# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/121 "2011-03-28T19:08:47Z")
I wonder if he’ll let us see his long form birth certificate. Also isn’t Trump of German descent? I guess that would make him a Nazi, or i.e. a National Socialist. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/122 "2011-03-29T01:07:21Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I haven’t tried to claim he pulled himself up out of poverty either. But there are a lot of people who inherit that much and either sit on it or blow it on hookers and blow, and/or bad investments. > > Trump knew his shit and parlayed the money he inherited into the vast and diverse empire that it is today. And he has done it ways are far riskier and more complex than way his father made his money, which was mostly by building middle-income apartment units in the boroughs outside Manhattan. > > It’s true that 35 to 50 million will open doors, but if you don’t know your shit those doors will close pretty quickly and you’ll find yourself standing outside wondering how you’re going to get your project financed. > > Bankers and such don’t invest tens or hundreds of millions in projects just because the guy proposing it has an idea and a little money of his own. > > And then you have to consider that he had the smarts and bargaining power to keep himself afloat while his huge business holding were floundering and was able to battle back bigger and wealthier than ever - just like he said he would at the time, btw. He knew even in his darkest hours what he had to do to stay in business and flouish in the future. Folks making it because of Daddy’s money wouldn’t have been able to turn things around like he did. I doubt that there are a hundred people in this country who could pull off what he has accomplished and in the way he has accomplished it. > > People love to bash Trump because he’s brash and egotistical, and they try to discount his accomplishments accordingly. But like it or not, the reality is that the guy is smart and shrewd as hell. I remember Ivana, herself a very capable business woman, fretting over the outcome of their divorce because, as she put it: “He always finds a way to outsmart his enemies.” But then he did right by her and she came out of the divorce with some 20-odd million dollars. > > And then I think we have to look at his family too. True, he hasn’t exactly been the world’s greatest husband, but his kids have all turned out very well, never getting into trouble and, as he has said, never embarrassing him. By all accounts he was always reachable by his kids, even during important business meetings or out of town. He was always available to give advice or administer discipline as needed, and his children have turned out very well in large part due to his parenting skills. > > So in a nutshell, Trump is just a very smart guy who almost almost always knows how to do what he needs to do in order to accomplish whatever it is he wants to accomplish. [http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-headlines/celebrity-lawsuits/how-does-trump-repeatedly-file](http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-headlines/celebrity-lawsuits/how-does-trump-repeatedly-file) In a nutshell. Trump is a phoney who is a serial bankruptcy filer. Got enough money and power, you can wind up on top again and again. You can always find people who think having money makes you special and will lick your boots. SA loves the flavor. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/123 "2011-03-29T01:12:43Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > There’s likely as many lefties as righties calling him with that exact message. Now, _ **there’s** _ a conspiracy theory for you! I like it. However, I think there are more righties encouraging every nut job available, so when the Republicans present their real candidate, s/he will see tame by comparison. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/124 "2011-03-29T01:31:45Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > There’s likely as many lefties as righties calling him with that exact message. Just like this lefty, and many others saying “Run Sarah, Run!” ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/125 "2011-03-29T02:32:12Z")
Earlier today, just to show how easy it should be to produce one’s birth certificate Donald Trump released… [something that isn’t actually his birth certificate](http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0311/Trump_fails_to_produce_birth_certificate.html?showall): > [@](#): > > Officials said the city Health Department is the “sole issuing authority” of official birth certificates in New York, and that the document would clearly say so, and “city officials said it’s not an official document.” My advice to Donald is to make this whole birther thing the centerpiece of his campaign. He’s obviously really good at it, and I’m sure the voters will take to it really well. ---
**Author:** ![WPA-Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WPA-Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WPA-Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/126 "2011-03-29T12:58:54Z")
This quote sums up Trump quite nicely: > [@](#): > > Trump’s mother, it should be noted, was born in Scotland, which is not part of the United States. His plane is registered in the Bahamas, also a foreign country. This fact pattern – along with the wave of new questions surrounding what he claims is a birth certificate – raises serious doubts about his eligibility to serve as President of the United States. from here: [http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0311/Trump\_fails\_to\_produce\_birth\_certificate.html?showall](http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0311/Trump_fails_to_produce_birth_certificate.html?showall) ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/127 "2011-03-29T13:19:58Z")
