Donald Trump: I've got my birth certificate, where President Barack Obama's?

[maxiep]

If you're going to run for President, IMO you forfeit much of your right to privacy. Frankly, I think your life should be an open book. I would see nothing wrong with having to agree to an FBI investigation similar to a security clearance procedure at an intelligence agency. That means birth certificate, medical records, anything ever published, transcripts from all schools available, interviews with anyone who has ever known them, etc.

The American people have the right to know exactly who they're electing. We've left the job up to the Fourth Estate, but they've shown themselves unwilling to do the job.

 

[Minstrel]

If you're going to run for President, IMO you forfeit much of your right to privacy. Frankly, I think your life should be an open book. I would see nothing wrong with having to agree to an FBI investigation similar to a security clearance procedure at an intelligence agency. That means birth certificate, medical records, anything ever published, transcripts from all schools available, interviews with anyone who has ever known them, etc.

Those things aren't released to the public when someone needing a security clearance is investigated. I agree that Obama should have to provide whatever information is legally determined to be necessary to the relevant authorities. It doesn't have to be provided to any nutcase in the public though.

 

[Paxil]

I thought sitting presidents were immune from lawsuits to keep people from trying to tie up all his time after being elected. If congress thinks he did something wrong they start impeachment and he has to answer to them right?

 

[maxiep]

Those things aren't released to the public when someone needing a security clearance is investigated. I agree that Obama should have to provide whatever information is legally determined to be necessary to the relevant authorities. It doesn't have to be provided to any nutcase in the public though.

I didn't state my point clearly. I meant that a full background investigation be done on that person and then all reasonable information gets released. For example, the items Shooter listed.

 

[Denny Crane]

I thought sitting presidents were immune from lawsuits to keep people from trying to tie up all his time after being elected. If congress thinks he did something wrong they start impeachment and he has to answer to them right?

Nope. Paula Jones' lawsuit against Clinton, and Nixon Watergate tapes are two obvious examples.

 

[barfo]

A few more documents that Obama is refusing to release (all of them are typically available for major political leaders):

His kindergarten records

Absolutely. How can we determine if he's fit to be president if we can't examine his kindergarten records???

barfo

 

[Paxil]

Nope. Paula Jones' lawsuit against Clinton, and Nixon Watergate tapes are two obvious examples.

I stand corrected.

Just out of curiousity... why does where he was born mean anything? All he has to be is a us born citizen... not that he was *born* in the US. If one of his parents was a US citizen that would do it wouldn't it?

 

[blazerboy30]

Nobody who matters cares.

Not that you matter, but why do you hate the Constitution so much?

 

[Denny Crane]

I stand corrected.

Just out of curiousity... why does where he was born mean anything? All he has to be is a us born citizen... not that he was *born* in the US. If one of his parents was a US citizen that would do it wouldn't it?

Article II Section 1

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.

"Natural born Citizen" means "born within the jurisdiction of the USA to parents who are US citizens."

It was even questioned whether McCain was eligible, since he was born at a Naval Air Station in Panama, though it is pretty certain he does qualify.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode08/usc_sec_08_00001401----000-.html

 

[julius]

In my mind, it's a matter of decency. Some Americans have asked for him to provide his long-form birth certificate. He represents all Americans. He shouldn't play politics on this issue. He should have the respect for those Americans who have asked a legitmiate question and just release it. It's no big deal.

He also shouldn't HAVE to release something that no other person would be asked to do.

 

[Paxil]

Article II Section 1

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.

"Natural born Citizen" means "born within the jurisdiction of the USA to parents who are US citizens."

It was even questioned whether McCain was eligible, since he was born at a Naval Air Station in Panama, though it is pretty certain he does qualify.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode08/usc_sec_08_00001401----000-.html

That document states

(c) a person born outside of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents both of whom are citizens of the United States and one of whom has had a residence in the United States or one of its outlying possessions, prior to the birth of such person;

Seriously... if my wife and I are on vacaction in Vancouver BC and she gives birth... should the child be exempted from running for president? That seems utterly stupid.

 

[maxiep]

He also shouldn't HAVE to release something that no other person would be asked to do.

by "no other person", do you mean John McCain?

 

[Denny Crane]

That document states


Seriously... if my wife and I are on vacaction in Vancouver BC and she gives birth... should the child be exempted from running for president? That seems utterly stupid.

The law is designed to assure the president has america's interest as first priority. There are a few politicians who can't run for president because of this, Arnold Schwarzenegger being one and Jennifer Granholm (former governor of Michigan) being another.

Granholm was born in Vancouver.

