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Anti-Obama Fringe to Descend Upon Supreme Court Tomorrow

December 04, 2008 5:32 PM

The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court will tomorrow discuss whether or not it should take up the case of Leo C. Donofrio, Applicant, v. Nina Mitchell Wells, New Jersey Secretary of State, a case that challenges the citizenship of President-elect Obama.

After the Justices meet -- and assuredly decline to hear the matter -- the anti-Obama activists supporting the case will hold a vigil near the steps of the highest Court in the land.

The theory -- which is without evidence -- is that Mr. Obama's birth certificate is faked, and that he was not born in Hawaii but rather Kenya, making him ineligible for the presidency. (Or, alternately, that the birth certificate proves only that Mr. Obama was born at some point, not that he was born in Hawaii.)

The Obama campaign says that's nonsense, that he was born in Hawaii, has a birth certificate, and is a natural born U.S. citizen. Period.

As Hawaii's Pacific Business News reported in October: "The director of Hawaii’s Department of Health confirmed on Friday what Barack Obama has been saying all along: the presidential candidate was born in Honolulu. 'There have been numerous requests for Sen. Barack Hussein Obama’s official birth certificate,' said Chiyome Fukino. 'State law prohibits the release of a certified birth certificate to persons who do not have a tangible interest in the vital record.' Citing her statutory authority to oversee and maintain Hawaii’s vital records, Fukino said she has 'personally seen and verified that the Hawaii State Department of Health has Sen. Obama’s original birth certificate on record in accordance with state policies and procedures. No state official, including Gov. Linda Lingle, has ever instructed that this vital record be handled in a manner different from any other vital record in the possession of the State of Hawaii,' Fukino added."

As today's Chicago Tribune points out, Donofrio's case is just the most successful of many such cases that seek to somehow prove that Obama is not an American.

Among the other applicants: eccentric conservative commentator and erstwhile Obama Senate opponent Alan Keyes, Pennsylvania attorney Philip J. Berg (who also has interesting theories about how President Bush played a role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks), an anti-Semite -- and assorted other interesting characters.

Oyez, oyez.

- jpt

December 4, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (252)

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Re: "If Obama would authorize the release of his birth certificate from Hawaii, this issue wouldn't exist. But he keeps refusing. And spent over half a million dollars in legal fees to avoid doing that. Not to mention taxpayer money on the courts.

It's kind of fishy, no? Why won't he release it?"

As you know, Obama has released his Certification of Live Birth, which states that he was born in Hawaii.

What you do not know is that the government of Hawaii will release ONLY the Certification of Live Birth.

I have been in e-mail correspondence with the Department of Health of Hawaii, which says that it is the only department that issues birth documents, and it only releases the computer-generated, laser-printed form that we know as the Certification of Live Birth.

Here is what the Department of Health says:

Quotes

It is possible that we have records with more information but we issue only certified computer-generated certificates with certain necessary information to confirm a birth. We are the only agency that issues certified birth records for Hawaii
Aloha,
(Name removed)
End Quote

So to keep crying "why doesn't he authorize" when he cannot show anything more than the COLB is irrational.

Please stop.

Posted by: smrstrauss | Dec 10, 2008 2:21:56 PM

Re: If Obama would authorize the release of his birth certificate from Hawaii, this issue wouldn't exist. But he keeps refusing. And spent over half a million dollars in legal fees to avoid doing that. Not to mention taxpayer money on the courts.

It's kind of fishy, no? Why won't he release it?

As I am sure you know, he has released his certification of live birth, which says that he was born in Honolulu, Oahu, Honolulu.

What you may not know is that the certification of live birth is all that the government of Hawaii will release. That is their policy. I have been in e-mail correspondence with the Department of Health of Hawaii, and that is what they say.

Here's what they say:

Quotes

It is possible that we have records with more information but we issue only certified computer-generated certificates with certain necessary information to confirm a birth. We are the only agency that issues certified birth records for Hawaii
Aloha,
(name removed)
End quote


So, obviously, Obama cannot authorize the release of anything other than the certification of live birth, which he has already posted.


