Re: Obama XVII: Do You Take Your Tea Party with One Sugar or Two?
I respectfully disagree. While the "long form" birth certificate would convince some "birthers," the true believers would simply move the goal posts again and continue their crusade from another perspective. Proponants of the 1980 "October Surprise" wound up asserting that George H. W. Bush flew in an SR-71 "blackbird" to engage in his nefarious negotiations with Iran. Preposterous on its face, that assertion was the only way their time line would work, so that's how it "had" to be.
Take TWA 800. Despite the most exhaustive investigation in aviation history and a total lack of evidence, many people still cling to the notion the plane was "shot down."
Over the decades every claim by JFK conspiracy theorists has been proven to be wrong, a lie or a delusion. That hasn't stopped these claims from coming. Remember the series "The Men Who Killed Kennedy?" It concluded JFK was murdered by Corsican drug dealers! Really?
Belief in a JFK conspiracy has taken on the contours of a religion--impervious to any claims which contradict the core beliefs of its adherants. Similarly the "birthers" and "truthers" are not interested in proof that their theories are wrong. They "know what they know," you know?
Besides, this one case doesn't convince me we need another layer of federal bureaucracy to vet candidates. That could create more mischief than it resolves. Anyway, I think that's a matter for the states to deal with, not Uncle Sam.
On the contrary, at least based on posters on another political board I post on, these people are smart and well educated and would gladly drop the issue immediately. While I clearly don't agree with them the reality is they are basing their opinion on fact... the fact that Obama refuses to produce his long-form birth certificate. Produce the evidence = issue gone... period.
But the point, for me, really is that it shouldn't be a big deal for there to be a law that dictates a simple verification process for candidates for federal office meeting the constitutional requirements for that office. I know common sense law isnt the norm for congress, but this seems like it should have been and easy one to enact some 200 years ago.
I respectfully disagree. While the "long form" birth certificate would convince some "birthers," the true believers would simply move the goal posts again and continue their crusade from another perspective. Proponants of the 1980 "October Surprise" wound up asserting that George H. W. Bush flew in an SR-71 "blackbird" to engage in his nefarious negotiations with Iran. Preposterous on its face, that assertion was the only way their time line would work, so that's how it "had" to be.
Take TWA 800. Despite the most exhaustive investigation in aviation history and a total lack of evidence, many people still cling to the notion the plane was "shot down."
Over the decades every claim by JFK conspiracy theorists has been proven to be wrong, a lie or a delusion. That hasn't stopped these claims from coming. Remember the series "The Men Who Killed Kennedy?" It concluded JFK was murdered by Corsican drug dealers! Really?
Belief in a JFK conspiracy has taken on the contours of a religion--impervious to any claims which contradict the core beliefs of its adherants. Similarly the "birthers" and "truthers" are not interested in proof that their theories are wrong. They "know what they know," you know?
Besides, this one case doesn't convince me we need another layer of federal bureaucracy to vet candidates. That could create more mischief than it resolves. Anyway, I think that's a matter for the states to deal with, not Uncle Sam.
Last edited: