of the failure of the American Educational System? Is this what happens when we don’t teach kids critical thinking, rationality, logic, logical fallacies, reasoning…
Keep in mind that all of them get to vote.
11. JRP | 08.04.09
It doesn’t matter if Obama WAS born in Kenya. His mother was a US Citizen, she grew up in the US (thus 5 + years spent in the US) therefore Obama is a US Citizen. PERIOD.
If one parent is a citizen (and has lived in the US for at least 5 years), the child is a natural born citizen. End of story.
12. Simpleton | 08.04.09
Captain Steve asks
“I don’t trust ANY politician and almost no one in the media. I still want two answers.”
OK, who’d you like to get these answers from?
“1) Why can’t we see his long-form?”
Why do you want to see it? The State of Hawaii declared that Obama was born in Honolulu.
That makes him a US citizen.
Nothing else needs to be presented.
“2) Why don’t BHO’s supporters want to know the whole truth,”
The whole truth is that BHO is a natural born US citizen.
13. Eric | 08.04.09
Boycott MSNBC, they throw anyone off the air who exposes the truth! Shame on both jouranlists, you should both be fired right away! what an embarrasment to have these two journalists represent MSNBC, they don’t let their guests finish their point. Orly go on fox news instead, they’ll hopefully treat you with decency and respect their, especially on the Sean Hannity Show! Go Orly!!!
15. Gaias Child | 08.04.09
Well now, listening to this and observing this, one wonders what forms of social charity (good works) all these birthers are engaged in. I will ask those of you who identify with this cause.
Tell me, what is your protectorate? Do you imagine you are protecting me as a citizen by attacking my president in this juvenile and hysterical way? Do you imagine you are protecting the constitution? Who do you suppose was jamming the nation’s capital city on inauguration day no matter how cold the weather? Are you going to blame that on media distortion?
I want to tell you that you are making yourself into a whole community of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, people clearly needing to relax and breathe deeply and practice some form of contemplation or meditation.
Your inability to let go does not reflect on the character of the president as much as it does on your emotional maturity and mental health. You do not understand this I can see. You do need a grown up for a lawyer and you do need someone who can maintain a little calm and credibility.
As I recall, you were already working on this message pretty furiously over the internet during the election and when we voted and then inaugurated a new president. You now appear as sore losers and silly loonies without anything else meaningful to do.
How many of you are there? Do you all know each other? Are you the children and grandchildren of the ***?
If your facts are good, why don’t you just go to court and have the court invalidate the election? If the court finds the election valid, then how can you pretend to be good Americans and not accept the structure of government made by good Americans?
How?
16. Sane Person | 08.04.09
Captain Steve… I need to know one thing. When you jump off the edge of reality… do you look up back at reality or are you looking down to the unknown?
17. Sean | 08.04.09
Without a doubt she is the most obnoxious person on Earth (even more vile than George Galloway).
18. Katie | 08.04.09
Ha!! She is madder than a hatter and if she has such a bad problem with CNN and MSNBC why doesn’t she go on Rush or Hannity or Beck? Because even they think she’s crazy! EVEN ANN COULTER THINKS SHE’S CRAZY! Who ever thought there would be somebody too big of a wingnut lunatic for Ann Coulter. Wow just wow.
I’m gonna post that one on my facebook!
19. Katie | 08.04.09
You know what he doesn’t have to show you the longform NUTHIN. He has complied with the law and the forms he has are legal and valid, end of story. If there’s all these rewards then all you’re gonna get is this laughable forgery like Orly has and the one before it with the Ebay guy. Because he was born in Hawaii, United States of America and btw wth with this Orly lady?
Is she a naturalized citizen and if so is it considered OK to TRY TO CONVINCE ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY TO DEFY ORDERS FROM THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF DURING A TIME OF WAR? I’d like to see this nutbag deported back to where ever SHE came from and she can just stop slandering our President with ****** forgeries she keeps pushing.
20. Lynx | 08.04.09
The whole thing is laughable. The new “birth certificate” places Mombassa, Kenya as the place of birth in a year when Mombassa wasn’t even a part of Kenya. It’s a “certified copy” of the “Republic of Kenya” at a date when Kenya wasn’t a republic and other (real) documents of the time show the name as “Dominion of Kenya” and it’s signed by the name of a brand of detergent! It’s not even mediocre, as forgeries go.
But that doesn’t matter to the birthers. Like 9/11 truthers or moon-landing doubters, the absence of evidence or contradicting evidence only makes the conspiracy MORE credible, MORE big, not less.
Keep at it lunatics. You’re going to manage to taint the whole GOP with this idiocy, and this will be reflected in the elections. There’s a reason that Bill O’Reilly, Michael Steele and even Ann Coulter (!!!) are dismissing this. Even they know that it’s to wacky to ever fly and will harm them in the end.
22. Willam Wallace | 08.04.09
Pretty hilarious a Russian not born in USA thinks she knows more than Constitution lawyers and Supreme Court Justices.
23. Jon | 08.04.09
“Orly Taitz”’s definition of “natural born” as “born to american citizens” is in direct contradiction to the constitution’s 14th amendment. Perhaps Birthers should spend more time learning about this Nation they pretend to care about.
Hawaii has no long form.
This web page was put up in June 2008:
http://fightthesmears.com/articles/5/birthcertificate
24. jjcarterco | 08.04.09
I agree that such conspiracy theories should not be legitimatized in the mainstream media. In order to prove true fairness and to uphold a moral standing, actual journalists are trying to present different sides to a story, and different stories to a topic.
With the topic of Barack Obama we are faced with the elephant in the room which is race. The mainstream is comfortable with pigeonholing someone with dark skin as “black”, regardless of their ethnicity. This is the root of the problem.
What is being talked about isn’t Barack Obama. What is being talked about is racism and prejudice. Barack Obama is not a black president. Barack Obama is a captivating and inspirational individual who has tapped into the needs and wants of people from all races, classes and generations.
If you have a problem with a president that doesn’t look like you, then save us all from your faux intellectualism and accept the fact that you have deep-rooted prejudice. It’s not the same as racism, and it’s most likely your parents fault, not yours.
If you have legitimate political disagreements with president Barack Obama and his staff then I would suggest a good first step would be to follow in his footsteps…become a community organizer. If people around you are genuinely prepared to listen to you, you might have something worth saying.
25. Emily | 08.04.09
Why doesn’t Obama put the whole thing to rest by producing whatever documents Orly Taitt wants to see? Two words: political expediency.
Imagine you’re a politician, and you’re trying your best to get some bills pushed through Congress, and your political opponents are trying their best to stop you.
Suddenly, as if by magic, a fringe element of the opposing party comes up with a conspiracy theory which is easily disproven, and which the overwhelming majority of the public feels already *has* been disproven. Those who believe this conspiracy theory are obsessed with it. They speak of nothing else from the time they get up in the morning until the time they go to bed. They take it to the airwaves, spouting off about it constantly on every talk show that will tolerate them. And every time they open their mouths, a few more people arrive at the conclusion that their party has gone completely off the deep end. Every time they open their mouths, your political opponents lose a little credibility, and you gain a little.
Got that? A handful of conspiracy theorists are on TV every day, saying things that make your political opponents look silly, and you don’t have to do ANYTHING to make that happen. You don’t have to say anything nasty about them, dig up any dirt on them, or extract any skeletons from any of their closets. All you have to do is sit there and smile indulgently while they do the rest.
Why on earth would you kill the goose that’s laying the golden eggs?
26. Steve | 08.04.09
I wish that those demanding to see a birth certificate had demanded from Mr. Bush to produce evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Perhaps several thousand American lives could have been saved.
27. CSM former reader | 08.04.09
Here’s the problem with Orly’s new forgery, Mobasa was not part of Kenya until 1963. Two years AFTER Obama was born. Oh, and the name of the “registrar” who signed it? Its the brand of a soap powder. Oh, not to mention, Zanibar was under British rule at the date of this new “birth document” from “Mombasa Kenya” (which didn’t exist at the time) so it couldn’t have been issues by the state of Zanzibar. Tsk tsk, Orly, such sloppy forgeries. How much did you pay some scammer from Nigeria for this thing? Seriously….
28. Timothy | 08.04.09
I think her and her followers are crazy. And speaking of birth certificates…Until Orly herself is able to bring forth a genuine certificate proving she is whom she is…..after watching the video,I can only conclude that she was once a man.
29. dancer | 08.04.09
Do you think folks are just greedy? Most of the folks involved at obama’s birth at the Hospital in Hawaii, are dead..the Doctor I think died several years ago,, at the age of 98,, If you were so interested in his Birth certificate why did you not go to the DNC headquarters and ask to see it?
Why did not Keyes and all the other brithers? You do realize that Obama did have a secuity clearance did you not? LOL
30. Darren | 08.04.09
To birthers, everything is a forgery or fake except items that prove their “gut feeling.” They believe that this new birth certificate copy from the Republic of Kenya (which didn’t exist as such until after when this “copy” was obtained) with no doctor name is somehow valid. Obama himself could invite them aboard his time machine and take them to his birth and they would be carding the delivery room nurses.
