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
- These 5 states will be the first to kick residents off Medicaid starting in April
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Inside the long and winding road to Trump's historic indictment
- Listen: After negotiating a peace deal, Jimmy Carter taught this Bible class
- Abortion foes take aim at ballot initiatives in next phase of post-Dobbs political fights
- Untitled
We should now demand to see Donald Trump original birth certificate.
Ok Trump, you satisfied now? Now shaddup and go back to running one of your casinos into the ground.
It's hilarious that the GOP cannot get their collective act together because of issues like this. There really needs to be a serious conversation within the Republican Party about fielding a serious candidate. I know that they are out there, so why can't they come up with one. Romney is unelectable due to being a Mormom and from the North East, Huckabee, well, we'll just say he's a bit too Baptist for some, and the rest of the pack, Palin, Trump, Bachman, et al are just too extreme for the more sensible voters. Although I believe that President Obama has really shown himself to be a centrist leader and I like him, I do have some issues with his administration. So, if the GOP wants the independent voters, please come up with a centrist candidate that will deal with real issues.
Now Trump can shut-up and I guess this puts him out of the race since it was the only thing he was campaigning on. That leaves, well no one, to run against him. This is over before it even started.
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. A VAGUE clause....that tells me enough about the person/persons at CNN. That's all I need to know when reading this kind of inept reporting.
I bet this still won't satisfy the naysayers.
"Who cares if the President was born in the US..."????????? ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!! We should ALL care! He should have done this from day 1!!!!!
Thank you, Donald Trump!!!!!! You forced the issue successfully! Now, where are the school records, and why has obama used a Conn. SS number?
Frankly I think the WH made a mistake cataring to the ridiculous 'birthers' out there. This won't satisfy them, they'll just say it's faked and merely serves to keep the issue alive. Ignore them utterly, it's what you do with crazies.
@Az. What exactly was the issue with McCain's certificate. He was born at a U.S. military installation, which is still legally a U.S. citizen. The "birther" issue on both sides of this is just ridiculous.
hope the birther's can get on with some really important business for our country now..they are nut-jobs though..so not much hope...
It took them guys so long to produce this "birth certificate" it is obliviously a FAKE!! He was born in Africa, just LOOK at him!
Trump gets results, how long have people been asking for this, and he ask and its finally released, now that shows power
Sarah, there ARE so many things going on...and you say people are ignorant?
It looks like the :Donald" has been "Trumpt-ed"
Uh, I care if he was born in the US. If not, then he shouldn't be president!
I'm not a birther, but for you to say that it doesn't matter is just ridiculous.
@Sarah, Of course Obama was born in the U.S., but how can you say "who cares?" If any of the birther claims were true, it would be wholescale fraud, invalidating his entire presidency – undoing every bill he has signed or every order and appointment he has made. Bogus though they be, the claims were quite serious.
Hey ignorant republicans, heres mud in your eye
McCain was born in Panama. No one had an issue with that because he was born to american parents. Wouldn't the same argument apply to Obama. It is all about race. This country is going backwards while others like China are taking over.
He was born in France.
@Sarah "Who cares if the President was born in the US" - ask the framers that question. It matters that a president swear his allegiance to only this flag. Not being a citizen of this country opens the potential for outside influence or improper dealings with other countries as the person's allegiance would lie elsewhere.
sarah, nothing is more important than where the president was born.
I have watch this controvesy with quite a bit of interest. I recently had to get a copy of my birth certificate from California, on it was the same heading as Obama's, therefore I must not have been born in the U.S. either.... Silly people...
It's a forgery.
He could have resolved this matter months ago. He refused to.
I cared. Because if he wasn't then there would be more sinister corruption going on.