Reader Email: Hey, Why Don't You Lay Off Obama and His Birth Certificate, Duke?

By Selwyn Duke

Many people think it's crazy that some Americans are questioning whether Barack Obama is a natural-born U.S. citizen.  For instance, ST writes:

Selwyn,

Why do you and people like you continue to suggest that the idea that Obama was born in Kenya might actually been true?  As you can plainly see in the link I have sent you, he was born in the U.S. The idea that he was born anywhere else has been debunked six ways to Sunday. 

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html

Dear ST,

I will answer your question.  There is a simple reason why I suggest that Obama might have been born in Kenya:

It may be true.

Great evidence to that effect has been uncovered, and I find it compelling because I'm fair and open-minded.  The question is, are you?  Let's find out.

First, it isn't just people like me who suspect that Obama is not a natural-born citizen.  In fact, the first one to file a lawsuit on this basis was Phillip J. Berg, a lifelong Democrat who no doubt would consider me a radical.  Second, the only thing I can plainly see in the link you provided is what is claimed by a website.

Now, let me be clear and reiterate that I don't know what Obama's status is one way or the other; however, the facts of the situation give me great pause.  Let's review them.

1. Maya Soetoro, Obama's half-sister, has named two different Hawaiian hospitals where the senator might have been born.

2. Obama's paternal grandmother, Sarah, claims to have witnessed his birth in Kenya.

3. Kenyan ambassador Peter Ogego said in a radio interview that Obama's birthplace in Kenya was "well-known." 

4. Obama refuses to release his college records, and it has been surmised that this is because they would show that he applied as a foreign student.

5. Obama attended school in Indonesia, and it is said that to do this he had to be a citizen of that nation.  Furthermore, it is said that since the country did not allow dual citizenship, Obama's mother must have had him relinquish his American citizenship.

6. Obama will not release his birth certificate to the relevant parties.

Now, ST, since I'm fair and open-minded, I'll be the first to say that there could be explanations for all these things.  Perhaps the Kenyan ambassador misunderstood the question and thought the interviewer was referring to Obama's father, maybe Obama's grandmother was just weaving a proud grandma's tale, maybe his half-sister was confused, and perhaps the other points don't amount to much, either.  But if you're also fair an open-minded, you'll have to admit that they at least raise suspicion. 

This suspicion is not allayed by the findings of a website such as FactCheck.org, which is funded by the Annenberg Foundation, an organization that had received a $3.5 million earmark from Obama.  This does not mean I completely dismiss what the site says; I will consider it along with the other evidence.  But I certainly won't take it as definitive and let it be the sole factor in my determination.

More importantly, a website is not the proper arbiter of such a legal matter -- a court is.  And any implication otherwise is preposterous.  After all, imagine the following scenario: You file suit against me, alleging that I have no legal right to occupy a position and request legal documentation proving my qualifications.  I then say, "Hey, what's the big deal?  This or that website -- WorldNetDaily.com, MichaelSavage.com, etc. -- has examined the documents and found them legitimate.  Why are you so hung-up?"  I think you'd look at me as if I'd taken leave of my senses.  Such things are hashed out in a court of law, not the court of Internet public opinion.

Now, the question is, should this go to court?  Is there enough evidence to bring an "indictment," so to speak?  Well, I think that upon considering the six points enumerated above, a fair and open-minded person would have to conclude that there is cause for investigation.  What say you?

Lastly, I must emphasize that what is most suspicious is Obama's behavior.  If he really has a legitimate birth certificate, why not just release it and put the issue to bed?  I would have done this a long time ago and then just stuck out my tongue at my accusers.  Why the secrecy?  What reason could he have for not taking this logical action?

I can think of one.

If the most he can provide is a forgery, then he would have committed the further crime of presenting fraudulent documents in a court of law.    

Of course, if you're an ideologue, this will mean nothing to you; for then the end will justify the means in your mind.  But I want to know the truth, and I will accept it whatever it may be.  Can you honestly say the same? 

            © 2008 Selwyn Duke -- All Rights Reserved

                     

Comments

[Ted]

“Dirty Pool” at the Supreme Court apparently on behalf of Obama currently usurping YOUR Constitution: Leo Donofrio’s companion case, brought by Cort Wrotnowski, with fuller/better briefing showing Obama is not an Article II “natural born citizen” reportedly has been sidetracked to the anthrax lab to deprive the full Court from seeing those filings in connection with Donofrio’s case this Friday, Dec 5, 2008. DO SOMETHING AMERICA!!!

