Birther

Olympia Snowe Primary Challenger Says Obama Not A Christian

Benjy Sarlin | July 19, 2011, 1:26PM

Scott D'Amboise

A Republican primary challenger to Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) went on a rant against Barack Obama this week in which he claimed the president was not a Christian.

Businessman Scott D'amboise told FrumForum in an interview on Tuesday that he did not believe Obama's professed faith was genuine.

"The President, he says he is Christian but yet he's exercises a lot of Muslim faith too," D'amboise said. "Me personally, I'm a Christian conservative. I don't hold any malice to anybody, whether they are Muslim, or Jewish, or Catholic, or anything else. I just believe that he needs to come forward with his views a little bit clearer."

Asked specifically whether Obama might be a Muslim, a common (and false) belief in some right-wing circles, D'amboise told FrumForum "I don't know if he is or isn't, but I don't believe he's a Christian."

In an interview with TPM, Andrew Ian Dodge, a Tea Party activist who is also running against Snowe as a Republican, condemned D'amboise's comments as a "distraction."

"I think its a way of vilifying him," Dodge said. "Obama is a social democrat, but he is neither a Muslim nor a non-citizen."

He added that comments like D'amboise's help Democrats by portraying the right as "bunch of loons."

D'amboise has only raised $100,000 so far, well behind Snowe's $2.7 million cash on hand. Dodge has not yet released fundraising totals.

Barack Obama

Obama Campaign Selling Birth Certificate-Emblazoned Merchandise

Jon Terbush | May 18, 2011, 12:37PM

President Obama's reelection campaign is turning a conspiracy theory that had long dogged the president into a snarky fundraising tool, selling merchandise depicting Obama and his complete long form birth certificate.

For a $25 donation, you can get a t-shirt that shows a smiling Obama above the phrase, "Made in the U.S.A" on the front, and the president's long-form birth certificate on the back. The campaign is also giving away coffee mugs with the same design scheme to supporters who make a $15 contribution.

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Barack Obama

'Birther' Population Plummets Following Release Of Obama's Long-Form Birth Certificate

Jon Terbush | May 5, 2011, 12:08PM

President Barack Obama's long form birth certificate.

Following the release of President Obama's long-form birth certificate -- a document skeptics claimed did not exist because Obama was supposedly born in a foreign country -- the percentage of Americans who doubt Obama's citizenship has plummeted, according to two new polls.

In a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Thursday, only 10% of Americans said Obama was born in a foreign country. That's exactly half the percent who said the same last year.

And even among those who doubted Obama's citizenship, far fewer are quite so confident in that stance now that Obama's birth certificate has been released. Last year, nine percent of respondents said there was "solid evidence" to prove that Obama was born elsewhere. That number dropped to just one percent in the latest poll.

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Birth Certificate

With Drudge Report's Help, Birthers Latch Onto Phony Forgery Theory

Benjy Sarlin | April 29, 2011, 10:23AM

President Barack Obama's long form birth certificate.

In a predictable turn, conspiracy theorists are now rallying behind a bogus claim that President Obama's long form birth certificate is a Photoshopped forgery -- with a huge helping hand from one of conservative media's biggest names.

The fringe theory's rapid spread within hours of the certificate's release presents almost a perfect example of one of the White House's justifications for taking on the birther issue -- namely, that thanks to the internet, conspiracy theories can migrate quickly from the fringe and into the mainstream if left unchecked.

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Birther

The Best Birther Parodies

Benjy Sarlin | April 28, 2011, 10:10AM

Wacked out conspiracy theorists might be an annoyance, but their outlandish ideas make for hilarious Internet parodies. Here are some of the best.

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Birth Certificate

The GOP Reacts: We Never Cared About The Birth Certificate -- But It's About Time Already!

Benjy Sarlin | April 28, 2011, 8:56AM

Former candidate for Vice President Sarah Palin

It's been a full day since the White House released President Obama's long form birth certificate, and prominent Republicans are coalescing around a few recurring notes in their reaction.

