# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 141
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2801 "2011-04-14T15:45:42Z")
Arizona’s state senate has passed a bill which would require candidates for the presidency to submit their LONG FORM birth certificate to state authorities before their names can appear on the ballot. But don’t worry: if someone doesn’t happen to have their long form birth certificate available for some reason, one can present two other supporting documents from this [list](http://www.azleg.gov//FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/hb2177s.htm&Session_ID=102): > [@](#): > > (a) Early baptismal or circumcision certificate. > > (b) Hospital birth record. > > (c) Postpartum medical record for the mother or child signed by the doctor or midwife or the person who delivered or examined the child after birth. I suppose the circumcision certificate could be a subtle effort to prevent the candidacy of ANOTHER secret Muslim president, or god forbid, a girl president. I also am quite surprised that there is such a thing as a “circumcision certificate.” I thought doctors just put one of those Jiffy-Lube stickers on boys’ hips, reminding them to return for service every six months, and that fluid top-offs are free. Does anyone here have their circumcision certificate? Perhaps framed in their den, or locked away in a safety deposit box? I’m even more hopeful that the anti-male genital mutilation squad will weigh in against the Arizona legislature making it more difficult for non-circumcised presidential candidates to get on the ballot. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2802 "2011-04-14T15:52:33Z")
I was circumcised as a young 'un in the UK (for medical reasons, rather than a matter of course; at that time, I think only 1 in 10 British men was circumcised) and I’m pretty sure I don’t have a certificate. I mean, it’s really not that difficult to prove that I’m circumcised without using paperwork. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2803 "2011-04-14T16:36:50Z")
How the hell does a baptismal certificate show that you were born in the USA (and spending half your life just a coverin’ up?). It’s not like the priest/minister will only baptize citizens. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2804 "2011-04-14T16:53:45Z")
Sorry for the double post - doesn’t the AZ law also run into problems with the requirement to respect other state’s laws? For instance, I don’t believe that Hawaii will actually issue the mythical long-form certificate - per their rules, the standard form that they issue is the official indication of birth in Hawaii. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2805 "2011-04-14T16:59:45Z")
Not really. They have to respect other states’ _acts_, but If Hawaii won’t let you comply with Arizona’s law, that’s (Constitutionally speaking) your problem and Hawaii’s, not Arizona’s. You could equally argue that Hawaii isn’t respecting Arizona’s law by not releasing the certificate (although for what it’s worth I don’t see any way that the copy Obama has produced wouldn’t satisfy the bill, assuming it passes the AZ House). The Full Faith and Credit Clause is about substantive law, though, not procedure. In other words, while Arizona has to honor a Hawaiian record, it can require that the record be submitted or authenticated in a certain manner. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2806 "2011-04-14T17:49:16Z")
They can’t require Hawaii to authenticate it in a way that violates Hawaii state law. Ergo, the requirement that they accept Hawaii’s document pretty much requires that they accept Hawaii’s authentication as valid. ---
**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:** [April 14, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2807 "2011-04-14T17:50:03Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > How the hell does a baptismal certificate show that you were born in the USA (and spending half your life just a coverin’ up?). It’s not like the priest/minister will only baptize citizens. It doesn’t, but Muslims don’t get baptized. See where they’re going? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2808 "2011-04-14T17:52:38Z")
It’s my understanding that they generally circumcise their baby boys. I could be mistaken, but I don’t believe that I am. If anyone wishes to assert that I am, I’d appreciate a cite. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2809 "2011-04-14T17:54:51Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > They can’t require Hawaii to authenticate it in a way that violates Hawaii state law. Ergo, the requirement that they accept Hawaii’s document pretty much requires that they accept Hawaii’s authentication as valid. No, it doesn’t. They can simply say “tough shit” to the person who wants to get on the ballot. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2810 "2011-04-14T18:03:28Z")
I’m very dubious about that. In the event that this is signed into law in Arizona, _and_ an attempt is made to use it to keep the President off the ballot in 2012, I do not expect to see it survive a court challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2811 "2011-04-14T22:24:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I mean, it’s really not that difficult to prove that I’m circumcised without using paperwork. Yes, but how do we know that the circumcision isn’t one of those cheap foreign knock-offs? Where is your genuine certificate of authenticity? I think the Arizona law is saying that if you don’t have the right paperwork, your circumcised penis is not a valid form of identification. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2812 "2011-04-14T22:28:56Z")
I have a certificate of circumcision. Unfortunately, it’s not the long form. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2813 "2011-04-15T01:35:40Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I have a certificate of circumcision. > > Unfortunately, it’s not the long form. Just the prepuce, then? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2814 "2011-04-15T01:40:14Z")
Ignorance is _bris_. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2815 "2011-04-15T01:41:36Z")
I grow weary of saying this. Go. To. Your. Roo– No, actually that was pretty funny. We’re cool. ---
**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 15, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2816 "2011-04-15T01:55:01Z")
Wisconsin’s Gov. told a House committee today: [ > [@Gov. Scott Walker](#): > > Sometimes bipartisanship is not so good. ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_PARTISAN\_GOVERNING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-04-14-21-32-02](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PARTISAN_GOVERNING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-04-14-21-32-02)) I’m guessing he wouldn’t feel that way if it wasn’t him doing the power play, tho. ---
**Author:** ![Batfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Batfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batfish)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2817 "2011-04-15T02:55:47Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I was circumcised as a young 'un in the UK (for medical reasons, rather than a matter of course; at that time, I think only 1 in 10 British men was circumcised) and I’m pretty sure I don’t have a certificate. I mean, it’s really not that difficult to prove that I’m circumcised without using paperwork. How would being circumcised in the UK qualify you as a presidential candidate in Arizona? ---
**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 15, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2818 "2011-04-15T02:58:12Z")
> [@Batfish](#): > > How would being circumcised in the UK qualify you as a presidential candidate in Arizona? For that matter, how would being circumcised in the US prove that you were born in the US? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2819 "2011-04-15T03:17:33Z")
> [@Batfish](#): > > How would being circumcised in the UK qualify you as a presidential candidate in Arizona? I think you may have missed the point of my post. > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > For that matter, how would being circumcised in the US prove that you were born in the US? What’s he hiding? Why won’t he release _the foreskin_? ---
**Author:** ![Oldeb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ea666f/32.png) [@Oldeb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oldeb)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/2820 "2011-04-15T03:44:11Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I think the Arizona law is saying that if you don’t have the right paperwork, your circumcised penis is not a valid form of identification. But if he mushroom stamps his baptismal certificate then it’s all good, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=140) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=142)