The truth about Obama's birth certificate

When I asked readers for their biggest hope for Barack Obama, more than 2,000 of you posted comments. A surprising number, however, made a request I hadn't been expecting.

They wanted Mr Obama to produce his birth certificate.

The (unpleasant, nutty conspiracy) suggestion made by some of readers is that Mr Obama was not born in Hawaii, as he claims, but in Kenya. They believe he is therefore not eligible to be President and must resign.

And now Mr Obama former opponent in Illinois, the, ahem, eccentric Alan Keyes is suing him in an attempt to get evidence of his American birth.

Perhaps I can help. Here is Mr Obama's certificate of live birth in Hawaii.

Comments

[Stravage]

Without the certificate number and State seal this is worth nothing,

[Lili]

The nutty conspiracy theorists have seen it. They don't believe it's real. No matter what you say about the birth certificate, about Obama's mother's citizenship being transmitted to him at birth, or the Constitution and the provisions of the various Immigration and Naturalization Acts on the subject of "natural-born" citizens, they won't listen, as we've learned on U.S. blogs. Don't waste your time on them.

[Paul]

That is not a birth certificate and it is not from 1961. You've proven nothing, except that you would like to promote the idea that people who dare to ask question are "nutty".

Good luck with your attempts to silence dissent and debate. That sort of tactic is always a great first step in creating totalitarian dictatorships.

[Frank]

A certificate of live birth is not the same as a Birth Certificate. Obama's mother was detained in Kenya because she was too pregnant to fly - as she was due within hours of the flight. The next day after giving birth she flew to Hawaii and presented the baby to the hospital which gave her this Cert of Live Birth. It does not prove he was born there. We want the real certificate.

[Charles Manning (manning120)]

Alan Keyes is the most credible persons claiming Obama wasn't born in the U.S. I'd like to see his response to this.

[George Bedway]

The birth certicate you claim to be authentic is self-invalidated because the "Certificate No." is concealed and the document itself states that
"Any Alterations Invalidate This
Certificate."
Since you are so willing to believe this, how do you stand on the claim that Bill Ayres did not practice violence?

[lewis sanborn]

That form carries a revision date of 11/01. Are you a journalist or a mouthpiece?

[msdod]

I thought he was born legally as "Barry" something and changed his name later. Shouldn't it have his original name at the time of birth if this is an "orginal" document? If you forge documents, you should at least get the names right, shouldn't you?

[John]

His parents met at college in Hawaii. Dated in Hawaii, and produced a child in Hawaii. Where on earth do people think his birth certificate would be from? Alaska?

[John Du Bois]

The issue is really not the birth certificate itself, though it is a sub-plot.

There are three issues with the american people who want to make sure he is qualified.

1. Indonesian citizenship.
2. Oath of allegiance production
3. Selective Service document forgery.

The fact that his grandmother said she saw him born raised the first eyebrows, his lack of willingness to produce it to a judge is another.

Here is the issue with some who first blew it off. Take a look at this own requirements to work for him , or to protect him. He requires severe screening, yet has not produced documents upon demand.
So the attempt to just write it off as a conspiracy theory is met with, any normal citizen would have to produce documents upon request. His school registation in Indonesia and his adoption by the second husband provide real questions that people want answers to.

His failure to answer and remain stealth is the issue, not questioning his documents.

What peoples opinion are of citizens wanting him to prove citizenship is really a moot point.

[Nick in Virginia]

A scanned image of a document, posted on a web site, and re-published by an English website, hardly constitutes proof of 0bama's birth history. Did you recently change your name from "Dan Rather", by any chance?

I suppose you could just ask 0bama, after all, he should know, he was there at the time of his birth (wherever "there" is).

Our Constitution (oh wait, you guys don't have one of those, do you) states that if the President-Elect does not qualify, then the Vice-President elect gets inaugurated as President. In the interest of not having a President Biden, it is imperative that 0bama prove he is qualified (and there are only 2 qualifications - being a "natural-born" American, and being at least 35 years old. Oh yes, and winning the election in the Electoral College).

[ronalddawg]

That is not his birth certificate - that is an abstract - from a computer. A birth certificate from that time (like mine) will be typewritten - white on black paper with a seal.

Demand the real one! This rumour will not go away until will see the original certified birth certificate.

[Whig]

It is all very well to deride attempts - begun by bloggers sympathetic to Hillary Clinton, btw - to suggest that Obama was born elsewhere than the U.S.

However, there is a double standard here (as elsewhere)

Earlier in the summer, the N.Y. Times tried to make the argument that McCain was ineligible for the presidency, because he was born at a U.S. base overseas.

It was determined long ago that this is no bar to become the president; didn't matter, it seemed, to the New York Times.

[Peter]

A Record of Live Birth is NOT a Birth Certificate per se. Also in the unenlightened 60's the father would have been noted as a negro, not african. This certificate proves nothing.

[john]

Obama's birth certificate has been public record for months and has been extensively analyzed. No one who is not a) a partisan of Republicans/Anti-Obama forces or b) a tin foil-hat crazy has been able to come up with a single reason to doubt its validity. This so-called "controversy" was over before it started and should not be dignified with space in any respectable publication.

[D-Notice]

From reading the above comments, it appears that Lili is correct...

[Lorraine]

It is sad how many people are more worried about Obama and not their own problems and not how the government is going to help the US to get back on its feet.

Look at your own self before casting negative statements against someone who is only concentration on how to solve the US problems.

Stop being so petty. Send comments of how we as Americans, can solve our problems -- not point a finger about Obama.