The important part is that none of that matters at all. Obama’s certificate of live birth is a valid document that has been deemed authentic by multiple third parties and the majority of the country is satisfied. It is kind of funny watching Republican leaders dancing on eggshells regarding this issue, though. They understand that agreeing with the birthers is very dangerous politically, but are unwilling to alienate their constituents.
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” - Napoleon Bonaparte
Obama understands this. Do his enemies?
31. eric | 08.04.09
Republicans grabbing at empty straws. Absolute desperation. Still swinging a clumsy axe, but with a blindfold this time. Give it up and go away!
32. Vexman | 08.04.09
You dolts! Hawaii does not issue a so-called long form birth certificate. What is posted on Obama’s web site is all you can get. All original documents were shredded long ago and consolidated into a year-by-year list. Now the only document you can get is generated by a computer. Most States have done this (except in New England). The so-called “reward” is for living witnesses, not any kind of proof (like a Certificate of Live Birth or a confirmation from the Republican Governor of Hawaii) and I doubt it actually exists.
33. Rush Limbaugh is an Inside Job | 08.04.09
Keep talking crazy, wingnuts. You’re digging the GOP’s grave, and soon you’ll be putting the nails in its coffin and filling in the dirt. And even if, in some bizarro alternate universe you did succeed in getting the democratically-elected President who qualifies as such in more than one way (as shown by Travis in comment #4), you will throw the country into such chaos that Honduras will look like Switzerland in comparison and nobody will ever take the US seriously again. So keep up the good work, either way you cut it you’re bringing about the kind of radical systemic change and anarchy every hater of America craves.
34. Prudence | 08.04.09
Let’s be honest, these birthers are so damned bananas that even if the long form cert were released, they’d just claim it too was fake. Neat-o! No need for critical thinking or logic!
Birther nutbags, ask yourselves: do you really think everyone’s in on this? John McCain, The Supreme Court, the GOP, the DNC, the Govt of Hawaii, etc, etc, etc? REALLY?
But then, birthers are usually polykooks: akin to UFO believers, 9/11 truthers, fake-moon-landing proponents… Loons, basically.
35. Ray | 08.04.09
Hmm, I issue a challenge to all the birthers, prove to us that you guys are even Americans to begin with.
You guys has yet to show your birth cert showing us you are born in the US, hence you guys must be part of a conspiracy against the US.
36. Jim Kelly | 08.04.09
“If one parent is a citizen (and has lived in the US for at least 5 years), the child is a natural born citizen. End of story.”
The 5 years have to be after their 15 birthday, and she was 18, so it’s NOT the end of the story.
This is the same kind of coordinated attack the corporate media ran against Ron Paul during the campaign when everyone laughed on cue at the mention of Ron Paul’s name.
Honest journalists would have different opinions and different perspectives, yet the fake “journalists” of the coorporate media all say the same thing and use the same tactic–don’t present evidence, just label the opposition as crazy, and they did it not just with words, but with expressions and body language.
Free press in America? You’ve got to be kidding.
37. Dave | 08.04.09
Some of the “stepping” on each other comes from the satellite delay. Not all, but some.
39. tim h | 08.04.09
The community organizer could make it all go away but he does not. Funny that the POS who claimed that his administration would be the most transparent in history has yet to live up to his proclamation. In fact, his administration in 7 months has already proven more secretive that GWB’s. Show the damn birth cert, show your college transcripts, let the US citizens know exactly who paid for your education, AND STOP LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!
41. Mal | 08.04.09
The dangerous part of this lunacy is that it is an integral part of the fringe of the GOP, and the latter is not speaking truth to it for fear of losing seats. I suspect these are the same people who are currently being bussed around to disrupt town hall meetings protesting change to health care. And let’s not forget the active support of the GOP and lobbyists for this behaviour. As Bill Maher said: “Never underestimate the ability of a tiny fringe group of losers to ruin everything.” Such a shame - the world celebrated Obama’s presidential victory. Now this group of paranoid Americans are making that victory seem hollow.
42. Bob Hasty Sr. | 08.04.09
Anyone who thinks that the “long form” is trustworthy, and completely legal, does not own a passport! Only a certified notice from the local government can be used as proof of birth or marriage. Anyone who doubts the certification is a very foolish person. If such a person showed up with a hospital “certificate,” he/she will find out very quickly that what they got from a hospital is no verification of truth.
As a minister who had to go to great length to prove that I was a minister before Hawaii would recognize the marriage I was performing, I can state that Hawaii takes its records seriously. Anyone who denies the propriety, or legality, of the document which President Obama has provided does not realize how foolish they are!!
43. Adam | 08.04.09
I don’t even pay any attention to you liberal boneheads any longer. You don’t have enough brain cells left over from your sordid youth to even mount a constitutional arguement. You were perfectly willing to swallow a bogus COLB hook, line and sinker and now you are doubting an opposing document? Lets bump this up to another level barachopods, there will be a day of reckoning over “the ones” deceit and you blind followers will be the fodder.
44. Carl LaFong | 08.04.09
Oh, please birthers — if there was even the SLIGHTEST validity to this, don’t you think the GOP would have proven it during the last election; thus virtually ensuring a Republican president in the WH today? And if the GOP failed in that regard, then they obviously didn’t deserve to win.
This has about as much legs as the purported “Whitey video”. The only people still pursuing it nowadays are loonies and those who make money (or ratings, or fame) off loonies.
45. joe doe | 08.04.09
Look, I am no birther and sure, Orly seems nuts.
But Shuster’s assertion that there was no motivation to for Obama’s family to lie is because who knew he would be president is even more ridiculous. If you had a baby would you rather have the child be an Amercian citizen or a citizen of Kenya? And I think most parents would to go great lengths to obtain the American citizenship.
Then the other reporter has not other line of attack accept to ask why Ann Coulter thinks birther are crank?
They may be cranks but this piece of typical MSM reporting is just as offensive.
46. matt | 08.04.09
ridiculous. the country is going to forget about this absurd “issue” pretty quickly.
the world moves on, regardless of whether you move with it.
47. Bob in Plano | 08.04.09
The journalists did not give her time to answer the questions. To answer the questions requires a rather lengthy explanation. The journalists cut her off and frustrated her. She did not look good being interviewed, but that does not have anything to do with her legal challenge. The MSM should want the answers to Obama’s birth records themselves! Why is Obama unwilling to reveal his college records? Big story there! Cover it MSM!!!
48. Bob | 08.04.09
About 15 years ago we heard from conservative crazies that then president Clinton’s wife was involved in murder, financial fraud and homosexual trysts with a cabinet official. They went on and on for years about this, and then, poof! All the outrage and absolute conviction of their righteousness was gone, and they were on to Al Gore or some another Democrats.
So who exactly are the ones susceptible to lies and manipulation from the media?
49. Jon Carruthers | 08.04.09
According to the Constitution: “No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President.”
By this statement, Obama could not be President since he was not a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of the Constitution. It has nothing to do with his birth certificate. He was simply born at the wrong time.
50. FreeBilly | 08.04.09
Ronald Reagan must be shifting in his grave.
This is what the Republican Party has been reduced to - wild conspiracy theorists, religious zealots, cranky old men, rambling and barely cogent ex-beauty queens, people consumed with nostalgia for a almost-all-white America, anti-intellectuals, etc. etc.
The death of a once-great political party by it’s own hand.
The Republican Party is commiting suicide right before our eyes…
52. Pookiebear60 | 08.04.09
OK. Let’s say he’s a US citizen. Then why not show his ORIGINAL BC? What he’s submitted as his BC doesn’t look ANYthing like mine from only one year before. He had to have it for his passport, drivers license, etc through the years. This document - was it what he used when he first got his US drivers license? Probably not. Also, why has your illustrious community organizer sealed off all of his passport recs, school recs and travel recs? If there’s nothing to hide, why hide—not just the BC— but all of his vital records? Why isn’t he proud of his writings at Occidental? Was he classified there as a foreign student? He’s got time to skip to NY for a nite out on the town, and time to go to Cleveland to pander his healthcare snake oil to the masses, why not take the time to issue a release on his college recs, his travel recs and that ever elusive BC? THINK, PEOPLE!!
If he was born in the US, there shouldn’t be an issue at all, right? And then, tell me who’s crazy - someone who expects real proof, or someone who’s so lost in love with the one refusing to reveal who he is to expect proof?
53. CynicalForaReason | 08.04.09
Birthers are very sad, pathetic, people. Judging from some of the comments for support of Orly Taitz, I would assume some of those people are. I wish they’d just be honest and admit they have a problem with a black man as President. It would be so much easier for them if they did. Just admit you’re racist. No one cares; just be honest to yourself, because continuing to believe in this insanity makes you look either stupid or crazy. Maybe both…
56. Happy Mom | 08.04.09
The thing is, there’s no way ANYONE can ever produce enough evidence to satisfy the theories of the birther nuts. They have traveled too far down the path of delusion at this point.
