The widow of the doctor whose signature is on President Obama's birth certificate was honored to learn of her husband's role in bringing the future president into the world and hoped the document would end debate over his citizenship.
"It is a great thrill and a great honor and I had no idea," Ivalee Sinclair, an Obama supporter, said Wednesday in a phone interview from her home in Honolulu, Hawaii.
"I was just overwhelmed with the news."
David Sinclair's name appears as the attending physician on the live birth certificate that the White House released Wednesday in response to doubts over his citizenship. The "birther debate" has waxed and waned since Obama's presidential campaign, returning with renewed vigor last week due in large part to the efforts of billionaire entrepreneur Donald Trump.
According to the document, Obama was born on August 4, 1961, in the Kapiolani Maternity and Gynecological Hospital in Honolulu, where David Sinclair spent most of his career delivering around 10,000 babies, his wife said.
Sinclair served in World War II as a fighter pilot before going to medical school and embarking on a decades-long career as a respected physician.
"I just know he loved what he was doing and he had a wonderful rapport with his patients," Ivalee Sinclair said. "When he passed away, many called to share funny stories that he'd shared with them, to tell me they'd named children after him or other such honors, so I know he was dearly loved by his patients."
Ivalee Sinclair said she hoped the birth certificate would put the matter to rest and echoed President Obama's remarks that the country had "better stuff to do."
"I think President Obama was correct when he said it was a distraction that takes away from the real issues and we have huge, huge real issues that our country is facing," she said. "We need people to work together not at one another’s throats."
She said she didn't think her husband knew of his connection to the president because he died in 2003, before Obama announced his candidacy. But if he did, he never mentioned it.
"Physicians honor the confidentiality of their patients so he never said anything to me about this, and at that time, we had no way of knowing that President Obama was going to be president," she said.
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Post by: CNN's Emanuella Grinberg, CNN's Shelby Lin Erdman Filed under: 'Birther' movement • Barack Obama • Hawaii • Politics |
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If you think you can do a better job Run for President if not stop complaining
So the Doctor on the birth certificate is dead. The average MD old enough to deliver a baby in 1961 (50 years ago) would be dead by now. But birthers will never quit...many of them also believe the evidence for evoltion was planted by the devil. Move on
People amaze me. Why would anyone think that Pres. Obama is Islamic? By the way so what if he is. It's a religion just like all of the other religions. It has been proved that he was born in the USA. His mother is from Kansas...how more American can you get? Yes his father was from Kenya...so Trump's mother is from Scotland...Last time I check most people in this country have ancestors form other countries
A lot of hatred is stirred up against our President by people like the Koch brothers. Obama has actually gone after the fat cats, the mafia, the border gangs you name it. The Republican strategists have spent a lot of time concocting stuff and people all over the net spreading lies and disffection. It is actually quite dangerous that they do so.
They push the race button. Even Michelle Bachman got caught circulating a cartoon of a monkey family with the baby monkey a Obama face. They push the Moslem button. They even push the anti semitic Jewish star button. Obviously his opposition will stop at nothing to stir up hatred. The whole questioning of his birth and the lies about the "death Panel" etc. well no matter how many times the lies get disproved the average person who is being fed the lies on right wing talk radio – well they don't really look for truth they just buy the propaganda. (I don't mean all Republicans are hateful, I mean the fat cats who REALLY oppose him.)
This statement by CNN is very funny....
[CNN] "Ivaless Sinclair says husband David Sinclair, who died in 2003, never mentioned his connection to President Obama"
Mr.Sinclair himself would not have known that he helped deliver baby Obama among the thousands of deliveries that he would have carried!!
Maybe he was a Republican that didn't want people know he help delivered a Democrat into the world?
im sorry you didnot get my point. Mr.Sinclair would not even know Obama before 2003.
Did you know Obama before 2003 by the way?
Really? All racists are Republicans? Since when? The Black Panthers aren't Republican...All the people sitting on their butts collecting welfare aren't Republican, but the moment someone tells them to get a job, all heck breaks loose. I live in Memphis, kid. There are plenty of racists here. And most of them aint Republican.
The majority of people on welfare are single white woman with children. Check your facts! Children are the number one homeless group in America!
Put down the meth and take off the white hood and breathe.
I'm in Memphis too. All the racists aren't Republican, but I would say most are... As well as White Christians. Being in Memphis, I am sure you have heard of the White flight.... The White Christian exodus from Memphis when Brown vs Board came to be... and has continued to this day.
IS ANY BODY BELIEVE NOW OR YOU WANT MORE EVIDENCE ??????
No amount of evidence wil ever get the Birthers to shut up.
Did anyone read his book and it was really written by him. Move on and go get a job
haha.. This statement by CNN is very funny....
[CNN] "Ivaless Sinclair says husband David Sinclair, who died in 2003, never mentioned his connection to President Obama"
Mr.Sinclair himself would not have known that he helped deliver baby Obama among the thousands of deliveries that he would have carried!!
Men don't deliver babies. Women do.
No way! I was told Storks deliver babies. The real issue is was the stork born in the USA?
Just like every other politician!
All i have read on these comments are how ignorant and idiotic demecrats are. As a demacrat and Obama supporter I have not had any issues with our President. I'm college educated great carreer and great condo. Now, i understand that there are the huge issues of unemployment and federal money being given to the less fortunate. I grew up as a welfare baby. My parent made no attempt to hide becaus ethey wanted my siblings and I to know that we were poor and we had to work for everything we have. My question is towards Christian Republicans... Are you only christian when you feel it benefits you? Seriously, I have not seen 1 legitimate comment that actually shows/ proves that this president has made the economy worst than it was. From my understanding "Governement shall make no law, favoring one religion over the other" Now christians, why do you want to force your faith on others? (for those who don't knw, thats the 1st amendment and I was born raised christian) (and by stating spending without showing annual proof does not make your comment correct) if anything the Stock market has gone back up s and US automakers are making money again. Where alot of jobs CAN (I stress that word)and make money. Making money and creating jobs are 2 different things. You have to have money to make a position available.
which is why we should stop trying to raise taxes on the wealthy business owners and allow them to reinvest in the corporations, businesses etc that provide jobs. You nearly have a grasp on the issue, the only problem is that you are on the wrong side of the fence.
Do you have anything better to do. I have something read his book he wrote way before he even thought of running
Obama has not lied ONCE during his presidency. You just don't want to believe that because he is Black! What about Bush, and the weapons of mass destruction?? Do you think he lied about that? Why don't you write about that??
ExACTly! Why don't people talk about that...
I love Chinese food!!!! So good. Can't wait for all Americans to have an Asian face. lol
You can say that again, because you definitely don't deserve to be amongst the living.
Nice... yet you do deserve it eh?