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Birthers, Deathers and silly summer of ‘09
Published Friday, July 31, 2009
American politics seem to never run out of energy lately. It was once the case that summers in D.C. were the quiet time of politics, the “off season.”
No more. Between the confirmation hearings for Judge Sotomayor and the wrangling over health care this summer, Washington has keep the headlines flowing.
But none of the headlines, with the possible exception of Sarah Palin updates, have been as fascinating, and as silly, as those of the “Birthers” and the “Deathers,” two Republican antics not for serious thinkers.
The Birthers are those who insist that Barack Obama is not legally the U.S. President because, they insist, he was not born in America. And yes, they do know, most of them, that Hawaii is in America.
But they see a conspiracy underlying the 2008 election, one insidious enough to overturn the vote of the people.
They believe, including at least one conservative talk show host, several Republican House members, and endless Internet bloggers, that Obama may have been born somewhere other than US soil, possibly Kenya.
What defense does Obama have against these charges?
Well, he has his certificate of live birth from Hawaii, the only affirmation of birth the state releases.
Ah, but the critics know that this document is not a Birth Certificate.
Apparently a birth certificate certifies an authentic birth, while a certificate of live birth only certifies a birth of a live baby. Having trouble distinguishing the difference? Of course, but that means you cannot be a Birther.
Then there is the Republican Governor of Hawaii who affirms that the original birth certificate is real and does exist.
And there is state Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino who states that Obama was born in Hawaii and is an American citizen.
Convincing? Hardly if you are a Birther.
The conspiracy that the Birthers have “uncovered” must also include the almost genius of Obama’s parents.
They must have known he might someday run for president and need to be an American citizen, so they carefully planted two birth announcements in Hawaiian newspaper to make the birth in Hawaii seem real.
How could they know you ask, that this baby, perhaps born in Kenya would need an American birth certificate to run for the American presidency? Genius, pure genius, thus the foresight to plant the fake birth announcements.
And all Obama has is government documents to prove his birth. Those documents are no more believable, as comedian Stephen Colbert notes, than our fake currency that, nowhere on it, says the word “money,” proving it is fraudulent basis.
The Birthers may be doing double duty as the “Deathers,” a group including at least one Republican congressman, who claim the health care program being discussed will result in your grandmother being told she has to pick her death in an interview with health care deciders.
Charlotte Allen, a conservative commentator says, “Obama is not going to say ‘Let’s kill them’, but he seems perfectly comfortable with the idea that a lot of old people are going to die a lot sooner.”
Republican Representative Louis Gohmert (TX) said “They’ll (seniors) be put on lists and (sic) force them to die early.”
Yes, the Deathers are claiming your Momma will be killed by the government if we accept a new health care plan in America.
It is easy to understand that Republicans, currently fallen from power, seek to find voters to support their causes and vote for them in 2010 and 2012.
But exactly what kind of voter are they seeking with Birthers and Deathers?
Aren’t most of those voters institutionalized?
Jim Crawford is a contributing columnist for The Tribune and a former educator at Ohio University Southern.
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Comments
Posted by keta (anonymous) on July 31, 2009 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm glad my departed Republican ancestors aren't here to see what their party has become. My question is, where in the world are the moderate Republicans? Why don't they come forward and speak rationally, try to put the brakes on the crazies instead of letting them represent their party? I heard yesterday that Sarah Palin is getting a radio show. That's all they need - Airhead America.
Posted by Vil (anonymous) on July 31, 2009 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Each side has their own loonies. The Democrats have the 9/11 Conspiracy people who won't shut up with their asinine claims that Bush and Cheney funded the terrorist plot that took down the two towers.
I'm surprised that Crawford hasn't done an article like that yet, since he is on the lunatic fringe of the left. I guess he's saving that one for when the Republicans get back in power.
Posted by gkhan (anonymous) on July 31, 2009 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jin Crawford is an idiot,I can't believe the Ironton paper lets him spout off on here.Jim if you are such a great writer why don't you try publishing in a large newspaper? no.didnt think so you know you would be laughed off the face of the earth you idiot!
