Exchange of the Day: "All Obama has to do to make this all go away is produce a birth certificate. It shouldn't be that tough. Why hasn't he?"– TRoublerunt
"The Health Department of the State of Hawaii (and then Republican governor) certified that he was born there. What exactly do you want as proof? The long-form birth certificate that Hawaii and several other states don't issue?"– LivinginVA
Arizona passes bill that makes presidential hopefuls prove citizenship
Federal law requires that presidential candidates be natural-born American citizens. For Arizona legislators, however, this is not enough. They have passed a bill requiring that all presidential candidates – including President Obama – prove their citizenship before they are placed on that state's ballot. The measure has not yet been signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican. Many CNN.com readers said the bill was really about racism.
Suhgarim said, "The only politician I've ever seen proof of being born in the US is Barack Obama; perhaps we should kick all the others out until they can prove where they were born. I am white and I am sick, sick, sick of this racism! Because that's just what it is. I've never seen a white candidate go through this. A plague and a curse on America for our stupidity! And a double plague and curse on conservatives and Republicans!"
kathyrants said, "In my entire lifetime, I have never known of a president who had to go through so much just to prove he is eligible for the presidency. I have also not seen so much disrespect for the president. Let's get with it America. Let's worry about more important things. Let our President do what he needs to do to get us back on track. I too am white and very tired of hearing about this. He is black; he is the president, so shut up, sit down and have another beer!"
Some readers questioned the use of taxpayer money to push the bill. Ghurst said, "So why did Carl Seel introduce a bill for a law that already exists? As a public servant, shouldn't he be mindful of how he spends his time and the people's money? If my boss caught me wasting my time and his money on something that is not needed, I would get fired."
BigOtto said, "We have truly become the laughing stock of the world."
Muslim beauty contestant faces critics on all sides, she says
Model Shanna Bukhari hopes to win the British Miss Universe contest this year and represent Britain at the international contest. Her presence in the beauty contest has upset all kinds of people: among them, some Muslims who think she is not religious enough and some U.K. citizens who think she shouldn't be allowed to represent a "white" country.
The story had some CNN.com readers discussing how Islam views women. Alberto said, "As a Muslim, I say to Shanna: All the power to you, girl! Go for it. Don't let the idiots get to you. You are beautiful, created by the same God that has created this universe. There is no place for religious zealots to have a say in what you're doing, only you and your heart.”
fgf said, "Ignore these stupid people, Shanna. I'm a Muslim girl – do whatever you want. Those laws to cover up had cultural relevance in Saudi Arabia 1400+ years ago. They don’t apply today."
Husain said, "Allah did not want women to be our equals. Women are inherently inferior and subservient to men. They must be covered to keep them from entering into sin and causing a man to do so. They are put here to bring forth children and give pleasure to their husbands."
Billy Ryan replied, "Husain, You must come into the light. Women are equals in every way, Don't be left behind in another century, Join ours. It's much better."
KBaus said, "Husain, what does the Quran say about family and the mother? Does it say that family is at the feet of the mother? Does not it say to treat your mother with the highest respect? Saying that women are inherently inferior clearly states that your mother is inferior to you. That is not what Quran say. How is it that Jesus is one of the four most important prophets of Islam yet he taught peace and love, not hate and inequality? Are you a true Muslim or one who hijacks Islam for its own evil purpose?"
BiH said, "Dear Husain, as a Muslim women, I have the privilege to believe and practice the religion of Islam. I support the young lady; she is proving that women in Islam are equal to any other women in other religions. Now is the time for Muslim men to start respecting your sisters, wife, daughters. How many Muslim women are suffering because of the egoism of man? Don’t anyone dare to judge the women; we will all one day be standing in front of our creator, Inshallah."
'All My Children,' 'One Life to Live' canceled
For more than 40 years, TV viewers have been able to tune in to the much-loved life stories portrayed on "All My Children" and "One Life to Live." By January 2012 those stories will end, ABC announced, to be replaced with shows about food and lifestyle.
Many CNN.com readers shared how tuning in to those shows powerfully linked them to memories of loved ones. Kelly said, "I grew up watching 'All My Children' with my grandmother. I still watch till this day and I'm also hooked on OLTL and GH. These shows are as American as apple pie."
Tamzilla said, "One of my fondest memories is watching AMC with my mom over dinner! I bought my first VCR just to record AMC. Now that I'm disabled I DVR them both everyday. If they do away with both these I will never watch ABC again!"
Jerbear said, "This is a sad day. I am a 35-year old male (not gay) who watched OLTL/General Hospital religiously when I was young every day with my grandma. I became hooked. I still tune in if I have the chance, just for the nostalgia."
