If it wasn’t so sad it’d be laughable.
The “it,” of course, is the renewed Birther movement right here in Arizona, which is fast becoming the petri dish for the bizarre.
For two sessions in a row, the far right loons (sorry, there’s no better word) in the legislature introduced — and in last year’s session, passed — birther bills, legislation targeted at President Obama.
Fortunately, saner folks prevailed, and the birther bills died.
But now, well, Birtherism is reborn ... in the Secretary of State’s office.
Ken Bennett, a Republican and possible candidate for governor in 2014 (though, of course, politics had nothing to do with his behavior here), has asked the state of Hawaii to confirm that President Obama is indeed a natural-born citizen of the U.S.
Something that state had done repeatedly.
But Bennett is only responding to “constituents,” 1,200 of whom, according to Bennett, emailed him over the last couple of months requesting he investigate.
Let’s see, 1,200 people out of a state of how many, 6.4 million? That would be about, oh, one quarter of 1 percent of our state’s citizens have contacted him.
I guess the rest of the 6.39 million don’t have the same concerns as that one quarter of one percent.
But never mind, our crack secretary of state’s on the job. And he’s told one radio talk show that he thinks the president is a citizen, or in his weasel word, “at least I hope so.”
More like “hopeless.”
Which is what the rest of us are in this silly birther issue.
No evidence at no time no where will convince the birthers that the President was in fact born in Hawaii. No, these folks see conspiracy afoot. Of course, many of them are the same ones who see conspiracies everywhere.
And so Ken Bennett dives into this, possibly because he wants to be on the right side of the Right Side in our state, hoping to woo those people to vote for him in 2014. And even if Hawaii once again confirms Obama’s birth, the birthers won’t care.
But Bennett has forgotten, apparently, that he is Secretary of State for the entire state, and not just for the lunatic fringe.
So while Ken Bennett might’ve sewn up the all-important Birther vote, come 2014, many of us will remember — to his regret — his role in resurrecting this debacle, once again shining the national spotlight on Arizona.
No amount of tax cuts and business subsidies will attract large national corporations to our state as long as behavior like Bennett’s is the norm for our public servants.
Sadly, all too often, it is.
Mike McClellan is a Gilbert resident and former English teacher at Dobson High School in Mesa.
Slabside posted at 5:03 pm on Tue, May 22, 2012.
If this issue had been suspected of Bush the lunatic left would be all over it as well. Move along folks, nothing to read here but another of McClellan's Republican bashing articles.
chuckles3 posted at 5:05 pm on Tue, May 22, 2012.
Mike you fail to mention the reason renewed interest in the Birther issue....care to elaborate? Of course not, people might get the wrong idea.
For the uninformed, it involves an old promotional Biography from a Publisher for a young author named Barack Obama who was "born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii" -as reported on a 'vicious right-wing website.' A website that has exposed numerous left wing scandals and things like massive potential for voter fraud in the upcoming election. You know, things never reported on Main Stream news outlets or publications.
spyderdog posted at 5:28 pm on Tue, May 22, 2012.
....because they wont let their anchors wear helmets made from reynolds wrap on those shows
im so thrilled that this birther thing is back in the spotlight. anything that continues to make blatantly crazy people continue to look blatantly crazy is good for the country
az2008 posted at 6:23 pm on Tue, May 22, 2012.
spy, I'm with you. Anything that helps the irrelevant fringe identify themselves as such is great. Con trails, 9/11 coverups, Tim McVeigh was framed?
This stuff's great.
Mike McClellan posted at 6:41 pm on Tue, May 22, 2012.
chuckles, one problem with your argument -- it's wrong.
You have the chronology a little mixed up -- and I know how much you like facts.
So here's the fact:
The so-called "vicious right-wing website" you allude to is Breitbart.com.
Who published the "Kenya-born" story five days ago.
