Michele Bachmann Says Obama’s Birth Certificate Settles The Birther Issue
Recently Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has flirted on the edges of the birther movement, perhaps in reaction to the attention Donald Trump has been receiving. Today on Good Morning America, though she quickly changed her tune after being shown a copy of the Certification Of Live Birth that the President made available to the public nearly four years ago:
Relevent portion begins at 2:30
Stephanopoulos: Last night you were on Fox News suggesting the president should come forward with his birth certificate as well –
Bachmann: Well, what I have said about that is, I was asked a question about that and Republicans are constantly asked to vouch for the authenticity of the birth certificate. The only one who can is the clerk of court in the county where someone is born and that’s where people should go. Don’t ask Republicans, go ask the clerk of court.
Stephanopoulos: Well, actually one of your supporters in the state of Iowa has put forth a bill that would require presidential candidates to file their birth certificate with their candidacy, do you support that?
Bachmann: Well, Governor Jan Brewer just vetoed that bill in Arizona because she felt that that was a bridge too far, that it wouldn’t be up to the authenticators in each state to do that, that that would be a federal issue. There is a federal piece of legislation that hasn’t gone anywhere that would also require that candidates put forward their birth certificate. I have no problem giving my birth certificate, it wouldn’t bother me at all. I’ve got one, its authenticated, take it.
[Bachmann was referring to H.R. 1503 which would have required presidential campaign committees to file "a copy of the candidate's birth certificate." Iowa Senate bill 368, which was introduced by Bachmann supporter Kent Sorenson, contained similar language, saying a candidate should file "a copy of the candidate's birth certificate certified by the appropriate official in the candidate's state of birth."]
Stephanopoulos: Well, but so does the president. According to the bill ‘a candidate for president or vice president shall attach to and file with the affidavit a copy of the candidate’s birth certificate certified by the appropriate official in the candidate’s state of birth.’
Bachmann: That’s right.
Stephanopoulos: Well I have the president’s certificate right here. It’s certified, it’s got a certification number. It’s got the registrar of the state signed. It’s got a seal on it. And it says ‘this copy serves as prima facie evidence of the fact of birth in any court proceeding.’
Bachmann: Well, then that should settle it.
Stephanopoulos: So it’s over?
Bachmann: That’s what should settle it. I take the president at his word and I think- again I would have no problem and apparently the president wouldn’t either. Introduce that, we’re done. Move on.
Stephanopoulos: Well this has been introduced. So this story is over?
Bachmann: Well as long as someone introduces it I guess it’s over.
Stephanopoulos: It’s right there.
Bachmann: Yeah, there you go. Because that is not the main issue facing the United States right now.
Related Posts
- Bobby Jindal Says He Would Sign Louisiana ‘Birther’ Bill
- Hawaiian Official Again Confirms Obama’s Birth Records, Calls Birthers ‘Ludicrous”
- Arizona Sec. Of State Walks Back Birtherism, Says Obama Will Be On Ballot
- A Handy Dandy Guide To Refuting Every Argument Made By A Birther
- Donald Trump: Still A Birther
About Doug Mataconis
Didn’t she say last week that she didn’t think Obama was qualified? Is she on the John Kerry Presidential plan?
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
The reluctance to say “he’s a citizen” is pretty funny. We can’t say he’s a citizen, but we can “take him at his word,” we can say “it’s settled” without saying what’s settled.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
1 
0
While I do find Obama’s behavior regarding his birth certificate very odd, I don’t think it’s a winning issue for the Republicans. Trump got everyone’s attention with it, and now the media just keeps asking him about it, hoping it will make him look like a nut. They should let it go, unless they find something to prove otherwise.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Felicia, you are asking them to release a fish on the hook.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
1 
0
I believe Michelle Bachman hasn’t “changed her tune”, as her position has been consistent all along. In fact, most republicans will echo the same answer.
Although the “birther” meme was effective, republicans were wasting too much time on the back-and-forth of the issue. It is much easier and even more effective to follow Bachman’s lead and say that “you take Obama’s word for it” that he was born in the country and “yes, he has produced a document that Hawaii accepts as a certificate of live birth”.
As a kicker, republicans will toss in a plea to respect Obama’s privacy, considering that millions have been spent on keeping the original birth certificate hidden. Since Hawaii has attested to his citizenship, whatever is in that original document that Mr. Obama wants to remain secret is entirely his own business.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Out nutting Michelle Bachmann!
