One of the inherent problems with America’s round-the-clock news cycle is that air time constantly needs to be filled—even when there’s a paucity of substantive issues to cover. Of course, there never is an actual shortage of important things on which to report, not in a world that boasts billions of people and a seemingly endless amount of conflict. But when the most pressing issues of the day lack the appeal that grabs ratings or readership, they’re likely to take a back seat to topics like celebrity gossip and political scandal.
And since America has hit the news cycle’s end-of-summer lull, a lot of different people with a lot of different agendas have a golden opportunity to get onto a cable news network or eke their way into a newspaper headline. So, which person or group has stepped up to the plate this summer to fill the void? The winners for 2009, ladies and gentlemen, are the conspiracy theorists who contend that President Obama is not an American citizen.
Conspiracy theories and their rabid proponents are nothing new. In fact, the summer of 2009 has also marked the 40th anniversary of the first human beings setting foot on the moon, an event that has also been marred by 40 years of skeptics questioning whether or not the Apollo 11 mission was authentic. And there are still those who speculate on the assassination of John F. Kennedy, think the military has covered up evidence of extraterrestrial life, and strongly believe that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, were perpetrated by the American government. That’s why it’s really no surprise that a new crop of fringe alarmists have emerged from the woodworks to challenge President Obama’s legitimacy.
But these “birthers” seem to be a different breed. They haven’t been swayed by any of the proffered evidence that proves Obama’s Hawaiian birth. They’re quite sure that Obama was born in Kenya or Indonesia and is consequently an illegitimate president. The only problem for the birthers is that their allegations of birth certificate forgery and obfuscation have been soundly rebuked. And in a sweet twist of irony, their de facto leader Orly Taitz appears to be the only one guilty of document forgery, circulating a spurious copy of Obama’s Kenyan birth certificate that was proven to be a nearly identical copy of an Australian certificate. Sadly, the birthers are only interested in the fact that a black man with a foreign-sounding name was born in the country’s most exotic state.
Orly Taitz in action on MSNBC:
Surprisingly, the thing that’s most ludicrous about the birthers is not their willful ignorance or their subtle racism. It’s their presumption that Obama is some sort of anti-American entity who has a grand, insidious scheme to singlehandedly destroy the country.
The birthers may not have explicitly expressed this fear, but it’s implied by their fox-in-the-henhouse mentality. Drawing the birthers’ logic to its natural conclusion, one deduces that a foreigner would usurp the presidency only to gain access to the nation’s inner sanctum and bring it down from the very top. This notion of Obama as an agent of subversion dovetails nicely with the other right-wing fear of Obama the “socialist” (a term that’s historically been interchangeable with “enemy”).
But if he has intentions of dismantling America like the birthers fear, doesn’t it stand to reason that he would have taken steps to do it already? Why would he have wasted his time helping the stock market rebound, escalating the war against terrorism in Afghanistan, and engendering more open diplomatic relations with other countries? These actions just don’t seem to fit with the game plan of an evil genius.
Naturally, citizens are welcomed to disagree with Obama’s six-month record. One can easily find fault with his stimulus plan or his desire to reform the healthcare system. But can anyone legitimately believe that he’s trying to eradicate the country? Can anyone seriously think that a man who has reaped some of the greatest benefits the country has to offer is now intending to obliterate the same America that has fostered his unique success? Of course not.
The news media should stop giving credence to such distracting tripe. The birthers have had their time in the spotlight and their accusations have been thoroughly debunked. Ultimately, Obama should be judged on his policies and their effectiveness, not some non-issue contrived by a small band of malcontents.
[Photo: AP Photo/Alex Brandon]
Comments
One of the best articles I have seen written. It is good to see a person who is actually able to 'research' the topic, and take time to make a good argument.
I enjoyed reading this well written opinion. As a rational and informed citizen I do not believe this President to have been foreign born, and do not believe him to be inherently evil. I do believe that he is a highly intelligent radical socialist ideologue who disingenuously ran for this office as a centrist. I am concerned that recent actions by his administration and the current Congress will in many ways weaken this nation and the free world. I have the utmost faith in "we the People” to correct conditions in the manner fitting for a civil society.
Thanks,
Tony C
Obama could take a lesson on lying from you. This article sits well with other uniformed or misinformed Obamatrons.
Shame on you!
It's pretty obvious MSNBC didn't have Orly on to hear her comments or what she had to say. They instead wanted to humiliate her with irrelevant questions. It was a total setup!!!!!!!!!!!
Typical of the MSM.
From: JB
To: Patrick Bellringer
" I have a background in Constitutional Law research ... Everyone claiming to have proof that he was born in Kenya doesn't realize that it doesn't matter where he was born.
The original Constitution signed by our founding fathers is not the one the present administration is using. Everyone reading your site should know by now that a PRIVATE CORPORATION was formed in 1871 in Washington D.C. for the purpose of carrying out the business functions of the government...
Everyone must understand that in bankruptcy, which our country is in, the laws of Commerce (UCC - Admiralty) prevail and become the SUPREME law of the land.
FROM: Patrick H. Bellringer
TO: J. B.
Thank you... You are quite correct in your thinking concerning our "Corporate" president.
Obama ran a fake election to fool the people, allowing the citizen debtors to vote, when in fact he was elected by the Corporation Board of Directors and stockholders...."
fourwinds10.com
SEVEN-DAY PAYMENT ULTIMATUM ISSUED TO WHITE HOUSE
MAIN BENEFICIARIES TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS AFTER FRIDAY
Wednesday 5 August 2009 02:00
MISPRISION OF FELONY: U.S. CODE, TITLE 18, PART 1, CHAPTER 1, SECTION 4:
‘Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not as soon as possible make known the same to some Judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both’.
worldreports.org/news/228_seven_day_payment_ultimatum_issued_to_white_house
"subtle" racism?!
The bitch on the right is very condescending asking snide, irrelvant question one after another to mock Taitz. The bias is very apparent. That is not professional journalism. At the end of the day, obama still has not shown his $10 original birth certificate with the hospital name and doctor/midwife that delivered him. let's face it, we've seem too many illegal aliens carry around real state driver license. What's new?
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