The point Shuster was trying to make had already been explored by Jon Stewart. In order for the “birther conspiracy” to be true, President Obama’s parents would have needed the foresight to place birth announcements in the local paper stating his name, parentage, and date/place of birth 48 years ago so that their son could pull off this great scam of fooling the entire nation 46 years later. How likely is it that they thought “Well, we just had a son. Let’s fix it so that when he become President, it looks like he was actually born in the U.S.”
These birthers could benefit from a stay in a mental health clinic.
57. JJWW | 08.04.09
Is that woman Magda from “There’s Something about Mary?”
http://llwyd.tripod.com/gross/lsmary1.jpg
I’m pretty sure it is. Where’s the yappy dog and her carton of Kools?
Sometimes I feel like I’m surrounded by morons and it makes me sad.
58. Esther | 08.04.09
6.1 of the Constitution specifically states that you must have TWO NATURAL BORN CITIZENS OF THE US! According to Obama’s Kenyan birth certificate his father was born in Kenya and Obama was born in Kenya on Aug 4, 1961. Therefore HE CANNOT QUALIFY AND CANNOT BE PRESIDENT. End of Story
I have call my legislative officials to demand that Obama cease and desist all presidential governing activity and hold any bills signed by him until this problem is resolved. He simply is not qualified to be commander in chief or lead the good citizens of the US. This is not a “racial thing”–get over that, the man is in many areas just not qualified.
59. Deborah | 08.04.09
Unfortunately, it is not sufficient for a parent to be a US citizen. Obama’s mother was too young to fulfill the requirement for a son born in Kenya to become the President. The video of his Kenyan grandmother saying she was at the birth in Kenya is also problematic.
Also unfortunately, it is irrelevant whether Obama is a well-meaning man. He would not have been let into the school in Indonesia unless he/his father had credentials in Indonesian that also preclude Obama from our presidency.
The situation is complicated. It is to bad that his family did not take the longer route for the Hawaii verification, but since they did not we do not have the proof needed for him to qualify to be President.
Ever wondered why he doesn’t show the original?
60. Dave Smith | 08.04.09
According to the Constitution: “No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President.”
The US was a new nation at the time the Constitution was written, so those living within it, at the time of its “birth,” were its first citizens. “Natural born” citizens would be citizens born after the adoption of the Constitution and would have no questions to answer with regard to their citizenship because both parents were citizens at the time of their birth. Obama’s father was Kenyan.
61. Lorayne | 08.04.09
The “Republicans” did/said this; the “Democrats” did/said that!! Ye Gods are you so “community organized” that you lable the deeds of some as the sum and substance of an entire group? Blacks do this; whites do that; Hispaanics don’t think for themselves as individuals….oh no, they are simply a “group think”. Seems you all have to hate someone, some thing, some group, and hope for their extinction. You are defined as much by what you hate as for what you pretend to like. Label as you will, there are those who may be white, black, young, old that cannot be confined to your narrow disinformation. If Obama is (or is not) a citizen of the United States should be a legitimate area of investigation. If you don’t care, then say so…and tell us why. Shuster (he of the rubber-bands on his lips) is trying desperately to be noticed….and so he is. Which group think does he belong to????
62. Disgusted | 08.04.09
These so-called newspeople were doing their best to ambush and frustrate Orly Taitz. They didn’t want to hear what she had to say. They were just interested in making her look as bad as possible. Disgusting display of reporting.
63. EdBdCJ | 08.04.09
Deborah,
The reason that there is no long form BC has been stated ad nauseum. I don’t have my long form birth certificate, but I am an american citizen. Also the AGE OF THE MOTHER has NOTHING to do with citizenship. Are you serious? You are trying to say that sense his mother was young, then she didn’t/couldn’t give birth to a citizen. YOur ignorance disturbs me. Born in the US in 1961! Deal with it. MOve on. More important stuff in this world to deal with. Get over it. Get over yourself. It doesn’t matter. Its all so very funny that many of the same ppl who are “OHB is not a citizen” are the same ppl who were willing to fight to change the rules so that Schwartzenegger could run for Prez. This is a movement full of sore losers.
64. nitella | 08.04.09
Omg! Birthers are pathetic but I love watching them. I agree with Cynical. It would be easier if they would just admit they are racist.
66. oba3 | 08.04.09
“6.1 of the Constitution specifically states that you must have TWO NATURAL BORN CITIZENS OF THE US!”
“He would not have been let into the school in Indonesia unless he/his father had credentials in Indonesian that also preclude Obama from our presidency.”
LOL. You guys crack me up.
Here’s all the U.S. Constitution has to say on the issue:
“No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.”
1. What Section 6.1 are you talking about?
2. “Natural Born Citizen” is not defined in the U.S. Constitution.
3. No distinction has ever been made (either by federal statute or by court decision) between a citizen at birth and a natural born citizen. If you’d like to see that sort of distinction made, more power to you, but you can’t use a non-existent standard or distinction to disqualify someone from office. That gives new meaning to putting the cart before the horse.
4. It’s never been held that holding dual citizenship affects “natural born citizen” status.
5. On the other hand, it has been adjudicated by the U.S. Supreme Court that parents cannot relinquish a minor’s U.S. citizenship on that minor’s behalf.
The situation has only been complicated in the minds of the conspiracy-obsessed birthers.
67. Michael | 08.04.09
Actually, contrary to this article, the MSNBC interview was poor reporting. No surprise. Today’s so called “news media” is nothing more than entertainment, comparable to “Jerry Springer.” Reporters should not express a disposition as shown in this interview. Taitz brings up a legitimate argument.
1) The newspaper in Hawaii will announce birth based on a person’s statement.
2) The local government will provide natural born citizenship status based on a person’s testimony, without hospital records.
Therefore, the newspaper announcement and any other documents, that is not the official birth certificate, is insufficient in proving the location of his birth. This lack of VALID evidence rightly brings to question the legitimacy of Obama’s right to presidency. Instead of the reporters acknowledging those grounds, they grill Taitz with ad hominem statements.
68. WestSeattleDan | 08.04.09
It seems that finding truth and reporting facts are nowhere near as important as the media circus sideshows.
I found it of particular interest that Ann Coulter and Carl Rove are not mainstream media.
Since the demise of Newspaper Investigative Journalism and factual reporting, I find myself in need of a guide as to which spewers of biased opinion are mainstream media and which are not. I clearly do not know.
I would have appreciated a more factual report from Monitor reporter Jimmy Orr.
Mr. Orr played the part of an opinion spewer commenting on opinions spewed.
I found Ms. Taitz’s explanation of the Hawaii newspaper accounts plausible. I would have appreciated an article that examined the facts in the situation rather than the personalities.
I expect more from the Monitor than the Gossip Rags. I was disappointed.
69. Joe | 08.04.09
The issue has been and continues to be the need for Obama to provide the primary evidence of his birth in Hawaii. That would be a)The original birth certificate that would include the name of the hospital, doctors and witnesses b) The vault birth records Hawaii has confirmed they are holding and could be easily produced if Obama would sign a release which he continues to refuse to do c) The records from the hospital where Obama claims he was born.
This is an issue that continues because Obama was never vetted. Vetting is an investigative process that reviews the records of a candidate before the primary to ensure the candidate is eligible.
The problem with the COLB produced by Obama is that it does not prove or disprove he was born in Hawaii. In the 1960’s, before the laws were changed in the 1970’s, anyone could walk in off the street and on their word alone obtain a birth certificate. They could state the child was born at home with no witnesses.
So, do the vault records confirm Obama’s statement that he was born in a specific hospital in Hawaii? Or do they show that someone came in and signed a statement that Obama was born somewhere there were no witnesses. If so, the vetting process requires further evidence to confirm the birth.
The announcements in the paper are secondary evidence and do not confirm the birth. The Health Department at the time sent over the names of all babies registered to be published in the newspaper.
So, if the vault records do not confirm Obama was born in a hospital in Hawaii as he has stated where was he born? Why would he lie?
This is a controversy because of the failure of Obama to produce his original birth certificate or in the alternative the vault records. Until Obama does that this controversy will not go away. It is not a conspiracy, race is not the issue, the question is really why would the Democratic party and Obama fail to provide the primary evidence on an issue that was raised by Hillary campaign as early as December 2007? Obama produced the COLB in June 2008. What happened in the intervening six months that lead to the failure to vet Obama. That is and remains the issue.
70. Anne_Thraxx | 08.04.09
Is Orly a U.S. Citizen???
If not, what business is it of her’s where OUR president was born???
She should be thrown in jail for forging the birth cert. and passing it off as “real.”
72. Mike | 08.04.09
“Ever wondered why he doesn’t show the original?”
No, because he does not have access to the original.
“The Hawaii Department of Health’s birth record request form does not give the option to request a photocopy of your long-form birth certificate, but their short form has enough information to be acceptable to the State Department.”
