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.
Can you prove this is a pickle on my hamburger? It might look and taste like a pickle, but how can I be sure. Where is the cucumber this came from?
I'd have kept it in my coat pocket until just before the election.
This is simply another example of how minorities (blacks, latinos & women) ALWAYS have a HIGHER BAR to clear than white people in America. To suggest that ANY minority that climbs a leadership hierarchy in Government or Corporate America, has had an easier time than his white counter-part is LUNACY. It amazes me that some folks like to suggest that we live in a "post-racial" society. We do not.
This birther nonsense was structured to appeal to the base, race-related FEARS of older, whiter, Americans. [note, I didn't call them KKK-card carrying racists]. Fortunately, there are enough "enlightened" white people and a growing majority of non-white citizens that will drag the United States - kicking and screaming - into a multicultural 21st Century.
Someone better tell those people with race-based hangups to GET OVER IT. The days when WHITE MEANT RIGHT, are over. Favor will come to those that join a color-blind society, not to those that cling to outdated feelings of superiority.
Trump is such a fool.
This won't accomplish anything. The debate was never about his birthplace, these birthers question whether he even deserves to be an American. That's the real insult.
Since the Tea-Buggers and GOP went this far in examining Obama, I think all candidates should be subjected to the same scrutiny no matter what color they are. Makes you wonder if the TP's and GOP will have any candidates to qualified to even run for office? The heat is now on and the American people will be digging deeply into your past TP's and GOP, as they say watch what you wish for. Now on to the bigger question for the TP's and GOP...WHERE ARE THE JOBS? WHERE ARE THE JOBS? WHERE ARE THE JOBS? Leave Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security alone, RAISE the taxes on the RICH and "THE CORPORATIONS"...Again....WHERE ARE THE JOBS? enough of the foolishness about where President Obama was born, issue resolved. WHERE ARE THE JOBS? WHERE ARE THE JOBS? WHERE ARE THE JOBS?
Donald Trump is a joke. It's a disgrace that this had to get to this point...what other President has ever had to deal with such things? Pure racism and nothing more.
According to the birthers Hawaii is not in the USA. The rascists have forced a black man to concede to their request though unnecessary – that is their victory , I am sorry to say in 2011.
Goldwater Conservative not in support of the birthers.
I still think this whole "birther" issue was an excuse to label the President as "something" simply because he's black. Too politically incorrect for his opponents to use the "N" word in their public criticisms so something else had to take its' place.
May we see Gomer's transcripts now? NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why bother trying to placate the retards who keep saying he wasn't born in the US? All they're going to do now is say "It's fake". As Ron White always said, "You can't fix stupid".
Just what did you accomplish Mr. Trump; the achievement I see “is that man of wealth can make himself Not only look Foolish but Sound Foolish. Good job Trump!
It's amazing how many morons live in America. And the sad part is, they don't know they're morons, they think they are just like everyone else. hahaha
Anyone hear about the 9 Americans who were killed in Afghanistan today? Or that there is a new appointee for Secretary of Defense?
PROBABLY NOT, because republican morons, with literally zero concrete evidence, kept this rumor alive and held our country back from paying attention to what is important. This was AFTER he released a Hawaii Dept. of Health, US State department approved certificate of live birth, the document one can use to get a passport 2 YEARS AGO. But no, never good enough.
How does this look to other countries when 1/4 of Americans incorrectly and baselessly believe that our president isn't from here?
There are probably those out there who STILL don't believe the birth certificate. You all can be quiet now, no one wants to hear it anymore.
Just admit defeat. And thanks for wasting the presidents, congress's, and the American people's time.
Judith Curley for President.... 100's of thousands of people try to get Obama's Birth Certificate. Hillary Clinton tried in 2007, Trump tried in 2011, but one person Judith Curley writes a letter on Good Friday, and over the Easter weekend the Birth Certificate ends up at the White House.
It's about time this bum came clean. there needs to be a vetting committee of congress convened every 4 years to make sure the rules are followed in a judicious manner. This was no game; but from his rearks he kept it going when even regular citizens began to wonder.
This is such a DISRESPECTFUL RACIST action by donald trump.Why didn't he question his homey George sr. and little George's place of birth. BECAUSE THEY R WHITE! That's why. MY PRESIDENT IS A MAN WITH A LOT OF CLASS. CONSIDER THE FEELINGS OF HIS FAMILY. My family & God loves you Mr. President!!!!!!
If you look at the de-constructed document linked on Drudge, it is obvious they took a BC signed by a mother "Ann D...." and a deceased doctor, and modified it. I can't believe that they though such an amateur job would hold up.
Good stuff, this is all anyone wanted. I personally don't care where he was born, but if you've nothing to hide then release then it's a good idea to just release the damn birth certificate and he has done so. Let's move on now.
I guess I don't understand why, if Obama had this thing all along, why he didn't release it 2.5 years ago and deflate all the argument about it?
I just wonder what you all would say if your doctor refused to present documentation to qualify he or she for the job... "just take my word for it".... I highly doubt you would choose that person to take contol of your health, let alone your country. I am just wondering what he has done to deserve such trust and adoration.
I love you Obama
Why didn't Obama just do this in the first place? His arrogance perpetuated the problem.
Didnt the liberals do the same thing to Bush about his military records? How does it feel now Libs?
I never doubted the Presidency birthplace; however, because his mother was American, wouldn't he had still been American? If my child is born while I am on vacation outside of the United States, would my child become disqualified to become President?
The President didn't release the form, earlier, because – news flash! – it's NOBODY"S BUSINESS BUT HIS OWN!! If this country weren't still so chock full of ignorant racist hicks this *never* would have been an issue or, at the very least, someone would have been screaming to see John McCain's birth certificate, too, because HE WAS BORN IN PANAMA!! Last time I looked at a globe Panama IS NOT PART OF THE US, thus making *him* ineligible to run for the Presidency, too.