Obama's Birth Certificate Released

[Benzgirl]

Did we really need to go there?

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content...d.html?sid=101

President Barack Obama says he's releasing his long-form birth certificate because the country doesn't have time for the "distraction" and "silliness" of questions being persistently raised about where he was born.

The president spoke at the White House today after taking the unexpected step of releasing the document, which supplements Hawaii's official certification of the president's birth there. Obama had released that during the campaign.

Polls show large numbers of Republicans continue to doubt Obama is a natural born citizen eligible to be president. A Saperstein Poll last September for The Dispatch showed that only 45 percent of central Ohio Republicans believed Obama's birth certificate showing he was born in the U.S. is legitimate.

Real estate mogul Donald Trump had seized on the issue as he weighs a GOP candidacy.

[thetaj]

Just sent this to the bf who always brings this up. Thank you for posting! Even if it is a little that this is such an issue

[PiKA2001]

Upon landing in New Hampshire, Trump took credit for getting Obama to release his birth certificate.

"He should have done it a long time ago. I am really honored to play such a big role in hopefully, hopefully getting rid of this issue," he said.

LOL

[BluPhire]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

LOL

Yeah I was watching his press conference.

This song is dedicated to Donald Trump.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MIff...eature=related

[TonyB06]

Like most politicians do, I think this is a calcuated move on President Obama's part.

IMO, the "birther" movement looked unhinged, unable or unwilling to accept the 2008 verdict of the American voting public. Rants about the president's "mysterious" background made the president appear more sympathetic to other political audiences.

I suspect the White House has polling showing the issue's "benefit" has maxed out, thus today's move. Otherwise, this could have been done one, two years ago?

I don't think national politicians pour milk on their morning cereal until they poll-test and put the proper "framing" on how best to announce things.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

LOL

Weirdly, this is EXTREMELY well-played by Trump, at least from a political/decision-making standpoint ... facts make very little difference to people who already hold a strong view on something, and with Obama's dissatisfaction ratings so high already (plus a dose of the Dunning-Kruger Effect), he might have just signed his own ticket to the GOP Convention.

[victoriana]

I'm going to be so disgusted if Donald Trump runs and gets the GOP nomination. His positions are re-fucking-diculous. See link for more info: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...y.html?hpid=z3
/hijack

I think it's silly that this is still an issue, but I think Obama did the right thing in releasing his birth certificate. I just cannot believe that people are still preoccupied with stupid, petty bullshit like this when we have way bigger issues to focus on.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Weirdly, this is EXTREMELY well-played by Trump, at least from a political/decision-making standpoint ... facts make very little difference to people who already hold a strong view on something, and with Obama's dissatisfaction ratings so high already (plus a dose of the Dunning-Kruger Effect), he might have just signed his own ticket to the GOP Convention.

I beg to differ. While Trump's antics make for entertaining news coverage and talk show debate the fact that GOP politicians collectively face-palm everytime the Donald opens his mouth leads me to believe that he doesn't have a chance in hell.

[victoriana]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I beg to differ. While Trump's antics make for entertaining news coverage and talk show debate the fact that GOP politicians collectively face-palm everytime the Donald opens his mouth leads me to believe that he doesn't have a chance in hell.

*LIKE*

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I beg to differ. While Trump's antics make for entertaining news coverage and talk show debate the fact that GOP politicians collectively face-palm everytime the Donald opens his mouth leads me to believe that he doesn't have a chance in hell.

We'll see - and notice I just said he'd have a seat at the convention, and not that he'd win - but I'm not sure the 'bluster' level can't be toned down enough to satisfy the (increasingly corporate) political machine if and when he receives large-scale support from a disillusioned and angry Republican base.

After all, it's not like Tim Pawlenty or Bobby Jindal speak for the people - Trump is, in a weird way, the natural hybrid of what the Tea Party has become and what dumb folks think the GOP used to be.

I wouldn't underestimate him - doing so would implicitly overestimate the voting public, an act I can't recommend.

Trump's a douche, one with very little business acumen (some might say negative) and little talent other than self-promotion. But guess which skills are best rewarded by voters? HINT: Mitt Romney is the pertinent case study.

[sceniczip]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

A Saperstein Poll last September for The Dispatch showed that only 45 percent of central Ohio Republicans believed Obama's birth certificate showing he was born in the U.S. is legitimate.

In Ohio's defense, if you've ever been to central Ohio you would understand. The people *shakes head* I'm very much a Republican and think this whole thing is silly.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

We'll see - and notice I just said he'd have a seat at the convention, and not that he'd win - but I'm not sure the 'bluster' level can't be toned down enough to satisfy the (increasingly corporate) political machine if and when he receives large-scale support from a disillusioned and angry Republican base.

After all, it's not like Tim Pawlenty or Bobby Jindal speak for the people - Trump is, in a weird way, the natural hybrid of what the Tea Party has become and what dumb folks think the GOP used to be.

I wouldn't underestimate him - doing so would implicitly overestimate the voting public, an act I can't recommend.

Trump's a douche, one with very little business acumen (some might say negative) and little talent other than self-promotion. But guess which skills are best rewarded by voters? HINT: Mitt Romney is the pertinent case study.

That's another thing-

People, even people who's job it is to monitor politics, don't honestly know if he's serious about running for President or just using all of this media attention to breathe new life into the Trump brand.

[adpiucf]

Trump won't run. He has done this before. He talks about running, a buzz is created, and then he doesn't run... surprisingly he then closes some big deal. He is just trying to get people to watch his lame TV show.

Besides, Trump's former positions have been Pro-Choice and being pro-universal healthcare. Now, all of a sudden, he's a conservative? It's just for ratings.

I'm now waiting for the birthers to claim the released document isn't authentic.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Trump won't run. He has done this before. He talks about running, a buzz is created, and then he doesn't run... surprisingly he then closes some big deal. He is just trying to get people to watch his lame TV show.

Besides, Trump's former positions have been Pro-Choice and being pro-universal healthcare. Now, all of a sudden, he's a conservative? It's just for ratings.

I'm now waiting for the birthers to claim the released document isn't authentic.

EXACTLY.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Besides, Trump's former positions have been Pro-Choice and being pro-universal healthcare. Now, all of a sudden, he's a conservative?

While I agree that there's a good chance all of this is for publicity, this part isn't a big problem given enough "oomph" behind the candidate - most have issues like this.

Hell, McCain had similar problems last cycle.