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html
Now, even if Obama did have some means of releasing a “long-form” birth certificate, would that really be enough? Would you not just declare that a forgery as well? Is there really any amount of evidence that would convince you or any of the other birthers that Obama is the fully legitimate president of the United States? How could such evidence exist if you are willing to ignore the judgement of the State of Hawaii, the Republican leadership (who launched no formal complaint about Obama’s eligibility for office, Democratic challengers to Obama in the Presidential Race, the Associated Press, CNN (despite Lou Dobbs, CNN’s president has called the birther story “dead.”), MSNBC, and every news organization out there that doesn’t feature “celebrity sleeping with alien!” stories.
73. CARL TAPP | 08.04.09
THERE ARE 2 PAPERS WHICH APPEAR TO BE CERTIFIED COPIES OF A BIRTH CERTIFICATE .
THEY ARE AMAZINGLY SIMILAR , EVE TO THE FOLDS IN THE PAPER AND THE LETTERHEAD.
AT LEAST ONE IS CERTAINLY A FORGERY , BUT ” WHICH ONE ?
THE ONLY WAY TO BE SURE IS TO COMPARE THE RAISED SEALS. THE REASONFOR
A RAISED SEAL IS TO ASSURE THAT NO COPY CAN BE FORGED WITHOUT BEING
EASY TO DETECT .
CARL TAPP makahayan@gmail.com
74. Josh | 08.04.09
The internet is a funny thing. People who buy into this conspiracy are a ridiculously small minority. There’s probably not more than 500 people in the country who legitimately believe Obama isn’t a natural born citizen. But when 485 of those 500 are unemployed and live in Mom’s basement with nothing to do but surf WorldNetDaily (birther hysteria central), they follow their movement like hawks.
Each news story in the *ahem* “MSM” gets passed around and they flood comments sections like these, trying to make it look like they’re a serious movement with significant numbers of followers. Give it up, guys. You make Ron Paul supporters look rational, and that’s a feat.
75. Tyler | 08.04.09
Long form, long form… Look, some states only issue a COLB. That’s all I got in Idaho in 1978. There’s no better way to state this: He has already released the documentation. It has been verified by the state that issued it.
But keep spouting off from the fringe — we independents appreciate you giving us all of your rational former-Republicans (like me).
76. George Washington | 08.04.09
Why is it that a woman from the Soviet Union is being followed by so many American citizens? I am sad to see my country is this present state. We are giving this issue too much attention which is exactly what Orly Taitz wants. She has a paid account on youtube which earns revenue everytime someone comments about her videos, whether the comments are good or bad. Please stop giving this woman so much attention and she will go away.
77. Abe Lincoln | 08.04.09
Read the constitution. He is not a natural born citizen. His father was never a citizen and there is no Certificate of Live Birth ever issued from Hawaii. Release his entrance applications for Occidental and Harvard, release them and see the truth.
78. JV | 08.04.09
“James” is right: They do refuse to listen to people who refuse to answer the questions posed. They refuse to listen to TOTAL IDIOTS.
If this is a conspiracy, it goes back a long way, and it includes a lot of people. The vital records department of the state of Hawaii, the obstetrician that says he delivered him, the editorial staffs both Honolulu newspapers of the time.
On the other hand, Mr. Obama’s opponent WAS born outside the country: In PANAMA. I just bet that these clowns would be praising McAlzheimers’ “Natural Born” status, had he won.
79. keith | 08.04.09
Many so called Christian white folks who have not accepted the fact that our president is a black man yet so they will continue to believe anything even if it goes against their Christian values. I hope that those values are not the same of senator ensign and sandford. lol
80. Steve | 08.04.09
Travis, Natural born citizen is a person born in the US or when born outside the US to two US citizens. Therefore, if Obama was not born in Hawaii, he would not be a US citizen. Check your facts!
81. thinkwell | 08.04.09
In normal circumstances plain citizenship at birth may derive from either parent, but what most here are missing is that this is irrelevant to the sufficiency of Presidential qualifications.
Our Constitution requires that a President must at least be 14 years a resident, 35 years of age AND a Natural born citizen (a distinct and more restrictive subset of plain citizen). Unfortunately, this term is not defined by our Constitution (as the Supreme court unanimously so noted in a ruling several years after the 14th Amendment was already part of the Constitution).
However, the preponderance of evidence indicates that our Founders understood that Natural born meant born of citizen parents (plural) AND born free of any foreign allegiances, but no court has ever directly ruled upon this one way or the other. For the sake of the country, I hope to see that change very soon.
Think well — see clearly.
PS: During the campaign, Obama’s statement at the top of his Fight the Smears web page showed how carefully he avoided claiming to be a Natural born citizen: “…born in the state of Hawaii in 1961, a native citizen of the United States of America.”
As a self-professed Constitutional scholar Obama clearly knows the distinction and unique legal importance of the term Natural born citizen with regards to the Presidency. One must wonder why then, when directly addressing his own presidential bona fides, he so clearly avoided using it. Hmmm…
82. Speaktruth | 08.04.09
There is so much dis-information being spewed, it is apparent that many of these people never passsed basic civics. At Article II, Section one, the Constitution provides as follows:
“No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.”
The phrase “natural born citizen” refers to having been born on American soil. Hawaii was a U.S. state at the time of Obama’s birth and was therefore “American soil.” U.S. Embassies around the world as well as certain U.S. Military installations are considered American soil as well.
As long as President Obama was born in Hawaii, is at least 35 years of age, and resided in the U.S. for at least 14 years, there is no valid dispute as to his qualifications to be President. Hawaii has provided official documentation of President Obama’s birth in Hawaii.
There is no national form for birth certificates. Each individual state determines its policies and procedures for maintaining vital records such as records of live births and the proper forms for the issuance of birth certificates. There are some documents, other than official state government documents, which are sometimes issued by institutions in connection with a birth, such as a certificate from the hospital, or a certificate from the church, or baptism records, etc. While these documents may be interesting and even corroborative of official government records, they are not controlling.
As far as “birthers” go, they will never be satisfied. The phrases often repeated are: “I just want some questions answered…” or “why not just show the original…” Both phrases are silly - does anyone think that humoring these people or legitimizing their paranoia by responding at all will solve anything? Of course not. These people do not have questions - they are already firmly convinced beyond all doubt, and will never, under any circumstances, accept anything at odds with their belief. No matter what you showed them, they wouldn’t believe it and would simply claim its a fake. It would be nice if we could just ignore them, but they are shouting too loud.
Of course, there are those who still think that Hillary Clinton murdered Vince Foster; that Neil Armstrong only walked on a movie set in Area 51, and that Michael Jackson faked his death and is still alive. Whack jobs. (Please note, however, that Elvis IS still alive - I saw him just last week)
83. Meme | 08.04.09
What a complete and utter whack-job Orly Taitz is ~ I’m amazed, but she does remind me a the “fringe-nut-case” republicans. Sadly, the middle of the road republicans had their party stolen right out from under them by the Cheneys, the Bush family (we don’t mind sending your child to war to die so long as we make a buck !) the Roves, etc.
The GOP is in such a death spiral - I don’t understand why middle of the road, the non religious-freak-birther-nuts don’t get their own, new party. The GOP they once knew is dead, and its a shame.
84. thinkwell | 08.04.09
Obama works for us, We the People.
He has a duty to prove beyond a doubt that he meets the unique Constitutional requirements for POTUS, specifically that he is indeed a Natural born citizen (not just an ordinary citizen). This why the long form birth certificate must be produced.
The long form BC would reveal:
1) whether or not Obama was actually born in a Hawaiian hospital,
2) whether or not he ever was legally adopted, and
3) whether he was simply reported as a Hawaiian birth after-the-fact based on the sole testimony of his mother or grandmother (strongly implying that he was actually born outside the USA).
By applying to work for us, he essentially forfeited any rights to privacy regarding those items directly relating to his Constitutionally mandated bona fides.
He not only owes us his genuine original birth certificate (hospital name, doctor’s signature, etc. - remember he claimed in his autobiography to have found a copy while still in high school), but all the other records (adoption, passports, school, etc.) that may speak directly to his NBC qualifications. He also owes us a good faith effort to get the Supreme Court to define the Constitutional meaning of Natural born citizen as there is very reasonable doubt that a person (such as Obama) born to an alien father would qualify.
At this point, his promise of the “most transparent administration ever” is nothing more than a sad testimony to his arrogance and disregard for all that has made our great country better than any generic tin-pot banana republic.
Think well — see clearly.
86. William | 08.04.09
Why do people bother with this “lawyer/dentist/real estate agent/nut?” She clearly is insane. I guess if you can’t put together a conherent argument against the President’s policies, you can make stuff up and spread it online. Scary times….
87. tomtom | 08.04.09
I think the birthers are great! They are destroying the remaining scraps of what remains of Bush’s party.
88. Brian | 08.04.09
Let me get this straight, a woman who landed in this country with documents that anyone could get for 50 rubles is doubting the authenticity of U.S. federal and State issued documents. Is this some kind of joke? If anybody’s identity is question, it’s Taitz’. Who is more likely to issue fraudulent documents, the State of Hawaii or the The Soviet Union?