 

[Paxil]

Arnold was *not* a Natural born US citizen... not because of where he was phsically born... but because his parents were not US Citizens. McCain wasn't born in US , but there is no question in my mind that is was a Natural Born US Citizen anyway... both his parents were... they just happened to be stationed overseas in the US Military.

 

[Denny Crane]

Arnold was *not* a Natural born US citizen... not because of where he was phsically born... but because his parents were not US Citizens. McCain wasn't born in US , but there is no question in my mind that is was a Natural Born US Citizen anyway... both his parents were... they just happened to be stationed overseas in the US Military.

It is literally debatable whether a guy like Arnold should be eligible to run. I'm sure there are lots of www pages about it.

As it stands, the constitutional requirements and the laws are what they are. An amendment to the constitution would be required to change it.
McCain raises two issues. That the requirement does matter, hence the scrutiny Obama has received as well. And that an overseas military installation likely qualifies as territory under US jurisdiction.

 

[Shooter]

Absolutely. How can we determine if he's fit to be president if we can't examine his kindergarten records???

Classic. You pick one item off the list and make fun of it, just for cheap laughs. Meanwhile, you ignore the larger issue at hand.

This is why you and other lefties can't be taken seriously. You're circling the wagons around Obama on an issue that you'd be attacking Bush for, if he were still in the Oval Office.

 

[maxiep]

I wholeheartedly agree with Shooter's point. The electorate has the right to know everything about the person who wants to run for President; the job is too important to leave to an unknown entity. If someone doesn't want to reveal that information, then they don't have to run.

Would the country have been better off knowing that John Kennedy was addicted to pain killers and had an affair with an East German spy? What about Ronald Reagan suffering from Alzheimer's in his later years in office? Or Woodrow Wilson rendered incapable through strokes of fulfilling his office? I think we would have been. I couldn't give two shits about their desire for privacy. You give that up to become President.

In regards to kindergarten records, I don't care whether or not they got gold stars or if they had clean underwear, I would simply like to know where they went and what their teachers thought about the youngster and his or her parents/guardians.

 

[Shooter]

I wholeheartedly agree with Shooter's point. The electorate has the right to know everything about the person who wants to run for President; the job is too important to leave to an unknown entity. If someone doesn't want to reveal that information, then they don't have to run.

Would the country have been better off knowing that John Kennedy was addicted to pain killers and had an affair with an East German spy? What about Ronald Reagan suffering from Alzheimer's in his later years in office? Or Woodrow Wilson rendered incapable through strokes of fulfilling his office? I think we would have been. I couldn't give two shits about their desire for privacy. You give that up to become President.

In regards to kindergarten records, I don't care whether or not they got gold stars or if they had clean underwear, I would simply like to know where they went and what their teachers thought about the youngster and his or her parents/guardians.

Obama has the most mysterious past of anybody who has ever held the office of President. There are many, many questions about this guy, and yet he keeps stonewalling everybody who tries to find out more.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I wholeheartedly agree with Shooter's point. The electorate has the right to know everything about the person who wants to run for President; the job is too important to leave to an unknown entity. If someone doesn't want to reveal that information, then they don't have to run.

Would the country have been better off knowing that John Kennedy was addicted to pain killers and had an affair with an East German spy? What about Ronald Reagan suffering from Alzheimer's in his later years in office? Or Woodrow Wilson rendered incapable through strokes of fulfilling his office? I think we would have been. I couldn't give two shits about their desire for privacy. You give that up to become President.

In regards to kindergarten records, I don't care whether or not they got gold stars or if they had clean underwear, I would simply like to know where they went and what their teachers thought about the youngster and his or her parents/guardians.

Obama has the most mysterious past of anybody who has ever held the office of President. There are many, many questions about this guy, and yet he keeps stonewalling everybody who tries to find out more.

What if it's personal? Painful? I've seen some African American newborns come out of mom pretty pink. His birth certificate could list unknown or someone else as the father, his race could be listed as white, maybe his father wouldn't sign it? Maybe there are reasons besides if he was born in Hawaii as to why he doesn't want things public.

And I'm not excusing it or explaining it away. Just saying that there could be other reasons why he wants this to stay as private as possible that people haven't considered.

 

[mook]

Obama has the most mysterious past of anybody who has ever held the office of President. There are many, many questions about this guy, and yet he keeps stonewalling everybody who tries to find out more.

You know, he does have two autobiographies, one of which was written before he really thought he had any chance of one day becoming president. I mean, his first one he talks about smoking pot, racism, etc. He kind of come off as a loser in some ways in that book to me. It's not your typical self-congratulatory political screed. I thought it seemed like a pretty honest depiction of his childhood.

