Obama Citizenship

Gibbs Asked About Birth Certificate; Buzz on $50,000 Billboard Initiative

By Phil

WorldNetDaily’s initiatives into pushing for questions to be answered on Barack Hussein Obama’s eligibility continue to make headway.

WND’s White House correspondent, Les Kinsolving, was given a chance to ask White House Press Secretary John Gibbs about the eligibility issue (actual question occurs at approximately the 44 minute mark):

The report went on:

It was the first time any member of the press corps has publicly asked a member of the administration a question directly related to Obama’s constitutional eligibility for office as a “natural born citizen.” …

The “Certification of Live Birth” posted online and widely touted as “Obama’s birth certificate” does not in any way prove he was born in Hawaii, since the same “short-form” document is easily obtainable for children not born in Hawaii. The true “long-form” birth certificate ? which includes information like the name of the birth hospital and attending physician ? is the only document that can prove Obama was born in Hawaii, but to date he has not permitted its release for public or press scrutiny.

Oddly, though congressional hearings were held to determine whether Sen. John McCain was constitutionally eligible to be president as a “natural born citizen,” no controlling legal authority ever sought to verify Obama’s claim to a Hawaiian birth.

Both the petition and the billboard campaign are part of what Farah calls an independent “the truth and transparency campaign.”

At today’s White House briefing, Gibbs was contentious with Kinsolving before he ever asked his question. Calling on WND’s longtime correspondent, he said: “Lester, I’m a glutton for punishment.”

Kinsolving said: “Thank you, thank you, very much. Just one question concerning what the president said in his speech on Thursday, and I quote, ‘I ran for president promising transparency, and I meant what I said. This is why, whenever possible, we will make information available to the American people so they can make informed judgments and hold us accountable.’ End of quote. Do you remember that statement?”

Gibbs: “I can confirm that he said that.”

Kinsolving: “Good. In consideration of this very good promise of transparency, why can’t the president respond to the petition to requests of 400,000 American citizens by releasing a certified copy of his long-form birth certificate listing hospital ? (laughter) ? 400,000. ?”

Gibbs: “Are you looking for the President’s birth certificate?”

Kinsolving: “Yes.”

Gibbs: “It’s on the Internet, Lester.”

Kinsolving: “No, no, no — the long form listing his hospital and physician.” (Laughter.)

Gibbs: “Lester, this question in many ways continues to astound me. The state of Hawaii provided a copy with the seal of the President’s birth. I know there are apparently at least 400,000 people ? (laughter) ? that continue to doubt the existence of and the certification by the state of Hawaii of the president’s birth there, but it’s on the Internet because we put it on the Internet for each of those 400,000 to download. I certainly hope by the fourth year of our administration that we’ll have dealt with this burgeoning birth controversy.”

And with that, Gibbs ended the briefing.

“This is what the White House thinks of American citizens who take the Constitution seriously,” said Farah in response to Gibbs’ response. “I think I speak for the 400,000 petitioners when I say disregard for the Constitution is no laughing matter.”

Farah was pleased, however, that the question was finally asked of a member of the administration ? in public and on the record. He said it is likely to provide new impetus to the petition and billboard campaigns.

As long-time readers will recall, a spokeswoman for the current President once characterized such questions as “garbage.”

In related news, the London Times caught wind of the “Where’s the Birth Certificate?” billboard initiative:

WASHINGTON ? When WND Editor and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Farah launched his billboard campaign focusing attention on Barack Obama’s constitutional eligibility for office, he predicted the effort would attract media curiosity ? perhaps even more than the central issue of whether the president is truly a “natural born citizen.”

Less than a week after the billboard campaign began, media have already begun showing interest ? even though, so far, only one billboard, an electronic one, is up and running as a result of the more than $50,000 raised so far.

Over the weekend, the London Times found it an interesting business story, reporting, “A right-wing website has collected more than $10,000 so far to help to fund a series of billboards to be erected around America questioning Barack Obama’s credentials for holding office. ‘Where’s The Birth Certificate?’ the posters will demand.”

Back stateside, the Washington Examiner also picked up on the campaign.

Blogs like StoptheACLU.com also weighed in.

“The buzz is starting,” promised Farah. “Directly investigating why Obama steadfastly refuses to show his birth certificate is considered bad form by most of my colleagues. But they don’t mind beating around the edges of this story ? especially if involves poking fun at the one news service that is out of step with the rest.”

As the campaign grows, Farah says, so will “the buzz.” Beginning yesterday, WND placed a permanent image of a billboard on the front page for visitors curious to find out what the campaign is all about. It directs readers to a description of the billboard campaign, the petition for accountability on the eligibility issue that now sports nearly 400,000 electronic “signatories,” a directory of dozens of WND stories on the issue and and a place to purchase “Where’s the birth certificate?” magnetized bumper stickers.

Several months ago, Farah launched a petition campaign on the question of eligibility. It has now collected nearly 400,000 names demanding proof from Obama. Just last week, he announced the billboard campaign, which has already raised more than $50,000 in donations from the public.

Both efforts are part of what Farah calls an independent “the truth and transparency campaign.”

A current listing of citizen grand jury updates and eligibility lawsuits can be found here.

-Phil

Full post as published by The Right Side of Life on May 27, 2009 (boomark / email).