[Shawn]

Ladies and Gentlemen, please allow me to introduce you to America, where equality has an asterisk and freedom is surrounded with quotation marks. Pray to the god in which you believe for us because people are losing their minds with hate and shattered superiority complexes over here.

[John]

John McCain was not born in one of the 50 states but no one has ever brought that up. You sore loseres need to get a life.

[Awife]

He was prob born over seas but his mother was not a citizen there so when they moved to hawaii which was the closest us city to them she got a birth certificate, And if they really wanted to know they would ask kenya gov. and Hawaii gov. Where exactly did she go into labor in hawaii?? who delivered the baby??? Look in his grandmothers house prob. some evidence.

[Diva]

You do not have to have been born on US soil to be eligible to be the President. You simply have to have been born a US citizen. Hence, WHERE Obama was born is of no consequence. His mother is American and presumably he received American citizenship at birth regardless of where he was born.

[Awife]

He should have to show the orginal one issued from the states or find the doctor who delivered him.

[Ted]

You gotta hear this 90 minute blogradio on why the media has a blackout of the looming Obama Birth Certificate Constitutional Crisis:

http://politicalpistachio.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-is-obamas-birth-certificate-still.html

[mtngoat61]

More information can be found about what Obama has provided and has NOT been provided at these websites:

http://www.obamabirthcertificatefacts.com

or

http://www.obamacitizenshipfacts.com

[Bessong Ernest]

It dose not matter where the President elect was born. The inportant thing is that he is a great man.

[Eagle1]

NEWS: 19 November 2008

On December 5, 2008, only ten days before the electoral college votes, the nine Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court will meet in private to discuss this case identified as:

Leo C. Donofrio, v. Nina Mitchell Wells, Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey
United States Supreme Court Docket No. 08A407

latest obama citizenship lawsuit moves up a level at supreme court

origin.www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/08a407.htm

This docketing today by the court for this next step should send ripples of fear through the Obama camp. Obama has been proceeding at lightening speed to put together a cabinet and take possession of the White House with the hope that he won't have to answer the question of whether or not he was "at birth" a "natural born citizen."

Every major news network, print and cable news like FOX, CNN and MSNBC, have ignored all the court cases challenging Obama's eligibility as sore losers or conspiracy theories. It might be in their best interest at this point to report this critically important meeting to take place on December 5, 2008, or lose what little credibility they have left. Article By Devvy Kidd

[me]

Oh, Lord. Conspiracy theorists: read this thread. It actually contains information, and proves (yes, proves) Obama is, and always was, a natural-born American citizen. I warn you, though: you're not going to like it.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1682433/board/thread/121098708

[Patrick Henry]

Pal, any Senator could have an aide phone a local/state agency, particularly one populated by supporters, and induce them to produce an "abstract" like BHO presented - in probably 20 minutes.

What he has presented is NOT A Birth Certificate, it's a recently generated abstract of "something" they supposedly have on file.

Barry O's (or whatever his name is this week) refusal to produce the long form original typewritten birth certificate, means something fishy is going on.

If there were no problem, he would release it (along with his Harvard records).

An early 1960's Hawaii Birth Certificate looks NOTHING like what Barry Hussein has produced. Email me when you have Barry's, okay!

[exserviceman]

The image posted is a certificate of live birth, or C.O.L.B., it is *not* a full birth certificate.

The full Hawaii version, if it existed, would show the Hospital and Docters name, as well as many other details.

The issue with a C.O.L.B. in Hawaii is that a mother could have a home birth and then later have the details registered on a hospital visit for a post natal check up, then still have a C.O.L.B. produced at a later date.

If Ann Dunham had her baby in Kenya then traveled back to Hawaii she would have registered the birth or had a hospital professional do it for her, then the situation would produce the exact same C.O.L.B. as the home birth example given above.

There is some doubt about the Obama C.O.L.B image posted on the KOS website, I assume the image you posted is the same one?

The best explanation of the doubts I have seen is given on this link.

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/07/atlas-exclusive.html

I have never used Photoshop or used a Mac computer, so can't really be absolutely sure what is going on one way or the other.

There does seem to be a problem with the font and kerning of some of the printed characters.

I also listened to Obama's July 2 Colorado speech where he describes a plan for a "Civilian National Security Force" just as powerful as the US military. That is deeply worrying, I felt sick inside when I heard that, youths aged 18-25 for 3 months service?

Just long enough to cream off the most loyal Obama supporters and teach them to use a rifle and basic military dicipline.

After 2 years you have a private presidential army measuring in hundreds of thousands.

Also, there is considerable evidence of widespread fraud in the domocratic party nomination caucauses.

http://www.wewillnotbesilenced2008.com/video/index.htm

If you care about democracy, please watch all of those videos very carefully, the sound is poor, but it is worth it.

Also, In the third presidential debate, Obama responded to Mccain's free trade with Colombia idea in a way that seemed odd.

Odd is the sense that he seemed to be taking the side of Hugo Chavez, a man recently caught red-handed backing the FARC terrorist group.

Colombia has made huge progress towards a true democracy - and to hear Obama talk like a Marxist FARC supporter was depressing.

One more thing, since this is too long anyway, what is with the CND type defence policy:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRGru2CPC4E

"I will negotiate with russia to take our ICBM's off hair trigger alert"

That promise really bothers me, as it cannot be verified by the US intelligence community. You can just about establish the presence of an ICBM in its silo, but the missiles precise electronic status CANNOT be proved from the outside.

