Obama releases long form birth certificate

[Beerfest]

Originally Posted by photon

It must be true, it lines up with a preconceived conclusion!

It must be true, the government says so!

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Gozer

All potential Republican voters are going to remember in three months is that Trump made Obama release it. This will slide right off him.

Ahh, but will it? Many of these "birther" types are taking the tack that it doesn't matter that Obama was born in the States, since his father wasn't and Obama is therefore (following some logical gymnastics) not a naturalized citizen.

Five seconds on the internet tells me that Trump's mom was born in Scotland.

Now, since we know this birth-certificate business wasn't about racism, obviously a white woman born in Scotland is just as non-American as a black man born in Kenya. Neither man is, technically, a naturalized citizen.

This could really bite him on the ass with those people.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

It must be true, the government says so!

Hey look, a non-sequitur on multiple levels!

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

It must be true, the government says so!

.... not sure if serious...

But I guess I'll bite. Governments do lie, when it suits their interests. But in this case, I'm a bit confused. Why would the government lie about a birth certificate.

a) the birth certificate is irrelevant anyway: Obama could have been born on Mars, and he would still be eligible to be president. The requirement is "natural born American," not "born on American soil." This just means "born a U.S. citizen." (Note that John McCain was born in Panama, but no-one questions his eligibility for the presidency...) Obama was a U.S. Citizen at birth, both by virtue of having been born in Hawaii, and ALSO because his mother is (indisputably) a U.S. citizen.

b) More importantly: why would the "government" concoct such a story anyway? Surely whatever "agenda" Obama serves could as easily have been served by some other person who doesn't have the "ethnicity" problem that he does? What possible agenda is served by installing a person who isn't eligible to be president?

Conspiracy theories are generally pretty stupid. But this one is stupid enough to peel paint off the walls. Even pretending to be undecided about this is just.... I'm sorry. It's just not very bright. There is only one rational position when it comes to birthers: they're three parts insane and one part mind-burningly stupid.

It follows that any credibility you give them is a waste of energy; I think releasing this document is a mistake for that reason. You're trying to convince people who will not be persuaded by any evidence regardless of how compelling, and who will inevitably invent some reason why that evidence is not good enough. In the meantime, he's given these lunatics the attention that they so desperately crave.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

Obama would have been forced to prove eligibility before the next election anyways. Several States were in the process of inacting laws forcing all the canadates to provide proof.

Where the heck have you been??

The legally accepted document of his american birth has been out for years. You are aware that he had to prove his eligibility the first time too.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

But this one is stupid enough to peel paint off the walls.

It works as a GREAT filter.

[Weiser Wonder]

"Why didn't Obama release this earlier?" Is a popular question right now and I was wondering that myself until I realized just how demeaning it must feel on some level to Obama. Because he's a black man with a foreign name, he must release extensive proof of being an American? It doesn't get more racist than that.

[crazy_eoj]

I'm no fan of Obama, but you can count me in among those who think this is one of the stupidest exercises ever brought about by american politics.

A country built on immigration should really only care about current citizenship status anyways.

In Canada, we let French citizens run for PM.

[SeeBass]

I wonder if the "Obama and celebrity" and "real american" Republican talking point is still in effect like it would be for Trump?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

I'm no fan of Obama, but you can count me in among those who think this is one of the stupidest exercises ever brought about by american politics.

A country built on immigration should really only care about current citizenship status anyways.

In Canada, we let French citizens run for PM.

As far as I know, Canada doesn't have any rules about birth status regarding running for PM. I beleive there used to be a rule saying that you must be a land owner, but I am not sure if that still exists.

I seem to recall in history class that there was a PM a long time ago who didn't own land so a church purchased land in that person's name. After that, I think the whole law was scrapped. The details are fuzzy though, so I could be mistaken.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

As far as I know, Canada doesn't have any rules about birth status regarding running for PM. I beleive there used to be a rule saying that you must be a land owner, but I am not sure if that still exists.

I seem to recall in history class that there was a PM a long time ago who didn't own land so a church purchased land in that person's name. After that, I think the whole law was scrapped. The details are fuzzy though, so I could be mistaken.

many of our early PMs were not Canadian born

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

many of our early PMs were not Canadian born

Technically, none of the first American presidents were "natural born Americans" either. All of them were born British citizens.

[valo403]

Wouldn't it make more sense to just make the rule that you have to be able to perfectly execute a Hulk Hogan leg drop? I mean, that's the true sign of a "Real American".

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

Technically, none of the first American presidents were "natural born Americans" either. All of them were born British citizens.

Not that it matters, but that's why that clause specifically states it also includes that those who are citizens when the constitution was adopted.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Weiser Wonder

"Why didn't Obama release this earlier?" Is a popular question right now and I was wondering that myself until I realized just how demeaning it must feel on some level to Obama.

Or incredibly brilliant . . . looks who is claiming/getting political "credit" for "forcing the issue."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAiL9Y-hPFY

If he is the best the other party has to offer/lead . . .

[photon]

Trump talks about China raping the US...

[HPLovecraft]

Still waiting for Trump's tax documents.

Edit: Lol @ John King snickering when Trump kept repeating that Obama is incompetent.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Not that it matters, but that's why that clause specifically states it also includes that those who are citizens when the constitution was adopted.

They were all born in the North American continent (I'm pretty sure anyway) so they're American that way as well.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by ah123

Interesting viewpoint by a democrat:



http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/04/2...ex.html?hpt=C2

I know if I was Obama I would rather face Trump than Romney

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Where the heck have you been??

The legally accepted document of his american birth has been out for years. You are aware that he had to prove his eligibility the first time too.

A live birth certificate would not have been enough because of changes in at least one State's law.