August 4, 2009: Happy Birthday, President Obama

Would you pay $5 to say, SHUT UP FOREVER ABOUT THE BIRTHER THING? How about $10? I just did.

There's a section of Wingnuttialand peopled by those who believe our president is not a citizen of the United States of America--the very nation whose Constitution he swore to uphold, whose domestic and foreign policy he shapes, and the nation he represents to the world. You know, the country whose approximately 60 million inhabitants of voting age and the Electoral College actually elected him to office. Wingnuttians instead believe that Obama's a Kenyan citizen by virtue of his father's having started and ended his life there after immigrating to the US and fathering Barack Obama.

Well, that's crazy. And xenophobic. With dollops of racism swirled in.

It's so batshit nuts, Jon Stewart made fun of it.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Born Identity
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It's so batshit nuts, the president of CNN had to tell Lou Dobbs to QUIT PEDDLING WHACKADOO ON MY CHANNEL BECAUSE IT'S LIKE WATCHING A GROWN MAN EAT SCABS. (The president of CNN backpedaled a little--wimp!--but the basic message is the same.)

It's so whackadoo, and Lou Dobbs has continued to so persistently "raise" the issue as if President Obama had not released for public scrutiny his birth certificate all during the 500+ days that were the '08 presidential campaigns, that Media Matters has purchased ad time TO RUN DURING DOBBS' CNN SHOW asking Dobbs to STFU about a closed issue.

Here it is:

Never mind that all the government officials who have anything to do with birth certificates and hospital records have already said a thousand kabillion times that of course President Obama is who he says he is and was born where he said he was born: in Hawaii, one of the 50 United States of America.

I guess, with wars happening on two fronts, our still-fragile economy on life support, and health insurance reform vulnerable to the disinformation that caused it to go down in flames *last* time, Republicans could think of no better thing to do than whip up some bogus legislation.

Republican Senator Tom Coburn has said "he's in favor of both state and federal demands that future presidential candidates have a formal procedure to document their qualifications."

Coburn supports Congressman *Bill Posey's [R, FL-15] House Bill 1503 that would require documentation of eligibility from presidential candidates, and even mentioned a similar bill, HB1329, that failed on April 23, 2009, in the Oklahoma State Senate when its author Mike Ritze brought it up for a vote. You remember OK State Senator Mike Ritze? The one who's unclear on the concept of separation of church and state?

If that's not enough, eleven members of Congress support Posey's bill in the House:

• Rep. John "Chris Matthews Pwned Me on TV" Campbell [R, CA-48], Dem challenger Beth Krom, contributions here
• Rep. Marsha Blackburn [R, TN-7],Dem challenger Greg Rabidoux or "Anyone but Blackburn" here
• Rep. Dan Burton [R, IN-5], Dem challenger "Anyone But Burton" donate here
• Rep. John Carter [R, TX-31], Dem challenger "Anyone but Carter" donate here
• Rep. John Culberson [R, TX-7], Dem challenger "Anyone but Culberson" here
• Rep. Robert Goodlatte [R, VA-6], Dem Challenger "Anyone But Goodlatte" donate here
• Rep. Kenny Marchant [R, TX-24], Dem challenger "Anyone But Marchant" donate here
• Rep. Randy Neugebauer [R, TX-19], Dem challenger "Anybody but Neugebauer" donate here
• Rep. Ted Poe [R, TX-2], Dem challenger "Anybody but Poe" donate here
• Rep. Louie Gohmert, [R, TX-1], Dem challenger"Anybody but Gohmert" donate here

Go to DesertBeacon's post to find out the cities included in those districts. Of these 11, an *= identified as in need of special help by the RNC.

Now if you live in any of those districts above, can speak decently in public, know what's going on, and care about people--Please Run For Public Office on the Democratic Ticket.

If you feel sickened by this non-stop display of Republican obsession with vicious, stupid, unending trivialities, drop some money in ActBlue's buckets so a reasonable Democratic challenger can oust those fools. Even if it means giving money to Nobody at the moment.

The fact that many of these Republican representatives feel they can spin their wheels on a such a ridiculous non-issue must mean they believe their constituents wholly support them. That they are as yet unchallenged in '10 races may mean it's true.

We know Bill Posey's been singled out for special GOP assistance in getting re-elected. His seat isn't entirely safe. And for Pete's sake, there are two decent Democratic challengers who might have a chance in Orange County, California, and Tennessee.

So, let's celebrate President Obama's birthday with a little money-love to some of the reasonable, reality-based challengers who aren't hung up on a non-issue like the President's citizenship. Let's support the people who want to govern because they care about their communities more than pushing an imaginary smear that's a flat-out LIE. Donate at the ActBlue buttons provided; it's secure and fast.

And if Wingnuttians keep harping about this non-issue, let's keep giving til the blessed STFU happens.

Happy Birthday, President Obama. Enjoy the day with your family and friends.

UPDATED to add: Hey kids! You too can have a birth certificate that is "proof" (shaky, not exactly convincing or credible "proof") that you were born in Mombasa, Kenya, in 1961--just like a certain Barack Hussein Obama! Knock yourselves out. For best results, print on wrinkly colored paper. Make and send to your 1,482 closest Facebook friends!

Cynematic writes at P i l l o w b o o k.

Comments

[Gunfighter]

I heart you, Cyn.

[Jennifer]

First of all, I love, love, love the word "whackadoo" and heretofore vow to use it whenever warranted.

Secondly, (and I'm sure I've said this many times before) what the hell is up with Texas? SIX of the eleven whackadoodles (oooh, made my own variation!) are from the Lone Star State.

Third...thanks for the information!

[Landy]

I really wish that people would drop this subject. I mean, Obama is our president! I can't understand why that group of people don't believe he is a citizen of America.
Anyway, Happy 48th Birthday President Obama!!!
http://yovia.com/blogs/lgrenville/2009/08/04/the-44th-president-turn-48-happy-birthday-obama/

[What was done]

Happy birthday!
The age of 48 was good to American presidents:
http://www.whatwasdone.com/Age.php?&Age=48