Will Trump apologize?

[RyJae]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/birth-certificate-long-form.pdf

So will this finally put that conspiracy theory to rest?

[RyJae]

I guess I can answer this, no it isn't. Unbelievable! The nutters are already latching onto "abstract of the record" :rolleyes:

[Bricker]

Highly doubtful. Although if he did, I'd be impressed.

[Jack Batty]

Apologize? He's taking credit for it!

[steronz]

I'm reminded of John Hodgeman's "You're Welcome" segment on TDS.

[DJ Motorbike]

I don't understand Obama. If there's anyone who owes us an apology it's him. He could have released the damn thing years ago. What the hell is his problem?

[Profound Gibberish]

The longer you string along the nut jobs the better. It exposes them for what they are--nut jobs. This will not settle it, however. Conspiracies never die--the beleivers just get crazier.

[gonzomax]

I don't understand Obama. If there's anyone who owes us an apology it's him. He could have released the damn thing years ago. What the hell is his problem?

He proved his birth was in Hawaii long ago. The certificate was released . The bigots were just being bigots and pretending it was not enough when Hawaii declared it legal and binding. Why the hell wasn't that good enough?
What is next?

[zamboniracer]

He proved his birth was in Hawaii long ago. The certificate was released . The bigots were just being bigots and pretending it was not enough when Hawaii declared it legal and binding. Why the hell wasn't that good enough?
What is next?

Don't ask that question. Apparently the President did not celebrate Easter to the bigots' satisfaction.Linkee (http://www.torenewamerica.com/obama-removes-jesus-from-easter-message)

Obama is not above reproach, certainly, but critics like these are arguing in bad faith and ought to be labeled as such.

[Giraffe]

I don't understand Obama. If there's anyone who owes us an apology it's him. He could have released the damn thing years ago. What the hell is his problem?

And while he's at it, I'd like an apology from the First Lady for not showing us her vagina on live TV to prove she's not actually a man and that we aren't all being forced to sanction a presidential GAY MARRIAGE!

[Folacin]

I don't understand Obama. If there's anyone who owes us an apology it's him. He could have released the damn thing years ago. What the hell is his problem?

Couldn't have - it took this long to create a forgery good enough to pass muster, along with adjusting all the file numbers of the forms after where they inserted his - not a small undertaking.

[RyJae]

Yeah I see Trump is now taking credit for it, now one can only imagine the next thing he throws against the wall to see if it sticks. I am not an President Obama supporter. But I think The Donald has really hurt any Republicans by association. The real conspiracy theory would be is he in cahoots with the President.

[Wheelz]

So will this finally put that conspiracy theory to rest?Of course not.
Anybody could have faked that document, dontcha know. In fact, I'm absolutely certain that people are already finding ways to poke holes in this.



Did you notice how the capital K in Kansas is raised, and none of the other K's are like that? It's clearly a forgery.

[Marley23]

This is a joke, right? Of course he's not going to apologize. He'll continue his campaign for president to boost ratings for The Apprentice and pretend this is a good thing for him. Might as well not pay any attention.

If there's anyone who owes us an apology it's him.
Eh. You had to be flat-out dumb to think it was even remotely possible Obama was born in Kenya, and to that end, one more piece of paper makes no difference. You can't argue with crazy and stupid. Obama put all this information out there himself unasked (originally).

He could have released the damn thing years ago.
The White House obviously did think there was some advantage in doing this right now. I'm not sure what that is. Possibly they were tired of Trump dominating the news cycle with this stupid shit, or maybe they thought they could move a few confused dumbasses back into the 'undecided' column if they made it clear they've put all the information out there. Or maybe Obama's just tired of this and decided with that Mother's Day coming up, he wanted to clear his mother of accusations of being some kind of Kenyan double agent. Beats me.

[RyJae]

And while he's at it, I'd like an apology from the First Lady for not showing us her vagina on live TV to prove she's not actually a man and that we aren't all being forced to sanction a presidential GAY MARRIAGE!

I take it you are unaware of the film "The Fist Lady"?

[DJ Motorbike]

Couldn't have - it took this long to create a forgery good enough to pass muster, along with adjusting all the file numbers of the forms after where they inserted his - not a small undertaking.

Which is exactly what the nutters are going to say.

He proved his birth was in Hawaii long ago. The certificate was released . The bigots were just being bigots and pretending it was not enough when Hawaii declared it legal and binding. Why the hell wasn't that good enough?

It satisfies me. I'm not questioning his citizenship I'm questioning his judgment.

I just don't understand Obama.

[RyJae]

I think the issue is brought out because of 50% racist people, 40% mentally challenged individuals and 10% uninformed gullible people*. If any serious contender brought it up they do not deserve my vote. I would vote for someone not born in the USA that carried my values before voting for Donald Trump.

