Alan Keyes stokes Obama birth certificate controversy

The controversy over the validity of Barack Obama's birth certificate is back on a burner with firebrand conservative Alan Keyes making serious new charges.

In a video (see below) released Friday, Keyes, who lost to Obama in the 2004 U.S. Senate race in Illinois that launched the new president's national political career, calls Obama a communist and usurper and says he refuses to acknowledge the validity of Obama's inauguration over lingering questions in the minds of many conspiracists about the 44th president's birthplace.

The U.S. Constitution requires any president be born an American citizen.

In June, the Obama campaign released to The Ticket a copy of the then-senator's Hawaiian birth certificate (see the jump below and also here). But stubbornly persistent critics demand to see the original, which the state has refused to provide, citing personal privacy reasons.

And the critics, including Keyes explaining here, cite Obama relatives in Kenya as saying he was actually born there in his father's native land when his American mother was too young to pass on her U.S. citizenship.

In December, as The Ticket reported here, the Supreme Court dismissed without comment a New Jersey lawsuit seeking to bar Obama's inauguration due to questions over his actual citizenship. The Obama camp has proceeded normally as if there was no controversy.

Obviously, the inauguration proceeded, although on the advice of White House counsel as a precaution against a verbal muff during the noontime Jan. 20 public ceremony, Obama did take the presidential oath again that night in private with Chief Justice John Roberts. His White House lawyer feared igniting another simmering legal controversy if there was any doubt about the oath's validity, although the Constitution stipulates the new president takes office at noon no matter what.

However, the dispute over his birthplace continues. Listen here to Keyes' rather strong language.

This simmering dispute, occurring online and in e-mails coursing daily across the Internet, seems unlikely to evaporate any time soon.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Click on the Obama birth certificate image to enlarge.

Comments

[Rick007]

This man speaks the truth!!!

[Inland Empire]

Where was all the public outrage when Bush blew thru a budget surplus, gave no-bid contracts to Cheney's company, got us into Iraqnam, promoted tamiflu which does no good and mostly owned by Donald Rumsfield, gave tax cuts to the rich, built up a debt our grandchildren will be paying, removed rights of ordinary citizens, allowed corporations to rule the world?
I don't care if Obama was born on Mars.

[Louise]

It's official: Alan Keyes is a publicity-seeking loony.

[Philo]

He hasn't produced the Original Certificate of Birth.

Besides, why does obama have legions of attorney's fighting NOT to have this released?

[Ryker]

I think that Mr. Keyes and all of the "birth certificate" people should go to Hawaii and sue the state of Hawaii in court for falsifying a public record. If they were serious in their conviction, they could have a whole trial, bring in all of the witnesses, show from travel and passport records that they are right and then Joe Biden would be president. I know that they somehow think that George Bush would get returned to office or that somehow McCain would be installed--that is not the way it works. We have this thing called the Constitution (which is where they are getting their natural born requirement from, so I know that they know about it) which states "In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected." So, if Mr. Keyes were to prove this and President Obama were found ineligible, then Vice President Biden would be President--unless of course, the Congress which has a DEMOCRATIC majority decided that Vice President Biden was not fit to assume the duties of office, then they would appoint someone--probably Nancy Pelosi. So, should Mr. Keyes put his money where his mouth is and use his "conclusive proof" that has yet to withstand a court's review, then we would have either President Biden or President Pelosi.

[Sally Frank]

That is not a "Birth Certification" you show, but a "Certification of Live Birth". Two different things.

[Chuck]

Another good reason for all of us to stop listening to these right-wing freaks. This is a man of color saying these vile things about our president. This man is truly insane. And, we let these idiots steal away our country for 8 long years. Is it any wonder that we are in this current crisis? If there is a god, I pray that Obama, and all true Americans be protected from the pure evil that is the American right-wing.

