The surprise momentum generated by real estate mogul Donald Trump‘s contemplated presidential bid could be on the verge of cooling considerably.
How come?
Trump has decided to launch a private investigation into claims that U.S. President Barack Obama was born outside of the United States – and is thus ineligible to serve as president (or run for reelection).
“I have people that have been studying it and they cannot believe what they’re finding,” Trump told NBC last week.
While most Republican presidential candidates are (smartly) ignoring the so-called “birther” movement, Trump is diving in – and one of his would-be 2012 rivals is cheering him on.
“More power to him,” former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said during a recent appearance on FOX News. “He’s not just throwing stones, you know — from the sidelines. He’s digging in there. He’s paying for researchers to know why President Obama would have spent $2 million to not show his birth certificate. So more power to him.”
Actually, no …
While Trump has every right to put his money into this investigation, the birther movement (like the sharia law ban) is nothing but a sideshow – a freak/ moron magnet that siphons valuable time and attention away from the real issues facing this county. By focusing on “birther babble,” Trump is wasting time that he could be devoting to fiscal issues – which would appear to be his strong suit as well as a reason many political independents (including us) are giving his would-be candidacy serious consideration.
In fact, if we were compiling a list of things Trump should refrain from doing if he wants to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate, we would put embracing the birther movement right up there with dropping out of the race altogether.
As far as we’re concerned it doesn’t matter whether Obama was born in Hawai’i or Kenya – as the birthers speculate. Nor do we care whether Obama is a Muslim- as a fifth of the nation erroneously believes.
Sure proving either would be the scandal of the century, but at the end of the day people don’t care about birthplaces and religions nearly as much as they care about money and how politicians are spending it.
Accordingly, here’s the temporal/ electoral math for the Republicans – every second that isn’t spent educating the public about the looming fiscal implosion of their government (and the unconscionable costs being passed on to future generations) is a second that they are wasting.
That goes for birtherism, sharia law spamming and abortion.
Oh, and every second which isn’t spent offering concrete cuts and long-term solutions is a second that they are losing the election.
“It’s the spending, stupid.”
Frankly, that’s something we thought a bottom line guy like The Donald would understand.
Pic: via Daylife
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By macbeth April 12, 2011 at 12:03 pm
I’m sure Obama whould luv it if Trump ran as an independent, thereby sucking votes from the Repubs–a Perot Deux, if you will…
By Robert Phillips April 12, 2011 at 12:21 pm
“Trump is wasting time that he could be devoting to fiscal issues – which would appear to be his strong suit as well as a reason many political independents (including us) are giving his would-be candidacy serious consideration.”
His strong suit?? REALLY?!? Let’s see, multiple banktruptcies, multiple “restructurings” (essentially a plea bargain before you go bankrupt), while in college his father GAVE him a $5.7 million building to “get started” in 1962 which in today’s dollars would be the equivalent of giving your college kid around $75 million to get started.
What the hell “strong suits” are you talking about other than the ability to get on pop-media tv shows (not news shows) by wearing a bleached dead racoon on his head?
Seriously, how is he going to solve our country’s fiscal problems? Have the US of A file bankruptcy? Oh, let’s restructure and give 50% of the casino, er I mean country, to the Chinese. Yeah, great business model for the country to follow.
I won’t even get into the whole commitment, marriage, responsbility issues of having THREE wives.
I am all for a businessman with a top notch business acumen but Trump ain’t it.
“My fellow Americans, we are going to have California file bankruptcy and we are going to divorce West Virgina…BOOM….Problems solved. What? We can’t do that? Why not? This is bullsh-t. I quit.”
By Beauregard April 12, 2011 at 12:36 pm
You say that this whole “birther” thing is just a sideshow, but let’s not forget that this would all be over if Obama would just show his actual birth certificate. The recent court case in Hawaii demonstrates that there is a document that exists that is being hidden from the American people, for whatever reason. I think that the average fiscal conservative’s brain is big enough to be concerned about both the spending and the birth certificate.
By Bob April 12, 2011 at 12:45 pm
I am the type that normally lets the BS political games slide and do their own thing in the background, but just the amount of effort Obama has put forward on not showing concrete proof of his birth certificate (ie a Doc with a document number and signature) raises some questions in my mind.
first off, why would he spend this much money. There are two trains of thought here. 1) he was born elsewhere or 2) it lists him a Caucasian, making his claim to be the first black president come into question. Either way, there is no reasonable explanation that someone would pay the kind of money he has to defend this.
