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| President Barack Hussein Obama's birth certificate |
by Allen Boraas
Alaska News
May 13, 2012
During the first months of Barack Obama's presidency, a conspiracy by an amorphous group calling themselves birthers raged on the Internet and right-wing talk radio. The birthers claimed that President Obama really wasn't born in Hawaii but in Africa, making him ineligible to be president of the United States. The controversy went nowhere until Donald Trump recently reopened the issue, making it the curious cornerstone of his bizarre Republican presidential bid.
Like an Alaskan slapping an annoying mosquito, President Obama moved Trump's candidacy from "really?" to "ridiculous" by releasing the long form of his Hawaiian birth certificate. President Obama was born in Hawaii on Aug. 4, 1961.
During the first months of Barack Obama's presidency, a conspiracy by an amorphous group calling themselves birthers raged on the Internet and right-wing talk radio. The birthers claimed that President Obama really wasn't born in Hawaii but in Africa, making him ineligible to be president of the United States. The controversy went nowhere until Donald Trump recently reopened the issue, making it the curious cornerstone of his bizarre Republican presidential bid.
Like an Alaskan slapping an annoying mosquito, President Obama moved Trump's candidacy from "really?" to "ridiculous" by releasing the long form of his Hawaiian birth certificate. President Obama was born in Hawaii on Aug. 4, 1961.
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When I attended Austin Community College one of my professors had the class listen to an audio tape titled "We Choose To Go Insane." We all looked at the professor, then at each other. We laughed out loud. Surely the professor standing in front of us, and the professor on the tape are joking! "Is he serious?" I asked, in disbelief. Our professor was not laughing. He was dead serious. I would never choose to go insane, I thought to myself. Years later I wrote a poem titled "And she chose to go insane". The poem is about a woman who is jilted by her lover, and rather face loosing him, she chose to go insane. Insanity, I concluded without consulting an expert, is related to an extended state of mental suspension.
We listened to the tape. Our professor initiated a pro and con debate. We analyzed the professor's sanity, and his theory on insanity. The discussion extended to two class sessions. Conclusions and opinions were divided. I personally concluded that in some cases, insane as it sounds, we can choose to withdraw from ourselves; from our problems, from the world. Insanity can be a safe escape from reality. But I questioned if withdrawal was the same as choosing to go insane.
Now you are probably thinking this is a stretch, but when I read the article's title "Trump, birthers wasted our time with frivolous Obama attack", the insanity tape immediately came to mind. Trump did not waste time on people who stepped away from his birthers theatrics; people who refused to go insane upon his request to follow a delusional myth.
"Almost as soon as Barack Obama emerged as a serious candidate for the presidency, rumors about whether or not he is really an American, and thus eligible for the presidency, began popping up online. In response, the Obama campaign posted the Certificate of Live Birth showing that Mr. Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961". (ABC News, 2009)
We listened to the tape. Our professor initiated a pro and con debate. We analyzed the professor's sanity, and his theory on insanity. The discussion extended to two class sessions. Conclusions and opinions were divided. I personally concluded that in some cases, insane as it sounds, we can choose to withdraw from ourselves; from our problems, from the world. Insanity can be a safe escape from reality. But I questioned if withdrawal was the same as choosing to go insane.
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| Birther and presidential candidate Donald Trump |
Now you are probably thinking this is a stretch, but when I read the article's title "Trump, birthers wasted our time with frivolous Obama attack", the insanity tape immediately came to mind. Trump did not waste time on people who stepped away from his birthers theatrics; people who refused to go insane upon his request to follow a delusional myth.
"Almost as soon as Barack Obama emerged as a serious candidate for the presidency, rumors about whether or not he is really an American, and thus eligible for the presidency, began popping up online. In response, the Obama campaign posted the Certificate of Live Birth showing that Mr. Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961". (ABC News, 2009)
Trump was late to join the Birthers Club, but he
took full credit for its initiation
Trump jumped on the birthers bandwagon after the "scandal" was well underway. That did not stop him from taking full credit for the results, and the media let him. During an interview with NBC, Trump revealed that he dispatched a team of investigators to Hawaii to unearth "one of the greatest cons in the history of politics and beyond. I have people that have been studying it and they cannot believe what they're finding". The beginning of the insanity.
