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Hayworth Disavows Birtherism: I Believe Obama Was Born In Hawaii (VIDEO)
Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)
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Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the Republican primary, appeared on The O'Reilly Factor on Friday, and disavowed ever having any belief in the Birther movement, after the McCain campaign attacked him for his prior Birther-friendly statements.
"Hey Bill, I view this entire debate as esoteric. It's as esoteric as arguing about the eligibility of Chester Alan Arthur well over a century after he served as president," said Hayworth, referring to the 19th-century president whose detractors would spread rumors that he was born in Canada. "Look, Barack Obama's the 44th president of the United States. His election was certified. I believe he was born in Hawaii. I made certain statements on the air to -- to provoke conversation. That's what happens in broadcasting."
The McCain campaign recently launched a Web video attacking Hayworth for previous Birther-friendly comments, likening him to such well known (and little-respected) Birther activists as Orly Taitz and Philip Berg.
The video quoted Hayworth from his radio show, in July 2009: "Sad fact is, questions continue. And until President Obama signs his name and in fact has the records revealed, the questions will remain."
The video also used part of a Hayworth appearance on Hardball from a month ago, in which he called upon Obama to "come forward" with his birth certificate.
Hayworth's current explanation, as he told O'Reilly, is that he was simply discussing a topic, and expressing a viewpoint that some people hold, without directly holding to it himself.
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FlownOver
March 1, 2010 10:30 AM
"Listen to me, everybody – just don't expect me to actually believe what I'm saying."
What a maroon.
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drauz
March 1, 2010 10:39 AM
Apparently, he's spent some $ on polling, rather than a dB meter.
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Moose49
March 1, 2010 10:42 AM
The Blowhard vs. The Compulsive Liar. The Lunatic Fringe vs. the Merely Crazy. What a race!
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bruno2
March 1, 2010 12:18 PM in reply to Moose49
Two blowhard compulsive liars. But all rethuglicans above the level of PTA Secretary are compulsive (or at least accomplished) liars. Some just blow a little less hard.
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johbot
March 1, 2010 10:42 AM
On the plus side, at least you have to disavow bitherism to run a mainstream campaign in Arizona. Once in office though, feel free to "provoke conversation" as he put it.
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Wellstone6
March 1, 2010 10:46 AM
Hmm...studying from Bill CLinton's playbook, huh, JD?
Can we call this your "Birther Souljah" moment, you hypocrite?
Just remember, though, McCain's boys have THOUSANDS of hours of you screaming vicious right-wing spittle onto the Mic at your HateRadio studios..
Pass the popcorn, please. This is going to get interesting.
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CityGuy
March 1, 2010 10:49 AM in reply to Wellstone6
Agreed. Good luck JD. On the plus side, this is already an amusing race!
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freaktown
March 1, 2010 10:50 AM
i think he means "quixotic" as "esoteric" makes little sense in this context.
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Schmed
March 1, 2010 11:06 AM in reply to freaktown
My guess is that he doesn't know what either means.
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congoman
March 1, 2010 11:15 AM
So McCain is trying to be more crazy while JD is trying to be less crazy.
I guess they are both trying to find that "sweet spot" center of crazy that repug politics has become.
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drauz
March 1, 2010 12:33 PM in reply to congoman
bingo!
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loria
March 1, 2010 11:21 AM
Who will Orly endorse if JD doesn't believe in birtherism?
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Walter Mitty
March 1, 2010 11:25 AM
And Dems don't have anybody to run in Arizona that could beat either. McCain is the lesser of two evils there as he might be pissed at the teabagger wing to stick it to them should he get re-elected.
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Cal Gal
March 1, 2010 3:34 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
Isn't that what everyone thought about Massachusetts? There isn't ANY telegenic Democrat in Arizona?
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Matt Jones
March 1, 2010 11:27 AM
The next guy we pick up for advocating terrorism should try this - "I don't *actually* believe people should blow themselves up for Allah - I was just trying to provoke conversation."
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Hank
March 1, 2010 12:13 PM
"I made certain statements on the air to -- to provoke conversation." I think he just admitted that he is a liar. No wait, that's EXACTLY what he did.