And if this clown really believes that American institutions are in the business of issuing phony documents, what does that say about her green card or certificate of naturalization.
Undoubtedly we should deport this Taitz nut since she cannot prove who she is and her documents are untrustworthy. Moreover, she is a foreigner who is using forged documents to try to damage a duly elected President of the United States. Send her back to Siberia.
89. Vicky | 08.04.09
So I guess that Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly are all “Obama’s Brownshirts” now, according to this Taitz nut. Too funny!
Meanwhile, I hope someone is seriously looking into HER legal documentation. As others have pointed out, it’s not very difficult to buy forged documents in Russia.
How do we know this woman isn’t some foreign spy sent to disrupt our democratic process? She needs to go back to wherever she came from and stop interfering with REAL Americans’ business.
90. James | 08.04.09
Wow.
Just when you start thinking these crazy people are some small minority, they come out with the polling data the other day showing that a majority of Republicans in the South and a near majority throughout the country actually agree with this insane person Orly Taitz.
And you see it here on this website too. All these crazy people commenting in support of her. It’s amazing that these Americans are taking the side of someone like Taitz over people with integrity and patriotism. Or rather, maybe it’s not so amazing, seeing how John McCain and Republicans like him never really put country first when playing politics… as they proved by nominating another inept and unbalanced crazy person, Sarah Palin.
91. Jimmy Z | 08.04.09
Gee, if only Mr. Obama would provide the legal document called a ‘birth certificate’. Gee, it would end, but heck, he refuses.
92. Bogdan | 08.04.09
To Brian #79
1. Are you an expert on the Soviet Union? Issuing fraudulent documents has always been a prerogative of criminals and state security agencies. The USA as well. So, don’t tell me about who is more or less likely to issue fake documents.
2. Why sending her to Siberia? We don’t need her in Russia. She immigrated to Israel, so let her stay there and spew her idiotic ideas there as well. If you have problems with her, just ban her from entering the US.
94. KDilkington | 08.04.09
In all fairness to the birthers, the media has been clearly ignoring the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger is married to a Kennedy AND as a T-800 model has time-travel capabilities to go back 48 years to announce fake birth announcements in Hawaii.
96. ACS | 08.04.09
There’s another thing Obama could do: release his mother’s hospital (Kapi’olani? Queens? his story changes from week to week), showing her admission and his birth. He could even turn it into a great photo-op for his healthcare proposal. Unless, of course, he DOES have something to hide. For someone who was so candid about things like cocaine use, Barack ‘Openness and Transparency’ Obama is awfully opaque about such mundane records.
97. ThoughtExercise | 08.04.09
I think we’re missing a good opportunity to think here. I continually hear argument either saying “He Is!” or “He Isn’t!”
If things continue as is, and the birth certificate showing the hospital never shows up what does the country get? Well, nothing different, just the status quo. Thing go on as they have since he was elected, nothing special here.
If things continue as is, and the birth certificate showing the hospital does show up, what does the country get? Again, nothing different from the status quo, things will go on the same as they did since the election. People will complain about it to the grave, but it will still be status quo.
The really interesting question that nobody seems to ask (or is just afraid to) is this:
If a birth certificate does show up and is authenticated showing Obama is NOT a “natural born citizen” then what?
Regardless of which side of the debate you land on, what would happen? What would you do? What would the country as a whole do? Who becomes the President? Is is Joe Biden, or does it fall back to Bush? Possibly it becomes the Speaker of the House? (another first in history, having a woman president?). Do we try to roll back all of the changes and decisions made by Mr. Obama, or only some. Or possibly None of his changes.
This is a fascinating situation and I would love to see people’s ideas and comments regarding this.
98. timmy | 08.04.09
wow, there are some looney people in this world….all done in the name of religion and power.
99. Len_RI | 08.04.09
Orly Taitz is a liar. I viewed the video on her website titled “Natural Born Citizen” which purports to explain what it means to be a natural born citizen and explain why Obama is not. The video is filled with deception and outright lies. I sent Orly a message on her website challenging her to let me publish my point-by-point refutation of the video. She did not reply. I can only assume that I received no reply because she knows the video is false and won’t let me say so on her website.
Orly Taitz is a liar.
100. i | 08.04.09
According to Wikipedia Official languages of Kenia are Swahili AND (surprise) English. P.S. I do not support Orly. Just for general knowledge.
101. Broderick | 08.04.09
Not taking sides on this particular issue, it is at least interesting to hear what she had to say when she was allowed to speak on Michael Savage’s show. Freedom of speech is a great thing, regardless of what the issue is.
102. sdw2is | 08.04.09
The Birthers are to the Republicans the way the truthers are to the Democrats.
Unfortunately for the democrats most people who don’t beleive we landed on the moon (mooners?) are democrats (1 out of three progressives- gallup).
You’re still ahead on crazies.
103. Kathleen Pfeiffer | 08.04.09
http://politijab.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2099#p54695 end of story
104. jo | 08.04.09
This is crazy personified.
I was born in Virginia, and I do not have this “long form” certificate naming doctors, witnesses etc.
I was born at home.
I have a certificate of live birth for “baby girl” and my parents last name. This was adequate for a birth certificate.
My mother was also a home birth in a rural area of Pennsylvania. She has no birth certificate. When it was time for her to apply for social security, the only record she has was an entry in the family bible. That was accepted by the Social Security administration as proof of date of birth and birth in America.
States are not required by federal law to follow any standard at all in issueing birth documentation. There is not “long form” for anyone born in Hawaii to show.
The Constitution does not require that a presidential candidate produce any proof of citizenship.
You crazy people do not speak for the people. You do not represent the Constitution or the country in any way.
The people elected Obama. This is a democracy and the People have spoken.
You are an embarrassment to the country and are making an international laughingstock of Aemrica.
105. doubleplusgood | 08.04.09
The state of Hawaii no longer releases the long form birth certificates.
BHO has already released his Certificate of Live Birth which clearly shows his place of birth as Honolulu. What more would the long form add?
Also the announcements in the newspapers the day after he was born kind of refute the whole argument. Those announcements are sent by the Hawaii Department of Health to the newspapers so if he was born in Kenya there is no way his birth would have been announced in Hawaii.
Even the argument “they could have phoned it in” is bogus since it would have been pretty hard to find a phone able to call from Kenya to Hawaii in those days. Remember this was 1961. Try going to a third world country today and you’ll see how bad communications networks are. Imagine how bad it was in Kenya in 1961. Give me a break. Also why would they even bother? “Yes let me phone in the birth in case my half black son wants to be president one day. I have such good foresight that I can imagine a day when that would be possible in America, and I know how smart and ambitious my little one is.”
Its really amazing watching people bend over backwards to ignore facts and logic in order to invent their own reality. You realize how easy some people are to manipulate.
106. BrooklynGirl | 08.04.09
HELLO…IS THIS THING ON?!?!? Can anyone explain why this Kenyan birth certificate is written in American English?
107. Doron | 08.04.09
As a US citizen of Israeli descent, Ms. Taitz offends and horrifies me. The State of Hawaii has stated flatly that Obama was born there. It is ILLEGAL for original birth certificates to be released in the 50th State. Nuff said. If Obama’s name was Charles Everett Smith, and he was white, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion. Its just a veil for racism, plain and simple. Ms. Taitz, if she is a lawyer, is a pretty bad one, as she does not even seem to know that the US Constitution says nothing about the parentage of a President. If it did, Washington, Adams, Madison and Monroe couldn’t ever have been citizens, becuase, well.. think about it! Smokescreen and distraction. Nauseating.
109. NativeNewYorker | 08.04.09
To Commenter 51 - absolutely brilliant - not surprised to find the voice of reason coming from Brooklyngirl.
110. Earl Dumarest | 08.04.09
I’ll make it real simple. Lots of people were born in Kenya in 1962. All we have to do is look at other birth certificates from Kenya and see if they are in the same form.
If they are , Obama is not a citizen.
If they are not, the document is a fake.
Also, if the document is a fake, the forger went to a lot of trouble to get the history of Kenya right, because the dates on the BC are correct in accordance with Kenya’s history of independence.
And also the BC is notarized. How do you get a 46 year old notary stamp to make a fake document?
111. Earl Dumarest | 08.04.09
One more thing. Obama’s mother, Stanley, is the reason he wouldn’t be a citizen. It has something to do with her age and how long she was out of the country when Obama was born. I would provide a link but the Obama worshippers wouldn’t read it anyways.
112. jo | 08.04.09
Wow… actual birthers? I thought you were made-up, like elves? Seriously? Just… wow.
113. Frankie Lane | 08.04.09
Happy Birthday Obama. I guess you are 2 years old since your American birth certificate was issued in 2007. Hmmm. What do you call someone who doesn’t question a birth certificate issued in 2007 for someone 48 years old?