By the way his speech on the release of his birth certificate, reminded me why I do like the man. His charisma is something to behold.



*All fictional %'s

[Steve MB]

Don't ask that question. Apparently the President did not celebrate Easter to the bigots' satisfaction.Linkee (http://www.torenewamerica.com/obama-removes-jesus-from-easter-message)

Obama is not above reproach, certainly, but critics like these are arguing in bad faith and ought to be labeled as such.

Releasing documents is irrelevant. No document can turn him white.

[Steve MB]

The White House obviously did think there was some advantage in doing this right now. I'm not sure what that is.

He's trolling the crazies so that they make more noise and serve as a bigger embarrassment to the Republicans (who are stuck with the options of either continuing to pander to them and offending rational people, or telling them to shut up and offending their own base).

[manila]

I've just done my once in a blue moon drop in on the freeper's site to check their perspective.

My og! you couldn't make it it up what they are saying.

( not giving the link here as I don't like linking to porno!)

[Steve MB]

I've just done my once in a blue moon drop in on the freeper's site to check their perspective.

My og! you couldn't make it it up what they are saying.

( not giving the link here as I don't like linking to porno!)

The outpatients are out in force tonight.

[Implicit]

No, Trump won't apologize. No, it won't end the conspiracy psychopaths.

Next up: demands for his college transcripts (http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0411/The_shadow_of_race.html?showall).
Trump's detour this morning into demands for Obama's college grades, his suggestions that the president isn't very bright and yet was somehow admitted to Columbia and Harvard despite that...

[Marley23]

He's trolling the crazies so that they make more noise and serve as a bigger embarrassment to the Republicans (who are stuck with the options of either continuing to pander to them and offending rational people, or telling them to shut up and offending their own base).
Maybe. Someone else pointed out that a book called "Where's the Birth Certificate?" is out next week, and he just cut the legs out from under that one.

[Really Not All That Bright]

I don't understand Obama. If there's anyone who owes us an apology it's him. He could have released the damn thing years ago. What the hell is his problem?
They couldn't have done it years ago. Hawaii doesn't have a mechanism to release the version they just put out. If you want verification, they send you the version that Obama posted online during the election.

Really, I agree with you in a sense, though; I don't see what Obama gains by releasing the "long form" now. The birthers are just going to say, "why did it take so long?" or move the goalposts, and everyone else is just going to continue not caring.

ETA: On the other hand, maybe the California Bar will grow some balls and disbar Orly Taitz when she files her next lawsuit.

[JohnT]

I don't understand Obama. If there's anyone who owes us an apology it's him. He could have released the damn thing years ago. What the hell is his problem?

Maybe he didn't think people were stupid enough to continue harping on this non-issue for three+ years.

Therefore, his problem was that he overestimated the intelligence of Birthers and Tea Party idiots. Significantly overestimated.

[Cyningablod]

It satisfies me. I'm not questioning his citizenship I'm questioning his judgment.

In other words:

I will still find some way in all this to criticize Obama, rather than agreeing that he has been unjustly maligned, and laying the matter to rest.

[Sampiro]

If a video was found showing Ann Dunham Obama giving birth on the slopes of Diamond Head while a big brass band played "God Bless America" and fireworks spelling out U.S.A. were shot forth all around her there are still a few idjits who aren't going to accept it. I don't blame Obama at all for dragging his feet- I wouldn't have done it now even- he's not legally obligated to and it keeps conspiracy nuts occupied and distracts from any more justified criticisms.

[Wile E]

Will Trump apologize?

To quote the great dramatist, Will Smith, "Aw, HELL NO!"

[Le Ministre de l'au-delà]

Should he apologize? Absolutely!

Will he? Never.

[Sampiro]

Of course I believe that Donald Trump has as many doubts about the authenticity of the birth certificate as I have and that he's about as interested in a serious run for president as I am in having cosmetic surgery to look like Don Knotts. He's P.T. Barnum and while he might actually technically become a candidate (though I doubt he will) the first time it looks like he might win he'll drop it quick. Though I do hope he has a debate first- I think this stunt has already backfired in that the few "hard" questions he's been asked all make him look like a blithering idiot. (He can't answer them without going into some self aggrandizing anecdote about Trump this or Trump that, and he can't even keep straight what he owns and what he doesn't when he does that [e.g. he claimed to own a huge condo tower in Waikiki that in fact is just managed by a Trump company]).

[Peremensoe]

Someone else pointed out that a book called "Where's the Birth Certificate?" is out next week, and he just cut the legs out from under that one.

Yes. (http://www.amazon.com/Wheres-Birth-Certificate-Eligible-President/dp/1936488299) Pretty great timing on that score. :p

[Sampiro]

Yes. (http://www.amazon.com/Wheres-Birth-Certificate-Eligible-President/dp/1936488299) Pretty great timing on that score. :p

I'm picturing a WHERE'S WALDO? but with piles of documents.

