Karen Knows Best

Yet another WTH? moment…

Monday, December 8, 2008
Posted in: American Politics, Azteclady Speaks, What the Hell?

For the past year and a half, many of us heard about the rumor that (then) Senator Obama was not a US citizen and, therefore, was not elegible to become President of the US, as per the constitution’s requirement that a candidate be a “natural born citizen” (so, no President Schwarzenegger, sorry).

Proof of his nationality in the form of an original birth certificate from the State of Hawaii was provided. Election day came and history was made.

Applause. Get ready for a new day. Move on.

But wait, not so fast there, buddy! Fat lady hasn’t sung yet.

Apparently there are people out there willing to indulge the fantasies of morons who contend that a birth certificate is not enough proof of citizenship by birth.

Seriously, people, what the fucking hell? Hello? Anyone in there?

Repeat after me: Birth. Certificate. From. The. State. Of. Hawaii.

How more “natural born” can you be than that, I wonder?

10 Comments »

Robin Bayne
December 8
5:13 pm

From what I’ve heard, the certificate produced was a “Certificate of Live Birth” instead of a “Birth Certificate.” (crazy, I know.) But these Live Birth certs don’t work as birth certs— as I can tell you from having one and trying to use it to fly to an island. I had to go back and acquire the “birth cert” because they would not recognize “cert of live birth.” (even though it had the raised seal and all) So that’s my guess as to what happened here.

Teddypig
December 8
5:43 pm

That’s what is so great about America.
Everybody gets their own crackpot even John McCain…

http://johnmccain.dominates.us/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=145

GrowlyCub
December 8
5:51 pm

Even if there were a valid concern about the birth certificate, the fact that he was born to an American citizen mother makes that whole point moot.

The U.S. has two ways to become a ‘natural born citizen’ at birth: being born on U.S. soil (jus solis and the reason so many pregnant women try to get into the country to have their kids born here – automatic citizenship for the kids) and by blood aka by one parent being a U.S. citizen (jus sanguinis).

The Supreme Court refused to hear this case, thankfully!

As if we didn’t have any more important issues to think about with the economy in the toilet and two wars going… what a waste of the court’s time!

Lori
December 8
6:11 pm

Gimme a break already! Sheesh! I got nuthin’

AztecLady
December 8
6:28 pm

Growly, my point is this: how can something like this even become a claim to be heard by any court, let alone all the way to the Supreme Court? (and there is still another of these pending, per the article I linked to)

Seriously, now.

Emmy
December 8
7:09 pm

I had a similar problem with my son. I was living in Japan when he was born, and do not have a birth certificate. What I have is a Report of Birth Abroad from the US Embassy in Tokyo. Made things really sticky when I moved to Hawaii, because we actually had to get a passport for my then 15 month old child and prove he was mine and not stolen. Wonder what other bullcrap he’s going to have to put up with later in life.

GrowlyCub
December 8
8:08 pm

Emmy, if you make sure he keeps a current passport, he should not have major problems. If he has Japanese citizenship that would cause some wrinkles, but as long as you make sure he does what he needs by the deadlines, he should not have issues.

There are ways to retain dual citizenship and I’d recommend it, if that’s the case (not sure if that would work with the Japanese though); I think there’s a way to get him a birth certificate now that you are in the U.S. but I’m not entirely certain about that.

You may want to contact the SSA if you haven’t already.

Eli
December 8
8:24 pm

Emmy, I have one of those Report of Birth Abroad and a German birth certificate. My father was serving with the US Army at the time. Occasionally you, or your son, may run into someone who through ignorance questions it, but for the most part I haven’t had any difficulty. The only PITA is getting your hands on a copy if you need it. My parents ordered several copies the last time they needed it (for my passport app at 16), and I have yet to run out. My sis renewed her passport a few years ago for her honeymoon (took the new hubbie to Germany-his first time in Europe) and had no problems. But I would second the “get him a passport” suggestion. Since its Federal it can override the occasional provincial nitwit.