114. Mully | 08.04.09
21. AzKen | 08.04.09
“Three people saw this on MSNBC. Who cares?”
Im laughing my you know what off right now. Thank YOU AzKen. Since MSNBC’s ratings are so down the toilet, your statement bears considerable weight.
Its the tactics that these two so called “journalists” employed while attempting to interview (I use that term very loosely here btw) Orly that will continue to keep laughable “news” programs such as MSNBC at the botton of the ratings.
To the person who said that all birthers hate black people and just dont want one as president….WRONG! We just dont want THIS black person as president!!!
115. 14-Alpha | 08.04.09
For those citing the 14th-Amendment:
The Constitutional requirement for natural-born Citizenship pre-dates the 14th Amendment by 81 years. You will also note that those who become citizens of the United States by virtue of the 14th Amendment share the SAME CLASS of citizenship with those who are naturalized.
Could there be two classes of United States citizenship? Those who would still be Citizens if the 14th Amendment were repealed and those who wouldn’t?
Certainly appears so.
116. WiseOldMan | 08.04.09
Where Birthers come from . . .
When a “Flat Earth” fool and a “Faked Moon Landing” flake mate, you get a “Birther.”
Taitz and the other “lawyers” who are driving this Birther nonsense bring shame to the legal profession.
Taitz earned her law degree from Taft, a correspondence law school in Southern California. It is not ABA accredited. Taft notes on its website that: “Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or to satisfy the requirements for admission to practice in jurisdictions other than California.”
Did Taitz represent that soldier in Georgia?
How odd. She would not qualify to take the bar exam in Georgia, which requires that the law degree be earned at an ABA accredited school. I am surprised that Georgia would admit her Pro Hoc Vice, if they wouldn’t even let her sit for the Georgia bar exam. Odd.
117. jo_rebutter | 08.04.09
To Jo:
“The Constitution does not require that a presidential candidate produce any proof of citizenship.”
Yes it does, Read it at some point.
“You crazy people do not speak for the people. You do not represent the Constitution or the country in any way.”
Neither do you, for that matter. We only speak for ourselves.
“The people elected Obama. This is a democracy and the People have spoken.”
No it’s not by the way, it’s a Republic.
“You are an embarrassment to the country and are making an international laughingstock of Aemrica.”
Aemrica?? you call us embarrassing?
119. Carolina | 08.04.09
This chick is bonkers and has a mountain of ethics complaints against her. If the “birthers” want to be taken seriously (lol) then they should have employed someone who doesn’t look like Frenchy from Grease to be their spokeswoman.
120. Chris B | 08.04.09
I’m wondering if Obama is not releasing his long-form birth certificate just so that these Birthers will get themselves all worked up, spending all their time and energy and money and credibility, looking like idiots. That’s what I would do. But I am mean tease like that.
And to top it all off, on his last day in office he should release the long form birth certificate and have a good laugh.
121. dino goposaur | 08.04.09
What does it feel like to have the entire world laughing at you? Some village out there is missing an idiot.
122. Vince | 08.04.09
#57 and #65…
What language do you think they speak in Kenya? Kenyan? While there are a myraid of tribal languages used widely, courtesy of the British, English is the official language of the country; one of two, alongside Swahili.
As to the birth cert stuff…I’m amused by the discussion. Know nothing about it; but have to say based on a preponderance of circumstances, I’d like to the origninal and the college records.
The only problem I see is that IF Obama were not qualified to be President, that would mean swearing in Joe Biden, or if the election was therefore challenged, Nancy Pelosi. Heaven help us. I’d tell the birthers to be careful for what you ask for!
123. royce | 08.04.09
I am a Natural Born Citizen, born in the state of Texas, to 2 US born parents and my Birth Certificate, the only one I could get a hold of looks EXACTLY like the President’s.
The only difference is that instead of “Certification of Live Birth” the TX one says “Certification of Vital Record”.
The birth certificate that has been released is as good as you can get in any state that has computerized it’s record, which is nearly all of them.
If you don’t believe me, go down to your local courthouse and get yours printed up. You wont be an American Citizen either by your own standards.
124. db | 08.04.09
Why has no one ever, ever questioned the citizenship of a sitting U.S. president until President Obama?
The answer is simple. What do all presidents before President Obama have in common? What’s the one thing about President Obama that’s different from all previous presidents?
This is nothing but a racial issue. Simply put, the people who believe in this far-reaching conspiracy to give President Obama fake U.S. citizenship are racists. They simply cannot accept that a black man is our duly-elected president. And it’s only natural that they deal with their impotent rage by casting doubt on President Obama’s citizenship because, deep down, they’ve *always* seen *all* blacks as being not quite “real” Americans.
125. libsechumanist | 08.04.09
The birther posts above are jokes, right? Satire, right? You’re being S a t i r i c a l - right?
Hawaii produced the President’s birth certificate in 2008; Chris Matthews held up a copy on his show weeks ago. This is all about scared people, frightened people who just can’t handle that the US doesn’t have a lily-white President. Get over it. President Obama was duly elected to the Office of the President of the United States, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii 48 years ago to a Caucasian American mother and a Black Kenyan father. Deal with it. The only person running for President last year that wasn’t born in the United States was John McCain, and even he is a natural-born citizen of the US because he was born in a American military hospital to American citizens.
126. Juloe Landsdowne | 08.04.09
Unbelievable how ignorant many well meaning Americans are about this issue
& Barry Soetoro.
It scares me that so much of the public have gone completely
Sheeple with this guy & what his plans are for this
Country. People need to do more than scratch the surface of
Any issue today. The days of being informed by MSM is gone
David schuster you had an opportunity of a lifetime
To open this discussion up with mature, intelligent questioning.
But you are a coward. You’ll only be remembered now for
Good hair.
128. Joel C | 08.04.09
The burden of proof is on Obama, because the birthers refuse to believe Hawaii’s system of records? You’ve got to be kidding me.
How do we know Bush was a citizen? Who’s to say all of the past presidents were not aliens, either from other countries or from space? We don’t have first-hand proof of their human lineage, do we? After all, any documentation is subject to tampering, right?
How does any of this make logical sense? It is in fact pure idle speculation by anti-Obama nutjobs, and nothing more.
129. DODAD | 08.04.09
Why would anyone want to go on obama television to make a point? The think obama is the missing link for rateings. Kinda stupid arn’t they. MSNBC bottom of the pile.
130. MoniQue | 08.04.09
We are getting way off track here.
The fact is that when the American people asked Obama to prove his qualifications, one being that he was a natural born citizen (born on U.S. soil), Obama provided a forged birth certification, which has been proven to be a forgery by every single expert who has examined it. And no, Factcheck.org is not an “expert” so don’t bother counting them.
Until anyone in the media addresses THAT, no other arguments matter.
Because…
Only criminals and con artists use fraudulent identification documents.
But don’t take my word or the media’s word for it, see it for yourself:
http://obamadocuments.wordpress.com/
131. JP in MO | 08.04.09
You folks do realize that at least a dozen “birther” lawsuits have been heard, and thrown out of federal courts around the country - several of them by Republican Judges appointed by Bush 41 or 43. Are the federal courts in on this conspiracy too??? Get real. Why not use your enthusiasum to help get our ridiculous health care system fixed?
132. KEvron | 08.04.09
“The point where finally the birther movement starts to lose its steam.”
oh, god! i hope not. i’ve really been enjoying my role as sancho panza.
keep donating to orly, birfers.
KEvron
133. Gary | 08.04.09
Obamagadon is here.
You wanted change… well, you certainly got it. Now you gotta live with it.
The OBAMANATION of America is going to be complete very soon. Just a dozen more Czars or so… a few more bailouts, maybe a couple more Unions in power and that Community Organizer will control every aspect of your lives… and the lives of your children and grandchildren and maybe their grandchildren…
Great decision America!!!
BTW: Is there any doubt why MSNBC is going backrupt and FOXnews is soaring?
(Maybe it’s another grassroots conspir, eh?)
134. Margot | 08.04.09
I know I shouldn’t take the bate. It’s too insane an argument. But here is the U.S. Department of State’s definition of who is eligible for U.S. citizenship by birth. Please note the second and the fourth bolded points:
http://travel.state.gov/law/info/info_609.html
In short, if Obama was born to at least one U.S. citizen parent, no matter married or not, it doesn’t matter where he was born as long as the said parent had been at some point previously physically present in the U.S. for 10 years (for births between 12/24/52 and 11/13/86). Obama’s mother was both a U.S. citizen and had resided in the U.S. all her life - considerably more than 10 years. Thus, Barak Obama was and is a U.S. citizen by birth. He was no more subject to any immigration procedures than any other American coming back to the U.S. from abroad after a vacation, a study abroad program, or a military tour of duty. Therefore, Ms. Taitz’s claim that Mrs. Obama may have had a reason to lie in order to avoid immigration costs is ridiculous.
135. FARfetched | 08.04.09
To those birthers who demand to see “the long form” — dollar to a doughnut that you’d dismiss it as a fake too.