Others explained how the shows relieved the stress in their own lives and swore they would turn off ABC forever. Sherry said, "Everyday I drive home for lunch just so I can watch 'All My Children,' and have had this same routine for the past 11 years. At least for an hour a day I was able to get lost in somebody else's world and leave my problems behind. I definitely will not be watching a food reality show. ABC has lost this viewer."
But others said the soaps had lived past their prime. When Andagain said, "Oh no! I stopped watching AMC 25 years ago when I had to go to work. Whatever happened to Erica Kane?!!" John replied, "You're wondering why they're canceling these shows? For one, even you stopped watching a quarter-century ago."
Compiled by the CNN.com moderation staff. Some comments edited for length or clarity.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Personally I think all these people complaining that it is racism are ignorant. It has nothing to do with race. Iguarantee you if Colin Powell were to have ever run for President his birth would never have been an issue. What is relative to Barack is the mysterious background he portrays. The unanswered questions, the "changes" he is implementing right under the nose of the sheep of America. Maybe you don't see Socialism/Communism on the horizon but many people do. We are slowing losing one civil liberty after another. Read his book, listen to the things he says. He has already made it known that if push comes to shove he is going to side with the Muslims. Granted not all Muslims are bad but just like ever other group/religion/organization, there are extremeists. Point is...If he IS US born, then show the damn certificate and shut everyone up. If he is not a citizen then he will have orchestrated the grestest fraud this country will have ever seen.
What are you talking about? His birth certificate is right up at the top of this article. Obama released it years ago. The press knows this. Trump knows this. Do you care that McCain wasn't born here? Do you want to see his birth certificate? Obama's mother was American anyway so it wouldn't matter if he had been born abroad but he wasn't. This is not an important issue. I'm not sure where you get the idea that Obama, who recently made the decision to *go to war with Lybia* is 'on the side of the Muslims'. By the way, there are TONS of *America* Muslims. I have been to communist China and I can tell you for sure that we are no where close to being anything like that country. They don't have due process or freedom of speech or freedom of the press or the right to vote for their president or many other rights we have here. You don't know what communism is if you think we are anywhere close to it. Ditto socialism. Not even close. If you want to talk sheep it would be people listening to make up lies and believe them.
If you can look at the birth certificate at the top of this article and claim it isn't there there is NO hope.
Good for Arizona!! This simply means that a state that usually votes Republican for president will not now be able to give its few electoral votes to the Republican candidate opposing President Obama!
The rest of us can reelect the man whose work has slowly but certainly gotten this country out of the incredible hole that the president before him got us all into!!
During his second term with President Obama, we will be able to:
(1) Finally get out of these useless destructive and expensive Middle Eastern Wars.
(2) Will NOT be playing games with the support system for our older and deserving generations of Americans.
(3) Will at least attempt to even out the burden of providing the goods (such as the totally essential infrastructure) and necessary services of the federal government between our already pampered wealthy and corporations, and the rest of America.
Is this a better agenda for America than the ultra right wing has proposed? This old man believes so anyway!!!
Really?? Get out of how did u put it? oh yeah, (1) Finally get out of these useless destructive and expensive Middle Eastern Wars!!! He is the reason it was out "Obligation" to get involved with Libya!
Helen Thomas: Reminding America that people here are free to say all kinds of lies about President of the United States , and a no criticism of Israel is allowed (www.youtube.com)" . This is very sad . Some moderate conservatives in recent days have started calling "birthers" and likes of them to move on and shut up .
In point of fact, this is NOT about race, the voters have NOT been shown this authentic subjective evidence and this must be done because Americans deserve the truth and not this BS. Trump is not the bad guy here, he is simply making his point that other Americans have made for some years now and so If it takes someone like Trump to shed a stronger light on this then so be it, tell us the truth Hussein and put this to bed once and for all.
You are now my officail HERO!
Did you want to see evidence from McCain? He was born out of the country but he was white so no one got upset. Why do you care about this? Of course this is about race for at least all those who didn't have a problem with McCain, a white man born out of this country, running for president who do have a problem with Obama who was born in this country simply because of a big lie that he may not have been born here. That's totally about race. Trump is using people like you. Go ahead, be used by rich people and then have your McJob after they rob the economy some more because that will be all that there will be to do.
Beth Beth Beth, McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone ON a MILITARY INSTALLATION!!! That automatically makes him a US Citizen. The land that a military installation occupies becomes an extension of American soil, just like a US Embassy in a Foreign land.
You still won't believe it. At this point and time they would have to print and notarize a new copy of the birth certificate. If people wouldn't believe the department of health that he indeed had a birth certificate on file, why would they believe the new copy?
