Obama is in trouble; the only thing Roland Martin can say in defense is that Obama is president. He side-steps the issue of documentation entirely. His body language is revealing as well. He is angry that any one dare question Soetoro at all. Martin can barely control himself even when Dobbs tries to calm him down: really infantile. Martin's position is simply indignation, not a reasoned, rational response. In his histrionic response it is difficult to understand Martin but I believe he says at one point that this is simply "just a law," the point is irrelevant. The Constitution is not just a law and we must adhere to a rule of law and not of men or we will face the consequences.
Section 1 of Article Two of the United States Constitution states:
“No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States."
The proposed legislation is reasonable. Since proper procedure was not followed this time, in order to prevent this travesty from happening again, the law should pass. We need to verify candidates for the presidency, and have a clear procedure in place, to properly vet candidates. Most likely the reasons people dropped the ball in Obama's case is: 1) the Democrats did not highlight the issue for fear of disqualifying Soetoro; 2) the media did not investigate the issue because of their love affair with Obama; and 3) the usual vetting process that worked in the past do not apply anymore. As a demographically changing America we can not assume a faithfulness to this country and its ideals any more. The challenge for the founders was to create a Republic of Americans. In the intervening period, American politicians have sold our birthright to the highest bidders: China, Saudi Arabia, and other international interests.
Transcript:
LOU DOBBS: And the left-wing media launching an all-out attack against me because I simply called for transparency on the issue of the president’s birth certificate and said the president is a U.S. citizen. A comment, by the way, that was not quoted by the left-wing media. We’ll examine this controversy in our face-off debate here tonight.
DOBBS: I think the president of the United States is a citizen. But what I don’t understand is why he hasn’t just produced it to get this — this noise out of the way.
I believe Barack Obama is a citizen of the United States, folks. Don’t you? But I do have a couple of little questions, like you. Why not just provide a copy of the birth certificate? That’s entirely within the president’s power to do so. Then, all of this nonsense goes away.
I don’t know what the reality is. Do I believe he is a citizen? Yes, I do, absolutely, but I — I would think it would be a nice thing to produce that birth certificate.
DOBBS: Isn’t it interesting not a single outlet in the left-wing national media, just that little part of the national media, chose to include a single one of those quotes from me? We will have much more on the issue of the president’s birth certificate in our face-off debate — next.
DOBBS: President Obama promised transparency and openness in his administration. Yet, he’s chosen not to release his original birth certificate or a copy of it. And a number of Americans are asking, why not? The left-wing media has attacked me because I simply asked the question.
Meanwhile, the state of Hawaii says it can’t release a paper copy of the president’s original birth certificate because they say the state government discarded the original document when the health department records went electronic some eight years ago.
That explanation, however, has not satisfied some critics.
DOBBS: Joining me now, Roland Martin. He’s CNN contributor, syndicated columnist. And joining us as well, Congressman Ted Poe. Before we get started, I want to be clear where I stand, because the — the left-wing media kind of forgot to leave out — kind of left a few things out. It was inconvenient to their stories. Just — just one statement, very quickly, if you will. Play that.
DOBBS: I think the president of the United States is a citizen. But what I don’t understand is why he hasn’t just produced it to get this — this noise out of the way. I believe Barack Obama is a citizen of the United States, folks. Don’t you? But I do have a couple of little questions, like you. Why not just provide a copy of the birth certificate? That’s entirely within the president’s power.
DOBBS: Why not? That’s the question, Roland Martin. What’s the answer?
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, first and foremost, he’s produced the document he received from the state of Hawaii.
MARTIN: Now, you are saying, where’s the original? According to the state of Hawaii, that is the document that establishes where he was born. So, what is the issue?
DOBBS: So, you don’t think…
DOBBS: So, you don’t think the president has a copy?
MARTIN: No, but what is the issue?
DOBBS: Well, the issue is…
MARTIN: I mean, he’s the president. He’s been certified. He’s in office.
DOBBS: Well, he’s a president. I mean, he’s not like a — I mean, you make it sound like he’s been anointed something beyond that.
MARTIN: No, no, he’s a president of the United States, the 44th.
DOBBS: Yes. Yes.