Face it, nothing will satisfy you. You will attempt to destroy the country just to tear down one man. Shame on you all.
138. willy | 08.04.09
Before I saw this the broadcast, I never thought about it.
Now I do not believe Obama. Spending millions to illegally use a Court to hide something by a public official, only says he is just a liar to us.
Good journalism to expose this guy. None of my friends trust him anymore and say he is not right mentally. Now, I will listen to that part of their conversations more.
139. whirlaway | 08.04.09
“Why can’t we see his long-form? ”
Because… The… State… of… Hawaii… does… NOT… repeat… does… NOT… repeat… again… does… NOT… issue… the… long-… form… birth… certificate… to… anybody!
Got it? Sorry! Should say - “Got… it?”
140. Matt | 08.04.09
I thought she was crazy BEFORE the interview. Now, however, I can see that when she tries to talk about her points and stay on topic, they try to pick a fight between her and Ann Coulter. I agree with Orly on one thing; “Who cares about Ann Coulter?” Why does the media act like another “conservative” opposing someone or making comments about them is relevant? It’s TRASH media. MSNBC is a tabloid like so many of the other networks.
141. Jim | 08.04.09
Love it. Emily #25 said it best.
How much fun it is to watch these whacked-out spewers and their congressional representatives who just curl up with embarrassment when asked if they really believe in “birthers”.
142. Anne | 08.04.09
Obama could lay this whole thing to rest by producing his LONGFORM BC.
Why won’t he?
Either he doesn’t have one, or it has info that would prove detrimental to him.
I wonder why Hillary ran off to Kenya today, btw?
As for Orly Taitz, she is an American citizen (and unlike Obambi, she CAN and WOULD prove it, if need be.)
143. Anne | 08.04.09
Uh, whirlway? I happen to be a professional genealogist, and I know that longforms CAN be obtained if requested. I have obtained many for clients (with their written consent), while doing genealogical work.
And a (cough, cough) “President” of the US could certainly obtain it, if a lowly genealogist like me can obtain them.
144. max | 08.04.09
There is a long form birth certificate in the possession of the Hawaii authorities.
Obama refuses to release it as well as all his school records. He has also hired Perkins Coie to fight any lawsuits demanding they be released.
There is a reason he is fighting this.
Was he born Kenya? maybe, maybe not.
Or could it be something else is on there that he doesn’t want anyone to see???
Release the long form Obama.
145. John Humboldt | 08.04.09
Kenya was an English colony until December 12, 1963. I’m reminded now why I don’t watch “news” programmes on the tely.
146. Deb | 08.04.09
Let’s see. We libs are so dumb to believe all this when those arguing FOR a Kenyan birth cite an article of the Constitution that doesn’t exist when trying to prove their point? Want to see how much research the average birther has done? Google article 6.1 US constitution and here’s what you get:
http://home.comcast.net/~sharonday7/Presidents/AP0601.htm
for those who can’t be bothered, it’s some teacher’s Homework Help page on The President and the U.S. Constitution. The first line of the first answer reads:
Reply: It is found in the Constitution of the United States, Article II, Section 1, Clause 5:
You can’t even be bothered to click on a link from Google and READ what it says, and I should believe you? At least I’ve done the research - and I do mean research - like hunting down the U.S. Code of Law and all of the amendments to it - to understand why these people NEED for Obama to have been born elsewhere. It’s because the rest of the stuff they spout is nonsense - all the federalist writings in the world don’t trump the U.S. code of law in court. And the U.S. code of law, even in 1961, declared that any child born on U.S. soil is a natural born citizen.
147. Cal | 08.04.09
It still astonishes me that people can be so stupid as to believe in this ridiculous conspiracy theory.
It’s quite appropriate that this crazy woman’s name is O RLY, though.
148. JustOneKalpa | 08.04.09
Do you ever wonder how many birthers think the world was created 4,000 years ago by an “intelligent designer”?
149. Kitau | 08.04.09
kitau says: “I happen to be Kenyan. I was born 1 month before Obama at Mombasa medical center. I am a teacher here at the MM Shaw Primary School in Kenya. I compared my birth certificate to the one that has been put on by Taitz and mine is exactly the same. I even have the same registrar and format. The type is identical. I am by nature a skeptical person. I teach science here and challenge most things that cannot be proven. So I went to an official registrar today and pulled up the picture on the web. They magnified it and determined it to be authentic. There is even a plaque with Registrar Lavenders name on it as he was a Brit and was in charge of the Registrar office from 1959 until January of 1964. The reason the date on the certificate says republic of Kenya is that we were a republic when the “copy” of the original was ordered. I stress the word “copy.” My copy also has republic of Kenya.”
150. Brad | 08.04.09
http://www.obamanotqualified.com/hoax-claims_kenyan-birth-certificate-replies.htm
152. Lori | 08.04.09
When the facts about this and his other criminal activitys come to light, Obama will bring down the whole Demoncratic party as well as the MSM.
153. Mary | 08.04.09
Hey Deb, Obama’s mother did not have enough time as an american. Also his father was a dual citizen, thus making him ineleigible to become the president.
154. Jennifer | 08.04.09
This link answers alot of questions.
http://www.obamanotqualified.com/eligibility_guide_for_dummies.htm
155. Lilly | 08.04.09
The question we must ask the Obama-nuts is what did you know and when did you know it?
156. Kitau’s brother | 08.05.09
I happen to be Kenyan and Kitau’s older brother who also has internet access.
I am a teacher also and I teach Kitau to teach.
So believe me when I tell you that you should just believe that Kitau and I with our internet access here in Kenya want to weigh in on this controversy in the U.S. and want to assure all of you that the the people who say Obama was born in Kenya are absolutely correct.
We live in Kenya, so we know these things. That is why you should believe that we live in Kenya and know that the Obama devil was born here.
Because we live in Kenya and are commenting on this site. Kenya is where we live (we are definitely not whie Republicans that live South Carolina or Utah) and we are just interested in telling the truth. Because we know the truth (we are in Kenya) and felt obligated to tell Americans the truth about the Obamanation.
The truth is that Obama was born here in Kenya, where we definitely live.
signed,
Kitau’s brother (in Kenya)
158. Rob J. | 08.05.09
Good Lord, it has come to this: the village idiots wearing underwear on their head in Monty Python style are bashing their heads against the bricks and insisting on a “Long Form.”
I thought we were a rational country, but the only explanation is either flouride in water or hormones in the cows milk. Or–yes–their aliens. Before you post about needing to see Obama’s form, I insist you first show me yours. Otherwise you will be transported to the Planet Zeltron, from whence you first came.
This has to both amuse and appall our allies, if we have any that don’t think we’re absolutely bonkers.
I want my country back–the good, decent country of Ozzie and Harriet where fruitcakes like this wouldn’t get the time of day.
159. justy | 08.05.09
Why does the left call anyone that questions Obama’s eligibility a nut? To me, anyone who would spend close to a million dollars fighting lawsuits to keep his birth certificate sealed is the nut unless, of course, he has something to hide. I wonder who is paying for his team of high-powered lawyers. I hope it’s not the taxpayers. He is the president of the most powerful country in the world. It’s time he acted like one and get this settled once and for all. When questioned during the campaign, John McCain came up with his birth certificate. It’s time that Obama did the same.
160. unionavenue | 08.05.09
…she’s a lawyer? You’ll have to forgive me I mistook her for an escaped mental patient.
Someone needs to gently remind Orly that watching endless re runs of Hee Haw and Jerry Springer does not in any way qualify as an education.
If she’s the “leader” of these loony tunes I’d hate to see the followers.
161. ted | 08.05.09
Birthers You’re 15 minutes of fame are over. You have embarrassed yourselves and embarrassed this country in front of the world. When scientists look for the missing link, they will know where to go.
162. Skeeter Sanders | 08.05.09
It’s time to “call a spade a spade” and call the “Birther Movement” out for what it is: Angry white people who simply cannot stand the fact that a black man is President of the United States.
In fact, this movement has spread like wildfire among white-supremacist groups:
http://www.skeeterbitesreport.com/2009/08/letter-from-editor-birther-movement.html
163. Debra Schrishuhn | 08.05.09
Obviously, we need serious health care reform with universal coverage so that Orly and the rest of the birthers can get the therapy and psychotropic medication they need.
164. Ahnuld for Prez | 08.05.09
If OBAMA isn’t a natural born citizen AND the American people made him president, then the Constitutional requirement for being a “natural born citizen” has been nullified by the American voter !
Arnold for Prez in 2012 !!!
165. Dan | 08.05.09
I don’t understand why people are so intimidated by the birthers. I thought the founding fathers of this nation wanted the people to question the government. Not just sit by, and take everything you are told by our government as the truth. The only way I can see for this to be resolved is for Obama to just release his original birth certificate. It could be cleared up in a matter of minutes. As far as our government goes. Question everything, and do your own research. Don’t just take everything for granted that you are told by our media and the White House.
