Will the Birthers Please Shut Up Now?

[Tempo Gain]

If Obama wasn't black there would be no birther issue.

Why is it so easy for non-Americans to get this!

A lot of intelligent (as opposed to Fox-brainwashed Republican) Americans get this.

Just for the record, some reasonably intelligent I hope, utterly un-Fox-brainwashed (the only Fox I've ever seen is the one here on the Flob actually) and 100% un-republican Americans, think otherwise.

[GuyInTaiwan]

Where's he supposed to have been born anyway? Or is that not a necessary part of the equation?

Outside the U.S., which is basically one place in the minds of many of the birthers, I suspect.

[Tigerman]

If Obama wasn't black there would be no birther issue.

Why is it so easy for non-Americans to get this!

A lot of intelligent (as opposed to Fox-brainwashed Republican) Americans get this.

Just for the record, some reasonably intelligent I hope, utterly un-Fox-brainwashed (the only Fox I've ever seen is the one here on the Flob actually) and 100% un-republican Americans, think otherwise.

I think its a shame that all of the so-called birthers are being tagged as racist bigots. I have no doubt that a portion of those who suspected Obomber of being ineligible to serve a POTUS are racist bigots. But, I think it is quite unfair to accuse everyone who held the suspicion that Obomber is not a natural-born US citizen of being a racist bigot.

The claim that there would not have been an issue if Obomber was white is false. In fact, in 2008, several liberal bloggers raised the issue by questioning whether John McCain, who is quite white, was qualified under the Constitution to serve as POTUS. Litigation was filed in California with respect to this matter and McCain (and later Pennsylvania would likewise dismiss a suit brought against Obomber where the same claim was raised). Prior to 2008, the issue of natural-born citizen eligibility was raised in the presidential campaigns of Barry Goldwater, who was born in Arizona territory rather than the US, and George Romney, who was born in Mexico. Both Goldwater and Romney were very white. There are even people who claim that the 21st POTUS, Chester Arthur, who was also quite white, purposely and knowingly concealed the fact that he was not a natural-born US citizen... Its been an issue in the past, and its always been a political issue rather than a racial issue.

I'd go so far as to say that even among those so-called birthers who are racist bigots, the primary reason for their suspicion that Obomber is not eligible to serve as POTUS is more a political than it is a racial matter. It is well known that many conservatives are happy to support black candidates who hold conservative ideas. It was the Democrats and liberals who ridiculed Condoleeza rice, and who caricatured her as a bird with enormous lips... were those Democrats and liberals racist bigots? Or were they politically rather than racially motivated in their criticism?

And let's not forget who it was that originally raised the issue of whether Obomber was legally eligible to serve as POTUS... it wasn't the Tea Party or other Republican/conservatives, or even Fox News. The issue of Obomber's eligibility was raised during the Democratic Party's 2008 presidential primaries, when anonymous e-mails from supporters of Hillary Clinton came to the front and questioned whether Obomber was a natural-born US citizen. Were those Democrats supporting Hillary Clinton racist bigots?

C'mon folks. Racist bigotry is horrible and ugly. Let's not dilute its horribleness and ugliness by accusing anyone we disagree with of being a racist bigot when a more obvious answer or explanation exists. In every case where a candidate's eligibility has been questioned, the motive has been political. Obomber is half black and half white (yes, I know about the one drop idea)... when Hillary's supporters raised the issue of Obomber's eligibility, it was done out of political motivation. Is it so difficult to give the benefit of the doubt to the so called birthers and and accept that the motivation behind their suspicion was also political rather than racial? If you cannot imagine this, then ask yourself, why did the conservatives never question the eligibilty to serve as POTUS of Jesse Jackson, a black man, who ran for POTUS in 1984 and 1988?

Let's not always think the worst about others, eh?

[BigJohn]

And let's not forget who it was that originally raised the issue of whether Obomber was legally eligible to serve as POTUS... it wasn't the Tea Party or other Republican/conservatives, or even Fox News. The issue of Obomber's eligibility was raised during the Democratic Party's 2008 presidential primaries, when anonymous e-mails from supporters of Hillary Clinton came to the front and questioned whether Obomber was a natural-born US citizen.

Link please!