Posted by know1 (anonymous) on July 31, 2009 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No further action need be taken to "end the discussion" or to "end the questions". The discussion is closed by order of the US Supreme Court, whose Chief Justice administered the Oath of Office of President of the United States, and by order of the Senate of the United States whom confirmed the electoral college voting results.
The discussion is OVER.
Anyone applying for a passport would get a certificate from their state of birth similar to that issued to Barack Obama and the same as publicly circulated and displayed. The Constitution does not require special forms of birth certificates to appease racist subversives undermining the presidency using falsified Kenya documentations and claims.
When it comes down to who do you trust, the STATE of HAWAII is trusted over unknown Kenyan alleged witnesses. STANLEY ANN Obama, Barack's mother, was unable to travel to Kenya for medical reasons, and an infant returning with her would not be admitted into the US for medical reason -- it didn't happen and was medically impossible due to Yellow Fever Virus Vaccination medical requirements.
Pregnant women were not vaccinated and infants under 1-year-old were not vaccinated. It didn't happen.
Stanley Ann was in classes at University of Hawaii before the birth -- there was no prolonged absence from classes. Barack Obama Senior was conspicuous as the FIRST-EVER BLACK STUDENT at University of Hawaii, and was not absent from classes before or after the birth.
The only conspiracy is the criminal fraud conspiracy falsifying documentation purporting that there are witnesses in Kenya who allegedly attended the alleged Kenyan birth. These felony fraudsters need to be punished with severe prison sentences, including those aiding and abetting after the fact, because they have undermined military good order and have already caused at least one officer to refuse orders of assignment caused by the fraud crime. This is not harmless political tug-of-war but actual treason. Traitors must be punished for undermining America's security during a time of war.
Posted by keta (anonymous) on July 31, 2009 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The best thing on TV is reporters chasing republican legislators around the capital, asking them whether they agree with the Birthers and Deathers. They can't say yes, because they'll sound retarded, and they can't say no because they need those wingnut votes. So they walk really fast and say they're on their way to an important meeting. Call my office and make an appointment! Good talking to you! They kill me.
Posted by Noesis (anonymous) on August 1, 2009 at 1:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The best thing on TV is reporters chasing republican legislators around the capital, asking them whether they agree with the Birthers and Deathers.
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What, you talking about Mike Stark's video? I wouldn't really call him a TV reporter: Mike Stark is an American blogger, political activist, and one-time law student. His posts appear at The Huffington Post, Daily Kos and several other group-blogs. He was a panelist at the 2006 and 2007 Yearly Kos conventions.
And is it just republicans?
A prominent Pennsylvania Democrat has sued Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic National Committee and the Federal Election Commission, claiming that Obama is not a natural-born citizen and, therefore, is not eligible to be president of the United States.
Philip J. Berg, a former member of Pennsylvania's Democratic State Committee and former deputy attorney general of Pennsylvania, filed the lawsuit this week in U.S District Court, asking the court to declare Obama ineligible for the presidency
And although not a birther myself since I think Obama would be eligible because his mom was a U.S. Citizen, they do have a point... All one has to do to have somebody registered for a birth certificate was make a phone call and say he was born at home. And an announcement in the newspaper is proof? Are you telling me proud grandparents have never submitted birth announcements to the newspapers?
The thing that has me really confused is that the Birthers just want to see documents.... his original birth certificate, his financial aid records to see if he requested help as a foreign born student but for some reason, Obama is spending hundreds of thousand of dollars in lawyer fees to prevent people from seeing those documents...
That's pretty funny coming from the Mr Transparency. What is he hiding?
Posted by Noesis (anonymous) on August 1, 2009 at 1:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And Keta, where were the moderate democrats when you had all the crazy "truther's" in Congress and in America? In fact your whole party was crazy thinking that Bush went to war with Iraq just to plunder their oil. You guys are way worse than the Birthers... You still are.