166. CB Stevens | 08.05.09
“…questioning Obama’s citizenry…”???? Is the man a state unto himself now? The appropriate word is ‘citizenship’. I certainly expect better editing than this from the CSM!
167. Ken | 08.05.09
This is hysterically funny — and amazing. Facts truly are stubborn things for the Birthers. And the GOP Death Spiral continues….
168. RUBS | 08.05.09
Are you kidding me? The lady can’t even answer a simple question. Birthers could not have picked a better representative! She has no ground to stand on. If you believe in this nonsense, you are a fool. BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.
169. crazyville | 08.05.09
When you apply for a birth certificate you get exactly what Obama produced and it is the required papaerwork needed in order to obtain a passport.
BTW, as is stated in Title 8 he would still qualify. Orly Taitz is a whackadoo. Now if you will excuse me Harvey and I are going to get a drink.
170. Hortensia | 08.05.09
The summation of the whole matter: Skip Blogs. Read the rest of the Monitor. Watch PBS.
Tell Orly to take an 180′ turn around in Israel, and see how she can “improve their government”.
171. Maggie | 08.05.09
Wow, it’s amazing how many idiots there are in our country. Just because your party didn’t win, you are trying to delegitimize an election where Obama won by an overwhelming majority. In my opinion, the far right wackos are all domestic terrorists and racists. And if you believe in the birther movement, you are stupid - period. As for Orly Taitz, what drugs is she on? Why don’t you all go and form your own country somewhere if you are so unhappy here?
172. Marge | 08.05.09
Republicans are fact based. We just want one fact: Obama’s birth certificate. He never produced one, and we need one of our own kind in the White house not a foreigner. Will we have to suffer under foreign rule until President Palin takes office in 2012?
173. John Der Stepanian | 08.05.09
Why hasn’t anyone else taken the long view that Benjamin Netanyahou is behind it all? Is no one aware that he has declared a personal war on Obama for offering to speak directly with Iran? Israeli fanaticism is something to fear and with Bennie at the helm, anything goes. Don’t forget they assassinated their own president when he dared to make peace with the Palestinians.
174. Ace | 08.05.09
If President Obama was to appear on national TV, holding up the “long form” certificate, the birthers would scream that it was a forgery.
Who would the birthers choose to authenticate such a document?
176. Old Professor | 08.05.09
I wish you folks would leave the “birthers” alone. They are not hurting anyone and their ranting makes them easy to track. This is a country that prides itself on freedom of speech. They are free to preach that Hawaii is actually a part of Kenya. I have heard that we had a lot of citizens who were weak in geography. That is no crime. Not good, but no crime.
177. Seth | 08.05.09
Is David Shuster mentally deficient? Obama’s mother fills out a form that says he was born in Honolulu, gets a Hawaiian birth certificate for her son, and a notice is published based on that form. And he stupidly (!) asks his question like the birth announcements required some sort of prescience? And then keeps interrupting her while she tries to explain?
I’d like to ask him if he is stupid. If somebody has an e-mail address for him, please post it here. He won’t respond, but I’ll feel better.
178. Jason M. Christos | 08.06.09
I do commend Orly Taitz for raising awareness of how much we cannot be sure of. It was said “the smartest man knows what he does not know”. But the opposition to Obama are smearing credibility by presenting possibilities as facts, people in support of Orly Taitz need to adopt a more agnostic viewpoint to attract Obama supporters. Meaning avoid stating emphatically that Obama was not born in Honalulu until there are two witnesses of birth elswhere.
179. Paper Mache | 08.06.09
I can’t say I know enough about this subject, but I just have to question the interviewers’ tactics here. Throwing in an accusation of racism is immature without the appropriate backing - it is just bad journalism! I don’t want to watch the news to see childish nonsense. Just end the interview if the person is non-compliant, don’t turn it into the Jerry Springer Show.
180. AF | 08.06.09
Thank you for this perfect summation of the whole thing Steve,
“I wish that those demanding to see a birth certificate had demanded from Mr. Bush to produce evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Perhaps several thousand American lives could have been saved.”
Amen brother!
181. JP-Atl | 08.06.09
Why the arguments back and forth? Why can’t we agree to pull the original hospital birth certificate and put the issue behind us?
182. molly cruz | 08.06.09
I think what really gripes these losers is the fact that we don’t care where he was born; we LIKE him. we LOVE him. And no Republican has the charisma to demand that kind of devotion. Where was all this energy when it became clear McCain was also born elsewhere? Birth has nothing to do with it. He’s a winner. They are losers.
183. Greg Thomas | 08.06.09
Let’s go back to end of story Mr. Jim Kelly. I looked up this law Title 8 Chapter 12 Sub charter III Part I Section 1401 and it states that “a person born outside the geographical limits of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents one of whom is an alien, and the other a citizen of the United States who, prior to the birth of such person, was physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than five years, at least two of which were after attaining the age of fourteen years” It seems to me that between November 29,1956 Ms Dunham’s fourteen birthday and Barrack Obama’s birth date is more than two years.
184. Jud Williams, Cumming, GA | 08.06.09
The issue does muddy the water but is something I feel should be resolved as I don’t want to be deceived about our chief executive. My “jury” is still out as far as Obama is concerned. I do like that he shows a lot of energy and is “doing something” in contrast to his predecessor. My general thoughts about the congress is that I would favor term limits because inherently ignorant and greedy people are able to establish themselves into a system that by its very nature breeds corruption. I am very much of a constitutionalists who values free Enterprise as the best route for our republic. Seems our founding fathers had some inherent knowledge and incredible intelligence at a level we doubtfully will ever experience again.
185. Gerry | 08.06.09
Keep talking Orly Taitz, you are doing the left a huge favor. PLus, what’s up with the emerging story of Oily’s involvement as informant with KGB. She should be deported!
186. Ronnie Dobbs | 08.06.09
Why are people still talking about this?
Ignore these zealots and they will go away. Shame on MSNBC for giving this troglodyte a forum to spout her garbage.
187. Kim | 08.07.09
It is sad to see what we have come to. Now if you are not a supporter of Obama then fine but come on people!! Don’t you think during his campaign that Democrat and Republican opposition would have found that out & ran with it. Use some intelligence. For goodness sake, HE WENT TO HARVARD!!! Futhermore, Taitz needs to let go of this anger. How dare she say “brownshirts.”In an earlier post, Someone made a comment about Jew & being perfect. It has nothing to do with that, but the fact families were destroyed & murdered. How would you feel if someone just hated you for your color or your beliefs and made you slaves or put you in a gas chamber????? So her use of brownshirts was totally out of line. I can only pray that we receive more peace and work together. Just ignore foolishness!!!!
188. morris o | 08.07.09
Orly Taitz is nothing but a total nutcase who is making a total fool of herself over Obama being born in Kenya. She looks like an escapee from the Nut House and they should take her and put her in straight jacket as she needs to take medication for her insanity. Actually they should send her back to Russia, as they could probably hire her to do something that she is qualified to do like cleaning toilets at McDonald’s.
189. Louise | 08.07.09
I know I shouldn’t feed the trolls, but I can’t help myself.
In reply to #114- Yes other presidential candidates’s citizenship has been questioned. There was a George Rommeny (?sp) in 1960’s born in Mexico of 2 US Citizens. More famously good old Barry Goldwater- born in AZ before it became a state. John McCain was born in Panama to 2 US Citizens.
# 120 really citing a wordpress birther blog as a source is sad at best. Deluded is more like it.
#148 Rob….I still haven’t quit laughing, good post.
People there is a world of difference between natural born citizen (yep, you too can be president) and a NATURALIZED citizen (Sorry Arnold ain’t gonna happen) for those who are too dense, deluded or oh heck, whatever. If your parents weren’t born here and you weren’t born here but you became a citizen by the naturalization process you are not a natural born citizen, you are naturalized….a citizen, but a naturalized citizen.
191. Oscar | 08.07.09
All that has to be done is producing the original long birth certificate. Is that so hard?
192. Kyle in Santa Barbara | 08.07.09
Shame on the media for giving voice to this sham! They should be using their time and resources to report and uncover real NEWS.
193. Mekhong Kurt | 08.08.09
As I understand it, it’s *against the law* in Hawaii to release an original birth certificate. Further, Governor Lingle of Hawaii — a Republican, by the way — has been widely reported as saying she personally has seen Obama’s Hawaii birth certificate and that it’s legitimate. And some of the media clearly on the right have washed their hands of you in the birthers’ movement.
This reminds me of claims I heard that Bush just flew a Cessna or whatever a few hours then got designated a fighter pilot, which was just as nonsensical.
194. MCS | 09.18.09
I just have to say - all of the people who want the ORIGINAL birth certificate.
I was born in the US to two American parents. I couldn’t produce my original certificate if you paid me to. We lost it when I was a child and all that I have is a town-issued certificate of birth dated much later than my birthdate. And THAT doesn’t even have my correct date of birth on it, it just shows the day my parents told the town about me. God help me if I decide to run for president, I guess.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. James | 08.03.09
These journalist’s are slimeballs. They refuse to listen.