[MissButterfly]

I think BO was born in Hawaii, but I sure do wonder why he had his birth certificate sealed. Is the one in the above picture not the real one? If so, what does the real one say that he so wants to hide?
I have no problem with anybody seeing my birth certificate - why does BO?

[Jeri]

FYI - the Obama "birth certificate" shown in this article is not authentic. First of all. there were no computer-printed certificates in 1961, the year Obama was born. So why does he have a computer-printed document, when real 1961 birth certificates were produced with typewriters? In addition, an authentic birth certificate states the name of hospital of birth, the name of the attending physician (with signature), and the address of the parents. The document Obama presents as his "birth certificate" does not contain any of that essential information. Why?

[lirbro]

Why does this non old news continue to appear in a legitimate newspaper when it's already been debunked? Just because some nut opens his mouth, doesn't mean it has to appear as "news."

[CrusaderPatriot]

The birth certificate you show above is a proven fake! In those days, they would not have used the term "African" to describe his father and it would have mentioned the hospital of birth! This President is a fraud and every ruling he's made or bill he's signed should be voided!

[HB Stowe]

This blog post is another example of yellow journalism by the Times, which keeps getting worse and worse as a newspaper. Mr. Malcolm knows very well that a Hawaiian newspaper published notice of Obama's birth just days after he was born. But does he mention it here? No. Pathetic.

[Sean]

You failed to mention that this is a certification of live birth, not a legit birth certificate, and that anyone foreign born can get this. Also failed to mention the four plus other cases that have been to the supreme court and the two dozen cases in state courts. Nice journalism. Way to keep your readers informed of EVERYTHING. Biased "lacking the whole story" news that the media is putting out is part of the reason we as a nation are failing.

[vwlarry]

Mr. Keyes voices the concern and indeed the anger of many many Americans about what is happening to us. If Mr. Obama were indeed a legitimate American citizen it would be of utmost simplicity, and to his advantage, to produce tangible proof of this. Why then does he, along with all his minions, steadfastly REFUSE to do this?

This travesty against our Republic will not stand forever. The truth will come to light, and it isn't going to be pretty when it happens.

[Eric]

This made the front page, is there really no real news to cover?

[A mom]

Keyes is a nut. His kind needs to exist to create hate and be an antigoniser so he can have job security. With hatehe has not podium to piss on! Get over it Keyes.

[Dale]

The fact that he hides behind a fake birth certificate and will not do what an honest person would do, produce the original, is proof that the America we all loved is on a fats track to destruction to the point of just another third world country.

[larry]

Mr. Malcolm, do you really expect to be taken seriously when you use Alan Keyes as your source?

[Eric]

Keyes is a loon. Always has been, always will be.

[Dan]

Great story, except you are leading everyone to believe that Keyes is some right wing loon. The facts are that the Birth Certificate that you stated he published was not at all a Birth Certificate. It was a Certificate of Live Birth, issued to anyone living in Hawaii. We need the info contained on his Long Form record. He has sealed all his schooling records, his passport records, his college records, his law school records. Basically his entire past. Why would someone have teams of attorneys fight cases all over the US when all he has to do is provide one piece of paper that will clear everything up? It si apparent to any rationally thinking individual that something is not right. Pravda, the Russian newspaper questions this mans elegibility to be the President. It's a simple question with a simple answer. So what say you Mr.Transparency?

[alpe31]

Now there is a bitter, bitter man... It must be really hard on him to continue running for office and come up short every. single. time.

[david]

The delusions of Alan Keyes, fanned by Republican flack Andrew Malcolm, do not constitute a "simmering dispute." They constitute "an embarrassment."

[cats]

Why, oh why, haven't you people figured out YET that this is a Certification of birth not a birth certificate and that it contains no information normally found even on the former document. Conspiracy or not, whatever the president says, showing a birth certificate is something we all have to do for very basic reasons: I had to show my children's bc just to enrol them in school in LA. It's not that hard to put this issue to rest; why then does our president continue to avoid the most simple solution and spend money on lawyers and legal battles instead? Show it and people will give up the conspiracy. He doesn't have one or he would!

