Thursday, April 22, 2010

Show us the birth certificate!


Yesterday I called the Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics in Austin, Texas to ask if an individual is given his/her original birth certificate upon request. My curiosity was peeked when I read that Republican Rep. Judy Burges, of Arizona is trying to get a birthers bill passed. The preliminary vote count was 31-22. The bill will have to undergo a formal vote before it goes to the Senate. Florida and Oklahoma pulled this prank and met with complete failure.

Arizona legislatures want all future presidential candidates to produce birth certificates if they want on the ballot. You do not have to be a mastermind to know this is about President Barack Obama’s birth certificate, and his right to be president. The tea party nitwits, the fruitcake politicians and copycat pundits are encouraging these people to act like ill-informed fools. They refuse to accept the president's birth certificate as posted online.

I never saw this kind of brouhaha about the birth place of any other president. No white man running for president has ever had to show his birth certificate, or show proof of his citizenship. If it happened, I must have been in a Rip Van Winkle type sleep, or in a self-induced coma.

If presidential candidate Hillary Clinton did not uncover evidence that Barack Obama is not an American born citizens–then there is no campaign Obama scandal waiting to be discovered. Clinton and her campaign looked under every rock, every bed, every closet, every closed door. They did a more than thorough job. I am sure John McCain conducted the same kind of search.

I think this pending Arizona Birthers Bill is silly. It is a waste of valuable time. But then, Republicans are good at wasting time. I keep looking at my calendar to remind myself that this is 2010, not 1810. In 1946 the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics designed a form for all states to utilize when recording a birth; however, the states were not obligated to use it. Each state was free to design its own form.

Birth certificates are titled (a) Certificate of Birth; (b) Certificate of Live Birth or (c) Certificate of Birth Registration. I have my Certificate of Birth. Not the original, a copy. I could not get the original even if I went to court, demanding that Texas not deny me the original certificate. Is it not my right to have the original certificate if I want it? Allow me to answer my own question: A resounding No! I do not have a right to the original. If I lose my photocopied copy, I can always get another one. If I had the original, lost it, how would I make a copy? Life as I know it would complicated. When a state agency ask to see proof of my age, place of birth, and if I am a citizen of the U.S., where is my proof? Word of mouth from friends and relatives won't cut it. I couldn't say: "Trust me. I am an American born citizen."

Before states were required to record births there were no official records prior to 1914. If you have researched your genealogy, you probably discovered that many of your ancestors’ birth dates were not officially recorded. Where your ancestors were born and their ages becomes a guessing game. Not having this vital information complicates your search. So it makes sense that original birth certificates not be issued to individuals, but remain with state registrars.

To state it simply–at least in my mind–the original birth certificate is the only tangible proof of where you were born, the hospital, the doctor, the parents, the time, family address, occupation of parents, their ages, mother’s maiden name (if married) and a state seal. Years ago in Austin a baby's birth was announced in the local newspapers if the couple was married; the same as President Obama’s birth announcement. Parents cannot stage these newspaper announcements decades in advance, foreseeing their adult son or daughter might run president of the U.S.

An employee at Vital Statics told me that no one gets original records of any kind. The State of Texas is in charge of those records, but upon request the individual, or an authorized individual can obtain a copy of a birth certificate. She explained the kinds of paper the copy is printed on, which has the Texas seal. She said she could not speak for other states, but she was sure no one was granted an original birth certificate.

All this birthers trash talking is about an African American holding the highest office in the history of the United States. His victory was not supposed to happen. Only white men win the presidency in America. That is this country’s history. Southern birthers are going insane. Needless to say, their propagandizing, hate talk and the shrill punditry began long before the 2008 election. Baseless accusations against candidate Obama has always been wildly out of control. As of 2010, the lies have gotten bigger.

But, and that is a big hypothetical but-- if muckrakers can prove Obama’s presidency is illegitimate because of the birth question, that will assure the ankle kickers that their suspicions, racism and hatred is justified. The next step will be to protest against everything President Obama has done since he has been in office. That proof will be reason to dismantle all legislation with his signature on it. No repeal. Just nullify.

Obama haters want an excuse to delete the election and his presidency. That is what they are aiming for with a blessing from the media. If this were to occur-- the deletion of Obama's presidency-- the unfolding event would be a magic victory for tea party Kool-Aid drinkers. Alas, they will find their lost freedom (that was never left). A battered, disregarded Constitution will find new life.

