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Obama campaign claims suspect "birth certificate" as genuine item
Israel Insider ^ | June 21, 2008 | Reuven Koret

Posted on 06/25/2008 9:10:21 PM PDT by Red Steel

In response to mounting media questions about the failure of the Barack Obama presidential campaign to produce the presumptive Democratic nominee's birth certificate, an official spokesman of the campaign has endorsed as genuine the image of a document purporting to be his "birth certificate." But some who have examined that image in high resolution claim inconsistencies and irregularities which suggest that the purported document is a forgery. Its high profile use by the campaign, they claim, suggests an attempt to conceal the truth of Obama's birth circumstances and citizenship qualifications from the American people.

The campaign has posted only a low-resolution image of that document, which it claims is his "birth certificate," on its "Fight the Smears" website, along with purported proof of why the claim that Obama may not qualify as a "natural born citizen" is false:

--- Lie: Obama Is Not a Natural Born Citizen

Truth: Senator Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961, after it became a state on August 21st, 1959. Obama became a citizen at birth under the first section of the 14th Amendment "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...." ---

Contrary to the campaign's claims, the issue of when Hawaii became a state and the wording of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, are not at issue.

Rather it is Article Two, Section One of the Constitution which requires that the President be a "natural born citizen" and not simply a naturalized citizen. The issue is whether there is proof that Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961, the legal status of his mother at the time, and what exactly is written on the original birth certificate -- if it in fact such a certificate exists.

Some bloggers have claimed that the purported official State of Hawaii document, originally published by the radical left Daily Kos blog, is a fake, and a poorly executed one at that.

Examination of the higher resolution of the image indicates irregularities which suggest to some that the purported "certificate" may be a forgery produced or modified by Photoshop or another image-editing software, and not a genuine item.

The evidence, presented in greatest detail by the blogger Polarik at TownHall, includes:

1. Use of a second generation reproduction of the seal of the State of Hawaii at the top 2. Blacking out of the Certificate number in an attempt to prevent it from being traced 3. Absence of any official signature or seal which typically appear on such documents 4. Crudely arranged borders inconsistent with a professionally produced official document 5. Crude overlay of the textual items on top of the patterned background, indicating that the background was produced first and then the textual images laid on top of it by a graphical program rather than being scanned from the original. 6. Failure to use the double-S symbol before the listing the relevant statute (HRS 338-13b) as appears in official uses of the State of Hawaii. 7. The appearance of the backward facing text "Jun 6, 2007" that appears to come from a stamp in the lower right hand portion of the document. 8. The description of his father's race as African, when the term Negro was reportedly used at the time of birth. 9. The use of an identical typeface for all text items on the page.

Even if one or two of the above irregularities may have an explanation, they claim, the aggregate points to an amateurish attempt to manufacture an official-looking document that may not exist in the official records of the state of Hawaii.

On its face, this document does not even presume to be a copy of the original birth certificate -- contrary to the claims of the Obama campaign -- but rather a secondary Certification of Live Birth, which may be used when the original birth certificate can't be located, and can be produced after the fact with just the affadavits of a family member, or even the child himself.

The Obama campaign, however, has not even produced a paper version of this document, and indeed it does not even publish the high resolution version that appeared on the Daily Kos. It has not fulfilled the media's persistent requests to produce the original Birth Certificate, or to respond to media questions about the birth certificate controversy.

What could be the Obama campaign's motive for withholding the original birth certificate and passing off instead a crudely forged facsimile of a "Certification of Live Birth"?

Speculation in the blogosphere and mainstream media is rampant that the concealment is for one or more of the following reasons:

1. There is no proof that Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961. 2. The father listed on the birth certificate is not Barack Hussein Obama. 3. The father's race is listed as something other than African, perhaps Muslim or Arab. 4. The mother was no longer at that time an American citizen. 5. The child's name is not listed as Barack Hussein Obama II.

Jim Geraghty, reporting on the Campaign Spot blog of the National Review and one of the original writers on the controversy, cited the "rumor" that Obama was born not within the United States, but elsewhere, possibly Kenya.

Geraghty stated that "If Obama were born outside the United States, one could argue that he would not meet the legal definition of natural-born citizen -- because U.S. law at the time of his birth required his natural-born parent (his mother) to have resided in the United States for '10 years, at least [f]ive of which had to be after the age of 16.'"