Trump parted with the fallacy that President Obama spent "over $2 million in legal fees" to conceal the fact that he was born in Kenya. Trump postured that the President's Kenyan grandmother "said he was born in Kenya and she was there and witnessed his birth." Trump offered no tangible proof of any of the accusations he has publicly stated as truth.
Trump said that the governor of Hawaii said, "I remember when he was born 50 years ago! I doubt it. I think this guy should be investigated. I doubt it. He remembers when Obama was born? Give me a break! He's just trying to do something for his party". (ABC Morning News)
The governor of Hawaii refused to go insane with Trump. And, no, Trump did not personally interview the governor.
It's no surprise the diehard birthers are not willing to accept Barack Obama's birth certificate. Choosing insanity over logic, the birthers said the certificate is a forgery. Unbeknownst to these people, any document registered with a state registrar becomes an official document, and only copies can be obtained. A registered document cannot be loaned out or borrowed. Not even President Obama can request his original birth certificate with the promise to return it on a specific date. Today all state documents are on microfiche.
President Obama, continually quizzed and prodded by the media to show his birth certificate, finally consented, visibly frustrated by the silliness. No other President in America's history had or have been asked to show a birth certificate to prove that he is an American. Barack Obama is the first. Actually, a large population of White people cannot accept a Black man is president. Not only have African Americans taken notice of the endless stupidity, but the world is watching and wondering what is going on in America.
White folks in the South tend to be the most truthful about their raw hate for Obama. One old Southerner at a Tea Party rally, dressed in coveralls, was asked by a newsman how he felt about Obama running for president. The man in his 50s, could not hide the bitterness in his voice or scorn on his face. He said, "Ain't no nigger got no business being president of the United States. That's a White man's job".
The President said, regarding his birth certificate, "This kind of silliness . . . I've been puzzled at the degree to which this story just kept on going. Normally I would not comment on something like this, but the country has some enormous challenges out there . . . "
Conspiracy buffs and brain-dead followers chose to jump off the bridge with Donald Trump. They had a choice and they made it. Trump the Pied Piper did not force anyone to listen to his belittling rhetoric. His gullible disciples were already entrapped by their own myths and personal theories about President Barack Obama's place of birth.
Truthers, birthers and Trump said Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama's opponent, was the first to declare that Obama is not an American; that he was born in Kenya. It was later learned that supporters of Clinton, in an effort to revive her failing campaign, spread the rumor via a chain email.
Trump summons his ego and holds a press conference to gloat
This is full insanity on full display. Trump never mentioned Orly Taitz.
Orly Taitz, mother of the birthers movement, was so caught up in the movement she filed a half dozen lawsuits to prove Obama is not a U.S. citizen and has no right to be president. She said he had several Social Security numbers that he used in different states where he was employed. She even produced a fake birth certificate. All of the cases were thrown out of court.
This is Taitz's proof that Obama was born in Kenya: From Snoopes.com --- “On 2 August 2009, realtor/dentist/lawyer Dr. Orly Taitz Esq. unveiled her latest piece of dubious evidence in her long-running quest to demonstrate that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States of America: A photograph of a document purporting to be a Certified Copy of Registration of Birth issued by the Republic of Kenya in February 1964 which recorded a "Barack Hussein II" as having been born to Barack Hussein Obama and Stanley Ann (Dunham) Obama in Mombasa, Kenya, in August 1961. The document was reportedly obtained by Dr. Taitz from 'an anonymous source' who didn't want his name disclosed because he was 'afraid for his life.'
“Skeptics quickly identified a variety of reasons for questioning the legitimacy of the supposed Kenyan document, such as: The document is dated 17 February 1964 and a bears a legend identifying it as having been issued by the "Republic of Kenya," but Kenya (a former British colony) didn't officially adopt that name until 12 December 1964. In February 1964, it was known as the Dominion of Kenya. The listed age of Barack Obama's father is incorrect. (Barack Obama Sr. was born in 1936 and therefore would have been 24 or 25 years old at the time of Barack Jr.'s birth, not 26 as shown on the document.)"
The atmosphere for choosing to go insane was created by Trump with the help of the media, pundits, critics and tea partiers. The movement made it was easy for Donald Trump to slide in, and further enlarge the mass hysteria about an American born president. Trump, being the media whore that he is, was crowned a hero for "forcing" the President to produce his birth certificate. He said the President should have released it when Hillary Clinton asked for it.