Bravo Sir!
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
It’s never been about whether he was born in the US.
This has always been old white people’s systemic rejection of a black man. It’s nothing but dog whistle racism, and the whistle’s pretty audible even to human ears.
The point was for the GOP to cry, “Ni**er!” and identify themselves as the political home of white people. Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for the country, what they’ve done instead is identify themselves as the political home of morons and racists. (Two related, but not entirely identical constituencies.)
Now, granted the racists and morons vote is pretty big — maybe 40% — and they’ll also get the vote of guys who will bend over for racists and morons so long is ensures a top tax rate of 35% as opposed to 39%, but that still only comes to McCain’s 45%. And dropping.
The GOP has done itself incalculable damage with this.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
1 
0
Michael,
I’m hurt that you would think that.
You should know that we conservatives would have treated any liberal like this, regardless of race, creed or suspect national origin. Our jackboot of oppression is color-blind and an equal opportunity tool to be used on the necks of all progressives.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
No. You would have called a liberal liberal. Or maybe radical. Or out of touch. Or not mainstream.
The Kenya, Muslim, birth certificate thing is all about race.
Race baiting, pure and simple.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
2 
0
WorldNetDaily consistently makes fools out of wing nuts. As in “Obama spent millions to hide his birth certificate”…
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Michael,
If conservatives were truly racist, they would do something unmistakably condescending towards blacks, like voting for someone singularly unqualified for the presidency just because of his skin color.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
“If conservatives were truly racist, they would do something unmistakably condescending towards blacks, like voting for someone singularly unqualified for the presidency just because of his skin color.”
No, you just stop at putting one on the Supreme Court.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
jwest:
See, there you go again. He could only possibly be an affirmative action case.
Couldn’t be that he was better able than the combination of an aged, worn out and increasingly erratic McCain paired with a demonstrated ignoramus.
Yeah. Had to be affirmative action.
Thanks for proving my point.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
1 
0
You got everything but a real birth certificate and college transcripts. Did Obama use his Indonesian citizenship to get into Occidental College. Did he get student aid as a foreign student? All we get is a lot of misdirection. Show the f ing documents. Not the certification of live birth. That document could be gotten days after the fact by any adult making a sworn statement. Not exactly proof by any standard. Except here where you believe the phoney BS about Bush and his service record, till it was proven to be written in type not available at the time. Once again, African, as used on the COLB is not a race and was not used to describe black people in 1961. Explain that Reynolds.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Stoner boy, maybe if you just keep repeating all that bullshit enough, it will come true! Click your heels and believe, child.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Wiley,
The Constitution clearly states that candidates for president need only be “clean and articulate”. The Founding Fathers copied this from the Nobel Peace Prize requirements. Since we have received certification from Joe Biden that Obama meets the criteria, all this talk about background, records and such should be forgotten.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Jwest keeps stating that he and his fellow conservatives are not racists…and I guess I can take him at his word that he isn’t.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Q,
I’ve got a certificate from the state that verifies I’m not the least bit racist.
I would show it to you, but those documents can’t be released.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
There would have been birthers if Obama had been born on Hawaii, with an American mother and an Canadian father, and then after her mother had divorced and remarried an Irish, spent part of his childhood in Ireland?
I have a bridge to sell for anyone who believes that crap.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Here is the proof. Obama could not be a legal U.S. citizen because his mother failed to meet the U.S. law’s requirements of five years residency after the age of 14.
Exhibit A: U.S. Law.
According to U.S. law pertaining to births abroad from “December 24, 1952 to November 13, 1986” in order to register the child’s birth as a U.S. Natural born citizen, he or she must be:
1. Born to (2) two U.S. citizen parents; (Barack’s father was not a U.S. citizen).
2. If only one parent was a U.S. citizen at the time of the birth, that parent must have resided in the United States for at least (10) ten years, five of which must be after the age of (14). (Barack’s mother was (18) at the time of his birth she fails to meet the five year test).
There is no legal U.S. birth certificate as one was never issued. That is why he has paid over $2 million to keep it seceret.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
[...] Michele Bachmann Says Obama’s Birth Certificate Settles The Birther Issue (outsidethebeltway.com) [...]
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
jwest:
You’re a liar. You have already been challenged on this point. When are you going to show some evidence to support this claim?
Dr. Brown:
Ditto for you.