Posted by: smrstrauss | Dec 10, 2008 1:16:20 PM

Re: "If Obama would authorize the release of his birth certificate from Hawaii, this issue wouldn't exist. But he keeps refusing. And spent over half a million dollars in legal fees to avoid doing that. Not to mention taxpayer money on the courts.

It's kind of fishy, no? Why won't he release it?"

He HAS released it. The State of Hawaii issues only one birth document, the certification of live birth, which is what Obama placed on line and showed to FactCheck and PoliFact.

That's the only birth document issued these days. Hawaii does not issue original birth certificates. It only issues the COLB, which is a modern, laser-printed document certifying that there is evidence that Obama was born at the time and place stated.

If you say, "I have read on other blogs that you can get a document other than the certification of live birth," then they are simply wrong. I have been in e-mail communication with the DOH of Hawaii, and they say that they issue only the COLB.

Posted by: smrstrauss | Dec 9, 2008 8:40:31 PM

Re: "Obama's sister, born in Indonesia, also has such a document."

Yes she has a Hawaii certification of live birth. No, she does not have a Hawaii certification of live birth that says "born in Hawaii." Her Hawaii certification of live birth says "born in Indonesia" or whatever city in Indonesia, etc.

Posted by: smrstrauss | Dec 9, 2008 5:39:02 PM

Re: "Furthermore, Hawaii law, at the time of Obama’s birth, allowed for children born in another state or on a foreign country to be registered as born in Hawaii."

NO. This is not true. Hawaii law at the time, and still, allows the children of residents of Hawaii to be given a Hawaii birth document even if they were not born in Hawaii. BUT that birth document cannot say "born in Hawaii" if they were not born in Hawaii.

They would receive a Hawaii birth document (a certification of live birth), which would list the name, the time of birth, the parents, etc, and then when there is a line: "Location of birth" it must fill in that information accurately and not lie and claim that the person was born in Hawaii if she or he wasn't.

In Obama's case that would result in a Colb (certification of live birth) that said "born in Kenya." But we know that Obama's COLB says "born in Hawaii."

Posted by: smrstrauss | Dec 9, 2008 5:36:34 PM

Re:"Since Obama's father was a British citizen at the time of his birth, Barack Obama cannot take the Oath of Office to become President of the United States because he is NOT a "natural born" U.S. Citizen."

THAT statement is precisely what the US Supreme Court threw out in the Donofrio Case. Since they threw out that case, there is no way of proving whether this assertion is legally true.

More than likely, however, when the Supreme Court threw out the case, it did so because the justices believed the old definition of natural born citizen, which is simply someone who is born in the USA.

So, for you to prove that he is not a natural born citizen, you must simply prove that he was not born in the USA. But since the documentary evidence is that he WAS born in the USA, this will be difficult.

Posted by: smrstrauss | Dec 9, 2008 5:30:34 PM

Ryan C, you wrote:

“Erika talks of facts and then cites World Nut Daily.”

I’ve been reading WorldNetDaily for years now, and it’s not perfect, but it’s still an excellent news source and in my opinion altogether more credible than the liberal establishment media (which has its own flaws). I check its facts, like I check those on every other site, including of the big news media, but I’m even more careful of WND because it is a small site going against the grain in the news business (being Christian and conservative). And its stories have checked out over and over again. It reports on stories big and small that the liberal establishment media doesn’t cover, as well as stories from here and abroad that make local news but that our national media ignore or are censoring. People can put WorldNetDaily to their own test, though. They can read it for awhile and see whether or not they hear about a lot of things they probably wouldn’t have otherwise, and whether or not those stories are credible.

Posted by: Erika | Dec 8, 2008 9:50:10 PM

This is the worst miscarriage of justice since I lost the 3rd Grade class treasurer election to a known member of the Bavarian Illuminati. And no sooner does that happen then my plan to replace fluoridated tap water with bottled gets axed. Coincidence? I think NOT. [Sarcasm Folks]

People who would believe such specious, improbable nonsense are not only gullible and naïve, but so desperate to find something against the person they fear and hate, that they make fools of themselves publicizing a fantasy about the secret, mysterious danger that person represents.