Here's the site article link -- http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/17/The-Vetting-Barack-Obama-Literary-Agent-1991-Born-in-Kenya-Raised-Indonesia-Hawaii
But here's the inconvenient fact: Bennett's been involved in this for months, long before five days ago.
So -- in fact -- what you claim precipitated the latest round of Birther lunacy happened long after its genesis.
Good try, though.
Rich posted at 6:43 pm on Tue, May 22, 2012.
Mike,
The problem is, I'm not sure. I look at what was posted and it was so obviously a forgery. If everything were open and honest and in the light of day, I might be. Dislike it, but politicos have been lying to me so long, I've come to expect it. So I just go to, 'they're lying' and leave it there. Long after I'm gone someone will probably prove he was born in Kenya, such is 'kismet'. I don't think it can be proven one way or another right now, too many people are invested in an answer. And, totally rationally you can't prove the existence of a wall. But then I didn't learn 'critical thinking' from sociopathic drunks and addicts who wrote art that I don't really understand. In the end, I don't really care, if he was good at being President, people wouldn't care where he was born. Since he isn't, it's still a question mark.
Accuracy posted at 6:45 pm on Tue, May 22, 2012.
There is as yet no other evidence available that Barack Hussein Obama was actually born in Hawaii. Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett has said he is considering keeping the president off the state’s ballot in November unless he gets confirmation from Hawaii the copy of the birth certificate released last year by the White House is real.
Question is the authenticity of Obama’s claim as a U.S.-born citizen and thus his eligibility to be president.
Concerning President Obama's birth certificate in Hawaii; Governor Jan Brewer said, “I've had an opportunity to speak with a prior Governor, and she indicated to me with all due process and trustworthiness that indeed she had seen the birth certificate. It was a valid birth certificate. So that's the story from where I know it.”
Yet, Barack Obama's own literary agency's promotional booklet, published by Acton & Dystel in 1991, claims Obama was "born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii." And Breitbart.com, which is not a 'vicious right-wing website,' had Obama listed as being born in Kenya on the Dyster & Goderich website until April 2007.
ABD1183 posted at 7:09 pm on Tue, May 22, 2012.
If 1201 constituents write in asking him to drop this, would Bennett listen to them?
onerebel posted at 8:21 pm on Tue, May 22, 2012.
An interesting fact. I remember in a WW II history documentary, the German Citizens that questioned the true agenda of the Socialist party that would become the Nazi's were called " crazy unpatriotic LOONS ". Something to think about!
Rich posted at 9:22 pm on Tue, May 22, 2012.
"...the far right loons (sorry, there’s no better word) "
Never has been. If you don't want to know the truth, 'loon' is an excellent word to describe anyone you disagree with. It absolves you of rational thought, what it really means is that you don't want to know. Most people are 'loons' the conclusion saves a lot of time and trouble. At this point, I just assume Obama was born in Kenya, you wouldn't have brought it up at this point if he wasn't. It is prudent to believe that politicians and people who write for newspapers are lying to you. There is no proof available, apparently, so prudence demands that you disbelieve people who call other people 'loons' because you know, at least, they don't really want to know.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 1:03 am on Wed, May 23, 2012.
I see our "gut-less wonder" Liberal/Progressive/Democrat/Socialist and flat out, Commie Wanna-Be's............you know the ones who don't have the intestinal fortitude to put their ..............NAME ....where their.....MOUTH.....is..............are at it again.
The last time I looked....the....CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLLS....showed that 25% of Americans think that ....BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA...(you know the one who thinks that the............MUSLIM CALL TO PRAYER.........is the most beautiful saying in the whole World)..............that one...........was born in..........K.E.N.Y.A....(old Kenyata and his fellow Mau-Mau terrorist's ....hang-out).
As for our intrepid Columnist....well let's just say..........THANK GAWD HE'S IS RETIRED FROM THE TEACHING PROFESSION.....[wink]
k33j88 posted at 6:19 am on Wed, May 23, 2012.