Responses for the most part fall into two broad, sometimes overlapping, themes in which Republicans either accuse President Obama of taking too long to put the birther nonsense to bed or suggest he's exploiting the issue by even addressing it.

While speculation around Obama's legitimacy occurs almost exclusively in conservative circles -- reaching a high point in recent weeks amid Donald Trump's birther campaign -- a number of mostly mainstream Republicans characterized Obama's statement as a smokescreen that distracts from various other topics.The most oft-quoted example came from Sarah Palin who tweeted: "Now, don't let the WH distract you w/the birth crt from what Bernanke says today. Stay focused, eh?" referring to a rare press conference from the Federal Reserve chairman.

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Louie Gohmert

Gohmert: The Birth Certificate Proves We Need A Federal Birther Law

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 27, 2011, 6:21PM

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX)

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) welcomed the release of President Obama's long-form birth certificate on Wednesday, after suffering what he said had been "arrogant condescension" from Obama's supporters. And he said the redundant proof that Obama was indeed born where everyone knew he was born shows that Congress really needs to pass a law requiring presidential candidates to produce their birth certificates.

"It is truly distressing that the administration would wait so long to release such an important piece of documentation, when such a simple act was all it required," Gohmert said in a statement. "In my mind, a critically important action we could take in Congress is to eliminate similar controversies arising in future elections."

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Birth Certificate

Birther-Curious Rep. Paul Broun: Obama Birth Certificate "Two Years Overdue"

Benjy Sarlin | April 27, 2011, 6:19PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

After flirting with birtherism in the past, Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), told reporters Wednesday that Obama's long form birth certificate was "two years overdue" while insisting he was focused on the economy instead.

"I am more interested in President Obama producing a budget that actually cuts spending and removes the regulatory burden on small businesses so they can create jobs and grow our economy," Broun said in a statement. "Or perhaps he can produce a realistic energy policy to help ease the pain at the pump Americans are feeling by reducing our dependency on foreign sources. Regardless, until the President is ready to produce something that isn't a 'commission', political speech, or a document two years overdue - Republicans in Congress will continue to work tirelessly to produce the kind of economic solutions that the American people are demanding."

In 2010, Broun told a radio host that he did not know if President Obama was an American citizen or a Christian. A spokesman for Broun told Politico shortly after the incident that he wasn't questioning Obama's birthplace or religion, he simply didn't want to speculate.

Birther

Georgia Governor Who Asked For Obama's Birth Certificate Now 'Focused On Creating Jobs'

Ryan J. Reilly | April 27, 2011, 5:07PM

Gov. Nathan Deal (R-GA)

Republican Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, who wrote a letter to President Barack Obama demanding to see his long-form birth certificate, isn't focused on the "birther" issue these days, according to a spokeswoman.

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Birther

Among Birther Friendly Lawmakers, Mostly Radio Silence

Benjy Sarlin | April 27, 2011, 1:39PM

President Barack Obama's long form birth certificate.

President Obama's decision to release his long form birth certificate comes amid Donald Trump's three-ring circus on the issue, but prominent conservatives have flirted with the birther movement since its earliest inception. From insisting Obama release more records, to waffling on questions about his citizenship, to sponsoring legislation winking at conspiracy theorists, there's been no shortage of birther curious behavior over the last several years.

TPM reached out to over 20 lawmakers and public figures who have indulged in such behavior to determine whether Obama's release of the Rosetta stone of birtherism has settled the issue, receiving few responses.

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

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Newt Gingrich

Gingrich On Birth Certificate Release: 'Why Did It Take So Long?'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 27, 2011, 10:22AM

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA)

TPM just caught up with Newt Gingrich after his address at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday morning. We asked about the news of the moment, the release of President Obama's long-form birth certificate.

Gingrich was in the breakfast all morning, so he appeared to be hearing the news for the first time. He laughed when asked for his reaction and cautioned, "I haven't even looked at it yet."

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

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Barack Obama

Obama On Birther Issue: 'We Don't Have Time For This Silliness"

Susan Crabtree | April 27, 2011, 10:11AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama, in a rare public appearance on a personal issue Wednesday, scolded the media and those consumed with trying to prove he was not born in the United States.