Actually, your republican ancestors would be ashamed of what your party is doing to this country...
Posted by bluemule (anonymous) on August 1, 2009 at 5:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe their angle is this..cast doubt on Obama's birth situation, so they can get rules changed for California's Gov. Swartznegger to be able to run. Yeah, I know, you think I am as crazy as a Crawford.
Posted by keta (anonymous) on August 1, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Noesis, the lawsuit-filing birther you mentioned, Philip Berg, is the same guy who filed the lawsuit against George Bush for being complicit in the 9/11 attacks. He's a birther AND a truther, an equal opportunity nutcase. Using him as an example of a smart guy who agrees with you is a bad idea. I don't blame you for claiming not to be a birther yourself, too cartoony, but obviously you are one. ("The birthers just want to see documents....) They want to see a long form. There is no long form. They demand that Obama produce it anyway. My Republican ancestors would have cracked up over this. They may have been republicans, but they were reasonable people.
Posted by AlisonMiller (anonymous) on August 1, 2009 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seriously, IF Obama caved and showed these folks a document when he didn't have to I would lose a huge amount of respect for him.
It's like Democrats are the new John Waynes, Clint Eastwoods, and Shafts; Republicans are a bunch of whiny "why-don't-you- just-do-what-we-want-you-to-do-and-this-will-all-be-over?"
It's embarrassing.
Posted by Noesis (anonymous) on August 1, 2009 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seriously, IF Obama caved and showed these folks a document when he didn't have to I would lose a huge amount of respect for him.
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Anybody remember TANG? You know... how democrats DEMANDED Bush release his military records.... how is this ANY different? Oh wait... Bush released them to show that he wasn't hiding anything.
And documents seem pretty important to democrats... when Joe the Plumber had his little talk with Obama, democrats in Ohio were tripping all over themselves to release his private information.
Posted by Noesis (anonymous) on August 1, 2009 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Philip Berg, is the same guy who filed the lawsuit against George Bush for being complicit in the 9/11 attacks. He's a birther AND a truther, an equal opportunity nutcase.
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Wow, democrats put nutcases in charge of Pennsylvania's Democratic State Committee and former deputy attorney general of Pennsylvania... well, of course, they put a community organizer in charge of America...
Posted by Noesis (anonymous) on August 1, 2009 at 6:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They want to see a long form. There is no long form.
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Talking about things your clueless on again Keta, eh?
Posted by Noesis (anonymous) on August 2, 2009 at 6:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe keta was alluding to the reference in the story above which states "Well, he has his certificate of live birth from Hawaii, the only affirmation of birth the state releases.
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Actually Neo, that isn't true
The state official in Hawaii who manages such things has reiterated that there is indeed an original birth certificate on file which would confirm President Obama's having been born in Hawaii and that she has seen it, but state law won't allow her to release it unless the president authorizes it. (and yes Keta, this info may be Cheeto laced, I took it from Huffpost. http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/23057... )
Posted by AlisonMiller (anonymous) on August 3, 2009 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Noesis, that was Bush's fault. Give some people an inch and they'll expect a mile. They walked all over him. He could actually learn a lesson from Palin--she refused to release records that weren't necessary either.
Posted by Noesis (anonymous) on August 5, 2009 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Neo, I listened to an interview with Arnold last week. I agree with him when he said that the constitution may change sometime in the future but it wouldn't be in his lifetime.
Alison... since being a citizen is a requirement for office, I believe people should be able to see his birth certificate.
Posted by AlisonMiller (anonymous) on August 6, 2009 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Noesis, it doesn't matter if he releases it.
The nutsos would just claim it was a fake.
The damage has been done.
Posted by Noesis (anonymous) on August 8, 2009 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Alison... what damage? How is this any different than the truthers..... who waaaaaay outnumber the birthers?
Posted by thunderrolls (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wait, Noesis, i just read your earlier remarks, you honestly think there was another reason to go into Iraq other than oil?? With all the info. gathered by now, you're still in the regular "I do not recall" neoconservative mentallity.
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