OK, I’m only going to say this once, so don’t worry. This won’t be a big thing. BUT, I watched an “interview” that Chris Matthews had with Pat Buchanan and just couldn’t quite believe I was hearing this right.
So, Chris Matthews says in the clip:
I am looking around for birthers. And I consider a birther—and this is my rule, Pat, my colleage—anybody who has questions. Anybody who thinks this is a significant issue in this campaign coming up. This guy’s identity as a fellow American. Is it a significant question to you whether he is in fact a fellow, natural born, American.
WHAT?! OK, look. The United States Constitution, Article II, Section 1 states the following:
No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty five years, and been fourteen Years a resident within the United States.
Now, I seem to recall that when McCain was running for President, his birth in the Panama Canal was questioned multiple times. And you know what? That’s FINE. It’s our constitution and we need to make sure that it’s being upheld. Not just the spirit of the law, but the letter of it too.
So now (and then too), we’ve got people saying that it’s not even a significant question when it comes to Obama. THIS is where I take issue. Do I think he was born in the United States? Probably. I am VERY curious however why he’s not released his birth certificate and resolved this once and for all, but whatever.
However, do I think this is a significant issue and one that needs to be verified for EVERY candidate for president? ABSOLUTELY! This is part of our constitution and that should be upheld at ALL COSTS.
EDIT on 27 April 2011:
Looks like Obama has released his full birth certificate. Hopefully this’ll put this whole thing to rest now!
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