"I know that there's going to be a segment of people for which, no matter what we put out, this issue will not be put to rest ... ," Obama told reporters. "We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We've got better stuff to do. I've got better stuff to do. We've got big problems to solve. And I'm confident we can solve them, but we're going to have to focus on them -- not on this."

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

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Birth Certificate

Polls Show About Half Of GOPers Think Obama Wasn't Born In U.S.

Jon Terbush | April 27, 2011, 10:09AM

With the release of President Obama's long form birth certificate on Wednesday, many are wondering why the White House decided to even bother wading into the birther debate long after it had been proven to be a red herring.

One reason, as noted by Obama in a press conference Tuesday morning, is that while the birther controversy is largely considered a fringe issue, it's actually mainstream within Republican ranks, according to several recent polls.

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

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Barack Obama

President Obama Releases Long Form Birth Certificate

Ryan J. Reilly | April 27, 2011, 9:12AM

President Barack Obama

Hoping to end a long-running "controversy" over whether he was born in the United States, the White House released President Barack Obama's long-form birth certificate on Wednesday.

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Birther

Poll: Nearly Half Of Republicans Think Obama Wasn't Born In U.S.

Jon Terbush | April 21, 2011, 1:19PM

The belief that President Obama was not born in America may seem like a fringe issue, but within the Republican party, the view is fairly mainstream.

In a New York Times/CBS poll released on Thursday, a 45% plurality of Republican adults said they believe Obama was not born in the U.S. Additionally, 33% said Obama was born in America, while 22% said they weren't sure.

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2012 elections

Poll: 48% Of Iowa Republicans Say Obama Wasn't Born In U.S.

Jon Terbush | April 19, 2011, 11:15AM

Nearly half of usual Republican primary voters in Iowa think President Obama was not born in the United States, while barely one-quarter believe he was, according to a PPP poll released on Tuesday.

In the poll, 48% of registered Republican voters said Obama was not born in the U.S., while 26% said he was. Additionally, 26% said they were unsure.

That percentage is actually slightly better than the national average for typical Republican primary voters, a majority of whom believe Obama was born outside the U.S. In February, a PPP poll found that 51% of registered Republican voters said Obama was not born in the U.S., compared to 28% who said he was, and 21% who were unsure.

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Donald Trump

Trump Promises To Reveal Secrets Of Obama's Birth Before Summer (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 7, 2011, 1:13PM

Riding high on poll numbers that suggest he's a legitimate player in the 2012 Republican presidential nomination race, Donald Trump took to the NBC airwaves Thursday morning to make a promise to the American people: he's going to figure out once and for all if President Obama was born in the United States.

Trump's flirtation with and eventual marriage to birtherism has been a nagging part of the political landscape for weeks now, horrifying (and/or amusing) progressives and riling up the GOP's tea party base. Now Trump's promised to go from the man who re-raised the question everyone else answered in 2008 to the one who re-answers it once and for all. And he says he's going to do it in the next few weeks.

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Birther

NH Birther Bill Backer: "I Don't Know" Where Obama Was Born

Melissa Jeltsen | March 11, 2011, 3:27PM

New Hampshire State Rep. David Bates, chairman of the House Election Law Committee and supporter of the state's controversial 'birther' bill told TPM he can't say for certain where President Barack Obama was born. "I don't know where the guy was born, I don't care," Bates said in a phone interview on Friday. He later hedged, saying he had to accept that Obama was born in the United States because he didn't "have any evidence to the contrary."

The proposed legislation, which was unanimously defeated in committee on Wednesday, would have required candidates competing in New Hampshire's presidential primary to provide their long-form birth certificates.

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Birther

UPDATED: New Hampshire Birther Bill Dies In Committee

Brian Beutler and Melissa Jeltsen | March 9, 2011, 12:59PM

Late Update: The bill was defeated in committee Wednesday.

Don't pop the champagne yet, birthers. Yes, New Hampshire Republicans have proposed legislation that would require presidential candidates competing in the New Hampshire primary to provide their long-form birth certificates. But because you've comported yourselves so poorly over the last two years, it won't impact President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.