He then points out that Ann Dunham, Obama's mother, was 18 when Obama was born "so she wouldn't have met the requirement of five years after the age of 16."

According to FindLaw.com, cited by Geraghty, the requirements that were in force from Dec. 24, 1952 to Nov. 13, 1986, encompassing the time of Obama's birth, state, "If only one parent was a U.S. citizen at the time of your birth, that parent must have resided in the United States for at least 10 years, at least five of which had to be after the age of 16."

Geraghty said the Obama campaign could "debunk" the rumors about his birth simply by releasing a copy of his birth certificate, but the campaign has so far chosen not to do that.

The seriousness of this latest controversy cannot be underestimated. Unlike the scandals related to Obama's various associations with unsavory characters, or claims about his Muslim upbringing, the issue here relates to his citizenship and legal qualification to run for President of the United States.

One would have thought that the most basic documentary proof of the location and date of his birth should be a basic and non-controversial requirement for any presidential candidate, and part of the public record, much more so than one's tax return or annual checkup. It is almost incomprehensible that they would withhold this information -- unless there is something to hide.

Ironically, a similar controversy surrounded Obama's likely opponent in the Presidential race, John McCain. McCain was born to two American parents, one of whom was serving in a US military hospital in the Panama Canal Zone.

This Washington Post column on "Citizen McCain's Panama Problem?" examines the issue:

"McCain was indeed born in the Canal Zone, and Article II of the Constitution plainly states that 'no person except a natural born Citizen... shall be eligible to the Office of President.'

"Some might define the term 'natural-born citizen' as one who was born on United States soil. But the First Congress, on March 26, 1790, approved an act that declared, 'The children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond sea, or outside the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural-born citizens of the United States.' That would seem to include McCain, whose parents were both citizens and whose father was a Navy officer stationed at the U.S. naval base in Panama at the time of John's birth in 1936."

But the issue is not legally closed, and therefore this year, as reported in the legal column of the Wall Street Journal a non-binding resolution was introduced and passed affirming that McCain qualifies as a "natural born Citizen," as specified in the Constitution and is therefore eligible for the highest office in the land. Ironically, the resolution was co-sponsored by Barack Obama.

About McCain, of course, there is no question about the facts surrounding his birth, but over their legal significance. He is not denying that he was born in Panama, or posting certificates that claim he was born in Florida. Obama's campaign, on the other hand, seems intent on evading the need to produce and submit to public scrutiny the official document that could prove that his qualification to run for President according to the Constitution.

The cloud of controversy, of course, could be dispelled with ease, of course, if Obama would release the real documentation of his birth, or even the original printed version of the online document the campaign claims as genuine. And yet the campaign is sticking by its guns, despite the evidence from the blogosphere pointing to the forgery and inadequacy of the proffered image of the non-birth certificate. Ben LaBolt, an Obama campaign spokesman, told the LA Times: "I can confirm that that is Sen. Obama's birth certificate."

Validation for the authenticity of the image is provided by a reporter for the St. Petersburg Times, who reportedly emailed the image and got a confirmation from an official in the Hawaiian Department of Health. "It's a valid Hawaii state birth certificate," spokesman Janice Okubo is quoted as telling the reporter.

Israel Insider is checking into this report and will report back on its findings.


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Hawaii
KEYWORDS: 2008; birthcertificate; certifigate; issues; obama; obamatruthfile
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To: Red Steel

I have felt this issue is a red herring and best to be avoided. Maybe it still is and Obama’s people are stringing us along knowing the truth.

I think the proper approach is a low key attempt to validate his birth certificate with out any fanfare.


21 posted on 06/25/2008 9:48:54 PM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: Red Steel

Look at the CORNERS of the doc....it’s PIECED.


22 posted on 06/25/2008 9:50:04 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Gondring

Amen....however this doc IS curious.


23 posted on 06/25/2008 9:51:37 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Jeff Head

BTTFT


24 posted on 06/25/2008 9:51:44 PM PDT by txhurl
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To: razorback-bert

One would think. What most troubles me about Obama is his tenuous ties to the United States. His most solid connections are those to his white grandparents and to his American wife. If he was not in fact born in the United States, then his American chracter is in question. He is to a degree that kind of foreign prince that the Constitution sought to debar from the office of Chief Magistrate, someone without deep roots in the country.


25 posted on 06/25/2008 9:54:57 PM PDT by RobbyS (Ecce homo)
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To: razorback-bert
>"So will someone go to court to make BO prove he is legal?"