Birthers and all else concerned..... I was born in Honolulu in 74 at kapiolani hospital. I lost my birth certificate and asked for a new one. 18 dollars and six months later, I received a certificate of live birth. Works everywhere I needed a birth certificate. So what? Now I'm not a legal citizen? Probably not, because just like president Obama I'm half white half black. By the way it is President Obama! Not Barry, not Hussein, not obummie. He is the president of the greatest country on earth. We all spent 8 years with bush even though the majority of this great nation went with gore. We sucked it up. Now put on your big kid underwear and do the same. America! Love it, or leave it! Peace
Many people I know born in other states and me being born in Texas have a choice when we file for birth certificates. You can either pay the more expensive amount and get a "Birth Certificate" or go cheap and get a "Certificate of Live Birth" One has detailed information, the other is a summary. BUT, anywhere you go that REQUIRES a birth certificate usually need the more detailed one.
amen Juskin...
Sweet! Someone who knows some facts because you've lived through it... thanks Juskin!
Who cares what race or religion Obama is... He still screwed the country.
You have to start blame with at least Clinton and put most of the blame on Bush II and then a bit on Obama if you want to be fair. Bush II has the biggest blame at his feet. The economic disaster happened under his watch. Clinton started things in motion while in office but Bush dropped the ball and let wall street run wild. It is in no way fair to put that all on Obama. Obama's biggest offense was running for office with so little qualification and experience. At least he was better than Palin/McCain. He should have gotten experience first.
I wasn't referring solely to the economic disaster. I'm also referring to the lies he fed the country when campaigning. I know several Dems who now distrust him and would like their votes back.
Agreed
The only racist and bigots is cnn and obama
Here's another thought...for Obama to be born overseas, his mother would have to have been living overseas at the time...and she was NOT. She was in Hawaii and then in WA – no dispute with that part. So maybe she went into labor here and he magically poped out in Kenya?
Lololol
I like a good conspiracy theory – especially when there's a promise for good entertainment (Oliver Stone's "JFK"). But I'm not entertained by the "birth certificate" conspiracy – not one iota. In fact, I'm embarrassed by them. No explanation is satisfactory. No amount of evidence is enough. They simply do not like the the idea that an African American family presently occupies the White House. Racist – through and through.
Opps–my yes you are right was supposed to go here, not under Rich. ITA!
there is no such thing as an African-American...you are either born here hence American, migrated here and became a citizen...again hence American, or born in Africa which would make you African. Ask any black guy you know if he was born in or ever been to Africa and he will tell you hell no. People come to this country to become Americans so please label them as such. PERIOD. My family is German but I do not go by German-American, Im American and damn proud of it. African American is such an illiterate term.
I never thought the day would come when I would say the Inquirer made better sense than CNN, or the rest of the media does and that's not saying much either. CNN journalism has really sunk to a new low. LOL
Yes. You are right.
arizona is the same state that would not embrace the MLK holiday and you people are suprised that they passed a birther law..come on people..if that state and its politicans dont srceam racism then i dont know what does...they only accepted the MLK holdiay cause they were losing their butts off..
There are extremist white racist groups that are financially backing these new laws. They are not coming out of nowhere. There is a group that is very scary that is supporting this string of legislation. You can find info about it at So Poverty L aw Cen ter w eb site.
I concur with you Anne. This woman was so disgusting. I had to restrain my self from smashing the TV screen. I wish she had evidence that show that Miss Dunn, Obama`s mum ever traveled to Kenya while she was pregnant. The only conclusive evidence the birther can present is proof that she had a passport in1961. I know she was of humble background and as such could not afford air travel at that time. Obama`s father was a peasant. Obama Senior did odd jobs on campus to pay for his accommodation, clothing and food. How then did he afford to take his girlfriend to Kenya. I remember my grandfather was one of those selected to come here in 1961. He remained here until 1968 after which he came back home to join the public service, replacing the british officers who were holding brief until indigenous Kenyans had received training
On John King's show tonight the foreign born female guest rudely hogged the conversation about the president and where he was born. My question is where was she born and why did she leave there to come here? Would she be able to challenge the president or ruler of her country of origin this way? Probably not which is why she is here. Stop wasting critical air time and money. John King was not afraid to deal with the elephant in the room which is that if the president was not 1/2 black this would not be an issue that we are discussing 2 years after he became president.
His job as president is certainly not worst than former president Bush's was who squandered a surplus and left us with a huge deficit. Please!!
I'm a guy who doesn't like multiculturalism and would enjoy sticking with his own people (white, European people). I've lived among all races, taken in other cultures in the USA and prefer the company of my own race and culture. I'm honest, anyway.
That said, this witch hunt about the birth certificate does seem to be fueled by racists. The whole thing should just be dropped. Obama is president and he shouldn't be hassled like this. People (racists) don't show him the respect he deserves as President.