Beyond that, if he gets out of office, and it is later proven that he was in fact born elsewhere, what would that mean going forward? could anyone from anywhere run from that point on because the precedent had been set? Also, what would the legal ramifications be for covering this up?
Overall, this is just one of many reasons Obama shouldn’t be reelected. Him being a moron is reason number one, but evidently nearly half of the country are equally as dumb.
By Alabaster II April 12, 2011 at 1:07 pm
That’s why we cannot have Donald Trump as the President of USA! He is absolutely not the right man for the job and most certainly not the right person to represent us Americans!
By Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo April 12, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Ruh row: in 1999 Trump proposed a 14% tax on wealth to eliminate the debt: http://articles.cnn.com/1999-11-09/politics/trump.rich_1_donald-trump-trump-said-trump-trump-said-the?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS
That said, I would love to see him suspend habeas corpus against Rosie O’Donnell: “Rosie, speaking of corpus, YOU’RE FAT!”
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By KB April 12, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Trump cannot lose by investigating this because he will finally put the issue to bed one way or the other. If he were to just go out and say he doesn’t believe that President Obama was born here, he gets crucified by the media for being just another “birther”. Inconclusive evidence will result in a fail. He needs to be definitive no matter which way it goes and he wins the issue. The “birthers” can feel satisfied that it was investigated thoroughly.
By Bogart April 12, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Trump is an idiot, with every day being a really bad hair day.
By Bob Smith April 12, 2011 at 1:50 pm
George W. Bush was born in America. How did that work out for us?
By Crooner April 12, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Are you kidding? Trump’s poll numbers have gone way up since he started in with this birther babble. He was nowhere before spouting that crap.
Your last comment misses the point much like the Tea Party has done. It’s the ECONOMY, stupid. The Rs didn’t get voted in to cut spending, they got voted in because unemployment was over 10% and everyone was worried they might be next.
It seems to me that the Rs in Washington get that, and that’s why they will go to battle over the debt ceiling. Remember, Boehner pledged to make Obama a one-term President, and set that as a goal. By insisting on spending cuts in this recovering economy (the Hoover approach) the Rs are doing their dead level best to ensure that the economy DOES NOT improve thereby improving their chances to take the Presidency.
Lest anyone think that’s too cynical recall Rush’s expressed hope that Obama fail, despite what that means for the country. Yes, the Rs are willing to sacrifice your prosperity to control the EPA, FDA and other government agencies for their wealthy cronies.
By Jeffy01 April 12, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Crooner…..your tin foil needs changing.
By He can do what he wants April 12, 2011 at 2:11 pm
So what if Trumps is investigating and talking about Obama’s birthplace?
I don’t have a problem with it, if it clears up the matter he’s done more than any mainstream media reporter has done and good for him for caring enough to do it.
I personally don’t beleive he has the skills to run the country, but I’ve seen his interviews and I will say I like that he’s genuinely concerned about the country and somewhat forthright in his opinions…that’s better then most pols with the exception of Ron Paul and maybe Dennis Kucinich….I’m still not sure about DeMint but maybe him too.
Regardless Trump is good for debate and if our President is breaking the law it should be an issue…
Everyone already knows the country is probably doomed financially already anyway….I have to disagree with Robert on the issue of having the country file bankruptcy-WE ARE ALREADY BANKRUPT and now govco is just prolonging the misery and creating inflation that’s gonna sink the ships of all small people anyway…LETS JUST GET IT OVER WITH: DECLARE BANKRUPTCY BY TELLING CHINA, JAPAN, ET AL THAT THEY AREN’T GETTING PAID. I didn’t volunteer for this mess created by the pols representing the Baby Boomers and WWII generation…and I’m not gonna have my kids pay for their damn stupidity and spend their life in fiscal slavery.
Time to press the reset button and get back to work.
By Godslayer April 12, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Time to put an end to Sarah Airhead’s LIE that Obama “spent $2 million to not show his birth certificate”:
http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/01/whats-obamas-birther-legal-bill
This also destroys ignorant comments such as “Either way, there is no reasonable explanation that someone would pay the kind of money he has to defend this.” That’s because no one has “paid this kind of money.” Facts are just so hard for some people to grasp.
