I have always accepted the President's claim that he was born in Hawaii. Partly because it seemed likely, and partly because if you're a "birther" you probably also have to hang out (on the Internet, at least) with the 9/11 "truther" lunatics.
It's an important issue. If he was not born in the U.S. (given the other known circumstances of his birth, mainly his Kenyan non-citizen father), then he cannot be President of the United States. There is no available interpretation of the Constitution and related U.S. statutes (8 U.S.C. sec. 1401, 1403) that would allow it, if I understand matters correctly. His birth in the United States is, because of the other circumstances of his birth, a critical requirement. If he was not born in the U.S., he would have no alternative but to resign, or be instantly impeached and removed.
Yes, yes, even if that would result in President Biden. That's another reason I'm not a birther.
So now, the State of Hawaii, or at least it's rambunctious governor, says that there is documentary proof, if not a gilt-edged birth certificate, that proves his birth in that lovely venue. But, says Hawaii, it can't release it because of a law forbidding release of birth info without the consent of the one claiming to have been born.
So I would expect the President to prepare a letter, certified, return receipt requested, to the Hawaii secretary of state authorizing her to release that instrument forthwith.
If he doesn't, then Congressional leaders should call upon him to do it.
If he still doesn't, those leaders should investigate the circumstances of the President's birth, and subpoena it. If it demonstrates his birth in Hawaii, we're done. If not, we're back where we were.
Now, it must be said that the Constitution does not require a birth certificate or any documentation of any kind. It only requires that its requirements be met, and there is more than one way to prove that. If you're willing to take the word of Hawaii's governor that he knows Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, that's fine. That's not nothing, that's evidence of birth. It's not great evidence, but it's something. Is it enough for something this important? Not for me, but I'm willing to listen to all nondocumentary evidence of where the President was born.
The Baby Obama
I am very, very regretfully coming to the conclusion that this topic requires some kind of official inquiry, and I would be hopeful that Hawaii can be persuaded to part with what it claims to be definitive evidence on this subject.
Hey . . . do we have any baby pictures of Barack Obama taken outdoors?
