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Meet the Birthers in Congress

Salon calls out lawmakers reluctant to admit Obama's a citizen

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 28, 2009 11:40 AM CDT

(Newser) – The “birther” movement isn’t relegated to backwoods crazies—many members of Congress are perfectly willing to throw fuel on the fire. Salon calls out the Hill’s known birthers:

  • Rep. Bill Posey: Congress’ first birther, the Florida Republican is the sponsor of a bill requiring presidents to submit a birth certificate. Says he can’t “swear on a stack of bibles,” that Obama’s a citizen.

  • Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla.: Says birthers “have a point,” and “I don’t discourage it.”
  • Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.: “Well, his father was Kenyan, and they said he was born in Hawaii, but I haven’t seen any birth certificate,” he once declared. A spokesman later said Shelby didn’t doubt Obama’s eligibility.
  • Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind.: The guy who once shot a pumpkin to demonstrate how Bill Clinton could have killed Vince Foster is now co-sponsoring Posey’s bill.
For more, see the source, and the videos.

Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, yawns during Senate session, Thursday, April 12, 2007, in Tallahassee, Fla.
Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, yawns during Senate session, Thursday, April 12, 2007, in Tallahassee, Fla.   (AP Photo/Phil Coale)
In this  Aug. 27, 2008 file photo, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., Oklahoma's senior senator, is pictured during an AP interview in Oklahoma City.
In this Aug. 27, 2008 file photo, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., Oklahoma's senior senator, is pictured during an AP interview in Oklahoma City.   (AP Photo/File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Congressman John Campbell appears on Hardball with Chris Matthews to discuss the birth certificate bill.   (RepJohnCampbellCA48)
A man asks Republicans if they believe Obama is a natural born citizen.   (firedoglake)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 20 comments
Shannonals
Jul 29, 2009 5:38 AM CDT
Perhaps questioning Palin about the birth of her child is a bit much. Let that issue die, the child has never hurt anyone, so it should be a closed issue.
Shannonals
Jul 29, 2009 5:37 AM CDT
C/K I love how a man who has never served his country has the nerve to call others, "Red". Do us all a favor, sit back in your easy chair sipping your latte and have a nice day couch warrior.
Shannonals
Jul 29, 2009 5:35 AM CDT
C/K your mentally challeneged aren;t you? You accuse people of smearing people, yet you've been doing this since 08'. You continue to sprout out that the President has spent millions on lawyers fees, prove it, show one small piece of eveidence. You can't, the only thing you can do is repeat the claims of others. Talk is cheap, and right about now your not worth a penny.
 

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