Fri 25 Sep, 2009
Where was President Obama born?
Comments (7) Filed under: PoliticsTags: Barack Obama, Islam, Racial prejudice
Here’s a disturbing statistic:
In the U.S., 58% of Republicans either believe that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States, or say that they aren’t sure.
This, despite the fact that President Obama has a U.S. birth certificate which has been verified by the Republican governor of the state in which he was born.
This, despite the fact that if the president’s U.S. birth certificate is a forgery, it must represent a massive, and utterly pointless, conspiracy going back to 1961, when newspapers in the city of his birth printed announcements of his (local) birth.
The real question, of course, is why are so many Americans inclined to believe this falsehood about their own president? This is, naturally, fuel to the fire for those who believe that much of the vehement opposition to President Obama is based on his race.
There may be explanations, at least in many cases, which aren’t based on race. At a minimum, however, it seems to me that this meme couldn’t possibly hold such attraction, and be so convincing despite the overwhelming weight of the evidence, unless there were a powerful sense among many Americans that President Obama is, somehow, un-American.
What makes Obama seem un-American, in ways which other presidents have not? Is it simply the suspicion that he could be of foreign birth? That seems unlikely, since that would be circular reasoning. Is it because his father wasn’t American? That’s hardly unusual in American presidents. Having an unusual name is perhaps less common in our chief executives, but that hardly seems sufficient. Is it because Obama has Muslim roots on his father’s side? Perhaps the suspicion that he is secretly a Muslim himself? In that case, why wouldn’t attention focus more on his Muslim connections, rather than the hopeless quest to show that he is of foreign birth?
In light of the lack of other explanations, it seems plausible to me to argue that Obama’s race may be disturbing to many Americans, and that their inability to articulate this feeling leads to nonsensical arguments about matters which can at least be spoken aloud. I think it would be wrong, however, to assume anything about how important a factor this is. It seems likely to me that several factors, including discomfort with race, religion, and foreign ties, may all play a role here.
inbrooklyn says:
James, you have one factual error in your piece. Mr. Obama does NOT have a ‘birth certificate’, at least as seen in most other states. No hospital is named and there is no signature. Ignoring the fact that a Certificate of Live Birth is indeed an acceptable legal document in a court of law, this is how the right wing leadership has stoked the coals of misunderstanding, division, fear and hatred. They can ‘legitimately’ point out those missing items, and the fact that it is not called a ‘Birth Certificate’, and claim none exists, conveniently omitting that it is an acceptable legal document. Even somewhat honorable Republican leaders have used this ploy. It is disgraceful! And, yes, it is based on race, as they know saying this will rile up those who are racist.
James says:
Thanks for commenting, inbrooklyn. I think you raise an important issue, and capture the spirit of this debate perfectly, even though I’m going to differ with you on one critical point.
President Obama does have a birth certificate, in the standard format issued by the state in which he was born. The fact that birth certificates vary in content from state to state, and that their titles vary slightly (“certificate of birth,” “certification of live birth,” etc.) does not change the fact that he has a birth certificate.
You raise a very important point, though: those who refuse to believe that their president was born in this country have, indeed, seized on the differences among birth certificates in the various states to try to make their case.
However, this is nothing more than ignorance on their part. There is nothing “legitimate” about pointing to a valid U.S. birth certificate, which proves a person’s birth as well as any other, and arguing that it can’t be valid because it doesn’t look exactly like the birth certificates issued by some other state.
Now, it would be different if there were any question of Obama’s birth certificate being a forgery. But it can’t be. The State of Hawaii has confirmed, repeatedly, that what has been shown to the public is, in fact, the birth certificate issued by the state. This is, by definition, what makes a government document valid and not a forgery.
The situation would also be different if, despite the authenticity of the birth certificate, there were any reason to doubt that the information recorded on the birth certificate were true. However, there is no such reason. Indeed, it staggers the imagination even to discuss the difficulties involved if Obama were really born in Kenya … not to mention the improbability of such a conspiracy existing in 1961 or the utter pointlessness of such an exercise.
As I said at the end of the original post, I can’t say how much of a role is played here by racism, and how much by other factors. It’s striking to me, however, that so many of Obama’s detractors feel comfortable making these claims.
For instance, can you imagine if there had been an organized opposition to President George W. Bush, saying that he wasn’t legally the president because he was secretly born in France? That his Connecticut birth certificate was forged, because it doesn’t look quite like those of other states?
Such claims simply wouldn’t have resonated in this country, and wouldn’t have connected with any fears about Bush.
John McCain was not born in the U.S. and was not even born a U.S. citizen. This means that he was not constitutionally qualified to be president. Why did this not become an issue, and why did it not even resonate with any fears about Senator McCain? I think the answer has to lie somewhere within the mix of race, culture, and religion.
Self says:
Actually, Sir,
It is my understanding Mr. O has SEALED All his records.
What’s hidding?
Self says:
Mr. O is NOT working FOR the American people, as some of the voters put him in office to do.
James says:
“Self,” you’ve been misinformed: President Obama has not had his birth records sealed.
As to whether or not he’s working on behalf of the American people, all presidents have been accused of serving not the people they represent, but special interests of one sort or another. Whether you’re more inclined to believe this about the current president, or, say, his predecessor, says more about your own political leanings, I think, than it does about either chief executive.
Super5o says:
Well if u play Obama saying “yes we can” backwards he is saying thank u satin.So that said I can’t wait till 2012 to get a real pres in the white house.
Super5o says:
Thank you and GOD help us all!!!