MARTIN: So, what — what is the point? I mean, exactly where is the story in this? If he has presented a document, the state of Hawaii has confirmed that — that he was indeed born there, what’s the issue?
DOBBS: Ted Poe, Congressman, what’s the — what’s the issue?
REP. TED POE (R), TEXAS: Well, the president has not produced a birth certificate. He has produced what is a birth announcement from the state of Hawaii. And this could all be settled if he would just produce the birth certify call. And that’s why we have introduced legislation that, in future elections, that the president prove that he is a resident for 14 years, that he’s over 35, and that he’s a native-born American. And that applies to everybody, and we get rid of all this controversy, and we move on down the road.
MARTIN: Congressman, it’s nonsense. First of all, you were a state judge in Texas. I was born and raised in Houston. I remember seeing your stories all the time. My dad, when I got him got a passport, he didn’t have his original birth certificate. He went to the Houston Department of Health and got a copy of his birth certificate. It satisfied his passport, satisfied the State Department. So, how can you say that’s legitimate; oh, but the president has not presented what the state of Hawaii said is an official document with their seal on it?
POE: Because it is not a birth certificate. It’s not even a copy of the birth certificate. It is a birth announcement. It is like me sending out a birth announcement for one of my children…
MARTIN: No. What is in the newspaper is a birth announcement.
POE: And that’s what it is.
MARTIN: That is an official document. What is in the newspaper is a birth announcement, Congressman. Come on.
DOBBS: Let — let — if I may interject…
DOBBS: … do we have a — could we just put up a copy of that certificate — certificate of live birth? What you are looking at there, which I believe is the copy that comes from FactCheck.org or Annenberg, there’s no reference there to the attending physician. There’s no reference there to the hospital in which he was born. It is a certificate that refers to the fact that another certificate exists.
MARTIN: Is it an official state document?
DOBBS: I’m sorry?
MARTIN: Is it an official state document of the state of Hawaii?
DOBBS: Well, let me try this again, so I can be really clear about it. It is a document that says there’s another document. It does not include that — you are referring to your father’s birth certificate. A copy of his birth certificate would have the doctor, the hospital that he was born in, correct? And this is the — and, by the way, this is just what people are concerned about.
MARTIN: No, no, whose people, first of all? You got 13 percent…
DOBBS: … 600,000 people who have signed a petition.
MARTIN: Six hundred thousand. Thirteen percent of Americans, 39 million, still think he is Muslim. And we have done everything, Lou, to debunk that as an absolute lie. So, it is irrelevant.
DOBBS: OK. If you want to make it irrelevant, that’s fine.
POE: Well, I don’t know why you are getting so…
DOBBS: Yes, go ahead, Congressman.
POE: Well, I don’t know why you are getting so upset.
MARTIN: Because, Congressman, you probably — because you probably have better things to do, Congressman, than this silly little law here.
POE: … certificate for McCain. They were — your side was…
MARTIN: No, no, no, no, Congressman. Congressman, let me correct you with something.
POE: And, so, he produced his birth certificate..
MARTIN: Congressman, I want to…
POE: … territories of Arizona.
MARTIN: Congressman, Congressman, nice try. But, first of all, I voted Republicans and Democrats. So, don’t try the “your side.”
MARTIN: I thought the left-wing people were nuts as well. I just want to correct you on that one.
POE: Why are you so upset? Produce the birth certificate. That’s all you have got to do.
MARTIN: No, no, because it is silly. It is silly.
MARTIN: It’s silly.
MARTIN: Are you losing sleep over this?
DOBBS: Look, Roland, look, Roland…
MARTIN: I mean, Lou, are you losing sleep over this?
DOBBS: Roland, here’s what I would like you to do. I would like you to remember, if you would — and I’m — and I’m trying to be as nice as I can be, but you are yelling and you’re getting awfully excited about something that, you know, doesn’t require this level of…
MARTIN: Well, I think it is hilarious.
DOBBS: Then laugh. But don’t — please, don’t…
MARTIN: But it’s utterly hilarious, Lou.
DOBBS: The congressman might take your remarks a different way. And I’m asking is that you just – you know, relax just a bit.
