Born Again: Why the "birther" myth refuses to die.

Slate ^ | April 21, 2010 | Christopher Beam

[OldDeckHand]

It is stupid for both McCain and Hayworth to distance themselves from this bill. I'm about as far from a "birther" as you can get, but I think this bill is a GREAT idea, and something that every state legislature should adopt.

Sunshine is the best disinfectant, and people - through their elected representation - have a duty to demand the most transparent and unencumbered elections. Asking a person who wants to be the leader of the free world to document his eligibility bona fides, isn't a bad idea - Obama or no Obama. I don't see what all the controversy is about.

[J Edgar]

Unvarnished Truth: Show Full, official copy of BC - and Wamm! Bamm! ALL BiRTHERS are DESTROYED! So why all the words - just act!

[FTJM]

Obama is the myth!

[marron]

It is true that the BC issue is a bit of a distraction. He has already admitted that his pa was not a US citizen which means that he is not “natural born”. As far as we know he is “native born” but the constitutional requirement is higher: “natural born”.

So, his problem is bigger than just the birth certificate. With or without his birth certificate, he is still not natural born and thats not even in question.

Still, he’s hiding the BC for a reason. And there remains the question of what citizenship did he claim when he was in college, and what passport did he travel on to Pakistan. He has sealed all of that off from public view for a reason.

[Fred Nerks]

The only ‘myth’ there is has a title. It’s called ‘Dreams From My Father’.

And it’s not just HIS long form birth certificate he needs to produce, but also the long form birth certificates of his mother and father.

I want to see THEIR names on HIS long form!

[Smokeyblue]

“Not only does it refuse to die, but every time someone tries to kill it, it only comes back stronger.”

Yep. Everyday it gets BIGGER AND STRONGER!!!

[jazminerose]

Has this genius reporter ever seen a human being in this country who has managed to get through a good chunk of his early life without leaving a trace?

Too bad these “journalists” aren’t expected to do their jobs anymore. Thus citizens have to do it for them.

[little jeremiah]

He may be a citizen, he may not be a citizen. Depends on where he was born, if he was legally adopted by Lolo Soetoro and if so, did he renounced his US citizenship as has been posited, did he ever become naturalized after that, did he use a passport of another country after the age of 18 - for starters.

He may indeed not be a US citizen at all.

[tpmintx]

For that to happen, the state Senate would have to pass it and the governor would have to sign it.

So in other words it will have to be passed into law like every other law? LOL

No - They can pass this by calling it a budget bill and using reconciliation... (I know, it's AZ, not DC, but I couldn't resist!)

[cripplecreek]

I bet he will forgo being on those ballots rather than show proof he was born in the US.

I suspect the same and I'm guessing he won't want his supporters starting any noisy lawsuits either. However its going to be awfully hard to explain away the reason for simply ignoring a state.

[Iron Munro]

The “myth” of which he speaks is the falsehood that Obama is Constitutionally qualified to be president.

[Natural Born 54]

The one mention I’ve seen of Hayworth’s stance was in an interview. The reporter or radio host (can’t remember) asked him and J.D. said something like he didn’t see anything wrong with wanting to see the document. He did not distance himself from it. My guess is the author reached into the void for that comment because they’d rather have rino McCain win and they know this is a hot button for those backing J.D.

[eclecticEel]

It won’t die because the left won’t let it. I have every confidence they’ll resurrect the “issue” again and again ad infinitum.

[Drew68]

I'm about as far from a "birther" as you can get, but I think this bill is a GREAT idea, and something that every state legislature should adopt.

I agree, not only because the issue is such a distraction from fighting Obama on his policies but because it is a good idea to have a system in place to verify a candidate's credentials, if anything to prevent these conspiracies in the future.

This being said, I think birthers are going to be disappointed by the final language in whatever version of this bill that gets signed. They'll be disappointed to discover that a certified, State-issued, computer-generated "short form" will be sufficient to establish eligibility and that the citizenship of a candidate's parents will have no bearing whatsoever.

And, no, I haven't read the text of the bill. I'm just guessing that when all is said and done, abiding by the requirements will be something Obama will easily be able to do come 2012.

[rmlew]

Because Obama allows the myth to continues, knowing that it discredits his opposition.

[Plutarch]

The latest incarnation: a bill approved 31-22 by the Arizona House of Representatives on Monday...

Stupid reporter can't get his facts straight. The amendment to the bill passed on Monday, the actual bill passed today.

[freekitty]

The simple answer is truth which Obama seems completely void of.

[cripplecreek]

it is a good idea to have a system in place to verify a candidate's credentials, if anything to prevent these conspiracies in the future.

You'll notice that the media is trying to make this about Obama alone and ignoring the fact that the same will be required of all candidates. Personally I expect Obama to get a pass on this but it will hurt him. There are still plenty of other issues to beat him on and if he doesn't prove himself it will be just one more issue that he gets beat up about.

[FrankR]

"Why the "birther" myth refuses to die."

These people are being duped by their own arrogance.

By God, they TOLD us he was a NBC, and that should be enough! /sarc

It is beyond their comprehension that we would question the o'gollybama...he is "sacred", don'tcha know.

They're relying on their old suck-buddy, Alinsky, to get them out of this one, by telling a lie enough times that the gullible buy it, and the others...well...you ain't got no definitive proof, and you'll just be ridiculed as "birthers" by the kenyan and his media brethren.

But millions of other people across this great land - even those who are not politically active - are wondering about the legality of this "placeholder-in-chief", and even some of the moderate supporters are afraid to put their whole weight behind him, so as not to get caught if and when the COLB surfaces.

The adolescent president is playing his childhood game over and over, and he is playing against the clock, trying to ram as much crap down our throats as he can before he gets caught. I would go so far as to say he will probably hang this up in the courts for years if the truth comes out, and congress will agree to hold off on all elections until the trial is over...with o'gollybama remaining as the prez.

It's gonna be a fun ride, with lots of popcorn and soda.

[gura]

MSNBC To Air “Obama’s Kenya” Miniseries