Washington – The new Republican House majority leader says he doesn’t think questions about President Barack Obama’s citizenship should play a role in the discussion of policy matters.
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Two years into the Obama administration, so-called birthers continue to argue that Obama isn’t a natural-born citizen and that he hasn’t proved he’s constitutionally qualified to be president. Birth records in Hawaii haven’t dissuaded them.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor says he believes Obama is a citizen and that most Americans are beyond that question.
“I don’t think it’s an issue that we need to address at all. . It is not an issue that even needs to be on the policy-making table right now whatsoever,” he said.
Appearing Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Cantor refused to call people who question Obama’s citizenship “crazy.”
“I don’t think it’s nice to call anyone crazy,” Cantor said
Cantor says he believes that Obama wants what’s best for the country and that there are honest disagreements over how to achieve that.
Birthers say there’s no proof he was born in the United States; many of these skeptics question whether he was actually born in Kenya, his father’s home country.
Hawaii’s health director said in 2008 and 2009 that she had seen and verified Obama’s original vital records, and birth notices in two Honolulu newspapers were published within days of Obama’s birth at Kapiolani Maternity and Gynecological Hospital in Honolulu.
Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo again confirmed on Friday that Obama’s name is found in its alphabetical list of names of people born in Hawaii, maintained in bound copies available for public view.
Hawaii’s Democratic governor, Neil Abercrombie, who was a friend of Obama’s parents and knew him as a child, began an effort last month to find a way to dispel conspiracy theories that the president was born elsewhere. The governor said he was bothered by people who questioned Obama’s birthplace for political reasons.
But Abercrombie’s office said Friday that he was ending his quest because it’s against state law to release private documents. The state’s attorney general told the governor he can’t disclose an individual’s birth documentation without a person’s consent.
The Obama campaign issued a certificate of live birth in 2008, an official document from the state showing the president’s birth date, city and name, along with his parents’ names and races.__
Why do we have to believe or not believe. The Hawaii Governor said he cannot give out ant personal information including the Obama Birth Certificate without permission.
So, Mr. President please give him permission to release your birth certificate and the issue will be ended. Why so much speculation? What do you have to fear, What are you hiding?
Why did I have to bring my “original” birth certificate to the Department of Motor Vehicle to get a “Non-drivers” License. But you can be president without one?
Non comprende?
Haven’t I seen a copy of the birth certificate on the internet already?
To #1 - If Hashem presented Obama’s original birth certificate to you, you still would question Obama’s citizenship!
The speaker of the house Boehner stated that President Obama is a U.S. citizen. Who are you to question the Republican Speaker of the House and what is it your business to view his original record
I think Mr Cantor is singing the wrong song.
Mr Obama is not above the law.
He released the birth certificate in June 2008. It contains more information than my own birth certificate from Pennsylvania that got me a passport. The Jewish Republican governor of Hawaii testified to its veracity.
Enough of this mishigas!
If Obama is a natural born citizen, then why not just prove it and release his ORIGINAL birth certificate. I can show my birth certificate, why can’t he?
All of you who responded till now are 100% totally wrong. The White House and the Hawaii Governor clearly said themselves that a birth certificate was never shown. They say they have no requirement to show it.
By making wise comments such as “even if Hashem showed it to you”, “Boehner says he believes him”, etc. Does not answer the comment # 1. Why doesn’t he want to release his birth certificate. When I walk into the DMV, I can’t say like Pres Nixon did “Trust Me”. He is hiding something. The question is what?
Even if theoretically he was born outside the U.S.A., it is a moot point. There is no way that it can be proved. If you disagree with his policies, then that should be what you attack. Attacking his viability to be president won’t accomplish anything.
To #8 -You wrote  220;to define natural born citizen-refer to the Constitution, it 217;s spelled out there in simple English 221;. I reviewed the entire U.S. Constitution, line by line.The only reference to natural born citizen is found in Article 2, Section 1, pertaining to the qualifications of the President. However, the term  220;natural born citizen 221; is definitely not defined in the U.S. Constitution. Kindly explain where you found the definition of the aforementoned term?
Dear Kalman 1. Why do I have to “prove he is not a citizen. The president should prove he is.
mr. cantor, you believe he was born in the US or you KNOW for a fact that he was bron in the US? big difference there…
Whether or not — at this point, people still arguing this look pretty foolish. Worse even — it makes US look foolish.
Now go do something productive.
After all the cute discussions – Question remains.
Mr. President where were you born? Show us your birth certificate. Simple.
[does he have to show us .No. Can he be forced to show us. No.
Why don’t you want to show us?? Yes?]
30 responses so far, and the tally is:
21 definitely paranoid
6 normal
3 not yet determined
Do you honestly believe the state of Hawaii or any other state, for that matter, has a paper archive of “original” birth certificates going back 50 years? Call the NYC office and ask for a copy of your “original” birth certificate and you’ll learn a few things. There’s no such thing as an original anymore!
And while America bickers the rest of the world looks on and laughs.
Regarding conspiracy theories and those touting them, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” comes to mind.
There are two living Republican ex-Presidents and two living Democrats ex-Presidents and none have voice doubts regarding President’s Obama citizenship status. The Speaker of House has on TV accepted his U.S. citienship. The President gets daily CIA briefings and has thwe authority to launch nuclear weapons. Here bright eyed and bushy tailed lumens of wisdom and fiermly believe in the uncertainty of the President’s citizenship status. You as good citizens have an obligation have an obligation to protect this country. I believe you publicly come out and file a claim or opublicy shut up. Maybe the ex-Presidents are camouflaged socialists.