You can bet Comrade Hillary will do just that, about two weeks before the election.
Just in time to slide in without ANY questions!

How Convienient!!


26 posted on 06/25/2008 9:55:03 PM PDT by rawcatslyentist ("If it's brown, drink it down. If it's black, send it back" -Homers guide to drinking in Springfield)
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To: William Tell
Isn't this almost certainly a lie?

Yes, the guys at Israel Insider spoke with Janice Okubo, Director of Communications of the State of Hawaii Department of Health which contradict what she said reported in the the St. Petersburg Times. See post #13.

27 posted on 06/25/2008 9:57:13 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Red Steel

Well, given Hussein’s purported presidential ambitions as a kindergartener, and his subsequent (purported) professorship of Constitutional Law, he would have been highly aware of any disqualifications at a relatively early age, and can be expected to have worked to smooth over any of that damning evidence long ago.

It might be true that he’s ineligible to compete for President. Certainly, much more remains uncertain in his case than in McCain’s. He should be challenged in court to show proof of natural citizenship.


28 posted on 06/25/2008 10:00:26 PM PDT by perchprism
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To: Red Steel

^


29 posted on 06/25/2008 10:01:15 PM PDT by txhurl
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To: Red Steel
This is a crudely faked "birth certificate." What the hell are Kos and the Obama propaganda machine hiding?


30 posted on 06/25/2008 10:02:53 PM PDT by FormerACLUmember (When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.)
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To: rawcatslyentist
You can bet Comrade Hillary will do just that, about two weeks before the election.

Hillary fan bloggers are all over this. No Quarters to name one.

31 posted on 06/25/2008 10:03:20 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Red Steel
From post #13: " ... which contradict what she said reported ..."

Was Janice Okubo asked specifically whether any reporter of the St. Petersburg Times emailed an image of a document and whether she provided any information to them?

I don't have the same expertise that others might have to identify the Obama document as a forgery.

But I do have the skill to identify a reporter's lie about something as simple as communicating with an official in Hawaii. Has the Times printed a retraction?

32 posted on 06/25/2008 10:07:01 PM PDT by William Tell (RKBA for California (rkba.members.sonic.net) - Volunteer by contacting Dave at rkba@sonic.net)
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To: Red Steel; All

O.K. Hillary; get ready to UN-suspend your campaign.


33 posted on 06/25/2008 10:09:05 PM PDT by no dems (B. Hussein is an Obamanation)
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To: razorback-bert
They absolutely should.

OsamaObama pulled the same tactic himself when he ran for state senate by getting rid of all of his opponents before the election based on technicalities. BHO made sure that he wouldn't lose by being the only one on the ballot.

He shouldn't now whine when the finger is pointed back at him in requesting authentic documents.

34 posted on 06/25/2008 10:11:32 PM PDT by Nasher
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To: FormerACLUmember

Ref. your post #30: I love it.


35 posted on 06/25/2008 10:13:14 PM PDT by no dems (B. Hussein is an Obamanation)
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To: William Tell
From the the St. Petersburg Times (TampaBay.com), 18th June:

"It's a valid Hawaii state birth certificate," spokesman Janice Okubo said after we e-mailed her our copy.:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article630058.ece

36 posted on 06/25/2008 10:18:10 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Ann Archy
Amen....however this doc IS curious.

Agreed.

Some things about it are very curious, even. :-)

But also, I have received "official" documents that were goofy looking, sometimes sealed with a non-embossed seal, etc. I don't mind the pressure on him to release a real one, but the way to go about it is important.

37 posted on 06/25/2008 10:26:14 PM PDT by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
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To: FormerACLUmember

Great post. However, it would have been better if you had used “you’re” instead of “your”.


38 posted on 06/25/2008 10:26:36 PM PDT by ab01
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To: Red Steel

Maybe he wasn’t actually born in 1961? Perhaps born before mom was 18, and before Hawaii was a state?


39 posted on 06/25/2008 10:27:32 PM PDT by tuckrdout (The good man wins his case by careful argument; the evil-minded only wants to fight. Prov. 13:2)
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To: Red Steel
"It's a valid Hawaii state birth certificate," spokesman Janice Okubo said after we e-mailed her our copy.:

There's another curious thing about that, though. It's a Certification of Live Birth, not a Birth Certificate.

40 posted on 06/25/2008 10:29:33 PM PDT by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
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