And let’s take a look at headlines from “The New York Times,” if we may, from last year, when at — at question was Senator John McCain’s citizenship, and see if we can see a difference in the way in which they have approached this — this issue.
This is “The New York Times.” “A hint of new life to the McCain birth issue.” “McCain’s canal zone birth prompts queries about whether that rules him out” — The New York Times,” and, in July of last year, with an article. I mean, it goes on. The issue of “Justices turn back on a challenge on Obama that has stopped squall of Internet-fueled rumors.” There’s an obvious difference in tone here from “The New York Times” when talking about John McCain than there is when they were talking about Barack Obama.
MARTIN: And I don’t care about the “New York Times” tone. The issue there…
DOBBS: But I do. And that’s why I bring it up.
MARTIN: Lou, your issue, though, is about a certificate. It’s not about how the media is covering it.
DOBBS: No, no. No, no.
MARTIN: So, which one is it?
DOBBS: My — my issue is this, OK? When this could be dispelled so quickly, and — and simply by producing it, why not do it?
MARTIN: He has produced a document that is satisfactory, but it’s not satisfactory to you. So, Lou, he’s not here to satisfy Lou Dobbs. He’s the president of the United States. He probably has other things that’s on his mind than satisfying Lou Dobbs.
DOBBS: Yes. And does that, then, what, just dismiss the concern?
MARTIN: No. He has presented a document that is legal. In the state of Hawaii, it is legal. It is a document. It’s there. Now, because you’re not satisfied, OK. And, Lou, if this…
DOBBS: Don’t worry about my — don’t worry about my satisfaction.
MARTIN: No, no.
MARTIN: Lou, you’re the one who is still making this an issue.
DOBBS: No, no, please. Again, did you hear what I said?
MARTIN: Yes.
DOBBS: I believe he’s a citizen.
MARTIN: OK. So, why even continue the story? Is it keeping you up at night? It is a non-issue. It is irrelevant. You say so many Americans care.
MARTIN: No, it is an irrelevant issue. It’s been established. He’s the president.
DOBBS: All right. All right.
MARTIN: What is the big deal?
DOBBS: Is there a big deal here, Congressman Poe?
POE: Well, I don’t know that it’s a big deal, but the best way we can prevent anything from happening in the future is produce the birth certificate.
And, if you’re going to — if you have your child that wants to be in the little league, you have got to show up with the birth certificate. You have got to prove that he’s a resident. And why can’t the president do that? And that’s all this legislation does, so that, in future elections, we don’t have these disagreements, we don’t have these problems.
DOBBS: Yes.
POE: Just produce the birth certificate. The document from Hawaii is not a birth certificate. That’s the bottom line.
MARTIN: This document…
POE: It’s a legal document, but not the birth certificate.
MARTIN: Congressman, Congressman, this document couldn’t pass by the little league in Hawaii? I mean, I think, if you were still sitting on the bench, you would say this is another one of those irrelevant, useless lawsuits that we see every single day.
POE: I probably wouldn’t say that.
MARTIN: You were a tough judge in justice. And you would probably say, come on, give me a break. Move on, guys. This is a waste of the court’s time and Congress’ time.
DOBBS: So, you’re not content to speak for yourself. You’re going to speak for Congressman Poe as well.
MARTIN: You know what? As somebody who watched him every day, he was a tough judge.
DOBBS: Congressman, Congressman, you get the last word here.
POE: Well, without belaboring the point, in the future elections, you know, the president — candidates — now, this has come up. It came up with Romney. It came up with Goldwater. It came up with McCain. Now it’s come up with Obama. Let’s just get over this by producing a birth certificate in future elections, prove the person was in the country eight — 14 years, they’re over 35, and we won’t have these disagreements. And I think that’s what we ought to do. That’s…
DOBBS: Congressman Poe, by the way, is a co-sponsor of Congressman Posey’s legislation to do precisely that, which he introduced back in March.
Thank you very much for being here.
MARTIN: I will bring my birth certificate in next week, Lou.
DOBBS: You don’t need to, because some would suggest that would be absolutely irrelevant.
DOBBS: Congressman Poe, thank you very much.