Posted by: Morris | Dec 8, 2008 5:36:09 PM

For what it is worth, today the Supreme Court threw out the Donofrio Case. The Berg Case is still pending, but the issue in that case is still whether Berg has standing to sue.

IF Berg were to win on the issue of his being able to sue, the case would go back to the original court that heard the case to determine the facts. That could take months.

Posted by: smrstrauss | Dec 8, 2008 4:56:09 PM

Erika talks of facts and then cites World Nut Daily.

ROFLMAO.

Posted by: Ryan C | Dec 8, 2008 3:52:41 PM

He looks like an American, sounds like an American -- even seems to think like an American...doubt he's a Brit or Muslim..or a space alien!

Let's go ahead and let him be President..I think it'll be O.K.

Posted by: 818 | Dec 8, 2008 3:49:03 PM

In case anyone missed the news


Supreme Court Declines to Hear Obama Nationality Case
By Robert Barnes
Washington Post


The Supreme Court this morning unceremoniously declined to hear an emergency appeal from a man who claimed President-elect Barack Obama is not qualified for the presidency because he is not a "natural-born" citizen.

The court without comment declined to hear "Donofrio v. Wells," a suit that had attempted to keep Obama off the New Jersey ballot. Leo Donofrio of East Brunswick had claimed Obama had dual nationality at birth, because of his Kansas-born mother and his Kenyan-born father, who was a British subject at the time.

Just to be nonpartisan about it, Donofrio also contended that Republican Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and Socialist Workers candidate Roger Calero also were not natural-born citizens and should have been kept off the ballot.

End Quote

Posted by: smrstrauss | Dec 8, 2008 3:47:22 PM

Its clear that OBAMA WAS BORN IN KENYA.
Hawaii officials have just 'verified' they have never stated 'he was born in hawaii'. Look at it this way: if he was born in Hawaii he would immediately release an authentic long form online, not this pathetic forged short form. There is NO advantage for Obama camp to have negative rumors going around, but there is simply no document, or should i say it says something embarassing that would cost him the presidency...

Posted by: Eds | Dec 8, 2008 3:23:03 PM

richCares,

This is a very complex issue, with loads of facts and legal details. For example, all the fine point on birth certificates. And wherever this issue gets discussed, it seems both sides often discuss at least some of them mistakenly or questionably. Sorting all of it out is what judges, lawyers, elected and unelected officials, and journalists are for. However, there are enough questions here to warrant the issue being raised and pursued. The American people have a right to “vet” their President. If everything else was the same but the President-elect were a Republican instead, what would you say then? Obama has never released his birth certificate. He has merely over time claimed to release an official copy to a handful of different groups - DailyKos, Factcheck, Politifact and his own Fightthesmears. And then, right before the election, Hawaiian officials vouched for him. But it’s plain as day that he just will not put that birth certificate out there freely and openly. His defenders can say whatever they want on this issue, but that’s the case. Each time he’s made one of these moves, the issue’s always been declared “over.” Yet it has only grown and moved from the “fringe,” which is anything the media doesn’t cover, rightly or wrongly, into the mainstream. And a large part of the problem is verification. I’m sure you learned as we all did in school that Presidents need to be natural-born citizens. Do you happen to know how it’s verified that candidates meet all the qualifications for office? What’s the official process is and who’s in charge of it? Well, before this issue was raised I never recall hearing anything about it, but like most people, I imagined that there was an official process for it. So far during this controversy all I’ve heard is this: “…the only documentation currently required is a signed statement from the candidate attesting to those qualifications,” (“'Constitutional crisis' looming over Obama's birth location,” WorldNetDaily). I’ve also read that it’s up to the members of the Electoral College to make sure the candidate meets all the qualification, but doesn’t that seem quite late in the process, coming after the popular election? Doesn’t all this beg for some laws that make sure that candidates have to do more than just claim they meet all the qualifications, if that’s indeed the case today?

Posted by: Erika | Dec 8, 2008 2:40:08 PM

08A407 DONOFRIO, LEO C. V. WELLS, NJ SEC. OF STATE
The application for stay addressed to Justice Thomas and
referred to the Court is denied.

what now dear dummies, what will you say Supreme Court in on the scam?