By the way, how are those “birther” lawsuits working out for ya?
http://tesibria.typepad.com/whats_your_evidence/BIRTHER%20CASE%20LIST.pdf
By Super Brandon April 12, 2011 at 3:27 pm
More importantly…”It’s the Constitution, Stupid”
By OhNoNotAgain April 12, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Here’s a thought. Obama has produced a “short form” birth certificate. I’ve actually heard my brother posit the “listed as a Caucasion” argument. I think birtherism is insane, but if the amount of money spent is what they say to keep it priavate, I gotta wonder about that. It makes no sense.
Anyway, Obama obvioualy knows what is on the short form, but the state of Hawaii is not issuing any more of those.
Can we find out if his mama was issued a long form but not certified birth cert at birth? Or if he has ever requested on his own the long form? Isn’t it possible he’s never seen the long form?
If I had $2 million to burn, I’d fight a think like this because it is an assault on personal dignity. But I don’t have have $2 million to burn, and Obama really doesn’t either. So it’s just perplexing.
By Godslayer April 12, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Nobody has $2 million to “burn.” That money has not been spent. What evidence do you have that it HAS been spent aside from the ignorant rantings of a half-wit?
By lexie April 12, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Those with nothing to hide, hide nothing.
By smackatee April 12, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Birther Controversy = “Paul Is Dead”
Sincerely, The Egg Man
By ya know April 12, 2011 at 7:05 pm
I bet Obama does not even know who his mother is. We can all be pretty sure he certainly has no clue who his father is . . .ya know.
By tomstickler April 12, 2011 at 7:32 pm
The only people who can demand a copy of anyone’s birth certificate are the individual born or another that can show that they have a legitimate reason to see it.
That means that any curious dimwit will be rejected whether he demands to see Obama’s birth certificate or yours: the principle is the same.
Betcha Obama knows the story of Br’er Rabbit and the Briar Patch.
By Jay April 12, 2011 at 7:53 pm
Obama showed his BC, reporters dug up the birth announcements in TWO HI papers….the only people taking the birther nonsense seriously are warped and why should Obama have to provide more than what any other candidate had to provide? If you write your states vital stats, you won’t get the form the doctor signed with your little footprints on it, get over it, grow UP.
By Jay April 12, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Trump is a blowhard, he has no ideas he is all talk all the time and Palin, she’s a half wit at best.
By ya know April 12, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Tomstickler,
Are you suggesting that Obama is a “tar-baby”? He sure looks like one and has the intelligence of the same!
By David in Columbia April 12, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Birther B.S. aside… even if he was born in Kenya, as the ignorant conspiracy theorists like to believe, he was indisputably born to an American mother, making him an American born citizen – period. McCain was born in Panama, and no one disputed his citizenship.
By thesushi April 13, 2011 at 12:00 am
My favorite theory is that Trump is actually working with Obama in order to purposely draw the conservative field into a pit. But then again, the guy makes his money by declaring bankruptcy, so I guess Trump’s exactly the man that the current government needs.
By Really??? April 13, 2011 at 4:43 am
Bullshit. Every other swinging dick in this country has to show a birth certificate when he starts work, joins the military or signs up for anything government related. Why not this asshole?
By For David in Columbia April 13, 2011 at 9:57 am
David,
It is important to understand the distinction between being a “naturalized citizen” and being actually born here.
The Constitution states that in order to be president you have to be born in the United States geographically. If the Big O was actually born in Kenya and then brought here that would make him a “naturalized citizen” which would make him legally unable to be elected President.
Now that being said, I see a lot of name calling and what not going back and forth and how the birthers are “idiots” and what not-obviously this has become a partisan political football with Dems and Repus lining up on either side…but I have to say that I’m fascinated that the Big O hasn’t come up with a long form just to shut everyone up…WHAT DID GET NEGLECTED DURING THE LAST CYCLE WAS THAT McCain actually was born in Panama and had he somehow gotten elected the very same argument could have been leveled at him.(You’ll never hear that from a Republican birther)
Of course,if everyone remembers, the issue of citizenship during the campaign died down very quickly after that came out…I kinda wonder if both parties just said “better not keep railing on this issue” during the campaign and basically agreed to detente.
Why is any of this important?
