# Donald Trump is now a birther **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 17, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044 "2011-03-17T17:38:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 50
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/981 "2011-04-29T06:40:19Z")
Wishful thinking, more likely. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/982 "2011-04-29T13:08:49Z")
Obama Sr. was kind of an asshole, a definite womanizer and creep. yes. Barack Jr. Said as much himself in his first book. So what? Why attack him or his mother over it? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/983 "2011-04-29T13:14:42Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > **Disclaimer:** Gotcha again (:D), as tongue is planted firmly in cheek. My own mother got married at 17 (as did a great many women of previous generations) and my former wife is 8 years younger than me (neither were pregnant, btw). What I’m doing is lampooning the ridiculous hysteria going on these days regarding age gaps and sex with anyone a day under 18. Are you familiar with Poe’s law? If you are always an asshole, and then one time you are an asshole in jest, it’s really not much of a “gotcha.” It’s just that most of the time, you’re an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/984 "2011-04-30T13:36:39Z")
It occurs to me that in 2008, Berg, or perhaps Berg at the request of the Clintons, had a barely reasonable, but at least reasonable, question about whether Obama was eligible to be president. It was a long shot, but let’s ask the question. Some idiots, by way of parallel, asked if Hillary Clinton could be president because the constitution uses the pronoun “he.” But playing “gotcha” comparing birthers in 2011 to birthers in 2008, after all the questions have been answered, well and thoroughly, is really disingenuous. Any more it’s just racism, or ‘different-ism,’ of which racism is a subset. Nobody gets a pass because somebody filed a lawsuit in 2008, even had Hillary Clinton been behind it. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/985 "2011-05-02T18:14:20Z")
I posted this in another thread, but what the hell, I’ll post it here too. Donald Trump congratulates Obama, and calls for “End To ‘Party Politics’ Debate For ‘Next Several Days’” [http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/201...debate-fo.html](http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/201...debate-fo.html) > [@](#): > > “I want to personally congratulate President Obama and the men and women of the Armed Forces for a job well done,” Trump said in a statement to ABC News. > > I am so proud to see Americans standing shoulder to shoulder, waving the American flag in celebration of this great victory," he added. “We should spend the next several days not debating party politics, but in remembrance of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and those currently fighting for our freedom. God Bless America!” > Reply With Quote ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/986 "2011-05-02T19:42:34Z")
> [@bup](#): > > It occurs to me that in 2008, Berg, or perhaps Berg at the request of the Clintons, had a barely reasonable, but at least reasonable, question about whether Obama was eligible to be president. It was a long shot, but let’s ask the question. It was a reasonable (but extreme) question to ask in 2008. However once Obama provided his birth certificate (particularly since it was corroborated by a newspaper birth announcement), that should have settled the matter. It is similarly reasonable (but extreme) to ask if Trig Palin is actually Sarah Palin’s son. If she were to release his birth certificate, it would settle the matter. Unfortunately, she has declined to do so, so the rumors that he’s actually Bristol’s child persist. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/987 "2011-05-04T16:10:49Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > Yup. I’m a lefty, I supported HC, and I never saw that email. You can’t blame her for one moron capitalizing on speculation and making rumors go viral. That Obama is a Muslim and went to school in a Madrassa crap has been around since 2004. Hillary’s people wanted to beat Obama badly. Yet when they investigated , they decided to drop the attacks based on his birth certificate. They showed some class and the ability to determine what is factual. The Repubs have been on the case ever since and no amount of proof can stop them. The Repubs will play dirty. They will do anything to win. If it works to energize a part of their base, they will pursue it, They know this birth thing is BS, Trump wants the nomination. In order to get it, he has to appeal to the haters and loonies. They are a big segment of the Republican backers, about 25 percent. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/988 "2011-05-10T04:22:23Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > The thing is, my defense was a general one against preposterous claims that anyone with unresolved questions regarding Obama’s birth is by definition stupid. You on the other hand constructed that post in a way to make it look like I specifically claimed the Clintons had Foster murdered, which is a whole 'nother kettle of fish, both stylistically and and factually. > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > … I specifically claimed the Clintons had Foster murdered … factually. Sorry – couldn’t resist. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/989 "2011-05-10T21:35:45Z")