[saicool007]

Key words: Sour Loser, Bozo Reporter

[gabriel lockey]

Other than for comedic purposes, why would anyone listen to the paranoid ramblings of Alan Keyes? He takes the role of sore loser to a whole new level.

[ArchiesBoy]

This man belongs in a rubber room. He shouldn't be given the time of day.

[Paul Smith]

there are so many errors in that report that it's hard to know where to start.

"The controversy over the validity of Barack Obama's birth certificate is back on a burner with firebrand conservative Alan Keyes making serious new charges."

The controversy never left the front burner. Main Street Media simply refuses to cover it.

Alan Keyes made NO new charges. Obama is a usurper. Obama is an ultra-left Socialist who wants to make every American subservient and dependent to assure their votes.

". . .over lingering questions in the minds of many conspiracists about the 44th president's birth place. "

Only one of many questions any one of which would prove our charges.

There is NO conspiracy. There are incomplete facts resulting in questions which Obama refuses to answer.

"the Obama campaign released to The Ticket a copy of the then-senator's Hawaiian birth certificate "

That is a lie. The photo itself shows it to be a Certificate of Live Birth - NOT a Birth Certificate and that is NOT a simple play on words. The place of birth information on that COLB was routinely supplied by the mother AFTER returning to Hawaii with her newborn and required NO supporting documentation. So was Obama born in Kenya? Nobody knows for sure.

"In December, as The Ticket reported here, the Supreme Court dismissed without comment a New Jersey lawsuit seeking to bar Obama's inauguration due to questions over his actual citizenship."

This is true; an abdication of their Constitutional duties and responsibilities that should have every patriotic American up in arms.

". . .on the advice of White House counsel as a precaution against a verbal muff during the noontime Jan. 20 public ceremony, Obama did take the presidential oath again"

Really? Prove it. I've seen a picture of a grinning Obama with his right hand raised looking at the Chief Justice. Did he actually take the oath? Was anything, like his promise re. the Constitution, left out? His minions in attendance certainly aren't going to tell us.

Besides, what difference does it make? In the last 100 years, what politician has let that little 'oath' stop them from ignoring it? Ron Paul maybe.

"seems unlikely to evaporate any time soon."

Guaranteed!

[biff]

uuuuh, "the dispute over his birthplace continues?" in the mind of alan keyes and other rightwing crazies. what a stupid phrase: the dispute over his birthplace continues. why do you write this dumb blog.

[Brady Westwater]

If I recall right - wasn't there a contemporaneous newspaper notice of Obama's birth in Hawaii? And, if so - shouldn't that settle this?

[don]

It's too bad we can't lock up people for political nuttiness

[s]

Neocon crapola frome the same folks who deny global warming, blame the economic woes on illegal immigrants and just can't get over how America voted Nov. 4th.

[MexiChick67]

Alan Keyes is a joke! He is the biggest tool in the Republican box and is pulled out on occasion to spew his venomous rhetoric to the frightened sheeple. Goodness he is scary.

[Christine Waterman]

I can't understand why anybody in their right mind would even do a story on Alan Keys. The man is clearly delusional. Get him some help.

[John C Leddy]

Hey Top of the Ticket you're grabbing "news" from the bottom of the sludge pile. I suppose coming up next we can expect you to start promoting 9/11 conspiricy theories, area 51 revelations and Elvis sightings.

[oldleprechaun]

I recently read this statement:

"President Obama has a high-priced team of Los Angeles lawyers whom he pays out of his own pocket. Evidently, their only task is to prevent Americans from learning anything about him.

The firm of Strumwasser and Woocher are fighting against the production of Obama's college records from Occidental College in California. Presumably, those records may shed light on how Obama managed to travel to Pakistan in 1980 without a US passport.