[Criscraftid]

What can we do in case of the Supreme Court not hearing oral arguments on this matter. Ted says we (America) needs to do something. Without a high powered attorney and millions of dollars the Office of President has been stolen by a poor African Country allegedly at this point. I too agree with Mr. Duke. Lets see the proof and I can live with the outcome.

[Richard Sweats]

The truly sad part is that we will NEVER know the truth. the Government is so corrupt that it will GLADLY create a fraudulent document and tell the court to accept it as real.

Americans have become so lazy and greedy that they are all willing to turn a blind eye to make an extra buck.

Well that ideal is finally coming home to roost and yet most American's are willing to just let the (still greedy) politicians guard the hen house unhindered. What happened to TRUE American ideals that required sweat and pride??

[Walt]

This might at least make you feel better. Sign the petition.

www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=81865

[Kster]

Here is someone who is alo suing him and lets hope its stands.
http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/11/16/alan-keyes-files-lawsuit-over-obama-eligibility/

Alan Keyes ran against Obama and he should have the standing the courts keep dismissing because of it.
Hammer the main stream media and find out where the voice on this one is. Hannity, Limbaugh, Ingram, Colter? Where are they? Being tied by the Fairness Doctrine scares?

[HC]

Time to stop wasting votes on unprincipled weak-kneed republicans and line up behind a brilliant man like ALAN KEYES. He's a genuine admirer of Lincoln with flashes of greatness just like Lincoln - unlike that fraudulent charlatan from Chicago that won't even produce his birth certificate or college records. Its sacrilegious to compare the 2 yet this is exactly what the disgraceful shill media will do in 2 months during Lincoln's bicentennial bday. ALAN KEYES FOR PRESIDENT!

[TRUTH]

Hey Duke...
Let's see your birth certificate and college records. Don't want to produce them? Why? Because you don't have to? Neither does Obama. Come on, post your bona fides anyway. You're a public figure on some level.

[Xander]

Truth: One of the very few requirements to become president of the United States is that one is a natural-born citizen (United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 1). A birth certificate is obviously the most simple way to verify whether this criterion has been met, rather than relying on potentially false verbal testimony by those with a vested interest in seeing Obama become president. There is no such Constitutional requirement for one to become a blogger/journalist.

It's really not that hard to understand...

[Martin]

TRUTH, yeah that was a pretty dumb comment. You don't have to like Duke to understand reality. There's nothing telling us that he doesn't have a legal right to have his position. There is something telling us that about Obama. Get it?

[Conner]

Did Selwyn go to college?

[TRUTH]

Martin, Xander:
Thanks! You guys are so smart. I could learn from you, really.

[Gettinolder]

Truth.

Ideologue.

.

[TRUTH]

Gettinolder:

Assuming you know the meaning of "Ideologue," just what ideology would that be?

[Ira]

You guys really think you can "swift boat" Obama? The Muslim stuff didn't work. So now he's from Kenya. That bit is apparently not going to "float the boat" (excuse the pun) either. But, I'll give credit where credit is do; you guys never quit. So say your prayers and come up with something good. I can't wait to see what will be next.

(To save effort, I'll stipulate that I've drunk the Kool-Aid, that I get all my information from the shill media and that all of you budding Brownshirts are much smarter than me.)

[HC]

What do you mean "you guys"? Didn't you know that the birth certificate suit was filed by a lifetime democrat from PA? There are serious questions to be answered and just dismissing them offhand or responding inconsistently only makes the situation look more suspicious. Obviously there are still some democrats out there who put their country first before blind party loyalty.Seems like you could use a kool-aid intervention from someone who loves you.

[Ira]

HC,

Was your mother frightened by a pitcher of Kool-Aid or something? I’ve never come across someone with such a fixation on a beverage.

Who do you think I mean by “you guys?” I’m not talking about the Princeton graduating class here.

[democrat]

Don't worry Ira. Just know that HC isn't intelligent nor mature enough to originate another insult if need be. And it's certainly a fact that HE didn't graduate from Princeton, or any other college for that fact.

[John]

demonrat, what are you doing here so early? Crack house close early?

[democrat]

You would know john, being that most of your comments sound crackish. I'm pretty sure you look it too:)