White House releases Obama's birth certificate
(CNN) - President Obama released his original birth certificate Wednesday, saying the controversy surrounding the issue had become a "sideshow."
“We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We’ve got better stuff to do," said Obama.
The surprise release follows recent and sustained remarks by businessman Donald Trump, among others, that raised doubts as to whether the president was born in the United States.
“Over the last two and half years, I have watched with amusement. I have been puzzled with the degree with which this thing just kept going,” Obama told reporters Wednesday.
Responding to the development, Trump said, "I have accomplished something nobody else has accomplished."
"I want to look at it, but I hope it’s true," he told reporters in New Hampshire. "He should have done it a long time ago. I am really honored to have played such a big role in hopefully getting rid of this issue."
Earlier Wednesday, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said the debate has been "really bad for the Republican Party."
The so-called "birther" debate is "good politics" but "bad for the country," said Pfeiffer.
In an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper Monday, Trump repeated his doubts and said he had been told the certificate was "missing."
A new CNN investigation revealed earlier this week what most analysts have been saying since the "birther" controversy erupted during the 2008 presidential campaign: Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961.
While the president has made light of the controversy, the question remained political red meat for some of his critics. A recent CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll showed that nearly 75% of Americans believe Obama was definitely or probably born in the United States. More than four in 10 Republicans, however, believe he probably or definitely was not born in America.
See Obama's Certification of Live Birth
The U.S. Constitution says only "natural born" citizens can become president - a vague clause that some members of the birther movement contend disqualifies Obama because, they insist, he was born outside the United States.
Skeptics contend, among other things, that Obama was born in his father's home country of Kenya.
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I didn't really care about this issue – However I find it amusing it took the POTUS this long to make his birth certificate public.
Any president is going to be in a bad situation, get over it and realize that nobody is going to fix this country, it's just disgusting to think that Donald Trump is possibly thinking of even running for president. He's a hoax, Paris Hilton of the "adult world". With him in the competition it's just a game now. No real morals or ethics, just a petty game.
The official Birth Certificate will be released for public inspection just as soon as the ink dries!
Somehow I doubt it will placate the birthers. Call me crazy...
OH NO! Everybody run for your lives! There is a birth certificate on the loose!
They know that can't win on the issues so come up with something that has totally been discredit several times.... IF that is the best they have is to argue something as simple and stupid as that they need to lose and not run the country... We see what bush did....
What took you so long, Obuma? I don't need that excuse not to vote for you, Obuma. Any excuse will do, one trick pony... so long fairwell... Pack your bags and make plans for new schools for the girls.
Ah!! Almost had me...It's dated 4/25/2011!!!! Look at the bottom of the document...All this is is ANOTHER certificate of live birth, not the original!
95% of conservatives vote against their fiscal interest in the hope that Corporate America will someday make them rich. They are easily convinced and manipulated by the rich (Trump) into voting their way with crap like this. Wake up America, it's time to storm the Bastille. We greatly outnumber the wealthy if we could just get on the same page and vote our interest.
Awesome! Now put it to rest! This fool and his followers should be excoriated on the issues, not his BC.
UNBELIEVABLE!!!! WE ARE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE WORLD!!! PLEASE, let's move on. We all know that the birthers, repubs and tea baggers will still not be satisfied...and WHO CARES what they think. OBAMA 2012
What is meant by "natural born" anyway? If my parents are citizens of the United States and I am born in Great Britain that means that I am not a citizen? I am not "natural born" as far as our government is concerned? And yet, if an illegal enters the country and immediately gives birth, that child is a citizen and considered "natural born"? That makes not one lick of sense. To my mind, if you are born of citizens of the United States you are a United States citizen, and as such are eligible for president. The other option makes no sense.
"Seeing is believing, unless you are a Republican/Conservative/Tea Party Member."
All you've seen is a headline and that is enough for you sheeple. We still haven't seen anything tangable. All we have is Obama's word. We all know what that is worth.
We've now seen far more evidence of Obama's birth than we ever did of George Bush's military service.
Are you happy now. If not , look for something else to talk about. He is the President Of The United States. You can like it or not. If not, make sure you go out and Vote.
I hope the news media goes after the liar trump and makes it misserable for him. I think he owes the whole U. S. A. and apology.
Please remember that it was the HILLARY CLINTON campaign that started the birther movement.
The American far-right fascists are the world's dumbest people. They just never cease to amaze me with new idiocies.
I never understood why they wouldn't release this earlier; they were willing to release the other short form certificate during the campaign (in response to Hillary's inquiry) when they should have just shown this one.
Sarah, while I agree that this has been completely overblown you should care if the President of the United States was born in the U.S. considering it's one of the requirements outlined in the Constitution. I had no doubts Obama was born in the U.S. because I'm scared to think anyone, including the gigantic political machine that enabled Obama to be elected without almost no experience to be President, would have the audacity to subvert the Constitution.
Mr Trump has been Trumped!!!
i can understand why someone who KNOWS the truth abt the birth certificate would be a little smug. but without the release of it, i don't understand how one side of the issue can be so certian the other side is wrong, and their side is right when there is no proof either way. how could u have been so sure. to trust blindly the words of any politician is the sign of a fool. i trust none of the politicians R or D, and expect them to answer to us. not the other way around
The extrim right will find another issue and keep on making a full of themselves. What is next for Mr. Trump?
Where did they release it to? Into the wild? Plus even if there has something that has been released they have had years to phony it.
I'm torn about this decision. He shouldn't have to stoop to their level but most likely wants to try to end the distraction so we can focus on what's important in this Country. I sense it will still not satisfy the birthers.