While attempting to cast doubt on Barack Obama's place of birth, Trump is looking ahead to the 2012 mid-term election. He is toying with running for president, and he needs to knock President Obama out of the running to assure himself a victory. Trump revealed his intentions in an interview with the Daily Mail, March 2011.
"Mr. Trump added that he is willing to spend $600 million of his fortune to run for the U.S. president. But the billionaire said his name is so well known by the public that he will save millions on advertising if he decides to challenge Mr. Obama in the 2012 election".
The media, pundits and birthers chose to go insane over a pseudo issue. Actually, and contrary to how proud Trump feels, President Obama's showing of his long form birth certificate sent Trump followers --but not all of them-- scurrying towards sanity. Thousands of them chose to hide behind insanity. The President switched the script on them.
Trump and Republican conspiracy greyhounds, all of whom assert that the President is a "secret Muslim", chose to go insane over a birth certificate that proved nothing, except Barack Hussien Obama, the son of a White mother and African father, was born August 4, 1961, in Hawaii, a state that is part of the United States.
The professor was right. People do choose to go insane. I wish I could remember his name. I'd like to hear the tape again.
Orly Taitz, mother of the birthers movement, was so caught up in the movement she filed a half dozen lawsuits to prove Obama is not a U.S. citizen and has no right to be president. She said he had several Social Security numbers that he used in different states where he was employed. She even produced a fake birth certificate. All of the cases were thrown out of court.
This is Taitz's proof that Obama was born in Kenya: From Snoopes.com --- “On 2 August 2009, realtor/dentist/lawyer Dr. Orly Taitz Esq. unveiled her latest piece of dubious evidence in her long-running quest to demonstrate that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States of America: A photograph of a document purporting to be a Certified Copy of Registration of Birth issued by the Republic of Kenya in February 1964 which recorded a "Barack Hussein II" as having been born to Barack Hussein Obama and Stanley Ann (Dunham) Obama in Mombasa, Kenya, in August 1961. The document was reportedly obtained by Dr. Taitz from 'an anonymous source' who didn't want his name disclosed because he was 'afraid for his life.'
“Skeptics quickly identified a variety of reasons for questioning the legitimacy of the supposed Kenyan document, such as: The document is dated 17 February 1964 and a bears a legend identifying it as having been issued by the "Republic of Kenya," but Kenya (a former British colony) didn't officially adopt that name until 12 December 1964. In February 1964, it was known as the Dominion of Kenya. The listed age of Barack Obama's father is incorrect. (Barack Obama Sr. was born in 1936 and therefore would have been 24 or 25 years old at the time of Barack Jr.'s birth, not 26 as shown on the document.)"
The atmosphere for choosing to go insane was created by Trump with the help of the media, pundits, critics and tea partiers. The movement made it was easy for Donald Trump to slide in, and further enlarge the mass hysteria about an American born president. Trump, being the media whore that he is, was crowned a hero for "forcing" the President to produce his birth certificate. He said the President should have released it when Hillary Clinton asked for it.
While attempting to cast doubt on Barack Obama's place of birth, Trump is looking ahead to the 2012 mid-term election. He is toying with running for president, and he needs to knock President Obama out of the running to assure himself a victory. Trump revealed his intentions in an interview with the Daily Mail, March 2011.
"Mr. Trump added that he is willing to spend $600 million of his fortune to run for the U.S. president. But the billionaire said his name is so well known by the public that he will save millions on advertising if he decides to challenge Mr. Obama in the 2012 election".
The media, pundits and birthers chose to go insane over a pseudo issue. Actually, and contrary to how proud Trump feels, President Obama's showing of his long form birth certificate sent Trump followers --but not all of them-- scurrying towards sanity. Thousands of them chose to hide behind insanity. The President switched the script on them.
Trump and Republican conspiracy greyhounds, all of whom assert that the President is a "secret Muslim", chose to go insane over a birth certificate that proved nothing, except Barack Hussien Obama, the son of a White mother and African father, was born August 4, 1961, in Hawaii, a state that is part of the United States.
The professor was right. People do choose to go insane. I wish I could remember his name. I'd like to hear the tape again.
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