Thanks to public scrutiny and criticism of the birther movement -- including from within the Republican Party -- the plan has been rewritten and would not go into effect until 2013, to avoid the impression that it's designed to ensnare President Obama.

As originally written, the bill "had the effective date 60 days after passage," Rep. David Bates (R) told the Union Leader. "But we recognize the potential problems. It created the appearance that it was all centered on a putting barriers in the way of President Obama," Bates said.

Bates said he changed the wording "to diffuse any perception that this was directed at President Obama."

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Mike Huckabee

Huckabee Claims Obama Was Raised In Kenya (AUDIO)

Andrew Jones | March 1, 2011, 3:28PM

Fmr. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (R)

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R) says he isn't a birther. But that apparently won't stop him from expressing skepticism about where President Obama grew up.

The potential 2012 presidential contender is continued his current promotional tour for his new book A Simple Government on "The Steve Malzberg Show" last Monday night. And while he didn't agree with radio-host Malzberg saying Obama spent ""millions of dollars in courts all over this country to defend against having to present a birth certificate," Huckabee added his own twist on questioning the President's past.

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Karl Rove

Karl Rove: Birtherism Is A 'White House Strategy' (VIDEO)

Andrew Jones | February 17, 2011, 12:40PM

In Karl Rove's mind, the White House is really the one to blame for the continued birther hysteria.

On The O'Reilly Factor last night, the former Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush chastised the Obama Administration for not putting to rest the continued skepticism on the right about President Obama's true place of birth.

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Bob Wagner

Montana State Rep On Obama Citizenship: 'I'm Not Qualified To Say' (Video)

Andrew Jones | February 16, 2011, 2:00PM

The birther movement isn't going away anytime soon. And a Montana state representative on CNN last night demonstrated the continued skepticism on the right about the legality of Barack Obama's presidency.

State Rep. Bob Wagner (R) appeared on Anderson Cooper to talk about his introduction of a "birther bill" in the his state's capital. The bill requires "documentary proof of the kind established by rule by the secretary of state that shows that the candidate has complied with the durational citizenship and residency requirements for the office as prescribed by the United States constitution."

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Birther

More Than Half Of Republican Primary Voters Think Obama Wasn't Born Here

Jon Terbush | February 15, 2011, 12:59PM

President Barack Obama

The theory that President Obama is not a natural born U.S. citizen (and thus ineligible to be President) has hardly been squelched. According to a new PPP poll, it's actually a predominant belief within the Republican party.

In the poll, 51% of all likely Republican primary voters erroneously believed that President Obama was born outside of the U.S. Only 28% of those Republican voters said they thought Obama was born in America, while 21% said they were unsure.

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Eric Cantor

Eric Cantor: 'I Think The President Is A Citizen' Of The US (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 23, 2011, 11:12AM

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA)

On Meet The Press this morning, host David Gregory asked House Majority Leader Eric Cantor to dismiss birther claims that President Obama is not a citizen of the United States as "crazy talk." Cantor declined, though he professed his own confidence that Obama is indeed eligible for the nation's highest elected office.

"I think the President is a citizen of the United States," Cantor said.

"Period?" Gregory asked.

"Yes," Cantor replied. "Why is it that you want me to go and engage in name calling [against birthers]?"

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Barack Obama

Obama: 'I Can't Spend All My Time With My Birth Certificate Plastered On My Forehead' (VIDEO)

Eric Lach | August 30, 2010, 11:50AM

In an interview with NBC's Brian Williams that aired yesterday, President Obama addressed the lingering rumors about his birth and religion, condemning what he calls a "network of misinformation" and taking a swipe at the birther movement.

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Mitch McConnell

McConnell Renews Call For Hearings Into Birth Tourism And Birthright Citizenship

Christina Bellantoni | August 5, 2010, 10:02AM

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said this morning he sees nothing wrong with hearings examining what he called the "burgeoning" and "unseemly" business of illegal immigrants coming to the United States to give birth for the purpose of the child being a natural-born U.S. citizen.

