Yesterday, I posted a piece about the absurd "Barack Obama isn't a citizen" conspiracy theory floating around the wing-nuttiest of right-wing websites (and probably talk radio). They are apoplectic that Obama has not released the original, "long form" certificate of live birth (which they usually refer to as COLB). To them, this means--obviously--that Obama is not a citizen, and that he is therefore ineligible to become President. Even though Obama's mother was an American Citizen, the theorists cling to a Constitutional provision that a President must be a "natural born citizen," a term that is not defined.
In my previous post, I provided links to FactCheck.org, which has concluded that the "short form" birth certificate is genuine. Also included in that post is an excerpt wherein the State of Hawaii confirmed that it is legitimate. Links in the FactCheck.org article provide further evidence that Obama was born in Hawaii, with a birth announcement provided by the hospital 6 short days after his birth.
To believe that Obama was born outside the country requires a belief that Obama's mother colluded with hospital officials or a newspaper editor to fake his actual birth date, presumably because he'd need the evidence 47 years later when he would run for President. Preposterous.
But there is one more thing that should put a nail in the coffin of this idiotic theory. Namely, even if Obama was born outside this country, he'd still be eligible. This, from Wikipedia, regarding the candidacy of Mitt Romney's father, George:
[Excerpt]
It is notable that while [George] Romney was born in Mexico, he was still considered to be a viable and legal candidate to run for office. His Mormon grandfather and his three wives fled to Mexico in 1886, but none of them ever relinquished their citizenship. While the Constitution does provide that a president must be a natural born citizen, the first Congress of the United States in 1790 passed legislation stating: "The children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond the sea, or outside the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural-born citizens of the United States." Romney and his family fled Mexico in 1912 prior to the Mexican revolution. Source: Wikipedia
And if you don't trust Wikipedia, how about The Washington Post?
It also must be said, that these conspiracy theorists have a peculiarly selective outrage as it pertains to "unreleased" documents. They're all pissy that Obama won't release the "long form." Forget why he won't, why should he? It isn't necessary. His birth certificate is genuine, and has been used to get a passport, a Social Security number, allowed him to become an Illinois State Senator, and a United States Senator. It's good enough. I don't give a flying fig why he doesn't find it necessary to give these yahoos more.
Do these people have any comprehension of what documents their current leaders have had classified and re-classified? Do they realize that Sen. McCain hasn't released the entirety of his medical records by any objective standard, and neither has his running mate? Why are they so concerned now? It's because they think the only way they can win is to have their opposition disqualified on a technicality.
Thanks to friend and contributor, John, for the link.