[gonzomax]

Which is exactly what the nutters are going to say.



It satisfies me. I'm not questioning his citizenship I'm questioning his judgment.

I just don't understand Obama.

What Trump proved was that the original birth certificate that Obama released was correct and true. Who wasted the time? It was the rightys who kept insisting that he was covering something up. The long form simply proves the short one he gave 3 years ago was valid . How is that Obama's fault. If they said, oh Ok, he has a legal birth certificate, lets move on. But that was not good enough for right wing conspiracy nuts. They fought for 3 damn years and the proof was in the first one given. Don't blame Obama for not playing with the children of the right. It was all their fault and they were wrong. Figure them out, not Obama he always acts like the adult when dealing with the right.

[Wheelz]

I've just done my once in a blue moon drop in on the freeper's site to check their perspective.

My og! you couldn't make it it up what they are saying.

( not giving the link here as I don't like linking to porno!)Against my better judgement I took a look (I feel dirty now).
Irrefutable proof that the certificate is a fake:

- The name of the hospital is allegedly incorrect.
- It looks like two different typewiters were used.
- His father's race would have read "NEGRO" and not "AFRICAN".
- The .pdf file containing the document can be opened using PhotoShop! (my personal favorite)

I'm sure there's more, but I had to stop reading.
Stupid people are stupid.

[Sampiro]

The Onion says it best. (http://www.theonion.com/articles/trump-unable-to-produce-certificate-proving-hes-no,20250/)

[Sampiro]

You must admit that his apology (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/28/donald-trump-obama-birth-certificate_n_854830.html) sounds extremely sincere.

Daily Show video (http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-april-27-2011/believe-it-or-believe-it---obama-releases-long-form-birth-certificate)

[rocking chair]

Maybe. Someone else pointed out that a book called "Where's the Birth Certificate?" is out next week, and he just cut the legs out from under that one.

ms maddow mentioned this on her show last night. the book isn't out yet, but it is top selling in pre-orders.

[Voyager]

Yeah I see Trump is now taking credit for it, now one can only imagine the next thing he throws against the wall to see if it sticks. I am not an President Obama supporter. But I think The Donald has really hurt any Republicans by association. The real conspiracy theory would be is he in cahoots with the President.

If the Republican leadership had some balls, and said that Obama was born in the US, not just that he says he was, they would not be hurt. But they seem to be afraid of offending their lunatic fringe, and so Trump, with nothing to lose but his ratings, moved right in. So, any Republicans hurt have no one to blame but themselves.

[Sampiro]

Highlights from his most recent speech (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/29/trumps-f-bomb-tirade/).

"They (OPEC) want to go in and raise the price of oil because we have nobody in Washington that sits back and says you're not going to raise that fucking price, you understand me?"

And, on what he would tell China,

"Listen you motherfuckers, we’re going to tax you 25 percent.”

This guy is TOUGH! You tell 'em Donald! And after all, what's the absolute worst that could happen from telling Saudi Arabia and China to go fuck themselves? Yep, he's got balls to say this straight to the face of (people who will be voting for the president who will engage with) the leaders of other super powerful nations.

[zamboniracer]

Once Trump learns that they won't allow him to paint his name in bright neon on the White House roof, he won't run. He's just a publicity hound schmuck.

[Starving Artist]

There is nothing for Trump to apologize for. Essentially all he did was raise questions based on what he's heard and read about the issue. He never claimed as a matter of fact that Obama was born outside the U.S. We will be in a sad state indeed if it ever gets to the point in this country where raising bothersome questions about our leaders is considered something that one has to apologize for.

[bahia hombre]

Highlights from his most recent speech (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/29/trumps-f-bomb-tirade/).

This guy is TOUGH! You tell 'em Donald! And after all, what's the absolute worst that could happen from telling Saudi Arabia and China to go fuck themselves?


The worst? Saudi Arabia cuts oil production to a trickle, China quits lending us money, and the U.S. crashes and burns.

[Jack Batty]

We will be in a sad state indeed if it ever gets to the point in this country where raising bothersome questions about our leaders is considered something that one has to apologize for.

Except for wondering if they actually finished out their National Guard tours and didn't lean on daddy to get into Yale, that's waaaaay off-side.

Heard the President was born in a hut in Kenya? Who wouldn't wonder about that?

[gonzomax]

There is nothing for Trump to apologize for. Essentially all he did was raise questions based on what he's heard and read about the issue. He never claimed as a matter of fact that Obama was born outside the U.S. We will be in a sad state indeed if it ever gets to the point in this country where raising bothersome questions about our leaders is considered something that one has to apologize for.

Of course he was claiming it was fact. Do you really think he was pushing the birther cause on every damn program the last few months and not believe what he was saying? That is worse than being a liar. That is being a low level opportunistic jerk.
That was really stupid.

