I have ALWAYS voted Democrat for the past twenty some odd years

Jan says: October 30, 2008 Sometime it is a good thing to go back in time!!!!
First, I have ALWAYS voted Democrat for the past twenty some odd years, assisted on Democratic campaigns and hold an advanced degree. I also studied political science in college with a minor in American history. I have followed constitutional law as a hobby although I do not practice in it.

If you are going to claim to be “elite”, i.e. well-informed or better educated than everyone else, please do your legal research before blogging. Your assertion that just because his mother is a U.S. citizen then he is and therefore meets the eligibility requirement contained in the U.S. Constitution is overly simplified and not supported by the Constitution, or the applicable 1961 Federal statutes governing citizenship status confered upon children of U.S. citizens born abroad. And under the applicable law in 1961, together with his mother’s age when she gave birth, he is not conferred the status of a natural born citizen IF HE WAS BORN IN KENYA. Since that is the Constitutional requirement to take the office of President, it matters.

In fact, Senator Obama should know how critical this issue is because he not only is a lawyer, but he taught constitutional law and claims to have a love of this area of the law.

This factual discrepancy did not arise because a stranger stated he knew Senator Obama was born in Kenya not Hawaii. These are statements from HIS Kenyan grandmother whom he knows and has spent time. He’s written a book which is partially about his family in Kenya. By all accounts, his Kenyan grandmother speaks of his accomplishments and claims him as an important grandson and member of his Kenyan family. So she appears to be a credible witness – in fact, she is likely a biased witness in his favor. But she makes these statements publicly.

Given his grandmother’s statements, a responsible canidate should do his utmost to provide the best evidence available to resolve the matter beyond any doubt. What he has provided is a computer generated short form which does not include the hospital information. The original long form would provide this information. The application for issuance of a Certificate of Hawaiian birth would be the best evidence because it is the original source of all the information filled out by his mother and the hospital staff.

He should provide the best evidence to resolve a factual discrepancy from an apparent legitimate source – his grandmother. If for no other reason than to protect to validity of the Constitution and its eligibility requirements for all canidates which run for office governed by this document. If he double deals by not providing the best evidence to resolve the matter, then doesn’t that weaken the respect we hold for the Constitution? If we or he is willing to ignore the Constitution in this matter, then what else within that document is “unimportant” when it interfers with our opinion of what is right or our personal agendas.

Consider this: If this factual discrepancy is resolved after the election and it is proven that he was born in Kenya and not Hawaii, then he is not eligible to take the office of President even if he wins the election and is voted in by the Electoral College in December. He can not even take the Oath as it requires him affirm and swear to uphold the U.S. Constitution. If it is confirmed after he takes office, he arguably can not remain in office under the Constitution. There is no waiver for lack of timeliness in the Constitution. If this is proven, he can’t act as President. Now what will that do to this country that he loves so much.

Again, I would not even be concerned about this other than the fact that his GM in Kenya appears to be a credible source and he has done nothing to explain her statements or why she is wrong. So we have a grandmother who says she was at his birth in Kenya and an abbreviated government document which lacks the name of the hospital in Hawaii. And a candidate who wants me to just ignore his grandmother’s recollection as an eyewitness and accept this document because he says I should.

Also, the fact that the Kenyan government has sealed any records pertaining to Obama until after the election (which I’m trying to verify with a news report) raises the question, why are there records to seal if he wasn’t born there. And why is the Prime Minister of kenya having them sealed anyway. And why did the Prime Minister travel 275 miles across Kenya to visit the Grandmother who made these statements on Monday October 27th of this week? That was reported in a Nairobi newspaper.

Why does Senator Obama not explain to those of us who are concerned about this factual discrepancy why he believes his Kenyan grandmother is mistaken or wrong about his birthplace. Why does he keep pushing a short form which has no hospital information on it when his own grandmother tells it different and when a more informative document exists?

My father once said when you are in a postion of authority or power it is not enough to follow the law but you must also conduct yourself so that you give no appearance of not honoring the letter or the spirit of the law. You have to remain above reproach.

For such an important issue with such a simple solution, I am surprised he hasn’t held himself to this standard as a leader and put the matter to rest with the best available evidence rather than words. He is by all accounts a very intelligent man. His bio and reputation is that he seeks to serve rather than just chase a dollar. However, that does not mean I have to accept his assurances at face value and rely upon his word. I’m surprised he expects me to do so.

To those who have said it is someone else’s responsibility to vet him, no it is his to show he is without a doubt eligible under our Constitution to hold this office.

Jan