"What's wrong with looking into this? The Washington Post did," McConnell (R-KY) told reporters at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.

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2010 elections

Ohio Republicans Crack Birther Jokes When Introducing Senate Candidate Rob Portman (AUDIO)

Christina Bellantoni | March 9, 2010, 1:16PM

Former State Rep. Jim Buchy (R-OH) and Rep. Jim Zehringer (R-OH)

Two Ohio Republicans this weekend made birther jokes questioning President Obama's citizenship status at a local fundraising dinner starring Senate candidate and former Bush administration official Rob Portman.

Master of ceremonies and former state Rep. Jim Buchy, president of Buchy Food Service, opened his remarks at the Darke County Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday with a comparison between Obama and the 16th president.

According to audio recorded by someone at the dinner and obtained by TPMDC, the joke concludes with: "Lincoln was a skinny lawyer. Obama is a skinny lawyer. Lincoln was a Republican. Obama is a skinny lawyer. Lincoln was highly respected. Obama is a skinny lawyer. Lincoln was born in the United States. Obama is a skinny lawyer."

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AZ-SEN

Hayworth Disavows Birtherism: I Believe Obama Was Born In Hawaii (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 1, 2010, 10:17AM

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)

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."

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Birther

Orly Taitz Blasts McCain For Attacking Her In Anti-Birther Web Vid

Eric Kleefeld | February 25, 2010, 10:25AM

Orly Taitz and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Orly Taitz, the best-known national activist in the Birther movement, has posted a statement on her blog slamming Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), for posting a Web ad that attacked his opponent in the Republican primary, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, by tying Hayworth to Taitz and the Birthers.

In her statement, Taitz accuses McCain of improperly influencing various federal judges who are set to rule on her various motions and lawsuits against Obama's eligibility to be president.

Taitz also calls upon McCain to join her, as a plaintiff in her lawsuits: "He has the best standing to file Quo Warranto. Senator McCain could withstand torture by Vietnamese communists for years, he can withstand putting his signature on the pleadings. If I could withstand constant deaththreats, tampering with my car, convicted forgers submitting perjured testimony in different courts to undermine my law license, Obama'sbrown shirts in the media and government constantly insulting me, assaulting, harassing and subjecting to retaliations; I am sure he can withstand putting his signature on the pleadings." (All typos, spelling and grammatical errors in the original.)

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AZ-SEN

McCain Campaign Launches Anti-Birther Web Video Against Hayworth (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | February 24, 2010, 12:53PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ).

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has a new Web video attacking his right-wing primary challenger, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, blasting Hayworth for being "consumed by conspiracies" about President Obama's birth certificate.

The video compares Hayworth's pro-Birther comments on both TV and radio to the infamous rantings of such leading Birthers as Orly Taitz and Philip Berg. "The only difference between these people" the narrator says. "Only one is running for the U.S. Senate."

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TX-GOV

Poll: Medina's Support Slips In Texas GOP Primary, Hurt By Truther Comments

Eric Kleefeld | February 23, 2010, 11:13AM

TX-Gov. candidate Debra Medina (R)

A new survey of the Texas Republican gubernatorial primary by Public Policy Polling (D) finds that tea party activist Debra Medina has lost some support, and could possibly have been hurt by comments that seemed to indicate that she might be a 9/11 Truther.

The numbers: Incumbent Gov. Rick Perry 40%, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison 31%, and Medina 20%. Three weeks ago, the numbers were Perry 39%, Hutchison 28%, and Medina 24%, with Hutchison in serious serious danger of falling into third place and missing out on a spot in the expected April 13 runoff.

About two weeks ago, Medina was asked during an appearance on Glenn Beck's radio show whether she believed in 9/11 conspiracy theories. "I think some very good questions have been raised in that regard, there are some very good arguments and I think the American people have not seen all the evidence there, so I have not taken a position on that," said Medina.

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Joins Sing-Along With Birther Lyric (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | February 16, 2010, 6:24PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Here's another fun moment from Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) event on Friday with the North Dakota Republican Party: The Congresswoman joined in on a sing-along on the main stage, for a song that contained a Birther-themed lyric.