Obama has a CIA/Airforce expert on his campaign staff named Mark Marshall [ICBM's are an Airforce responsibility] - he must know this - so why is he making such a dangerous "our ICBM's offline" statement?

I feel a deep sense of unease about Barack Obama. There is something not quite right here.

[John]

It IS important to abide by the laws we have set forth. By bending a rule for one person, it is easier to bend if again for another and on and on until there is no more "rule" and we are lost in a mess of bends and twists. Any good business person knows this. Those who have allowed their brains to be fattened and who have become lethargic citizens, do not care about order and organization and will freely give up their freedon piece by piece until they are enslaved by owner who bought them. This is why it is important for Obama to fess up and prove himself or try to change the constitution so that citizens like he, CAN run for President. McCain is not the issue here. The Dems should have verified EVERYTHING before they allowed him to run. This certificate is a fake and we, the people, deserve to see the authentic one. Regardless, that will not resolve his religious contradictions and Ayers association.

[Obama is a big ?]

John, where have ya been? There were two previous lawsuits against McCain about his BC, so what did McCain do........HE SHOWED HIS ORIGINAL BC!! SHOCKING THING TO DO!! Both of his parents were of age, both US citizens and his dad in the service, trust me, he qualifies!

BO, on the other hand, won't produce this long form typewritten 1961 BC!! Why? What is on there that he doesn't want anyone to see?
In 1961, when BO was born, you could be born in another country and still get a Hawaiin BC, that was the law at the time.

His ORIGINAL BC would provide all the information anyone was looking for, in his favor or not.

He who has nothing to hide, hides nothing!!!!!!!!

[Helen]

C'mon people! If Obama's citizenship was really an issue, don't you think Sarah Palin would have been all over it like stink on a moose?

[maggie millington]

MR Finklestein, this certificate you show is not even the same as the other one he subsequently put up , with a [fake] seal ! A genuine seal has a clear ring of lettering saying State of Hawaii, his did not.

Take a look at youtube comparisons.
It strikes me you have done no research on this at all,some of us have. Like most of the press you have just rolled over for this man,who is far from what he seems.

Obama 'was' born in Kenya to a single mother !

Michelle Obama even said that, there are so many lies surrounding this man.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBgkDSw-wQ0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QdyLOUHz-A

[Southern Belle]

It doesnt matter what YOU think. You can be certain that every powerful Republican has satisfied himself with proof positive that there was no hope of preventing Obama's election based on his birth records.

[Robert Blair]

As a life long Republican, (I voted for Nixon in 68), I am appalled over the hype regarding Mr. Obama being qualified to be President because of his birth certificate. Guess many of you weren't around when this type of issue was settled when Barry Goldwater ran for President back in 1964.
Regarding McCain being born on a Naval Base overseas, permanent military bases, like consulates and embassies overseas are considered part and parcel American soil even if "rented" from the host country.
I would rather have had McCain win, but the election is over and McCain himself is going to help the new President to help America. Give it a break, lets see what happens before we start slinging mud and making a mountain out of a mole hill. Our country needs everyone of us to quit bickering and start doing something to get us back on even keel, ecomonically and in the world community. We can always plan for the next go round.

after obama won the election now u start the debate of where he was born!!!! where were u before the election?

[Philip Walker]

I lost my birth certificate, and had to get a new one. Surprisingly, it didn't look so much like the old one, but I still managed to prove my nationality with it. [I later found the old one lurking in a drawer where it didn't oughter have been.]

When I was using my "new" certificate, was I any the less British? Although he's got a re-produced certificate, can Obama really be any the less American?

[Mark Williams (and that really is my own name)]

Daniel, take a close look at the certificate. It is printed on a modern computer printer. It wasn't produced on a type writer. Do you really think we can't tell the difference. I don't necessarily go with the conspiracy theorists, but give us a break and don't take us for fools.

[MomInLatteland]

"after obama won the election now u start the debate of where he was born!!!! where were u before the election?"

These questions were raised before the election but the MSM has chosen to ignore those who have raised them. Nothing is more important than preservation of our Constitution. If he can prove citizenship to the Supreme Court then I will accept that he is our legal president.

[Gary Greenwood]

The Birth Certificate you have shown above has already been proved to be a "Photshop" Fake! So why are YOU as a news reporter not verifying your sources and post Fakes Birth Certificates as Real???
Here's your proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIsQJNTvlUE

[Gary Greenwood]

His African Grandmother says she was there, in the same room when he was born,IN KENYA! I think a Grandmother would remember when & where her own Grandson is born.
He also attended scool in Indonesia, and since he did and was "Required" by Indonesian Law to be a citizen of Indonesia in order to attend school there, would make him a "Naturalized Citizen" and ineligable to be President! Sorry, but FACTS ARE FACTS! He must Resign!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIsQJNTvlUE

[Amelia Cox]

MSM is so clearly left wing that it they made no attempt to be unbiased. I almost was leaning toward Obama at first until I observed MSM conveniently report what they choose. CBS had no qualms reporting about Bush and even aired a proven altered document but not question a possible violation of our constitution, the same constitution that protects their freedom of speech. Too bad the MSM doesn't deem it necessary to report anything that might reflect poorly on Obama. I hope SCOTUS has the backbone to uphold our constitution. I know the possible consequences of decertifying this election (economic and civil unrest that could happen. Obama and the DNC should have sought to have the constitution amended through the Senate and the House of Representatives before allowing him to run. Instead their heads became bigger than their britches and thought they could "seal" their way out of this mess. I myself would be willing to work the rest of my life if it meant protecting the sanctity
of our Constitution, which Obama wants anyway but for another reason.