> [@WPA-Guy](#): > > This quote sums up Trump quite nicely: > > > [@](#): > > > > Trump’s mother, it should be noted, was born in Scotland, which is not part of the United States. His plane is registered in the Bahamas, also a foreign country. This fact pattern – along with the wave of new questions surrounding what he claims is a birth certificate – raises serious doubts about his eligibility to serve as President of the United States. > > from here: > [http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0311/Trump\_fails\_to\_produce\_birth\_certificate.html?showall](http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0311/Trump_fails_to_produce_birth_certificate.html?showall) Hmm…the place is also called \*\*Jamaica \*\*Hospital. That raises some serious questions about him being a secret Jamaican. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/128 "2011-03-29T14:33:01Z")
> [@](#): > > [“I am really concerned,” Trump said during an appearance on Fox News. “You have no doctors, you have no nurses … that remember.” > > […someone remembers…] > > “I doubt it,” Trump said of Abercrombie’s contentions. “I think this guy should be investigated. He remembers when Obama was born? Give me a break. He’s just trying to do something for his party.”]([http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/28/trump-is-now-really-concerned-about-obamas-birthplace/](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/28/trump-is-now-really-concerned-about-obamas-birthplace/)) So someone should remember, but if they do, that’s ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/129 "2011-03-29T14:38:51Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Hmm…the place is also called \*\*Jamaica \*\*Hospital. That raises some serious questions about him being a secret Jamaican. 😃 Trump’s a secret Rasta! Not as bad as those secret Muslims, but still… ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/130 "2011-03-30T14:51:11Z")
Trump’s business technique is clever - he puts together a project, incorporates it so his exposure is minimal, and persuades others to put money into the project. WHen it does well, he gets a share; when it fails, the project goes Chapter 11. Even so, Trump meanwhile collects management fees and name licensing fees. Are bankers and Wall Street types smart? Many did collude in the most massive economic collapse in history, even though a lot of people saw it coming. SO is there any surprise if they invest in poorly conceived Trumpgedies even if a normal person should be able to see how misguided the idea is? They are as open to blarney and salesmen fast tak as anyone else. Can Trump win as a Republican? Huh? Seriously? We’re talking as others mentioned, about a guy who has spent decades promoting himself as a high-flying rich douchebag type. While Republicans have managed for decades to convice the gulllible (think Joe Plumber) that the poor people should identify with the rich and give them tax breaks and such, I doubt that Trump’s values will resonate with the average Joe P. Foreign-registered planes are only the tip of the iceberg. McCain had to defend having too many houses. What about Trump? Wait til his opponents trot out people who invested in his projects and are now poor starving widows on welfare (I’m sure they’ll find one) while Trump walked away with tens of millions in management fees… If McCain had to flip-flop on abortion and pretend to not be too rich to suck up to the tea-party class, what about Trump and his multiple wives, golfing on the roof of a NYC tower thenflying off in a helicopter? About the birthir issue - look how he handled the ROsie O’Donnell thing. He got incensed because she said (a) he’d been divorced twice and cheated on his wives, and (b) he’d been bankrupt. He called her a degenerate (hmmm…code for “gay is bad”?) and kept repeating insults as loudly as possible. We see the same insincere crap about Obama. he says enough so the birther nuts think he’s one of them. He repeats the message often enough and loud enough that the contrary message does not get through. He must know this line of crap is obviously false. (I agree… the only person I remember from kindergarden was a neighbour Tomas who’s nanny would yell “Tomas! A toma la leche!”. I had for years a golden book from Anne Searcy, whom I have no idea what she looked or where she is now. For the rest of 20 or 30 kids from 2 kindergarten classes, Grades 1, and 2 - I have no idea. The same class follows me through from Grade 3 to 8, but anyone who came and went in Grade 3 - I can’t remember them. I suppose if one of them had been Donald Trump or a serial killer, my class pictures would be worth something, but my folks never bought any.) As for running the country - politics is the art of compromise. If you push politicians too hard, they know lots of ways to push back. Bush cleverly alientated the one Republican senator in 2001 that would have given him a majority in the senate, by taking offense to legitimate complaints. Someone who threatens and does not give at all will find that they will get nothing done. Bush got by for 6 years wrapping himself in the flag, but toward the end even he was wearing thin in his own party. Plus, so many of these reformers, especially from outside the system, get into office claiming that government is full of wasteful fat cats, and promising to clean tihngs out - only to find that the reality is very different, that the system is operating pretty close to lean for that sort organization. Savings will be minimal. Any attempt to cut real spending will bump up against serious interests (Why do you think the spending is there to start with?). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/131 "2011-03-30T17:04:06Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > [http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-headlines/celebrity-lawsuits/how-does-trump-repeatedly-file](http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-headlines/celebrity-lawsuits/how-does-trump-repeatedly-file) In a nutshell. Trump is a phoney who is a serial bankruptcy filer. Got enough money and power, you can wind up on top again and again. You can always find people who think having money makes you special and will lick your boots. SA loves the flavor. Um, figuring out a way to maximize your profits and minimize your losses is the exact opposite of being a phony. Anyone with his money could do exactly what he did–it’s probably standard procedure. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/132 "2011-03-31T14:01:54Z")