The event (for which we posted a general write-up yesterday) included entertainment by a country music cover group, the Johnny Holm Band. After the political speeches and comments from attendees were finished, the lights went out and the crowd got to enjoy a nice party, in the non-political sense of the term. Before the festivities really got rolling, however, Johnny Holm led the crowd in a sing-along to the tune of "The Battle of New Orleans, " with altered lyrics that he'd learned recently while traveling. He first taught the crowd the words.

The opening line: "In 1961, Obama came along / Born in Honolulu -- 'course I couldda got it wrong." Bachmann can be seen joining the musicians on stage, but it's unclear whether she sang that specific line (the audio on the stream cuts out at various points, including here), though she can be heard singing at least part of the song. And it's clear that she got on stage even after that lyric was out in the open.

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Debra Medina

Medina: 'It's Healthy That People Are Asking Questions' About 9/11 And Obama's Birth Certificate (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | February 12, 2010, 5:31PM

TX-Gov. candidate Debra Medina (R)

It turns out that Debra Medina, the Tea Party activist and candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Texas who clarified remarks yesterday that seemingly presented her as a 9/11 Truther, later that same day gave an interview in which she dignified both Trutherism and the Birthers.

"The 9/11 Commission report, you know, great sections of that are redacted and they're top secret," Medina said. "That makes us all wonder, 'well what's happening back there?' The same is true with the birth certificate thing. I think it's healthy that people are asking questions."

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Polls

Poll: Republicans Think Obama Is A Socialist, And Palin More Qualified To Be President

Eric Kleefeld | February 1, 2010, 3:58PM

At a tea party in Philadelphia

A new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll, conducted among 2,000 self-identified Republican respondents nationwide, gives an interesting peek into the psyche of the minority party's base.

Kos has not yet released the full numbers, but here's some early info on the poll that he has posted on his Twitter account:

• 39% of Republicans want President Obama to be impeached.

• 63% think Obama is a socialist.

• Only 42% believe Obama was born in the United States.

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J.D. Hayworth

McCain Primary Challenger Hayworth: Obama 'Should Come Forward' With His Birth Certificate (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | January 26, 2010, 6:37PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ).

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the Republican primary this year, appeared on Hardball this evening, and stood by his previous statements in favor of the birther movement.

Matthews asked Hayworth: "Are you as far right as the birthers?" Are you one of those who believes that the president should have to prove that he's a citizen of the United States, and not an illegal immigrant? Are you that far right?"

"Well, gosh, we all had to bring our birth certificate's to show we were who we said we were, and we were the age we said we were, to play football in youth sports," Hayworth responded matter of factly. "Shouldn't we know exactly that anyone who wants to run for public office is a natural born citizen of the United States, and is who they say they are?"

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Martha Coakley

Does Scott Brown Think Barack Obama Was Born To Out Of Wedlock Mother?

Brian Beutler | January 16, 2010, 8:23PM

Senator-elect Scott Brown (R-MA)

Check out this video, courtesy of Blue Mass Group, in which, after praising Sarah Palin, Massachusetts Senate hopeful Scott Brown appears to suggest he thinks Barack Obama was born out of wedlock -- a false claim which has been advanced frequently by members of the 'birther' movement.

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Birth Certificate

North Dakota GOP Posts Birther Joke On Homepage

Eric Kleefeld | December 14, 2009, 3:40PM

The North Dakota Republican Party has a humorous new image on its front page today: A "Joke of the day" that just so happens to involve President Obama's birth certificate.

The picture shows the photo of President Obama shaking hands with state dinner party-crasher Michaele Salahi. Obama is given a speech balloon in which he asks to see Salahi's invitation. She answers: "If I can see your birth certificate!"

I asked Adam Jones, political director for the North Dakota GOP, whether it was appropriate to have a joke involving the president allegedly not being born in this country. "You said the keyword, Eric," he replied. "It's a joke."