Sheriff Arpiao had his forensic experts prove the "document " was a forgery. And what is the electorate to believe? This sitting fraud, a media darling, has dodged the issues most of us would be impeached for.
mrconservative posted at 8:42 am on Wed, May 23, 2012.
I'm not a birther, but I must admit that I am somewhat fascinated by all this. Not the comments above, but the birther movement. Regardless of how it ends up, I'll be looking forward to the results.
Arizona Willie posted at 9:01 am on Wed, May 23, 2012.
The whole " birther " thing is nothing but racism.
They tried to keep that N-word from running before and have refused to accept the fact they lost to a N-word ever since.
Now they are trying to keep that N-word from running again.
It doesn't matter how many Republican officials declare Obama is legit ( and there have been many including the Republican Governor of Hawaii ) or how many pieces of proof are published on the Internet -- they will continue to declare them forgeries just as they have all past evidence produced.
The Republican Party and their super wealthy campaign contributors would be very very happy to pay 5 million dollars to anyone who could produce proof that Obama was not a citizen of the U.S.
No one has been able to come forward with such proof.
It doesn't exist.
sdjtaz posted at 9:29 am on Wed, May 23, 2012.
I doesn't matter what evidence is presented to a "birther". They will consistently deny any evidence of the matter. In fact, Obama has presented both a copy of the legal short form and the legal long form birth certificate. This evidence satisfies the requirements to run for President in forty nine states. Only Arizona is crazy enough to get on board with the birthers.
I have several questions for the birthers. Do any of you honestly believe that the Republican Party would have allowed him to stay in office if there was any evidence what-so-ever that he was not eligible for the office. Why has every mainline Republican disavowed the birther movement? When everything that has been presented as "evidence" of Obama's foreign birth has already been debunked, why do you continue to bring up the same "evidence"?
Of course, I don't expect birthers to actually have a real answer to these questions. After all, they fall into the same category of UFO crazies, Big Foot advocates, and other fringe groups that latch onto anything (no matter how ridiculous) to "prove" their case.
BTW, I along with several others have asked Bennett to investigate Romney's birth certificate and eligibility to run for President. I have yet to hear of any investigation into this matter. Since he conducted the Obama inquiry for one citizen (who he can't remember), I expect him to conduct a Romney inquiry for hundreds. [wink]
Cerulean posted at 11:06 am on Wed, May 23, 2012.
“Bennett said he is simply trying to verify the information at the request of a constituent.”
Lets not forget that Ken Bennett is responsible to the state in his role as Chief Election Officer. ‘Constituents’ will lobby the Chief Election Officer for the purpose of mud slashing a candidate; but is it professional or appropriate for the Chief Election Officer to use that office to politico for those lobbyists? I think not! I think Ken Bennett, along with most of the republicans who hold higher offices in Arizona are highly unprofessional and unfit as leaders.
Mike, I dare Bennett to leave President Obama’s name off of the ballot.
Find the quote and the rest of the story here: http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/2012/05/18/20120518arizona-secretary-of-state-obama-citizenship.html
fae4now posted at 12:19 pm on Wed, May 23, 2012.
Bravo Mike, Cerulean, Willie and ABD1183!
As mentioned before I am a native Chicagoan and as such have a healthy skepticism for all things political but.... For those of you (Rich) who feel you're always being lied to, what proof then could be presented that wouldn't be just another lie?
And Accuracy, are we to find that a PR piece composed by a publishing house is more credible in the proof department than the State of Hawaii?
Spyderdog, where might I obtain one of the aforementioned Reynolds wrap helmets? I seek to understand what makes some continue down this path...
Slabside posted at 12:41 pm on Wed, May 23, 2012.
His remaining blood relatives in Coast Province there when he was born They fondly recall little Barry's birth in Mombasa.
Even the AP printed this story:
"Kenyan-born US Senate hopeful, Barrack Obama, appeared set to take over the Illinois Senate seat after his main rival, Jack Ryan, dropped out of the race on Friday night amid a furor over lurid sex club allegations."