[Tigerman]

And let's not forget who it was that originally raised the issue of whether Obomber was legally eligible to serve as POTUS... it wasn't the Tea Party or other Republican/conservatives, or even Fox News. The issue of Obomber's eligibility was raised during the Democratic Party's 2008 presidential primaries, when anonymous e-mails from supporters of Hillary Clinton came to the front and questioned whether Obomber was a natural-born US citizen.

Link please!

The lie that Barack Obama was not born in the US has been fuelled by fringe Republicans — but supporters of Hillary Clinton, now Mr Obama’s Secretary of State, are largely to blame for starting it.

Here's another:

Notable advocates of the view that Obama may not be eligible for the Presidency include Philip J. Berg, a Democratic Pennsylvania attorney and 9/11 conspiracy theorist. Berg describes himself as a "moderate to liberal" Democrat who backed Hillary Clinton for president.

During the Democratic Party's 2008 presidential primaries, anonymous e-mails from supporters of Hillary Clinton surfaced that questioned Obama's citizenship in an attempt to revive Clinton's faltering primary campaign. These and numerous other chain e-mails during the subsequent presidential election circulated false rumors about Obama's origin, religion and birth certificate.

This isn't exactly a secret.

[Jaboney]

The Clintons absolutely opened this can of worms. It was a rather vile appeal to racism to shore up a floundering campaign, and a good part of the reason why Ted Kennedy came out so strongly behind Obama.

I wouldn't say that makes the Clintons racists, but they certainly thought there was some advantage in appealing to racists within the Democratic Party. They failed. Maybe the numbers weren't there; maybe it was something else. But the same appeal appears to resonate strongly within the Tea Party. I wouldn't bet the farm that the reasons for that are entirely racist, but I'd bet this month's pay that racism accounts for the lion's share of it.

Why now, and not Jesse Jackson? I think its because Jackson's a caricature of the southern Black preacher man huckster -- he couldn't be anything but an American product. Obama's an entirely different kind of man, and quietly challenges typical expectations rather than loudly fulfilling them: doesn't fit; doesn't computer; ergo, there must be a 'fix'.

[BigJohn]

This isn't exactly a secret.

Didn't say that it was. Just wanted a link, thanks yank!

[Tempo Gain]

Why now, and not Jesse Jackson? I think its because Jackson's a caricature of the southern Black preacher man huckster -- he couldn't be anything but an American product. Obama's an entirely different kind of man, and quietly challenges typical expectations rather than loudly fulfilling them: doesn't fit; doesn't computer; ergo, there must be a 'fix'.

You're reaching. The much more obvious explanation makes much more sense:

Name: Barack Obama Hussein, one Kenyan parent, lived overseas much of his childhood

Now I like Obama, I'll most likely vote for him next time, though I'm taking a serious look at third party candidates or independents in particular. But that is not a typical American name, or background.

Name: Jesse Jackson, both parents American, grew up in US.

Same man, Jesse's background, this issue doesn't exist. Man of any race, Obama's story, it does.

And you don't need racism to explain why the Clintons did this, far from it. American politics is a game basically played by scumbags, if there's a hint of scandal that can be latched on to, they'll do it, beyond a shadow of a doubt, whatever the race.

[Mucha Man]

Why now, and not Jesse Jackson? I think its because Jackson's a caricature of the southern Black preacher man huckster -- he couldn't be anything but an American product. Obama's an entirely different kind of man, and quietly challenges typical expectations rather than loudly fulfilling them: doesn't fit; doesn't computer; ergo, there must be a 'fix'.

You're reaching. The much more obvious explanation makes much more sense:

Name: Barack Obama Hussein, one Kenyan parent, lived overseas much of his childhood

Now I like Obama, I'll most likely vote for him next time, though I'm taking a serious look at third party candidates or independents in particular. But that is not a typical American name, or background.

Name: Jesse Jackson, both parents American, grew up in US.

Same man, Jesse's background, this issue doesn't exist. Man of any race, Obama's story, it does.

So you mean it's because he is different. So we're talking prejudice and not racism? Glad that's cleared up. Makes me feel heaps better about the birthers. They're not racists, just narrow-minded bigots.

[Tempo Gain]

I think they're assholes, the whole thing is stoopid beyond belief, but there IS a law, apparently, which states the president is supposed to be born in the US, which is the point in question, not that he is "different," lol. As I said before, this is the state of US politics now. If there's some bit of scandal or conspiracy that can be latched onto to score points, you can bet someone will do it.