Naturally. And former Gov. Lingle-R is simply lying when she says otherwise. Of course, she certified Obama’s birth while she was campaiging for McCain. Why? Because she’s part of the great Kenyan conspiracy. Makes perfect sense.
Stoner:
And do you have some evidence to support this claim? Why not go make “a sworn statement” and get one with your name on it? We’d love to see it.
No prior president has shown us any kind of birth certificate (at least before they left office), and no prior president has shown us college transcripts. Bush and Gore’s were leaked, not released voluntarily. And Kerry released his, but only after he lost.
So you’re proving that you’re ignorant, and that you’re holding Obama to a standard that was never imposed on any other president.
Bush did indeed fail to meet his service obligations:
http://volokh.com/posts/1231615267.shtml#514972
And what Bush released was highly incomplete. Despite false claims by many wingnuts, Bush never signed SF-180:
http://mediamatters.org/research/200409100001
This was addressed years ago, here:
http://www.obamaconspiracy.org/2009/04/the-african-race/
Sorry to burst all your bubbles.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
clearly even the craziest wing-nuts have realized this is making them look stoopid.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
@Dr. Brown, That’s Exhibit D, not Exhibit A
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133661/posts
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
[...] Michele Bachmann Says Obama’s Birth Certificate Settles The Birther Issue (outsidethebeltway.com) [...]
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Please provide the relevant cite from US Code.
Thanks.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Why do you guys wrestle with the pigs? You get all muddy (and slimed with feces) and in the end you realize the pigs enjoy it!
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Oh for God’s sake, WHO FREAKING CARES??
Please, somebody find me a poll that shows the birther issue is a major issue for GOP voters. It doesn’t frigging matter if 90% of GOP voters believe he was born in Kenya. It’s not an issue they give a crap about.
Thank you media for making this non-issue an issue.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Please, somebody find me a poll that shows the birther issue is a major issue for GOP voters.
How about all those showing Donald Trump’s rise since he started beating the birther drum? Seems like a pretty good indication of the Republican Party’s priorities. It does seem that as more Republicans hear about Trump’s various positions over they years, they are souring on him. But when he was all birther, all the time? Golden.
It doesn’t frigging matter if 90% of GOP voters believe he was born in Kenya. It’s not an issue they give a crap about.
For a lot of them, it is, and it may just be their litmus test for the primary.
Here’s a fun glimpse (I know, it’s South Carolina, but still…).
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Here’s the poll you seem to have not noticed:
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_US_0414925.pdf
Seems like there are plenty of GOP voters who do “give a crap about” it. A majority, if you take into account the “not sure” group. And it makes sense to take them into account. These are folks who are “not sure” they would “be willing to vote for a candidate who stated clearly that Obama was born in the U.S.”
Consistent with other polls, most Rs are birthers, and they care enough to make it effect their vote. Notwithstanding Bachmann’s moment of sanity, we should expect to see lots of ongoing subtle and not-subtle birtherism from the GOP candidates. In other words, to get through the primary they will have to reveal to the sane portion of the country that they are quite willing to pander to nuts.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
The media doesn’t pay attention to birthers: OMG. The media is in the tank for Obama and proves itby not reporting on mainstream GOP beliefs!
The media pays attention to birthers: OMG. The media is in the tank for Obama and proves it by reporting on these conspiracy theorists.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
Usurpation of the highest office, is a crime of the highest order!
It is stunning to watch these people hit the panic button. George, you really look desperate these days. And Michelle…tisk tisk tisk…what a disappointment, do you really believe you have a shot at POTUS given your rapid crumbling with this con-job? Suggest you watch the Trump interview with Gerogy-boy.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
[...] Michele Bachmann Says Obama's Birth Certificate Settles The … [...]
Helpful or Unhelpful:
0 
0
And we have a certificate from you that verifies you are an idiot. Quite a few of them actually, they are all over OTB.
Helpful or Unhelpful:
1 
0
It’s a sad day for the party when Michele Bachmann is the voice of reason! I say let them continue with this and dig their own grave. Republicans in this country may believe this ridiculous bs – just like they believe Obama is a Muslim. They will believe anything if you say it enough. But you know what – the independents don’t believe it and don’t care and won’t vote for someone who wastes time and energy on this when we have important issues in this country to address. So let them talk about this all they want – make it their agenda – guaranty Obama a second term. We all know that no one can win the presidency without independents and even Michele Bachmann sees this!
Helpful or Unhelpful:
1 
0