April 11, 2008
WASHINGTON: Americans will today go to the polls to elect their next President with Democratic Party candidate, Senator Barack Obama largely favoured to win.
The Kenyan-born Senator will, however, face a stiff competition from his Republican counterpart, John McCain who has taken the presidential battle to the finishing line with vigorous campaign strategies."
Michelle says Barack's Home country is Kenya. Michelle is talking about HIV testing.
Her statement is that she and Barack Hussein Obama tested for HIV, when they took their trip to Kenya and visited his 'HOME' country.
How is it possible to be born in Hawaii and have Kenya as his 'HOME' country?
youtube.com/watch?v=dBJihJBePcs
sdjtaz posted at 3:29 pm on Wed, May 23, 2012.
Slabside,
First, regarding Obama's family in Mombasa, he has no close relatives there. His father's family was from the near Lake Victoria (which is in west Kenya), where Mombasa is on the east coast, hundreds of miles away from his father's family. Initially, the statement was attributed to his Grandmother. When this was disproven (the "reporter" failed to disclose that he asked a leading question, and Obama's grandmother quickly corrected his mistatement), the right-wing rumor machine began attributing to "family members" in Mombasa. If this rumor is true, please provide one name and relationship to Obama.
I can find no mention to your April 11, 2008 article. However, the first article that you refer to was from 2004. There was no mention of the President being "Kenyan born" in the original AP story. That phrase was added by an editor when it appeard in the Kenyan Standard Times. I suspect that your second article from 2008 makes the same mistake.
Regarding Michelle Obama's comment, notice that she did not say that he was born in Kenya. I know several people that have families that came from Italy. Although all of these people were born in the US, most still use language such as a "home" country. Since Mrs. Obama was speaking of HIV, which is prevalent in many African countries including her father-in-law's, is it hard to believe that she might use this language to connect to her audience.
Sorry, but we have seen copies of his real birth certificate (both short form and long form), and they have been verified to be authentic, I will have to go with the great majority of Americans who know that Obama was born in Hawaii.
It's sad that the birthers are still trying to hang on. Every single piece of "evidence" they have ever tried to use has been disproven. My suggestion to you and all of the other birthers is to quit relying on viral e-mails for your proof and start researching first hand.
Louiejr posted at 3:48 pm on Wed, May 23, 2012.
Mr. Bennett should leave The Prez and Mr. Romney off the ballot because no matter who gets to live in the lap of luxury at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue the national debt will continue to surge and we are going to end up like Greece .
You give the blowhards inside the Beltway a dollar and they spend five . We are doomed to be a second class nation the way things are headed . You can blame it on either party and it doesn't matter because neither one wants to get the spending under control . At least Mertha is gone . He was the worst for pork !
Rich posted at 6:24 pm on Wed, May 23, 2012.
"For those of you (Rich) who feel you're always being lied to, what proof then could be presented that wouldn't be just another lie?"
From a politician, absolutely none. If they tell you the truth, they made a mistake. Prudence demands I live with the few mistakes and not the much more numerous lies.
Accuracy posted at 10:47 am on Thu, May 24, 2012.
PRESS RELEASE by Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett:
“Late yesterday, our office received the 'verification in-lieu of certified copy' from officials within the Hawaii Department of Health that we requested in March,” Arizona Secretary of State Bennett said in a statement released Wednesday, May 23, 2012. “They have officially confirmed that the information in the copy of the Certificate of Live Birth for the President matches the original record in their files.”
------------------------------------------------
“In-lieu of certified copy" of the Certificate of Live Birth for President Obama from officials of Hawaii Department of Health . . . the office of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio also said on Wednesday that an investigator with a ‘volunteer posse’ and a deputy detective had been sent to Hawaii in recent days to carry out their own investigation.
sdjtaz posted at 1:11 pm on Thu, May 24, 2012.
