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Obama and Birthers: Sen. David Vitter Says It's Valid Question for Courts

1 year ago
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He didn't exactly join the chorus, but Louisiana Sen. David Vitter says the lingering question of whether President Obama was born in the United States is a "valid" issue for consideration by the legal system.

So-called birthers believe the president is not a native-born American, despite repeated confirmations by Hawaiian officials who have examined his 1961 birth certificate. The matter continues to circulate on the Internet in an on-going effort to de-legitimatize his standing as president.

At a town hall meeting in Metairie, a conservative New Orleans suburb, Vitter that he supports "conservative legal organizations and others who would bring that to court," the Associated Press reported, citing a video of the Sunday event. "I think it is valid and most possibly effective grounds to do it," he said to an audience member who asked what Vitter would do about Obama's "refusal to produce a valid birth certificate."
Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana
But Vitter also said it would be a "big mistake" to focus on "that issue" and become distracted from the challenge of defeating Obama and his allies at the ballot box. He said most of what he knows about the birther issue came through the news media filter.

Vitter, a first-term Republican running for reelection this year, had his own brush with controversy in 2007 when his name appeared on the telephone records of a Washington madam's "escort service." He apologized, but denied other reports of relationships with New Orleans prostitutes. A spokesman for his Democratic opponent, Rep. Charlie Melancon, called the birth certificate dispute "nonsense."

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18 Comments

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andrc657

Let's hope the good people of Louisiana elect Rep. Charlie Melancon to the senate.

July 13 2010 at 4:09 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
copperkettle3

Republicans believe that only they are entitled to be in the White House and that anyone else is illegitimate. The GOP, the birthers and the tea party are against whatever Obama is for even if they had been for the same issue previously. Like all presidents, Obama is doing some things right and some things poorly, but the continuous critics of Obama discredit themselves because, whatever he is for, they are against, even at the expense of the country. When you place party over country, as the GOP, the birthers and the tea partiers do, you have lost your way.

July 13 2010 at 3:52 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
Bagcap

Two years and all you smart people can't find concrete proof one way or the other, or is it a refusal to accept the truth.

July 13 2010 at 3:43 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
johndeagun

Two years and he hasn't been able to clear up something as simple as this

July 13 2010 at 2:28 PM Report abuse +7 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to johndeagun's comment
puzzleguy1

John: Only a fool gives in to frivolous lawsuits and that is exactly the way to characterize the actions brought by birthers. Notice that everyone of them has been tossed from court with nothing more than a preliminary hearing.

July 13 2010 at 5:12 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
joe

It is not an impossibility that Bobby Jindal would get elected president in 2012. What if that happened and Jindal refused to present his birth certificate? I get really amused at the thought of what the liberals and the main stream media would do.

July 13 2010 at 1:52 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
rastalif

johndeagun and other repubs...stop it..your logic on this issue is irrational..
once again johndeagun and other repubs...let me say this clear and slow for you guys...

OBAMA'S MOTHER WAS A AMERICAN CITIZEN,THEREFOR IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE ON THIS PLANET OBAMA WAS BORN..HE IS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AT BIRTH

can i be any clearer

July 13 2010 at 1:36 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
johndeagun

Recent poll says 70% think Obama's hiding something about his birth and want him to come clean .. but the Obama administration and followers would like you to believe it's just a few nuts that way they don't have to prove anything

July 13 2010 at 1:19 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to johndeagun's comment
rtyree

If Obama has nothing to hide, what's the harm in producing it? Why is he above the law?

July 13 2010 at 1:08 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to rtyree's comment
tanirocker

He HAS produced it. Did you read the part of the article that said, "despite repeated confirmations by Hawaiian officials who have examined his 1961 birth certificate?"

July 13 2010 at 1:22 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
rtyree

Well, if the rules for presidential candidates or holding the office require that you are a natural born citizen of the country, it is a valid reason to require proof of such. It is a rule that to drive a car you have to have a license and if requested by police, you have to present it as proof. Why not in this instance?
I say he's right. OH, and the thing about McCain. He was born in panama while his father, a U.S. Military man was stationed there. He was born on a U.S. military base, which, is considered U.S. soil.

July 13 2010 at 1:06 PM Report abuse +5 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to rtyree's comment
Tom

Please state the base for your conclusion. A military base is not U.S. soil.

July 13 2010 at 1:18 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
joe

Vitter is constantly attacked for his connection to a prostitute while others with media protection get a free pass for worse. I noted that Vitter said it would be a mistake to focus on the birth certificate issue which i take to mean that he himself would not pursue it. Louisians lost one conservative to the issue of indiscretion and that was Bob livingston who resigned from office saying that Bill Clinton should do the same. Well we all know that Bill Clinton is still glorified by the Democrats . So all I can say is that Vitter will get my vote over any Democrat anytime anywhere and for any office and he will win his election is a landslide.

July 13 2010 at 12:42 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to joe's comment
tanirocker

Vitter has been caught with prostitutes on more than one occasion. When Eliot Spitzer was connected to hookers, he had to resign, but the GOP has given Vitter a pass. The statute of limitations is the only reason that he avoided criminal charges. Vitter has opposed legislation to protect women who are victims of rape, and has introduced legislation to cap the liability of oil companies. It's a shame that people in Louisiana can't seem to recognize his complete lack of ethics.

July 13 2010 at 1:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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