[Dan Soon]

How naive can people get ?

Hawaii allows for life birth to be registered up to 1 year after a birth has been effected. Think about it.

Also all birth certificates have to document the time of birth, name of doctor presiding - even in 3rd World countries. Death certs. also provide the same information.

Like to buy some snake oil people ? it cures cancer too.

[IT IS TIME TO END THIS!]

It is ridiculous that I am reading this. We (America) elects a president who is more than worthy and capable of running our country, and what do some of you all do? Try and PUSH HIM DOWN. Are you all honestly trying to question his American birth certificate? It is sad...and you are sad. This is what the Kennedy's have fought for, and DIED for. I don't want to assume that the issue here is primarily on race, but that is the only reason I can think of that anyone would be anti-Obama in the White House. It is 2008...this is NOT the '60's. We all know that there are many issues in this country that need to be taken care of. Barack Obama has proven, through his plan of action, that he can tackle each problem one-by-one. Stop going against the change and move with it! America is ready to move on...it's time you are as well.

[McCain]

What is interesting is that no one mentioned the birth place of the Republican candidate?

[LeawoodKS]

The legal qualifications are very clear and if he can not meet them he will not hold office, it is that simple. At this point he has not provided any proof that he was not born in Kenya (which would disqualify him 100% folks). The certificate he released is just a cheap piece of paper (It lists his father as African back in 1961!) and as was pointed out Hawaii would hand those out regardless of what country you were born in - his half sister Maya is a perfect example of this - born in Indonesia with a Hawaiian Cert of Live birth. Gee what a coincience. This is where mention of Occam's razor is most appropriate. Hey, it's not that I don't like Obama, or that I wish McCain had won - It's just so plain that he is hiding something. Just come clean and let the chips fall where they may. Does he think that he can delay unitl it somehow 'does not matter' anymore? That is certainly possible but very frightening. It means that all this time he has been keeping this secret without facing reality - do we want a leader who would try to carry off a deception on such a grand scale - to start his term in office no less.
If you don't see that BO is in serious trouble here and that the MSM is turning a blind eye then you are simply drowning in cool-aid. The truth may set you free! There is hope for all of us. Cheers in the meantime.

[luke58]

He has to be born on American soil.
McCain was born on a military base.

Why is he so great? He was elected to the U.S. Senate and has been campaigning ever since. What has this guy ever done?

[Rob]

What is amazing is the lengths to which the right-wing lunatics will go to try to discredit PRESIDENT ELECT Barack Obama. But then again, what do you expect from a group of people who attempted to legitimize a moose-killer as a viable candidate for vice president of this nation? I just have this to say to the republican loonies...GET OVER IT! Barack Obama was elected by a majority of this nation's citizenry...black, white, Hispanic, Jewish, Catholic, etc. None of your wacko conspiracies about his birthplace, his religious faith, and other lies will reverse that vote! You must lead very miserable lives to harbor so much hate and disdain...and most of you call yourselves "christian."

[janit smit]

McCain was born to two american citizens. Even if he was born over seas, because his father was military, he is still considerd a u.s. citezens not unless the parent chose differently. As for Obama, it is going to be very interesting when and if the truth comes out. He think he is beyond anybody and does not have to do anything or prove anything. Why should he when so many of us think he is a God and he is going to save all the world problems. We all shall see.

[David Scott]

Let's just be clear on this - he could have been born in Kenya, Russia or on the moon, it matters not a jot. Given that his mother is a US citizen, he would have been legally entitled to be regarded as a US citizen from bith. The constitutional prohibition is on naturalized citizens becoming president. It's a legal non-issue that you clearly don't grasp. Sue away, please.

[anonymous]

The problem is that the original "vault" certificate setting forth the hospital/doctor's signature has not been produced. This is of import because Hawaii from 1911 to 1972 permitted people to register their births (after the age of one) by affidavit of the mother. Many people in the Hawaiian islands were born at home and had no official birth certificate and this is the reason the statute was enacted. However, in Obama's case, the statute might have been utilized to ensure that he had american citizenship - even if he was actually born elsewhere. Mr. Obama could put this entire matter to rest and stop all of these ridiculous lawsuits if he would just produce the "vault" certificate. As it stands now, it is a mess. Also, if you believe that Obama would not do this - think of John Edwards (love child), Gov. McGreevy (homosexual) and Gov. Spitzer (hooker scandal) - they sought political office despite knowing that they never would have been elected if the public knew of these problems. Again, Mr. Obama could end all of this grief - if he would just produce his "vault" certificate. Why doesn't he?

[GMThomson]

Well even if BHO was not US born does that not give us a chance to elect Arnold Schwartzenegger as President next time around.

[Bill P]

David Scott, do yourself a favor and research the citizenship laws that were in force in 1961. His mother does not meet them. Therefore, if he was born outside of the US, other than a military installation, he is NOT a natural born citizen.

[PhlankSpeed]

Born in Kenya, yeah sure.

And the Black Helicopters are coming for us all...

And Oswald was working for the CIA...

And Jack Ruby was working or the FBI...

And the lost tribe of Israel is somewhere in Michigan...

And Elizabeh had a contract out on Princess Diana.

Get a life, losers.

[paul]

David Scott, BOTH parents have to be American citizens for a child born overseas to be eligible to become President. Not just the mother. I know you can read, but have chosen not to be bothered with reading the laws before commenting on them. One might say that is indicative of the typical clueless Obama supporter.