Some of you might argue “big deal it’s a stupid law” and I might actually agree….but isn’t this just representitive of the bigger picture in which those in power simply pick and choose which laws they want to follow and the rest of us don’t get that benefit?
I truly beleive we live in a state of a fair amount of lawlessness today and law continues to be subverted…the issue of property rights which is a main staple of any free society is being trampled daily between bailouts, foreclosures(on both sides), and money printing. It’s probably just a matter of time before what’s left of the moral fabric of US society collapses and it becomes a “free for all”.(if it isn’t already)
By tomstickler April 13, 2011 at 11:00 pm
The US Constitution says “No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.” Nothing about having to be physically born within the geographic boundaries of the United States. Thus, there is no question about John McCain’s citizenship.
Regarding Obama’s birth certificate: his “Certification of Live Birth,” commonly referred to as the “short form,” is considered valid as a proof of citizenship by all state and federal agencies. Obama possesses a certified (with raised seal and official stamp) copy, and photos have been taken and posted on the Internet by independent investigators. The certificate number is 151 1961-010641
The “long form” that birthers blather about, resides in the Hawaii Department of Health, and no one, not even Obama can obtain a copy, and no other curious bystanders can demand a look.
By MajorC April 14, 2011 at 10:48 pm
Tomstickler, who was on the grassy knoll? Please inform us!
By Mind if I make up my own fact too Tom? April 15, 2011 at 6:55 pm
I’m not going to argue with you Tom, but your information is incorrect. Here’s is wiki’s lengthy article on the matter:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Born_Citizen_Clause
In it you’ll note that the Michigan Law review published an article twice in the last two years stating the requirement to be born inside US borders to get “natural born citizenship” as qualification to run for president.
Aside from that, you’ll also note that you are completely wrong on the citizenship status of McCain according not only to wiki, but to a reference to research done by Snopes.com where his status is listed as “undetermined”.
How also do you explain the Hawaiin Governor and friend of Obama’s family going on radio and telling the host he can’t find Obama’s long form?
Here’s the actual program where he states this clearly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvrb7YqdvxE
By tomstickler April 15, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Wikipedia? You mean the web site where anyone can edit an article?
YouTube? You mean where any fool with a webcam can show his ass?
I suspect that birthers will eventually be categorized with those who are convinced that the Apollo moon missions were videotaped on a film set.
For those who want a more credible and respected source that investigates the truthfulness of political claims, check this link, and when there, follow the links referenced in their articles.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2011/apr/08/politifacts-guide-obamas-birth-certificate/
As an example, the alleged YouTube claim that the Hawaii Governor was not being able to find anything rates a “Pants on Fire.”
By tomstickler April 15, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Oops! I apologize profusely. The claim by a Texas legislator earned a “False” for saying Hawaii’s governor can’t find anything that says Obama was born there, not a “Pants on Fire.”
By Obviously you're an idiot and regurgitator April 17, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Seriously, is your brain so devoid of original thought that you quote a Jon Stewart joke like it’s your own?
Did you even listen to the video at all? Do you realize that the guy who was talking about the gov. tried to recant shortly after but offered no explanation on why he “mispoke”?
Are you are actually attacking youtube’s crediblity?-LMAO
All it does as serve as a reminder as to what people did/said…..I guess you’ve no choice if you are trying to win an argument…but you’re only do so in your mind…attacking the credibility of a recorded broadcast because of where it gets played is truly laughable. Why not call the radio station a joke too?
Then you go on to impugn wikipedia, which is peer reviewed 24/7 and probably the internet’s leading source of referenced information…and what do you hold up as a more “credible” source of information? A political “fact checker” site backed by a newspaper that endorsed Obama…and whose staff included the washington editor that signed his name to it…
That’s just perfect…I can’t argue with you anymore as it’s clearly not genuine, probably not worth it and you clearly can’t think on your own.
By freeloader April 18, 2011 at 8:55 am
in 2008 we had an old man or a woman or a foreigner from kenya to vote for and it was a 50/50 vote split between the old man and the kenyan, in 2012 the choices will be the same: dumb or dumber! I plan on voting for the pundit who will not publicly display his birth certificate on the internet so that he can continue driving our country into bankruptcy by taxing the rich and giving to the poor, class equalization is what it is all about, sitting at home getting free health care, free food stamps, free welfare while those who believe america from yesteryear keep working to the bone taking care of me,..
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