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.
From CNN Politics
- Trump claims coronavirus is 'going to go away' despite mounting concerns February 25, 2020 02:35 pm
- Trump privately vents over coronavirus even as he publicly insists everything is fine February 25, 2020 02:32 pm
- Trump says 'I want no help from any country' in election February 25, 2020 12:53 pm
- Top takeaways from CNN's South Carolina town halls with Sanders, Buttigieg and Steyer February 25, 2020 07:17 am
- Sanders defends comments praising Castro's Cuba: 'The truth is the truth' February 25, 2020 05:35 am
- Analysis: The Sanders effect will touch every race on the 2020 ballot February 25, 2020 05:00 am
I am sad that he even gave into this crap and released it. Do people really think that they just let anyone become president
The very people that did not believe President Obama was a citizen, are the same people who does not believe in EDUCATION!
That's a certificate of live birth. Anyone and everyone can come up with a certificate of live birth. This has been known all along. What everyone was asking for was a copy of the original birth certificate.
I agree nothing will shot birthers up. They have been into facts denial from teh beginning. We have epople commenting here "where is it" and "let's see it" even though there is a copy posted on the front page.
this is the most waste of time when this country is having the most problems ever due to the past admin
Man! finally!
I'll never ever understand why it took so long. It took the hair piece – the Donald to bring it out.
I have no doubt where he was born. This is not the long form by the way. According to the COLB he cannot be president as his father is not a U.S. citizen.
doesn't change that he was still born a DUAL CITIZEN AT BIRTH. He admits that he owed allegiance to the British Monarchy at birth. There's nothing that can be done to change that one little fact. A natural born citizen cannot owe any allegiance to any foreign government at the time of birth. What is so hard about that concept?
I'm a Birther. I haven't seen it yet, but if he releases the birth certificate, and if its authentic. I'M DELIGHT that he's finally done the right thing.
So hilarious how everyone here is so liberal.. how odd? LOL How absolutely ridiculous that the President didnt release this asap and took this long to address an issue..,..... oh wait... thats right, thats how he does everything!!
A diversion from all of the misery this country is in.
President Obama, I offer you an apology on behalf of our fellow citizens. Racist thoughts and actions are cloaked in many forms. We have an obligation as citizens to call out those who need to learn new values and tolerant attitudes, ESPECIALLY those so called leaders capitalizing on bigoted ignorance while remaining silent.
What a Shame!! asking the President to show his Birth certificate...I wonder what others think about us now???
That is a certificate of birth, not a birth certificate. Big difference. Where are the footprints, doctor signature, etc. This is not valid enough to even get a drivers license in many states. Where is the birth certificate? While you are at it, how about releasing college transcripts so we can see some grades. G W Bush and other presidents revealed theirs. Did he ever take a course in economics? Would love to see those grades!!!
According to the information contained on this birth certificate, wouldn't that make Obama's FATHER the President? Since Pres Obama has never referred to himself as Barack Obama II?????
I think that the President's calculated witholding of the long form certificate was brilliant political theater. He allowed so many "birthers" to show their real face and in so doing expose themselves as hateful, paranoid obstructionists. Now it is time for these doubters to turn toward the REAL issues facing this nation and work with this President to get us back on track.
While I'm not a birther, I do find this 'release' fishy. Wasn't it first reported, prior to the election, that there was a fire in the hospital and the record was lost? Then, after the election, HI changed their laws re public inquiries into birth certificates. Then the Obama camp stated they could not obtain the original but had the short form. All of sudden, we're presented with this copy which, if you look at it for more than two seconds, shows different typewriter type and color variations around some words. Honestly, I thought the birthers were crazy but the more the certificate tune changes, the more I think conspiracists are onto something.
I'm sure this isn't good enough. They will still contend that he wasn't born in the U.S. You know why? Because they are all racists!!!!!
See, was that so hard?
Why we couldn't have done that two yeas ago is just beyond my ken...
What a stupid debate. Even if he was born in Kenya, his mother is American which makes him a citizen regardless and eligible for the presidency.
Hey why dont we stop airing stupid things there is people starving missing killed kids missing everything that is more important than this leave him alone hes already president just stop
Forgery! A 50 year old piece of paper doesnt look loke it was printed yesterday
Good, now we can FINALLY focus our attention on the president's lousy policies, divisive class warfare rhetoric, and feeble leadership skills. Thank goodness!
You are fired obama....worst president in history....
Just goes to show a communist can be born ANYWHERE!!