SA shows his desperation to believe something has to be wrong when a black guy becomes president. He has been wallowing in the belly of the birther beast for years. But somehow thinks pretending it is just an intellectual exercise , will convince people he is not a serious down and dirty birther. Donald Rump just got served by Obama. But he should not have released the birth certificate. The first one was a legal document acceptable in any court. The birthers had no right to demand more. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/990 "2011-05-10T21:43:33Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The first one was a legal document acceptable in any court. The birthers had no right to demand more. They had a right to demand it; they had no right to receive it. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/991 "2011-05-10T21:48:08Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > But he should not have released the birth certificate. I agree. It was really an issue only with the rabid 18% and they are kind of fun to watch. It certainly was hurting the GOPers and I think he should have just left it out there for the loons to further drag down that group. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/992 "2011-05-10T22:08:56Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > I agree. It was really an issue only with the rabid 18% and they are kind of fun to watch. It certainly was hurting the GOPers and I think he should have just left it out there for the loons to further drag down that group. That’s OK. The 18% will now become the “Deathers” and demand further proof that Bin Laden is actually dead, and is not a guest in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/993 "2011-05-11T01:00:22Z")
SA. This Sunday after Obama had a successful mission to take out Bin Laden, the so called serious news shows of the morning had 12 guests. Nine Repubs and three Dems. Included were Bush retreads, Cheney, Rumsfield, Rice and Cheneys daughter. That is typical. The Sunday morning shows have been terribly slanted with right wing guests for the last decade or so. > **[FAIR](https://fair.org/?page=4148)** > > FAIR is the national progressive media watchdog group, challenging corporate media bias, spin and misinformation. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/994 "2011-05-11T07:40:22Z")
And how many of the hosts, anchors and panelists were conservatives? I haven’t watched _Face The Nation_ and programs like that for years, but back when I did it was almost invariably a liberal host or anchor plus two liberal journalists or politicians vs. one conservative guest. I doubt that things have changed much, but I’m willing to keep an open mind. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/995 "2011-05-11T13:40:27Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > And how many of the hosts, anchors and panelists were conservatives? > > I haven’t watched _Face The Nation_ and programs like that for years, but back when I did it was almost invariably a liberal host or anchor plus two liberal journalists or politicians vs. one conservative guest. > > I doubt that things have changed much, but I’m willing to keep an open mind. And so once again you refute current information with dimly remembered anecdotes from your childhood. You doubt that things have changed, in the face of evidence to the contrary. Per \*\*gonzo’s \*\*post, last Sunday the main stream news shows had 12 guests, of which 9 were Republicans including such notables as “Bush retreads, Cheney, Rumsfield, Rice and Cheneys daughter”. The only way your mind could be characterized as “open” is by describing it as “vacuous”. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/996 "2011-05-11T15:58:49Z")
[http://mediamatters.org/reports/200602140002](http://mediamatters.org/reports/200602140002) Here is a Media Matters study showing the right wing slant on the news. When I hear someone screaming about the left wing news, I think they are gnorant, way right wing or lying. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/997 "2011-05-11T16:22:05Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > [http://mediamatters.org/reports/200602140002](http://mediamatters.org/reports/200602140002) Here is a Media Matters study showing the right wing slant on the news. > When I hear someone screaming about the left wing news, I think they are gnorant, way right wing or lying. Well, they could be ignorant, way right wing **and** lying! ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/998 "2011-05-11T17:50:28Z")
> [@CannyDan](#): > > The only way your mind could be characterized as “open” is by describing it as “vacuous”. Come on, it’s hardly the only way. “Swiss-cheese like” would work, too. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/999 "2011-05-11T19:29:04Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Come on, it’s hardly the only way. “Swiss-cheese like” would work, too. Beg to differ. In Swiss cheese, between the obvious voids there is something else. Cheese. In the case of **Starving Artist** , between the obvious voids there is - - - um… ahh… well… Never mind. You win. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/1000 "2011-05-16T17:16:21Z")
Donald Trump is not running for president: > [@](#): > > I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector. [http://gawker.com/5802295/donald-trump-officially-ends-his-fake-presidential-candidacy](http://gawker.com/5802295/donald-trump-officially-ends-his-fake-presidential-candidacy) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044.md?page=51)