Those senior citizens who are not getting Medicare, Medicaid and VA checks can hang onto their right not to purchase big government run medical insurance. No more socialism, "Obamacare" and apologizing for America’s sins. Older citizens will be safe from government death panels and fatal pills. Health care law suits will vanish like a Houdini illusion. Presidential candidates won’t have to produce birth certificates. America will be true America again with the socialist black guy gone. Every thing will return to "normal" when the next white guy is elected president. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be in America? You betcha!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Sometimes complication is required

President Barack Obama
President George Bush














During George Bush’s administration he made pundits, and the media feel they were intellectuals worth reading and listening to. With a chuckle in their throats they made excuses for Bush’s slaughtering the English language and mangling of foreign leaders' names. It did not matter to the media. Bush was the man! He was the Decider! He was The Uniter!

President Obama, a former Constitutional professor who tends to explain his answers in adult language rather than perky bumper sticker, is ridiculed. The media hate the fact that President Obama intelligent and speak perfect English. He has an extensive vocabulary with which to express himself. I am not surprised when lazy pundits, and a lackluster media chose to make fun of his responses to questions.

As a former substitute teacher, I believe in thoroughly explaining answers to questions for the sake of clarity. I learned in the classroom that short answers do not work for all students. When this situation happened several students repeated the same question, at which time I would delve into more details. I would then ask if they understood. Students who initially said they understood the short response got a better understanding of the problem. Detailed answers are sometimes necessary.

But it does not matter what President Barack Obama say or how he says it. If he recited the Lord’s Prayer he would be accused using too many words, forcing religion on Americans, taking away their right to deny that God even insists!

Intelligence has taken a back seat to stupidity, screaming talk shows on television and bitchfest reality shows. That's where intelligence is today. Low information individuals do not recognize intelligence when they hear it. The media are pushing the notion that intelligence does not matter. Sound bites and misinformation is the norm of the day. That's why the media complex industry loves Sarah Palin.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

'Now It's Personal!' What does this really mean?

'Now It's Personal!' More billboard stupidity
on display for the world to see.

So what else is new?

The day Barack Obama announced that he was running for president of the United States, it became "personal" with White folk who insist on living in the past. They want 2010 America to return to the “good old days”; back in the 1950s and 1960s. They still operate from the Jim Crow days when Black people "had a place" and they should the good sense stay in it.

At the onset of Obama’s campaign an elderly White male was so angry he could not hide his disgust. Interviewed by a blogger at a Tea Party rally, the man said without hesitation, "A nigger ain’t got no business running for president. Ain't no White man gonna listen to a nigger."  He said a "nigger" cannot run a country like America. He was taking “it personal” long before the  billboard popped up.

Fox news, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, the print media and pundits told White folks why they should be angry. They had a right to be angry about Obama's candidacy for a variety of reasons, one being he will "take our freedom" if he is elected.  White people were warned that America would never be the same if Obama becomes president.

I learned long ago: If you repeat a lie enough times the audience you are speaking to will accept the lie as truth. It is mob violence that verbally kicked into action by rabid perpetrators.

When protesters are asked why they are so angry at President Obama they say they do not like his policies. 

"He is taking away our freedom." 

"He is trying to get rid of the Constitution." 

"We want our country back." 

"He’s a dictator." 

"He’s not a real American." 

"He’s a socialist." 

"We don’t want Obamacare."

Asked to explain themselves or give an example of how all these accusations are occurring, the dumb struck protesters have no answers. It appears they did not bother to form their own opinions or educate themselves about the issues. They like standing in the low information line, waiting to get their saucer of talking points from Republicans, who get their talking points from Rush Limbaugh and his ilk.

Former Texas Republican Rep. Dick Armey of Freedonmworks is using these protesting nitwits to catapult himself back into the political arena of power. Sarah Palin is playing them like a dime store fiddle to enhance her banking account. She has a ready-made market where she can sell her books, and  practice her presidential speechifying.

I find it funny the protesters are not willing to send back the monthly Social Security, Supplemental Security Income and Veteran Administration checks, with a note saying: Dear Big Government,  I do not want you in my business! Stop sending the government checks immediately. Keep your food stamps. I do not agree with that socialist Obama! So far there have been no reports of the government getting flooded with returned checks.

The bill board buyers are the ones with the money. They do not have to depend on monthly SS checks to survive. Dick Armey is a millionaire. The buyers of the bill board have not come forward. I say to them if you believe in what you say on the bill board, why not come forward and let us see your faces. Tells us the reason for the billboard. Explain your actions. Do not hide behind a spokesman's coattails. Hiding your face is cowardly. If the lot of you do not come forward for the world to see who you are, then you do not believe in your own "Now It's Personal" cause. As a group you are as fake as the politicians who encourage you to make absolute fools yourselves.