Posted by: richCares | Dec 8, 2008 10:29:00 AM

3. At the time of Obama's birth, his Kenyan father was a British citizen. According to U.S. Law, BOTH parents of a person have to be U.S. Citizens at the time of the person's birth in order for that person to be considered a "natural born" U.S. Citizen.

Wrong. "natural born" is not defined in law,or in the Constitution. I have yet to see any evidence that both parents need to be citizens, at least not if the child is born in the U.S. The evidence that Obama was born here far outweighs any allegations to the contrary.

Posted by: Roselani | Dec 7, 2008 11:51:11 PM

"I was born in 1962 and I have certified copies of my birth certificate. My certificate looks NOTHING like that forgery that Obama has posted on his website and other sites."

my daughter born in Hawaii 1965 and needing a passport recently requested and received birth certificate from Hawaii, it looks exactly the same. Hawaii will only send a form listing data from vital records, they will not send a "vault" copy to any one, including Obama, you are an idiot. Why don’t you file charges against Hawaii for that fake BC , or charges against US State Dept for issuing passport, or charges against those Hawaii newspaper that used time machines to print Obama’s birth announcement in 1961. Write to Gen Jim Jones as he swore allegiance to Obama and America as did Gates, or file charges against Bush for aiding the transition or complain about those 48 Governors that gave Obama a standing ovation. why don't you post all of your data on line dummy.

the largest audience in History will view Obama's inauguration. A millionaire, Earl W. Stafford, from our neck of the woods rented an entire hotel and is donating 300 rooms to average people free so they can participate in this historic event. With that kind of enthusiasm do you think the “born in Kenya” haters have any chance at all in effecting the outcome? Your anti-America rants are a waste of time.

Posted by: richCares | Dec 7, 2008 4:06:30 PM

STILL WAITING for someone to supply that Hawaii statute, regulation, etc. that allows a foreign-born child's COLB to show him/her as being born in Hawaii.

Posted by: AzAttorney | Dec 7, 2008 1:33:58 PM


I was born in 1962 and I have certified copies of my birth certificate. My certificate looks NOTHING like that forgery that Obama has posted on his website and other sites.

Where is the following information?
1.Registration District No?
2.Registered No?
3.Child's birth No?
4.Mother's place of birth
5. Father's place of birth
6. Father's occupation
7.Doctor's name
8. Doctor's signature
9. Doctor's place of work
10. Doctor's license number
11. State he is licensed in?

Posted by: frank | Dec 7, 2008 11:46:13 AM

This whole deal with both the GOP and the Dems putting up ineligible candidates shows what a joke the two major parties have become. Obama supporters can swing away at the Berg lawsuit and its Search for the Holy Grail with that Birth Certificate, but Leo Donofrio's lawsuit calls it like it is against both major parties. They allowed ineligible people to be nominated and that's the truth. McCain wasn't born in a military hospital in Panama because it wasn't built yet. He produced his birth certificate and it shows the Colon hospital. Panamanian law back in 1936 said that anyone born on Panamanian soil became a "citizen of Panama" at birth.

McCain's status was never fixed by that Senate Resolution that Obama and Hillary co-sponsored -- S.511. Look it up. The Senate is a big Rich Folks Club that looks out for their own, and they aren't supposed to interpret laws that they had no hand in passing. Like the Constitution. But that's exactly what they did with that McCain Resolution and it's not worth the paper it's printed on because it's just a "sense of the Senate" -- and if the Millionaires Club of Senators had any sense, we wouldn't be going down the tubes with the economy and deficit spending.

Obama is going to bring about the Clinton Third Term with the people he's appointing. So much for CHANGE. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss, as the song goes. McCain wouldn't have been any different. They both voted for the bailout and sucker-punched every average guy taxpayer so that the Wall Street crowd and elite executives could be saved from their own failures. Oh yeah, and let's not forget that rich Saudi prince who owns a big stake in Citigroup. And let's not forget what the banks are doing with the money they got. PNC used their billions in bailout to run out and buy up another bank in Cleveland, instead of loaning it out to unfreeze the credit markets.

Posted by: NJ Citizen | Dec 6, 2008 11:05:43 PM

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