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inokeah
March 1, 2010 12:25 PM
This story is why the Demos are going down hill so fast. I mean, this is your story, it's feculence seems pestilential. But I guess this is the best you can do.
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BlindBat
March 1, 2010 1:00 PM in reply to inokeah
"Feculence," eh? I think you're just talking shit.
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Marinus van der Lubbe
March 1, 2010 2:46 PM in reply to BlindBat
"it's feculence seems pestilential"...who the fuck are you? Norm Crosby or Norton from 'The Honeymooners'? You really know how to advertise your stupidity.
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Cal Gal
March 1, 2010 3:36 PM in reply to inokeah
Huh? WTF are you talking about? You sure you posted on the right thread?
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Barry Champlain
March 1, 2010 1:30 PM
I think the only question now, is: will John McCain now flip and become a birther? Totally in keeping with his whorish ways.
Gee, maybe he can extract the tape of that "town hall meeting" dufing his abortive campaign, where that gomer woman accused Obama of being an A-rab. He can just overdub the part where he answered "No--no!" and turn it into "You betcha!"
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GTFOOH
March 1, 2010 1:41 PM
Orly's going to be sorely!
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jim43
March 1, 2010 1:43 PM
So did Hayworth just lose his base? The Tea Partiers all believe Obama is from Kenya, right? This could seal the deal for McCain.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
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Barry Champlain
March 1, 2010 2:08 PM in reply to jim43
You have an excellent point. The teabaggers do not wish to her that factual evidence dow not bear out their paranoia, nor that continued carping on birtherism is going to hurt their party with the larger electorate.
Birtherism is a matter of larger tribal faith, exactly as is religion. Religion may contain a lot of highly-questionable fairy stories, but you don't question your religion; you it without debate, as a matter of proving your bona fides. You don't want to knopw if a bone from a dead saint can be medically proven to have cured someone's cancer; anyone who raises the issue is automatically an infidel.
Teabagging and birtherism are NOT forms of "politics". Quite premeditatedly, the right's beliefs have been conflated with their faith. And the GOP now has a solid base of dimbulbs who would cut off their own organs and make human sacrifices of their own children, if called upon to do so.
So don't even try to reason with them about birtherism. Hayworth just took a self-inflicted hit, on the gamble that he could more than make up for it in the "mainstream".
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Barry Champlain
March 1, 2010 2:09 PM in reply to Barry Champlain
(My apologies for not proofreading that! Oy.)
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congoman
March 1, 2010 3:09 PM
It sure seems like an oppourtunity for the Dems here. With McCain tracking toward crazy, and JD trying to shed some crazy...and both clearly lying in the process...I bet a centered, resonable person could come in and scoop this seat right up.
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Cal Gal
March 1, 2010 3:32 PM
I am LOVING this campaign!
St. John FINALLY gets called out by the media on his claim of being a dupe.
A birther nut-wing broadcaster FINALLY admits it was all for ratings ... he doesn't believe what he says.
ReThug on ReThug action. Pass the popcorn!
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drv
March 1, 2010 3:55 PM
This schtick is getting old.
Look, I don't believe J. D. Hayworth is a pedophile. But there have been reports out there of such activity. Serious questions have been raised that deserve to be answered. But, no, I don't believe he's a pedophile.
See how they play the game? Feh.
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GOPinNYC
March 1, 2010 4:17 PM
I think most people are missing the very obvious issue in the birther questions. How is it that in this day in age we don't have a mechanism that verifies a person meets the constitutional requirements when they file to run? It is one thing when you are running for some local office and what not to just check a box declaring you meet the legal requirements in that state or city but seriously there needs to be something beyond checking a box if you are running for president of the country.
And before someone decides to point a finger an call me a birther I'm not.
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Jane
March 1, 2010 5:01 PM
Oh, yeah, because we all get SOOOO passionate about views that we don't even hold. Nice try, JD, but we're not all as dumb as you!
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Finn Lee
March 1, 2010 5:05 PM
I have to agree with Wellstone. JD going on the radio and then deciding to run for office is probably the stupidest idea EVER. McCain's got enough material to last him a lifetime of campaigns against JD.
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Leftflank
March 1, 2010 7:15 PM
He's not a birther, he's a; Liar/Denier/Disavower, that's so much better.
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