What did you think when you read it? (I'm assuming you read it since you are so curious about him.)

 

[barfo]

Classic. You pick one item off the list and make fun of it, just for cheap laughs.

Dude, you posted the list. That was the first item on your list. Don't post stupid stuff, and I won't make fun of it.

Meanwhile, you ignore the larger issue at hand.

This is why you and other lefties can't be taken seriously. You're circling the wagons around Obama on an issue that you'd be attacking Bush for, if he were still in the Oval Office.

Pot, Kettle. You'd be defending Bush if the situation were reversed.

barfo

 

[barfo]

In regards to kindergarten records, I don't care whether or not they got gold stars or if they had clean underwear, I would simply like to know where they went and what their teachers thought about the youngster and his or her parents/guardians.

Ok, since Obama is uniquely opaque in this regard, please tell us where Romney, Pawlenty, Palin, McCain, Gingrich, etc. went to kindergarten and what their teachers thought about them, and what conclusions you draw from that information.

barfo

 

[maxiep]

What if it's personal? Painful? I've seen some African American newborns come out of mom pretty pink. His birth certificate could list unknown or someone else as the father, his race could be listed as white, maybe his father wouldn't sign it? Maybe there are reasons besides if he was born in Hawaii as to why he doesn't want things public.

And I'm not excusing it or explaining it away. Just saying that there could be other reasons why he wants this to stay as private as possible that people haven't considered.

And if you're running for President, the American people have the right to know. Period. If you don't like it, don't run.

 

[maxiep]

To those who think I only am interested in our current Commander-In-Chief, I would love to see a thorough background check with the results publicized of every candidate, no matter the party or the political viewpoint. The more information we know about these people, the better.

 

[Shooter]

Dude, you posted the list. That was the first item on your list. Don't post stupid stuff, and I won't make fun of it.

The list is not stupid. It shows an entire range of records that are normally revealed by a president in this country. You chose to highlight one item on the list that, by itself, might indeed seem irrelevant--while at the same time ignoring every other item on the list that is quite relevant. Do you honestly think that the public has no right to see ANY of the items on the list I posted, and that it's completely normal for a president to keep them under wraps??

Pot, Kettle. You'd be defending Bush if the situation were reversed.

Wrong. EVERY President has the obligation to prove he is a natural-born citizen of this country. That is what our constitution requires. If there was any doubt about Bush's eligibility to serve, I would be first in line demanding that he produce a birth certificate.

 

[Shooter]

Ok, since Obama is uniquely opaque in this regard, please tell us where Romney, Pawlenty, Palin, McCain, Gingrich, etc. went to kindergarten and what their teachers thought about them, and what conclusions you draw from that information.

God, you seem dense on this topic. None of the people you mention occupy the Oval Office--but if they did, they would definitely be expected to supply those records.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The list is not stupid. It shows an entire range of records that are normally revealed by a president in this country. You chose to highlight one item on the list that, by itself, might indeed seem irrelevant--while at the same time ignoring every other item on the list that is quite relevant. Do you honestly think that the public has no right to see ANY of the items on the list I posted, and that it's completely normal for a president to keep them under wraps??


Wrong. EVERY President has the obligation to prove he is a natural-born citizen of this country. That is what our constitution requires. If there was any doubt about Bush's eligibility to serve, I would be first in line demanding that he produce a birth certificate.

I've always felt that if there was anything to the natural-born citizen of this country conspiracy theory Cheney would have made it public right before the election and McCain would be president.

 

[Minstrel]

God, you seem dense on this topic. None of the people you mention occupy the Oval Office

No, they all want (or wanted) to occupy it. Shouldn't those things be disclosed so we can evaluate whether to elect them? And since Obama is the greatest mystery, according to you, I can only assume all of those folks have disclosed it. Otherwise, they'd be as mysterious....right?

 

[blazerboy30]

No, they all want (or wanted) to occupy it. Shouldn't those things be disclosed so we can evaluate whether to elect them? And since Obama is the greatest mystery, according to you, I can only assume all of those folks have disclosed it. Otherwise, they'd be as mysterious....right?

How about we start with whether or not they meet the requirements stated in the Constitution? That seems like a reasonable place to start.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

How about we start with whether or not they meet the requirements stated in the Constitution? That seems like a reasonable place to start.

And for national security reasons you don't believe that was done before Obama was elected President? President Bush took an oath to uphold the Constitution, seems to me to allow someone to become President in violation of the Constitution would be a violation of that oath.