I asked again whether he thinks this is a proper thing to put on a state party's homepage. "I think it is a joke, and that would be my only comment for you," he said.

(Via Dave Weigel and Ben Smith)

Sarah Palin

Palin: The Public Is 'Rightfully' Making Obama's Birth Certificate An Issue

Eric Kleefeld | December 4, 2009, 9:17AM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin has now endorsed the Birther cause, telling a right-wing radio host that "the public, rightfully, is still making it an issue" -- and she even seemed to suggest that that the McCain campaign should have gone there last year.

Radio talker Rusty Humphries gave Palin questions submitted by his listeners, including this one: "Would you make the birth certificate an issue if you ran?"

"Um, I think the public, rightfully, is still making it an issue. I don't have a problem with that," said Palin. "I don't know if I would have to bother to make it an issue, because I think enough members of the electorate still want answers."

Palin implied that the McCain campaign should have used this issue in 2008, discussing her long-standing complaint that the campaign didn't go hard enough on Obama: "I think it's a fair question, just like I think past associations, past voting records, all of that is fair game. You know, I gotta tell you, too, I think our campaign, the McCain-Palin campaign, didn't do a good enough job in that area."

Palin has done a pseudo-backtrack in her Facebook account, denying that she in any way called on Obama to produce his birth certificate or suggested he wasn't born in the United States -- which would seem to contradict the plain text of what she said in the interview:

Voters have every right to ask candidates for information if they so choose. I've pointed out that it was seemingly fair game during the 2008 election for many on the left to badger my doctor and lawyer for proof that Trig is in fact my child. Conspiracy-minded reporters and voters had a right to ask... which they have repeatedly. But at no point - not during the campaign, and not during recent interviews - have I asked the president to produce his birth certificate or suggested that he was not born in the United States.

Chuck DeVore

GOP Senate Candidate DeVore Seeks To Defuse Birtherism Story

Eric Kleefeld | November 16, 2009, 2:45PM

CA-SEN candidate Chuck DeVore (R)

Chuck DeVore, a California state Assemblyman running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in California, is working to defuse comments that seemingly made him out to be a birther-sympathizer.

"The president is doing himself no favors by spending millions of dollars to block the release of documents surrounding his birth certificate," DeVore said to Dave Weigel. "As long as the president keeps fighting tooth and nail to prevent the release of such things, people are going to remain skeptical."

In an interview just now, DeVore's communications director Josh Trevino told TPM that key statements the candidate made were omitted from the published report. "Assemblyman DeVore believes that Barack Obama is the rightful, legitimate and constitutional President of the United States," said Trevino. "He said 10 years ago that the move to impeach Bill Clinton was a distraction from countering his liberal policies, and he believes that the movement now to question Barack Obama's birth is a similar distraction."

Weigel has responded to inquiries about this by posting a full transcription of DeVore's answer to his question -- and maintains that DeVore did not fully repudiate the birthers: "I was a little surprised that DeVore didn't knock this down harder; it seems to be stinging him today."

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Nathan Deal

GOP Rep. Deal, Candidate For Georgia Governor, Asking For Obama's Birth Certificate

Eric Kleefeld | November 5, 2009, 11:09AM

Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)

Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA), a candidate in the GOP primary for Governor of Georgia, has announced that he is signing a letter to the White House with several of his colleagues -- asking for a copy of President Obama's birth certificate.

Deal made the announcement this morning in an online chat held by his campaign, when asked by Tom Crawford of the Georgia Report (subscription required):

[Comment From Tom Crawford]
Do you believe that Barack Obama is a native-born American citizen who is eligible to serve as president? I am asking because your comments on this issue have been a little ambiguous. I would appreciate your clearing this up.

Nathan Deal - I am joining several of my colleagues in the House in writing a letter to the President asking that he release a copy of his birth certificate so we can have an answer to this question.

Deal's campaign spokesman Harris Blackwood confirmed the authenticity of the chat to TPM, explaining the Congressman's comment: "There have been so many constituents, a lot of people have asked him, they ask him on the campaign trail. Let's just get an answer, that's all we're saying, not suggesting anything to the contrary."