[onscrn]

According to Wikipedia anyway--
Through birth abroad to one United States citizen
For persons born on or after November 14, 1986, a person is a U.S. citizen if all of the following are true:
One of the person's parents was a U.S. citizen when the person in question was born;
The citizen parent lived at least 5 years in the United States before his or her child's birth;
A minimum of 2 of these 5 years in the United States were after the citizen parent's 14th birthday.
A person's record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy, is proof of his or her citizenship. Such a person may also apply for a passport or a Certificate of Citizenship to have a record of his or her citizenship. Such documentation is often useful to prove citizenship in lieu of the availability of an American birth certificate.
Different rules apply for persons born abroad to one U.S. citizen before November 14, 1986. United States law on this subject changed multiple times throughout the twentieth century, and the law as it existed at the time of the individual's birth.

Thus David Scott's point about Obama's mother's citizenship being sufficient is true under the current law. The question is what was the law in 1961? Presumably the missing word at the end of the Wikipedia excerpt should be "applies" or the equivalent.

[onscrn]

OK, everyone can relax. Wherever Obama was born, he is a US citizen. There's a history of the applicable law here: http://www.americanlaw.com/citabrd.html

[onscrn]

Sorry for the series of posts, but it seems there would be an issue in Obama's case were he to have been born outside the US, due to the young age of his mother. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 then in effect, in the case of a child born to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent, the U.S. citizen parent had to be physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions prior to the child's birth for 10 years, at least 5 of which were after the age of 14. This would seem to exclude a parent under the age of 19. Could that be contested in court? I don't know. I hope the birth certificate is not an issue.

[Reka Yasa]

I thought this case was closed, but it isn't. First, my parents were Indonesians and I was born here in the US. Somewhat like Obama, I had to go with them back to Indonesia while I was a kid and had to spend a few years there, registered at one of public schools.

What I find embarrassing is I heard some high US government / legislative officers (like senators or governors) tried to bring this up. They forgot that even to open a pretty big business in the US, a prospective businessman had to do a thorough background check. But not if one had to become a senator or a president? Yeah right, it only means one thing: The republican government is not smart enough to do a background check on Obama even before he was to become a Senator.

Yeah, republicans are so stupid that they're spreading a gossip that's backfiring at themselves.

[yehya elnahry]

obama is acitezen of usa his mother is anamerican citzien so her son is ,wether he was born on american soil in the moon,he is our president by low and by fact

[mtngoat61]

For more information about the Obama Citizenship questions and issue, and what he has proffered as "evidence" to say he is a natural born citizen, and what he has NOT provided to conclusively prove he is a "natural born citizen" per the U.S. Constitution, and thus put the issue behind him, if he has the conclusive proof, see these new web pages:

http://www.obamacitizenshipfacts.org/
or
http://www.obamabirthcertificatefacts.org/

and
http://americamustknow.com/

[Iqbal Halani]

George Bush had the same 'smallpox' look in his eyes when he promised a 'seamless transition' (like when he urged the Iraq war and more recently the urgency of the $700b bailout).

We are all in the same condition as the hapless unknowing Indians who received the smallpox infested blankets, all we can do is wait and see if we we can survive the pox,of the Bush/Cheney Plan D, before January 20, 2009.

[Molly]

Do all of you have your ORIGINAL birth certificate?? I don't. I would have to order another copy if someone asked (like I did for my Passport). So, why exactly does this not make me a U.S. citizen? This rationale is kind of ludicrous don't you think?

[Molly]

Janit Smith wrote - "Why should he when so many of us think he is a God and he is going to save all the world problems. "

The only person that thinks he a is a God - is you - because it is only the people that dislike him saying it. We, his supporters, know better. Why don't you?

[Edna]

I am british. I've read most of the comments above. Stop being jealous, they can only be one winner. Instead concerntrate on what really matters- the American economy.
With the present government, the American economy is shameful.
You need a leader that is able to delivery. Wake up to your real economic issues and not a birth certificate. You've got a great leader in Obama and you should be proud of him and support him.

[Red1]

The Electoral College, with the help of any of the following; FBI, CIA, Secret Service, Attorney General, or Justice Department, must exercise Due Diligence in verifying the minimum requirements for the office. As of yet this has not been accomplished, a “certificate of live birth” on a web site is no substitute for an original “Birth Certificate” in the hands of the Supreme Court Justice. Under normal circumstances with no question of a candidate’s qualification, this check is a must. But in this circumstance with many conflicting statements it would be uncontainable to allow him into office without prior verification. If you think assumptions will suffice, see what your life will be like once the rest of the Constitution and Bill of Rights have been circumvented.

[Slim]

I just love it when wingnuts blather on about Obama not being born in the U.S. It shows they're scared of him. They can't actually beat him in an argument of ideas because their war mongering, the market always rights itself philosophy have been rejected. So they harp about non-issues because they lost on the real issues. Obama's win is a signal to the extreme right wing of the Republican party and instead of regrouping, finding their way, and offering a better alternative to the democrats they harp on about birth certificates when their great McCain was born in PANAMA. They are a pathetic and paranoid lot.

[linda]

stupid predjudiced ignorant people have and always will prevent mankind from developing and preserving life on this beautiful planet. give it up people, obama has been elected, give him a chance to prove he is the chosen one.remember, our first saviour was also from a minority race

[Martijn Janssen]

Not only is the revision date 11/01 but it states that this is a LASER print copy. The first commercial laser printer was released in 1976.

The document looks too modern for a 1960s birth certificate.

