State representatives file birth certificate bill filed for presidential candidates

LubbockOnline ^ | November 17, 2010 | LubbockOnline

[libstripper]

AUSTIN — A state representative on Tuesday filed a bill that would require any candidate for president or vice president of the United States to show his or her birth certificate to the Texas secretary of state, another indication of just how ambitious the conservative agenda for next year’s session of the Texas Legislature is expected to be.

[Sola Veritas]

This will only work IF the language of the bill is very clear it must be a “vault” copy, not a COLB issued by the state. Also, it needs to define what “natural born” is. Many of us on FR would say that being born to a Kenyan father keeps the current president from being “natural born.” However, there are many others that hold a different view. Anyway, if the “natural born” is not defined it leaves things murky.

I suspect the original BHO birth certificate will be one filled by the parent, not a hospital/physician. That being the case, it still doesn’t prove or disprove where he was born. What happens then?

Anyway, the legislation has to be clear and basically “interpret” what the constitution meant by “natural born.” By doing so it will be challenged in federal courts and eventually be taken up by the SCOTUS where it should be decided with a SCOTUS interpretation of the COTUS. We probably won’t agree with the interpretation, but it would settle the issue for the future.

[SaraJohnson]

This is why Obammy does not plan to run a second term. Everyone is ready for him the DNC and the Rinos this time.

[Pollster1]

This is essential. The rule of law, or what is left of it, is all that separates us from a Soviet-style kleptocracy. Even the “president” of the United States must obey the law and the Constitution. The Dem party doesn’t care, so it’s up to conservative states to force the issue.

[libstripper]

All good points. Another to add would be he attended a highly exclusive prep school in Hawaii where the class sizes probably weren't all that large and the members of each would probably know and remember each other fairly well. Indeed, the only black student, one with a very unusual and interesting background like Obama's, as described in Dreams from my Father, would probably be very well remembered. I, for example, attended a Chicago area suburban high school in 1959, 1960, and 1961 and still remember the name of a German exchange student who was in my class, a gentleman definitely a lot less unique and exotic than Obama was in his class. Hence, somebody from his high school class ought to remember him unless he wasn't there or, far more likely, IMHO, each has been quietly told not to talk about him.

[jamese777]

All good points. Another to add would be he attended a highly exclusive prep school in Hawaii where the class sizes probably weren’t all that large and the members of each would probably know and remember each other fairly well. Indeed, the only black student, one with a very unusual and interesting background like Obama’s, as described in Dreams from my Father, would probably be very well remembered. I, for example, attended a Chicago area suburban high school in 1959, 1960, and 1961 and still remember the name of a German exchange student who was in my class, a gentleman definitely a lot less unique and exotic than Obama was in his class. Hence, somebody from his high school class ought to remember him unless he wasn’t there or, far more likely, IMHO, each has been quietly told not to talk about him.

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Barack Obama second grade at Noelani Elementary School in Honolulu”
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Cn61JM4kNR8/TLnHuP-zw-I/AAAAAAAABDY/iNzH8i4Lacw/s1600/obama+kindergarten.png

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Barack Obama, Punahou School Basketball team:
http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php?title=Barack_Obama

[adamjefferson]

I’m guessing a few more hoops will be required to have this actually become law. I know Arizona tried to create a law like this one and it has stalled in the legislature.

[smokingfrog]

Having your name on the ballot should automatically allow the Secretary of State to request a copy of a candidate's birth certificate from the issuing state, territory or country.

[shield]

bfl

[Vermont Lt]

Except that it would be struck down as being more restrictive than the qualifications for President as outlined in the Constitution.

I think simpler is better.

The candidate must provide and make available for public inspection, documentation that proves eligibility for the office they seek.

And, this should be for every elected office in the local, state, and federal government.

It would take me about ten seconds to prove my eligibility. Why not everyone else?

[curiosity]

Here's my predcition:

Obama will show them a hard copy of the COLB whose images are already on the web, the Sec. of State will accept it, and then birtherland will be awash in theories about how the Sec. of State is in on some grand conspiracy.

[curiosity]

I fear that Obama will be able to make the case that his computer-generated version will meet this standard.

Well, if it meets the State Department's standards, why shouldn't the state of Texas accept it?

[Monorprise]

Yes Pass this bill ASAP, it can’t do any harm and it will help restore confidence.

[theBuckwheat]

If any state passes such a bill in time to be in effect before the filing deadline for the first presidential primary, then BHO will either have to comply or he will find some plausible reason to not run for reelection. If he does the latter, we may never know for sure if he was Constitutionally qualified to hold the office of President.