Or whether or not Barry Soetero was registered as a US citizen or foreign national. Or how he ended up making the jump from a community college to Columbia and Harvard.

This high-priced legal team is also fighting to prevent the production of his actual birth certificate, passport records, hospital records or any other documentary evidence useful in determining his actual citizenship."

Are these statements true? If they are, what is the President trying to hide? And if the president were a Republican, would the media be so accommodating?

[rpilles517]

Alan Keyes is and always has been a right wing kook, and no doubt received the "assignment" to keep the communist/foreign born stuff alive, Drudge-style. His comment about "(Obama) must be stopped!" should be considered a terrorist threat. What does that mean? I think it's also slander to call someone a "Communist" - although that may not apply to a public figure. He was beaten by the President something like 70-30 in the U.S.Senate race in 2004. Go away!

[Frank]

Well, again, you are deliberately confusing the actual long-form birth certificate which would tell whether Obama was born in Hawaii or outside the US. The "Certificate of Live Birth" is a computer-generated short form that doesn't have the Dr, hospital, etc.

Why do you not make the distinction clear?

[Ivan]

WOW!

[STepper]

Thank you Alan Keyes for launching Barack Obama's career. Now go back into the silent wingnut night.

[Mary A.]

NUTCASE!

[jay]

His self hatred has reached a new level. That's so sad.

[Jeff Fields]

"This simmering dispute, occurring online and in e-mails coursing daily across the Internet, seems unlikely to evaporate any time soon."

Hmmm. Certainly the dispute will find it at least a bit harder to evaporate if no less august of an organization than the LA Times seems willing to stoke the "story" on the basis of a rant from Alan Keyes.

Sad.

[Geek, Esq.]

Andrew Malcolm is truly the Alan Keyes of blogging. If the LA Times cared about the reputation of its blog, they'd fire the old has-been Rush Limbaugh-wannabe.

[jay]

He has so much self hatred. It's sad.

[Chad]

Alan Keyes "making serious new charges"? The flaw in this statement is glaringly obvious: Alan Keyes is not a serious man and is incapable of doing anything seriously. He is a comic, a buffoon.

I am dismayed that the LA Times would entertain, and thereby elevate, the crazy rants of this silly publicity-seeker. I guess journalistic standards aren't what they used to be. The LA Times certainly isn't what it used to be.

[American]

Alan Keyes is flapping his jaws, and someone is dumb enough to pay him heed. Alan is a wackjob, and should be given all the weight he deserves.

[cleek]

there is no controversy. there are only a bunch of sore-loser lunatics and conspiracy theorists who love the attention you give them.

[Richard M. Mathews]

This posting dishonestly makes it sound like the Obama campaign has only released a copy of the certificate, not the original. The posting also dishonestly makes it sound like Hawaiian officials have not confirmed the authenticity of Obama's Hawaiian birth records.

In fact, factcheck.org obtained an original certified copy of Obama's certificate, and officials in Hawaii confirmed its authenticity.

Factcheck says, "FactCheck.org staffers have now seen, touched, examined and photographed the original birth certificate... The director of Hawaii’s Department of Health confirmed Oct. 31 that Obama was born in Honolulu... State Health Director Chiyome Fukino has said she has 'personally seen and verified that the Hawaii State Department of Health has Sen. Obama’s original birth certificate on record in accordance with state policies and procedures.'"

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html

AP and the Honolulu Advertiser are among media that have reported on the indisputable legitimacy of Obama's Hawaiian birth records.

[Paul aka Jerry]

Thought you might like this off the LATimes side blog.

[Bruce Scott]

This is pretty irresponsible journalism. By saying that the state of Hawaii has refused to release Obama's birth certificate, the one released by the Obama campaign is a forgery. That's a pretty serious charge, and lacking any evidence that Obama was born anywhere else, its irresponsible and, well, cracked. Is this the reputation that the LA Times wants?