In fact here is an example of a real 1960s Hawaiian birth certificate:

http://snarkybytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/hawaii-birth-certificate-1963.jpg

[Andrea]

Wow...how embarassing! I'm certain that the fine folks of the UK are laughing their arses off at us over this "birth certificate controversy". I blame the public schools...their lack in education has turned the US into a country of poorly educated whackdoodles. If you don't believe me, hell...just look at who we re-elected in the 2004 election! Yee-Haw!

[Debbie]

WOW!! This is too funny!!! I haven't seen so much hate-er-ration since MaDonna put out the song "Like A Virgin"!!! Goodness, would someone PLEASE go to the US Department of Vital Statistics or the US Dept. of Naturalization and look up the facts about American citizenship and who can claim it? It's really not that hard and may give some of you something better to do on a Friday Night, (like maybe go on a DATE or be seen in public with PEOPLE and then you can get rid of your imaginary friends!).

If you're implying that because Fukino, (head of Dept. of Health in Hawaii), didn't utter the words "he was born in Hawaii" and said simply there's a certificate on file, how do we make the leap in logic to the certificate being from someplace else? Clearly you haven't had much experience with Hawaiian bureaucrats, who stick to the law down to the last comma.
But if you believe Hawaii state government is in on the conspiracy, here's the most convincing piece of evidence (which I havent heard anyone attack or refute yet): the vital statistics report with Obama's birth listed along with all the other local kids that appeared in the Honolulu papers in August 1961. How could that have been faked 47 years before the guy ran for president?

In reading some of you guys' comments on the blog, I now fully understand how America is in the mess that its in now!! I think, seriously, for the past 8 years, the people of America souls have been snatched away by the soul Snatchers of Riza 4!!! How else can you explain this type of blind ignorance?!!!!!

Well, at least it's real funny!!! Take the tinfoil off your heads!! Open up the doors and windows, turn off the gas furnances (I think the fumes are getting to some of you), get some fresh air in and God Bless America!!

[Hugh Morrison]

America is going down. I do not see why we should be bothered. The Asians are taking over the world. Look. America's era is over.

[MomInLatteland]

Is it too much to ask that he provide proof that he is, in fact, eligible to be sworn in as POTUS? No, it is not. He simply needs to prove to the members of the electoral college, Congress and the SCOTUS that he is eligible. QED. If he has the documents...

[Espinah Mbaita]

How about taking into consideration the fact that most African countries were not issuing Birth certificates to non-whites at the time Barack Obama was born. If so, then that Birth Certificate wouldn't be an African document. Obama having been born between a black Dad from Kenya and a white Mom of American descent, that makes Obama half white (much as the American whites don't believe that he is one of them as well) and at the same time, half black (from a Black Dad). It's time that if a white person sires a child with a black person, he or she should be ready to consider the off-spring as 'white and black' instead of shovelling the kid away from whites and calling him or her as black. What about the other parent's color? Supposing the blacks start saying that the outcome of a relationship between a white person and a black person should be "white." I think that Obama, by all means, has a right to be a president of the US, as he has proven to the American people and the whole world. He also stands a chance (if chooses so), of one day becoming a president of Kenya as well (being Obama's Dad's home country in Africa and by virtue of his roots.

The Birth certificate and his grandmother's presence and seeing him at his time and place of birth the day he was born, are proof enough indicating that the American people have chosen the right American person to lead the USA - at this point in time. He is a very intelligent capable boy who seems to know what he's doing.

[Esther]

Obama has an American passport, presumably has a drivers license and a social security number, has been to high school and university, has gotten married, has registered the births of his own two children, opened a bank account, bought a house, taken out student loans, registered to vote, joined the Democrat party, paid his taxes.
If he managed all that without ever mentioning the fact that he was born in Kenya then he has been plotting this since kindergarden. But all you right-wing nut-jobs probably have a conspiracy for that too.............

[Michael]

If that's his certification of live birth form from 1961, why does it say LASER in the bottom left corner? They didn't have laser printers back then, in 1961, did they?

Where's the real birth certificate, with the attending physicians signature, the document registered to obtain the above?

Some say he was born before his mother turned 16, which would not make him a naturalized citizen. Rumor was it his real certificate of birth was falsified with an incorrect birth date and never filed until much later, which is why the certificate # has been blanked out. The number would show it is out of sequence from that era, 1961, and registered much later when laser printers existed.

[lesliehodges]

haven`t we expected for 40 years that, if a black American is going to become president, both his parents would be black, he would be born in the heart of America and be descended from slaves? What has happened is that we have an afro-american having a white mother,a pure african father and born on an island far from mainland America at a time(1961)when black- white marriages were forbidden and race segregation was at its highest.

[Linda]

If anyone is delusional and believes the hype about Barrack Hussein Obama being a great man, tell me exactly: what has he done? From my research, which went beyond the approved talking points on ABC, NBC, CNN, CBS, and other liberally controlled media, he was born in Kenya to Muslim Arabic father, young,dumb, naive White mother and is ashamed of his white ancestry -according to his own book. When she is not happy with the treatment accorded Muslim wives (very plural) she travels back to Hawaii after giving birth. She remarries another Muslim who moves them to Indonesia and enrolls BO in Islamic school. At the age of ten BO is sent to live in Hawaii where his "father figure" is Frank Marshall a communist/poet. During college he is a disciple of Marxist professors. Funding for Harvard Law School is suspect and attributed to his connections with extremist Black Muslim group and Saudi Muslim individuals. His rapid rise in politics links him with Chicago thugs, convicted felons, and terrorists. He attends church for 20 years with an extreme minister who is anti-White, anti-American. He is elected to State Senate positions by having all other candidates thrown off the ballot and his presidential elect "win" is rife with ACORN voter fraud and media bias. So tell me, what has he done that is great? Oh, he did vote several times for murdering babies, even if they survive abortion. Is that what you consider great? Do some research or you can do what liberals do and make a personal attack or call me a sore loser. You must love socialism, collectivism, Marxism, and more and more created crisis so government can get bigger, because that's what you voted for.