[Starving Artist]

Nope, it's just politics. You try to exploit your opponent's perceived weaknesses wherever and whenever you can. I have admitted all along that Trump was cynically exploiting the issue for political purposes. The birth certificate issue was a perfectly valid one to raise (in other words, Trump didn't make it up out of whole cloth; there were odd questions and statements being made about it on both sides; the White House appeared extremely reticent to release it; and a sizable portion of the populace was undecided about it). Therefore, Trump did what politicians are supposed to do - exploit an apparent weakness. He was cynical in pushing the issue, but not dishonest, as neither he nor we knew unquestionable facts about the original document until the White House released it just a few days ago.

And again, we have a right to challenge our leaders, especially where Constitutional issues are concerned, and like it or not and whether you believe in its validity or not, the question of Obama's birth was at its core a Constitutional issue. So, even though Trump and the birthers were cynically exploiting this particular issue, our freedom as citizens depends upon politicians having the freedom and ability to do just that.

[gonzomax]

Why can you not get it? Obama gave a legal birth certificate 3 years ago. This new one simply proves the original one was completely, totally accurate.
This 3 years of crap is manufactured and dishonest.
Trump ran with it because bigots and right wingers were willing to accept anything someone said about Obama that they could hang onto, pretending it was real and relevant. It was not. It was all a manufactured lie. .It simply showed that people who hate can be rallied into false accusations out of desperate bigotry.
Trump has no political background. He had no way to break into the national discussion on his history. So he went with a lie that echoed in the hollow right wing .It got traction and had no basis in fact. But you don't win on the right with a logical and honest debate. You have to appeal to the crazies in the party. Trump, low life opportunistic liar that he is, had no trouble doing it. It tells you a lot about him. It tells you about the right wing. It tells you about the Republican party.
It tells you nothing about Obama. He after all gave an honest and legal birth certificate 3 years ago.

[Voyager]

Nope, it's just politics. You try to exploit your opponent's perceived weaknesses wherever and whenever you can. I have admitted all along that Trump was cynically exploiting the issue for political purposes. The birth certificate issue was a perfectly valid one to raise (in other words, Trump didn't make it up out of whole cloth; there were odd questions and statements being made about it on both sides; the White House appeared extremely reticent to release it; and a sizable portion of the populace was undecided about it). Therefore, Trump did what politicians are supposed to do - exploit an apparent weakness. He was cynical in pushing the issue, but not dishonest, as neither he nor we knew unquestionable facts about the original document until the White House released it just a few days ago.

And again, we have a right to challenge our leaders, especially where Constitutional issues are concerned, and like it or not and whether you believe in its validity or not, the question of Obama's birth was at its core a Constitutional issue. So, even though Trump and the birthers were cynically exploiting this particular issue, our freedom as citizens depends upon politicians having the freedom and ability to do just that.

I'm sure you'd okay then if Move On started running ads worrying about whether all Republican candidates were sleeper agents for al Quaida, wouldn't you? The Republicans had a fit about rhyming Petreus and betray us.
But the most important thing is that politics should be about finding answers to important questions, not about made up bullshit issues like this. Only a total moron - a category which Trump and a plurality of Republicans seem to fall into - would think that there is anything discussing after the regular birth certificate was released - and even before. That Republicans seem to think that lying is appropriate political behavior is what makes them morally unfit to hold office. There are certainly some who don't believe this crap, but at this point they are too scared to speak up. If they were going to get arrested or shot for doing so, I could understand it, but the worst that can happen is that they get challenged by Tea Party bigots in a primary - which makes them sniveling cowards.

[Chronos]

Yep, he's got balls to say this straight to the face of (people who will be voting for the president who will engage with) the leaders of other super powerful nations. No, I expect that most of the people he said this to will not be voting for a president who would actually engage with the leaders of other nations.

[smithsb]

I suspect Obama released the certificate to put out the growing media interest. Not interest in whether or not Obama was born in the US, but interest is Trump's outrageous claims/investigations/yelling. He was/is such good copy at the microphone.

Something of a modified Swift Boat scheme to distract the public from actual issues or Trump's stance on issues. I note he's gone semi-profane in trying to expand his stump speech.

[j666]

... not Obama he always acts like the adult when dealing with the right.
So, you don't understand Obama either?
There is nothing for Trump to apologize for. Essentially all he did was raise questions based on what he's heard and read about the issue. He never claimed as a matter of fact that Obama was born outside the U.S. We will be in a sad state indeed if it ever gets to the point in this country where raising bothersome questions about our leaders is considered something that one has to apologize for.
You're being silly. The question was raised and resolved before the election. No honorable person has raised it seriously since then.
Did you notice how the capital K in Kansas is raised, and none of the other K's are like that? It's clearly a forgery.
You have too much time on your hands. Or a real talent for CTs.