Washington (CNN) - The so-called "birther" controversy championed by Donald Trump may have been largely put to rest this week with the release President Barack Obama's long-form birth certificate, but the real estate mogul's name remained on the tips of Washington tongues Sunday.
Former White House adviser David Axelrod criticized the media's continued trumpeting of the story, while conservative Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina seemed to dismiss Trump's 2012 presidential ambitions.
Axelrod said it was the media, not Trump, that chose to run with the "birther" story and that the ultimate release of the birth certificate was a message to journalists and "anybody else."
"Donald Trump didn't make the decision to put himself on a split screen" with Obama, Axelrod said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." "Donald Trump didn't make the decision to cover this over and over and over again."
When Obama released the document Wednesday, he chided the press for its coverage of the movement instead of America's economic obstacles, saying "we do not have time for this kind of silliness."
Referencing Trump's statements taking credit for the release, Axelrod joked that the reality TV star "needs that little ego boost."
"I'm happy that we could contribute to Mr. Trump's self-image, that he feels good about himself," Axelrod said of the famously confident entrepreneur.
Former GOP 2008 presidential candidate McCain said Obama will not succeed in making Trump the face of the Republican Party, adding there are "serious candidates" in the race for the White House in 2012.
"Mr. Trump is having a lot of fun and it's pretty clear he enjoys the limelight," McCain said on CBS' "Face the Nation," adding: "All of this is so unnecessary."
Graham was particularly critical of Trump's profanity-laced speech Thursday in Las Vegas, Nevada, saying that rhetoric is not the way to win over South Carolina voters.
"Most Americans don't want their president going around saying the 'f-word,'" Graham said on "Fox News Sunday." "There's a lot of things Mr. Trump can be proud of, but some of his rhetoric and this focusing on the president's birth, I do not think is the way for us to win the White House."
why not hang the years of misery around the neck of obama, he has put a noose on the American people, so lets put the noose of misery on him and let him wear it in pride so we can distinguish the true economy destroyer with the what misery hangs around his neck, No Civility to obama, he wants to roll in the mud, I say lets play. Look at his tanning tax and tell me he isnt a racist towards whites.
Trump's ego like many of his ex-businesses went bankrupt at the Correspondents' Dinner in DC. If this is the best the Teapublicans have to offer, it'll be a shoe-in for Obama in 2012.
He's the talk of the town and also the butt of a lot of jokes. Jokes? They sounded like nothing to laugh at because they were true. This man has gone bankrupt three times and is now telling Obama and others how to run the government when he can't run his own life or businesses?
So Washington's abuzz with Donald Trump? Makes sense. We have a new phenomenon to add to Truthers and Birthers; it's called "Trumpers", and it's about a group of small-minded, self-important people talking about bloated, useless red herrings instead of discussing pertinent issues. Yet another day in the U.S.A.
Trump is what America needs right now, he is a fantastic negotiator and deal maker! The Republicans do not have anyone that can beat Obama so they better start helping Trump to get elected.
This woman has falling under the spell of the "Donald." Sorry Obama, your charisma has faded for me.
Actually, I think Trump the chump, should be the GOP nominee, he embodies everything thing they hold dear!
Now the GOP thugs come crawling out of the wood works to talk common sense! Where were they when the thump was having his birther moments? The GOP and the thump are jokes!
As a long time President Obama supporter with a family that knows Mr. Trump, I wish you would let the issue drop. We have a GOP that is taking over the state of Michigan. They dissolve local governments and school boards and put in their cronies. The take public beaches from the communities that they belong to to put a golf course on. They take away the rights of women ,the poor, the elderly and the middle class. This is happening all over the country and all you can talk about is Donald Trump. I agree with AX, let it go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
welfare trash is all obama promotes, so lets play, no with civility obama, put that yellow chicken stripe down obamas socialist back and hang the sign of misery around his neck, Its time for Americans that work to stand up to those welfare people obama promotes and tell them to get a job or STUFF IT.
Trump, despite his obvious faults, is perhaps the Republican candidate that has surfaced with the best chance of winning (at least until his public meltdowns recently).
To many Americans, The Republican candidates actually in the running have many serious flaws, and probably zero chance of winning a general election. Trump could probably have been a contender if he hadn't taken the birther train into its inevitable train crash.
Gosh! The Donald, you are annoying both parties and yourself as well. It is only your supporters who feel differently. I do not stop laughing reading this article. I get totally confused to realise which party The Donald really belong now!
Hey got one plus with Donald, he's the only repug that does t seemed to be bought by the oil companies, the crap he's saying though is just what it is, CRAP. But it's refreshing to see a repug not defending the oil companies for what they are doing with the American people. Obama you need to open up the oil reserves before your approval ratings goes down to 10. You know how reactionary these people are. And the repugs will guard their oil buddy friends and blame you for high prices.
I wish the media would quit giving Trump a platform. He's nothing but an attention seeking con artist.
The proper way to state it would be the joke of the town.
Everyone is trying soo hard to discourage Trump...only because if he runs, he will win. He's the business man & knows how to handle things professionally. He will yank the U.S.A. out of debt, and we will all prosper. He can do what many recent presidents have attempted!
The following is next week FOX news prime time agenda
The fact is many republicans like Donald Trump and they are extending their support to Trump
Trump is fighter till he win he won’t let it go like Sarah Palin
Trump and Palin know how to make money
Media asked stupid questions so Trump and Palin are victims of Lame stream media
Trump / Palin 2012 dream ticket
These sanctimonious media types really need to get over themselves – as if they have never said anything sour and derogatory against anyone of the opposite party. Your white gloved act is reprehensible and completely disengenous at the very least. If this is the best you can come up with as a complaint piece, you should find a different job to do since your idea of candidness is completely out of whack when it comes to writing about both sides of ther aisle.
These sanctimonious media types really need to get over themselves – as if they have never said anything sour and derogatory against anyone of the opposite party. Your white gloved act is reprehensible and completely disengenous at the very least. If this is the best you can come up with as a complaint piece, you should find a different job to do since your idea of candidness is completely out of whack when it comes to writing about both sides of ther aisle.
We don't need a Loud Mouth like Trump as our President.
Trump em up !!
Really McCain? Name one serious Republican candidate. This from the man who gave us Sarah Palin? He wouldn't know a serioujs candidate if he had to vet one himself.
It's pretty funny how GOBPbaggers like McCain and Graham can criticize an "outsider" like Trump yet totally ignore the institutional racism and ignorance within the party's mainstream institution and their propagandists like Fakes News.
I think a lot of the lies and other fiction that Trump has put out about the president is coming back to haunt him. The dinner last night showed that he IS a joke and he didn't care for it. Now people are looking at his draft record, his failures, and other personal things that at one time few really cared about. I think some of the jokes thrown at Trump yesterday by Myers, like the one about "the blacks" kind rang true and hit Trump hard. I thought the so called attack was justified after all he's done......he should be PROUD of it.