[nq5511]

Dana Perino, speaking for Pres Bush as Assistant
to him and Press Secy, issued a statement that they
were in good shape about Obama's birth. Republicans who have access to all possible info of anyone. Now we know NONE of his opponents made it an issue. Even Hannity or Rush Limbaugh. I'm sure Bush won't say, but knows since Obama ran for senate as only 3rd Black in history AFTER NY Sept 11 with a former Muslim father, plus he had a name, Barack Hussein Obama, was THOROUGHLY checked out by FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, & ALL.

[esekheigbe samuel]

i dont see any big deal about where he is born, wheather in the us or in kenya,we need a way out of this economic mess, not wasting time and energy discussing his birth place.we need to come to gether for a more prosperious,united america,this is what we should doing,not in fighting,we are all americans,black and white.

[Lucinda Johnston]

Don't ya think someone as smart as Obama would have changed his middle name if he faked his birth certificate? If the certificate is fake,why did he blow the chance to lose Hussien as his middle name? Face it he won, the old guy and the stupid princess lost. Deal with it!!

[daphne kenward]

People need to get over the hate of Obama. He is elected and this is the President for the next 4 years if he does a bad job you vot him out it's as simple as that but for now get over it, and move on.

[Lizbeth]

Has any racist promoting this silly idea ever born a child? Or taken a trip to Africa? Believe me, after giving birth the last thing you would want to do is fly anywhere let alone on the types of planes that fly about in Africa. Plus the flight time then overseas would have been about 24 hrs.or more plus stopovers, silly people. Get over yourselves.
Why would he not be named after his father in full, as he is? How many people do you know who have nicknames or childhood names differing from their given names?
If he had been born abroad and his mother flew back years later Mr. Obama would still be American as his mother was and she passed on natural born citizenship to him.
Racism is an evil that needs to be overcome to allow the country to pull itself out of the mess it is in.

[henning]

Speaking as a Brit. I agree with more sensible posters. The world faces the greatest economic crisis since 1930's. Two ongoing wars and Guantanamo Bay is besmirching America's moral authority. Why are people wasting time on this?

[Joan]

Unfortunately, until Barack Obama releases to a credible State or Federal authority his vault copy of his birth certificate and they confirm that he was born in Hawaii, we will have this distraction.

He should just release it. It will be interesting to see what the Supreme Court has to say next week on Dec. 5 when they decide whether to address the two law suits that have made it to conference.

[Copperleaf]

So if obama was born in Hawaii, why does His Excellency Peter Odeto (sp?) of Kenya say (in a telephone interview) that they have set up a special tribute of some sort in the Kenyan town where Obama was born? And his paternal grandmother claims he was born there as well?

It's a sham pulled over on the American taxpayer by a charlatan promoted by the liberals who don't care about our rule of law. I wonder if Soros and MoveOn.org are regretting the millions of dollars they invested in a guy who's now abandoning them and their platforms?

[Randal]

Another Liberal trying to dismiss very serious concerns about Obama.

Of the two certificates that he has produced, neither are the original and they bear different hospital names. He really is the Messiah if he was born in two places at once.

The liar's draft card is a forgery too.

If the Lib Media had done its job before the election there wouldn't be all these questions now.

[Randal]

And his Kenyan granny said he was born there. Then she suddenly shut up and stopped doing media interviews.

[bob]

For all you people that blame the Republicans for this, Please look at the facts. The people that are bringing this issue to the forefront are all Democrats and African-Americans! Look it up for yourself and stop being so partisan in your arguments, it is your own party that has brought this up and are pursuing this. The republicans have bent over backwards to try to get along with the dems in this transition. To call the republicans sore losers and other names is wrongly directed.

And for those of you that don't think that this is important, it is a basic constitutional concern. If the Constitution will not be followed, we are all in trouble in this country. It isn't a matter of liking or disliking Obama. All of the members of congress, the supreme court, and the president himself are sworn to uphold the constitution.

You know, if these accusations about the COLB are so untrue, why not just produce the COLB and put this to bed? THIS is the reason that people doubt the natural born citizen status of Obama, because he is not willing to prove it!

[Rojosoho]

I don't see a seal or serial number. I could have made that certificate on my computer.

[jonathan lazorko]

Whats the problem. If Obama was born in Hawaii, let him produce a certified birth certificate and lets get on with the business of making him Supreme Leader of All THAT IS GOOD.

[steve]

Why don't we just burn the Constitution along with our flag and BO's birth certificate and call it even.

[Belinda]

As I read all of pervious post I was reminded more than once that Obama was born to a white mother and a black father. With that being said Obama is not the first black American president, he would be considered the first mixed American president.

[Bette]

Obama or any U.S. citizen, by law, is not required to produce nor reveal his birth certificate. BTW it's not about the birth certificate. The Constitution only requires a person be a natural born citizen, be at least 35 years old and have resided in the U.S. for the last 14 years. The Supreme Court will need to define what a natural born citizen is because the Constitution does not. That and only that can disqualify Obama from the presidency. Secondly, having an American parent, if one is NOT born on U.S. soil does not confer citizenship. The requirement for citizenship involves being born on U.S. soil when one is born of U.S. citizens. Third, military installations are not considered U.S. soil if they are located outside the U.S. You'll need to do some research and a lot of reading. If the Supreme Court does not make a determination, We the People will face this problem again when we nominate the first Mexican-American presidential candidate in the very near future. I voted for Obama but if he doesn't qualify...he doesn't qualify.