Isn't it curious. Ken Bennett was really gung-ho to investigate Obama's birth certificate. All of a sudden, several people contact Bennett's office asking him to also investigate Romney's birth certificate. Suddenly, Bennett seems OK with Obama's birth certificate, not because he received a copy of it, but because Hawaii sends him a letter of verification (and we all know how Hawaii lies).
Why the sudden change in Bennett's thinking. Since he is the co-chair of Romney's campaign, maybe Bennett knows something. Just maybe Romney, like his father, was actually born in Mexico and therefore not eligible to be President. Has anyone seen Romney's birth certificate (not a photocopy, since we have all learned how those are all fake). I haven't heard about it.
Romney's father was a powerful man in Michigan. He could have easily faked Romney's "supposed" American birth in 1947, knowing that his son would run for President 65 years later. I want to see proof and anything that you present to me as proof of Romney's birth will be discarded out of hand as a forgery.
Now, I don't actually believe any of this, but it is a perfect illustration of the "birther" mentality. [beam]
Masterrogue666 posted at 2:18 pm on Fri, May 25, 2012.
AZ Willie, I can't believe you, of all people, played the "race" card....
downtownresident posted at 5:26 pm on Fri, May 25, 2012.
k33j88, and the rest of you haters.
Obama is the POTUS. He sleeps in the White house. Get over it.
And the Mormon, who believes he will have his own planet someday, needs to find a new cult. Or go back to Zion.
Cerulean posted at 7:04 pm on Fri, May 25, 2012.
Masterrogue666, are you denying the truth in AZ Willie's comment?
Masterrogue666 posted at 9:48 pm on Sun, May 27, 2012.
Cerulean, what you call "truth", I call "opinion". I've heard lots of info from both sides, and in truth, I still wonder if he is was born in the USA, or elsewhere. My doubt certainly is due to the color of his skin! So, since that is the "truth", Willie's comment is false.
What surprised me is why he'd state such a thing! He's been called racist because he's not Pro ILLEGAL ALIEN. What applies in that argument also applies in this argument. Not all people whom consider it a possibility that Obama is not a citizen are automatically racist! And if you believe that to be true, then there's no way to sway the ignorance that blinds you to that subtle fact. Blanket statements like that are never truthful.
TeaPartyPatriot posted at 9:13 pm on Mon, May 28, 2012.
Doesn't really matter and cannot be proved either way. Well it could but Obummer wishes his past to be as hidden as possible and many people in power wish the whole question to go away. So he's no doubt a fraud and you can't do anything about it. Doesn't that tell you something? A shadow figure that has hidden every document that would shed some light on him has been securely hidden away from you, yet some of you still vote for him? Could it be that you know as I do that he is an enemy of America and wants to topple our economy so to rebuild it in the socialist mold? Or are you people just as stupid as I think you are?
bobunf posted at 4:08 pm on Tue, May 29, 2012.
Considering that there is zero evidence that Ann Obama left Hawaii anytime in 1961. None.
Considering that Hawaiian officials for four years running have repeatedly confirmed that Obama was, indeed, born in Honolulu. Full faith and credit should end the matter right there.
Considering the contemporary newspaper conformations.
Considering the repeated affirmations by every branch and division of reputable journalism, political institutions and government have, for decades, repeatedly confirmed his place of birth - from the Arizona Republic to the Democratic Party to John McCain and Mitt Romney, to the CIA, FBI, courts, 54 state and other election jurisdictions. They are unanimous.
People who call themselves birthers fall into a few categories, those who:
Disingenuously raise the question as an ideological strategy;
Disingenuously use the issue to pander to certain segments of the population for political or monetary gain;
Are spooked into a paroxysm of paranoid fear and trembling by President Obama's skin color (that would be racism) or ideology (that would be ignorance);
Plain crazy.
It boils down to opportunists lacking in any kind of ethics, very dumb people or lunatics.