Has “The Donald” produced his actual birth certificate? Last I heard was that he showed off a fuzzy printing from a microfiche that was supposedly of an official document. I must point out that neither the copy from a microfiche or the microfiche itself is the original official document. Just asking. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/133 "2011-03-31T17:20:19Z")
Mr. Trump is too busy accusing [Ayers](http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/31/donald-trump-claims-obamas-dreams-of-my-father-ghost-written/) of writing Obama’s autobiography to release his own birth certificate. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/134 "2011-03-31T19:26:39Z")
Quote from the Avers link in post #133 Trump responded to criticism from GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty that questioning Obama’s citizenship should be off-limits, by telling Ingraham, “I’m proud” to be called a birther. “These are great people. These are really great American people. These are hardworking, **unbelievable** , the salt-of-the-earth people.” Bold and underlined portion mine. Yes, birthers are unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/135 "2011-03-31T19:39:29Z")
“…the common clay of the new west. You know,…Morons.” I could almost hear that at the end as i read that quote. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/136 "2011-03-31T20:49:53Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Quote from the Avers link in post #133 > Trump responded to criticism from GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty that questioning Obama’s citizenship should be off-limits, by telling Ingraham, “I’m proud” to be called a birther. “These are great people. These are really great American people. These are hardworking, **unbelievable** , the salt-of-the-earth people.” > > Bold and underlined portion mine. Yes, birthers are unbelievable. I saw something else where he said he didn’t like the term “birther” and thought it should be “truther”. Dude can’t even tell the truth about that awful combover. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/137 "2011-03-31T21:44:20Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I saw something else where he said he didn’t like the term “birther” and thought it should be “truther”. He thinks _that’s_ more credible? Has he not heard of 9/11 truthers? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/138 "2011-04-02T14:59:37Z")
So now Republicans are trying to blame Democrats for Donald Trump. [ > [@](#): > > Donald Trump has joined the “birthers,” the odd movement that questions President Barack Obama’s Hawaii birth certificate. That’s a good way for the celebrity billionaire to appear as though he’s making a serious run for the Republican presidential nomination, which he says he is considering. It also makes him sound like a secret agent for the Democrats. > > That oddly credible possibility has been raised by frustrated conservatives like radio talk-show host John Gibson, who sounded furious earlier this week at the way birthers make Republicans look like the crazy party. ]([http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-03-30/news/ct-oped-0330-page-20110330\_1\_birther-movement-donald-trump-secret-agent](http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-03-30/news/ct-oped-0330-page-20110330_1_birther-movement-donald-trump-secret-agent)) [ > [@Robert Schlesinger](#): > > I’m becoming concerned that a certain political figure in the 2012 presidential field has a sinister, hidden agenda. We all like to laugh and be dismissive–but it’s increasingly hard to ignore the questions about his birth certificate. One has to ask: Is Donald Trump, seemingly a “birther” running for the GOP presidential nod, really an Obama sleeper agent? ]([http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2011/03/29/is-birther-donald-trump--a-democratic-sleeper-agent](http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2011/03/29/is-birther-donald-trump--a-democratic-sleeper-agent)) ---
**Author:** ![Rotlla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Rotlla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rotlla)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/139 "2011-04-02T16:01:16Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Not even close. Trump inherited $35 to $50 million (IIRC) when his father died, but he’s multiplied his inheritance many times over since then, and in a much tougher market. Forbes estimated Trump’s net worth in 2007 at 3 billion dollars. > > You can read a faily comprehensive account of Trump’s career ups and downs in the Wiki article on him [here](http://server15.kproxy.com/servlet/redirect.srv/slxv/sjsoqcwzyn/sgy/p1/wiki/Donald_Trump). Yes, his frequent bankruptcies are a testament to his skills as a businessman. Is The Donald aware that declaring bankruptcy is not a good option should be manage to be elected CEO of America? ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044/140 "2011-04-02T16:53:53Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Well, she does have a more natural tan then the current one. 😃 Holy crap. That should be one of the funniest things I’ve read lately, but it’s true. How did we get here? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-is-now-a-birther/575044.md?page=8)