[DB]

bette I take it you are a obama supporter. That or a total idiot, But then that is redundant.
There is a piece of paper called the "Constitution" in it there are certain requirements to be president. One is a "Natural born citizen" To prove that you must show a another piece of paper called a Birth certificate. You also have to show one to get a passport, and in some states a social security card and drivers license. The term for this paper is called proving your identity and place of birth to prove you are a citizen. See it is very simple.
And to the idiot who has this blog since he things having someone prove that they are a natural born citizen is to much to expect. Then perhaps you should ask the question how he traveled to Pakistan while he was in collage without a American passport, just who's did he use? At that time a American Citizen could not travel there.
Just because normal people refuse to worship him does not make them nuts.
Original, vault copy birth certificate -- Not released
Certificate of Live Birth -- Released -- Counterfeit
Obama/Dunham marriage license -- Not released
Soetoro/Dunham marriage license -- Not released
Soetoro adoption records -- Not released
Fransiskus Assisi School School application -- Shows Indonesian citizenship.
Punahou School records -- Not released
Selective Service Registration -- Released -- Counterfeit
Occidental College records -- Not released
Passport (Pakistan) -- Not released
Columbia College records -- Not released
Columbia thesis -- Not released
Harvard College records -- Not released
Harvard Law Review articles -- None (maybe 1, unsigned?)
Baptism certificate -- None
Medical records -- Not released
Illinois State Senate records -- None
Illinois State Senate schedule -- Lost
Law practice client list -- Not released
University of Chicago scholarly articles -- None

[Angela]

It would be interesting to see if there is some correlation between susceptibility to conspiracy theories and strength of religious belief. Do many of those folks who want absolute, documented, signed, sealed and stamped proof that Obama was born in the US accept the bible as the literal truth? If so, the variance in the standards of proof demanded present a very interesting juxtaposition.
Are we back to "cognitive dissonance" or are we talking about something a little more ...ahem.....basic?

[James II]

WHAT has being a "US citizen" to do with being "a natural born Citizen", or rather, 'born of the soil'?

The much-vaunted US citizenship did not even exist until late 1868, when the Fourteenth Amendment was certified as having been ratified. After then, all Citizens of the several states became in addition, that new creature forged of low necessity: "US citizen(s)"!

This quite latter-day "distinction" also made us liable for all indebtedness existing then, as well as into the future (now), of the "General Government for the United States"! Before then, we were not so-burdened, just as was intended by the makers of our Nation.

The point of all this being, that the requirement for qualification for ascendancy to the high office of the Chief Magistracy of the Land, is not fulfilled by virtue of merely being a "US citizen" and/or a citizen of the state wherein one resides.

Such a thing as a "US citizen" was not even imagined in the worst nightmares of the Founders! (Consult the Declaration of Independence for WHY!)

Assuming it to be so, as I have written above, is it not an easy leap to accept the proposition that the one really has nothing to do with the other - the two conditions - and vice-versa?

Right or wrong, the Founders mandated in the Constitution that Presidents be born of the soil of one the United States, or possessions, or territories, military installations, etc., so, prime facie being a "US citizen" falls short of satisfying the natural born requirement.

To finish: In order for this to become-so actually, rather than as a matter of mere desire or notion, the classic requirement would have to be altered by means of the constitutional amendment process; passing of mere statutes being insufficient to the intent, good or bad, right or wrong.

IF on December 5 the Supreme Court decides to hear arguments, I believe they will hold similarly to the above, but, in doing-so this would most likely require them to have to broach the prickly Citizenship/citizenship issue, which they well may regard as being too thorny a one to touch.

Soon enough, we-shall-see . . .

[adjudicator]

Please do a minute's worth of googling and you will realize that the image being passed off as that of Obama's "Certificate of Live Birth" has as much validity as Dan Rather's Bush National Guard memo.
Do you not find it strange that there is zero evidence of Obama's birth to be found in any Hawaiian hospital and that no medical personnel remember the blessed event? Stranger still is the fact that Obama refuses to produce the document despite the huge cloud of doubt that this would remove. What is he afraid of?

[Gary]

In Hawaii, anyone who request a copy of their original birth certificate receives the short-form certificate as seen above. The long-form or vault certificate is NEVER given to anyone. In Hawaii, the short form is legal for any purpose.

When Obama requested his, he received a COLB, just as any American does. To answer the nutcases like Berg and Martin, two state officials examined the original vault certificate and certified its authenticity. There is no subterfuge and Obama received the same document as anyone else.

His certificate has been authenticated by the State, factcheck.org, even by the right wing rag, the World Daily Net. Just visit http://whatsyourevidence.com for a thorough discussion.

In fact, they discovered that those who had accused Obama of doctoring his certificate had themselves photoshopped their copy to accuse Obama. BUSTED.

Give it a rest, guys. Obama was born in Hawaii and will be President. You can start your secession movement now and good riddance.

[Pitapie]

My adopted son was born in Heidelberg, Germany. When we finalized the adoption in Oklahoma they issued a certificate of live birth. It shows no information of his birth in Germany and shows him as being alive in Oklahoma with us as parents. His real birth certificate is German but he never uses it.