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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What was so hard about that? Why didn't he do this 3 years ago?
Good!
That takes the issue off the table, knocks the wind out of Trump's sails, and means that a solid Conservative (Bachmann?) can run against Obama on his RECORD.
Thanks, Mr. President!
so, where is it CNN? You are the reporters, where is it? We are just supposed to take your word for it?
Hopefully this will shut people up. I have my doubts though.
This is so ridiculous. But I guess they felt they had to do it. So be it.
Now Trump has to release his tax information. It's on now. Now we will see who is honest .
Still won't be good enough for the Birthers!! Wait and see what comes up next...!
Like we can trust that whatever suppositely certified document they put out is authentic!
Oh no, what will the fringe right make up next?
That's ridiculous...many people have called his birth location into question but its only when some one that gets regular media attention does it that we actually get to see it? As the people of this country we have a right to know his birth location and this should have been revealed long ago. I have to question the legitimacy of this document considering the manner in which it has finally come to light. I doubt very seriously it will matter because I doubt he'll be back for another term.
He capitulated. Not that I blame him - you have an annoying gnat buzzing near your ear long enough, you just want to *swat* it.
It's about time. Now everyone can put this issue to rest.
Wow, now that was brilliant wasn't it? Why wait till now to release the birth certificate? Obama should have released it during the campaing. Another perfect example of "un able to make decisions" promptly!
I wonder what Egomaniac Donald will say now? Hope he didn't spend too much money on those "investigators".
And where is the birth certificate?
You know its fake and a big conspiracy
What a shame. I was hoping he wouldn't release it, letting idiots like Trump make fools of themselves.
Good, now maybe all the idiot republicans will shut up about it. Eventhough I always believed that the President was always an American. Go Pres Obama finally shut those republicans up once and for all. You have my vote
Finally we can stop hearing about the birth certificate that doesn't even matter. Who cares if he is an "American". Not that there is such a thing anymore as this country was sold out to foreigner, international corporations long ago and I doubt the "American" people will ever get it back. So regardless if the president is a natural born citizen... sit down, shut up, forget about the life you thought you'd have and get back to work! We have stock holders in China to answer to!
Another PhotoShopped version.
And now we wait for Donald Trump to find some new way to take issue with it.. I'm not even sure why the Obama administration bothers with these people any more.
Hurray! Now, let's move on.
Ok, good. Can we please let this rest now. It's getting old.
Mr President. You have over spent $4,000,000,000,000 we need a distraction. Release your birth certificate and for the next ten days the media will go back and fourth with each side claiming authenticity and the other that is is falsified. That will give us enough time to slip another $500,000,000,000 through the cracks.
Prediction: the birthers won't accept it.