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Why Obama's Birth Certificate Issue Will Not Go Away
Nashville, TN
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Why Will Obama's Birth Certificate Issue Not Go Away?
The President of the United States belongs to the people. A lot of Americans are troubled by sealed records. Some feel that if the President has nothing to hide, then why not release the original birth certificate and open other sealed records: educational, foreign travel passports, and state legislative records. A birth certificate is a tangible document issue that everybody can relate to. Most of us have one tucked away in our home. It's needed for public benefits as well as school admission and passports. Mine has the exact moment I was born, the city, hospital, and attending physician. What is posted online for President Obama is a certificate of live birth. The birth certificate issue will not disappear. It is the failure to release the long form that keeps suspicion alive.
Below is a quote from a white friend about the matter:
"I'm struggling with this one when it comes to questions of character. Obama has been deceptive in other matters so it is difficult for me to give him the benefit of the doubt here. Something isn't quite right. If there is nothing to hide then why seal it? If there is nothing revealed if unsealed then what was going on while we were waiting...and WHERE was it going on? I sense deception somewhere"
I am perplexed by sealed records in the President's background. It is a biographer's nightmare and it hampers scholars and constrains the narrative that we tell future generations. I have not heard a compelling reason for the White House's refusal to honestly address the sealed documents. One reporter said it "makes political sense for Obama to allow the discussion to continue because it distracts and weakens his opponents. It also seems that nothing would satisfy the birthers. It all adds up to, "why bother?" I strongly disagree with this reporter's position, and the well-orchestrated strategy to crucify and vilify Americans who raise the issue.
Is there any merit to the story?
No, but it has legs as long as the President refuses to release his sealed documents. The White House strategy may be part of a well orchestrated smokescreen to divert public attention from other sealed documents. But I hardly see the strategic advantage to the President of letting the issue be debated around kitchen tables and on the Internet. I believe the President should end the speculation by being transparent about all aspects of his background. In fact, it can be argued that the President belongs to the people and to scholars, biographers, and others who are entitled to know every aspect of his past. Only great men can ascend to this height and their lives should be examined and studied for the lessons they offer.
What's up with Dobb's derogatory remark about Rachel Maddow?
Calling Rachel Maddow a tea-bagging Queen was certainly a crude choice of words. Dobbs was clearly incensed by the twisting of his words and the misrepresentation of his position about the birth. I think the issue is being used strategically to shut Lou Dobbs down because of his criticisms of the President and his position on illegal immigration.
The President of the United States belongs to the people. A lot of Americans are troubled by sealed records. Some feel that if the President has nothing to hide, then why not release the original birth certificate and open other sealed records: educational, foreign travel passports, and state legislative records. A birth certificate is a tangible document issue that everybody can relate to. Most of us have one tucked away in our home. It's needed for public benefits as well as school admission and passports. Mine has the exact moment I was born, the city, hospital, and attending physician. What is posted online for President Obama is a certificate of live birth. The birth certificate issue will not disappear. It is the failure to release the long form that keeps suspicion alive.
Below is a quote from a white friend about the matter:
"I'm struggling with this one when it comes to questions of character. Obama has been deceptive in other matters so it is difficult for me to give him the benefit of the doubt here. Something isn't quite right. If there is nothing to hide then why seal it? If there is nothing revealed if unsealed then what was going on while we were waiting...and WHERE was it going on? I sense deception somewhere"
I am perplexed by sealed records in the President's background. It is a biographer's nightmare and it hampers scholars and constrains the narrative that we tell future generations. I have not heard a compelling reason for the White House's refusal to honestly address the sealed documents. One reporter said it "makes political sense for Obama to allow the discussion to continue because it distracts and weakens his opponents. It also seems that nothing would satisfy the birthers. It all adds up to, "why bother?" I strongly disagree with this reporter's position, and the well-orchestrated strategy to crucify and vilify Americans who raise the issue.
Is there any merit to the story?
No, but it has legs as long as the President refuses to release his sealed documents. The White House strategy may be part of a well orchestrated smokescreen to divert public attention from other sealed documents. But I hardly see the strategic advantage to the President of letting the issue be debated around kitchen tables and on the Internet. I believe the President should end the speculation by being transparent about all aspects of his background. In fact, it can be argued that the President belongs to the people and to scholars, biographers, and others who are entitled to know every aspect of his past. Only great men can ascend to this height and their lives should be examined and studied for the lessons they offer.
What's up with Dobb's derogatory remark about Rachel Maddow?
Calling Rachel Maddow a tea-bagging Queen was certainly a crude choice of words. Dobbs was clearly incensed by the twisting of his words and the misrepresentation of his position about the birth. I think the issue is being used strategically to shut Lou Dobbs down because of his criticisms of the President and his position on illegal immigration.
Carol M. Swain
Prof: Political Science and Law
Vanderbilt University Law School
Nashville, TN
615-322-1001
