Thaindian News

Washington, Apr.28 (ANI): The demand that President Barack Obama prove he is an American citizen by birth and was, therefore, a rightful occupant of the White House, must be seen as a profoundly low and debasing moment in American political life, the New York Times reports.

Disbelief fairly dripped from Obama as he stood at the West Wing lectern on Wednesday.

People are out of work, American soldiers are dying overseas and here were cameras to record him stating that he was born in a Hawaii hospital.

Obama practically begged the public to set aside these distractions, expressing hope that his gesture would end the “silliness” and allow a national debate about budget priorities.

If there was ever any doubt about Mr. Obama’s citizenship, which there was not, the issue was settled years ago when Hawaii released his birth certificate.

The fuller document that Obama had to request contains some extra information, including his parents’ signatures and the name of the hospital where he was born, but it was unnecessary to show his legitimacy.

Several quickly questioned its authenticity. That’s because the birther question was never really about citizenship; it was simply a proxy for those who never accepted the president’s legitimacy, for a toxic mix of reasons involving ideology, deep political anger and, most insidious of all, race.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said the birth certificate issue was “fair game,” and the public was “rightfully” making it an issue.

House Speaker John Boehner grudgingly said in February that he would take Obama “at his word” that he was a citizen, a suggestion that the proof was insufficient.

It is inconceivable that this campaign to portray Obama as the insidious “other” would have been conducted against a white president. (ANI)