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FDL-Mike Stark Birther Video on Hardball

By: Jane Hamsher Monday July 27, 2009 4:02 pm

Contrary to what Chris Matthews says, it wasn’t the Huffington Post that made the video, it was FDL — and the people who donated to our health care whip effort are the ones who paid for Mike to be up on the Hill dogging members of Congress. Also, thanks to Brave New Films for supplying cameraman Brett Vaughn, who has made the effort network quality.

So, if you contributed to the effort, take a bow. You’re officially a big time producer now.

And if you’d like to see Mike continue his work up on the Hill, you can donate here.

Update: House just passed H.Res 593, which says "the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii." It passed 378-0, with 55 not voting. Michele Bachmann, who earlier tried to block the resolution, voted "aye."

Spotlight 65 Comments

65 Responses to “FDL-Mike Stark Birther Video on Hardball”

MrsTarquinBiscuitbarrel July 27th, 2009 at 4:13 pm

Yay, Mike! I’ll support him any way I can, starting with $$!

dosido July 27th, 2009 at 4:14 pm

Totally rockin’!

I just posted downstairs that I was sorry Tweety didn’t include the dashing duo down the streets of DC. Too funny. But awesome work all the same!

BooRadley July 27th, 2009 at 4:19 pm

Threw in another $25, sorry it can’t be more. This is a great, great tactic in this fight, that House members know well, may well reach forward into the PRIMARIES. It’s a shame that their dissembling has pushed it to this. Rahm has gotta be really, really pissed.

Teddy Partridge July 27th, 2009 at 4:19 pm

Why did Tweety misattribute this effort to the Huffington Post? Do all fembloggers look alike to him? He needs to understand that we lefties are not all the same!

akak July 27th, 2009 at 4:19 pm

fabulous.
I can’t understand the crap about Obama being born abroad, because even if he was, by virtue of a U.S. mother, he is still American, the same way McCain was, being born in Panama.

citizensue July 27th, 2009 at 4:19 pm

OT- but we need to hammer on this right away- AP reports that the Senate Finance Committee is dropping the public option.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..45839.html
BASTARDS

Teddy Partridge July 27th, 2009 at 4:21 pm

Ken Vogel of Politico looks particularly delighted to be discussing this topic.

Do these people realize how badly this issue will rebound on the GOP?

Phoenix Woman July 27th, 2009 at 4:22 pm

In response to citizensue @ 6

Yeah — Baucus apparently wanted to keep this under wraps so he wouldn’t get smashed for it by his constituents, but some patriotic soul leaked it.

Jane Hamsher July 27th, 2009 at 4:22 pm

In response to Teddy Partridge @ 7

It’s what we said about impeachment in the 90s, didn’t work out so well for us. Which is why it’s great that Mike is doing this. Make ‘em own it.

citizensue July 27th, 2009 at 4:24 pm

In response to Phoenix Woman @ 8

I think some civil disobedience is called for.

nyceve July 27th, 2009 at 4:24 pm

In response to MrsTarquinBiscuitbarrel @ 1

Mike, you and Jane are my heroes!

Phoenix Woman July 27th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

In response to Teddy Partridge @ 7

Oh, exactly. Especially when the Abercrombie Resolution — recognizing that Obama is a US citizen born in Hawaii — just passed, 378 to 0.

Teddy Partridge July 27th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

“erogenous zones of insanity” — ick, Tweety.

citizensue July 27th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

In response to Phoenix Woman @ 12

BOOYA

Teddy Partridge July 27th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

Ooooh, Fineman warns the White House: “Don’t be too cute by half!”

What a maroon.

dosido July 27th, 2009 at 4:27 pm

In response to Teddy Partridge @ 13

Yeah, ick, but it really does say it all.

Jane Hamsher July 27th, 2009 at 4:30 pm

In response to Phoenix Woman @ 12

I didn’t see that. That’s great.

dosido July 27th, 2009 at 4:35 pm

In response to Phoenix Woman @ 12

55 not voting…that’s a lot of folks.

Teddy Partridge July 27th, 2009 at 4:35 pm

In response to dosido @ 16

Tweety just needs to stay away from that stuff, with his spittle flying and his eyes a-twinkling. “HA!”

Teddy Partridge July 27th, 2009 at 4:36 pm

In response to Jane Hamsher @ 9

I wonder if Mike could track down some “not voting” folks on the Hawaii resolution, especially if they are co-sponsors of Campbell’s birther nonsense….

dosido July 27th, 2009 at 4:39 pm

In response to Teddy Partridge @ 20

Campbell is one of those listed as Not Voting. Hmm…

yellowsnapdragon July 27th, 2009 at 4:40 pm

In response to akak @ 5

That point confuses me too. Could it be that Kenya forbids dual citizenship, and the birther theory is that O renouced his American citizenship in favor of Kenyan?

darkblack July 27th, 2009 at 4:40 pm

How nice that an esteemed radio personality gets a tingle up his widdle leg from such ginned-up controversies.

;>)

dosido July 27th, 2009 at 4:43 pm

In response to yellowsnapdragon @ 22

Guys, it’s all about noise and distraction and invalidating Obama’s presidency, ergo, his policies. The GOP can play knuckledraggers like a fiddle. It’s just this time, as Jane says, Mike is gonna make them own the crazy.

Teddy Partridge July 27th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

In response to yellowsnapdragon @ 22

There is no “birther theory” that positively disproves Obama’s citizenship. There are only ragtag collections of misunderstood legal “reasoning,” unclear school records, and a bizarre misreading of the law regarding “five-years-after-attaining-age-fourteen” that attempts to exclude Obama’s mother from being able to “pass on” her citizenship if she gave birth outside the United States. Which she didn’t, of course.

But to attach the word “theory” to their fever-swamp collection of absurdities does gravity, and evolution, a grave disservice.

akak July 27th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

In response to yellowsnapdragon @ 22

As far as I can tell, their argument is that being born on foreign territory, even to a U.S. mother, doesn’t count as “natural-born” citizen for purpose of qualifying for president (they do admit “certain military exceptions”)

Teddy Partridge July 27th, 2009 at 4:45 pm

In response to darkblack @ 23

Naughty! Saucy, even!

yellowsnapdragon July 27th, 2009 at 4:45 pm

In response to dosido @ 24

Yeah, I’m just trying to impose logic on loony. I just don’t understand the stupid involved. It is mystifying.

Bluetoe2 July 27th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

Love where Mike is running with the Republican. Spain has their running with the bulls. Why not the U.S. as a rite of passage, running with the Republicans.

akak July 27th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

In response to dosido @ 24

You’re right. But there are idiots out there, who fervently argue the alleged legal fine points. check out the youtube comment war on the video, someone called PORTUGAL1010 is feverishly arguing the case

OldFatGuy July 27th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

In response to yellowsnapdragon @ 22

The Constitution specifically calls for a “natural born citizen”, not just a citizen.

This is why if someone is born in another country, then becomes a citizen, they are not eligible. (Arnold the Governator, for example).

Thus, if he were born in Kenya, he would, in fact, not be eligible.

NOW PLEASE DON’T CONFUSE ME WITH THOSE BIRTHER CRACKPOTS.

I just wanted to help explain why those crackpots are making a stir.

And, as far as anyone can tell, for purposes of being a natural born citizen, being born on a U.S. military base overseas DOES count. At least that’s the rumor, or was since McCain was born in Panama.

dosido July 27th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

The list of those not voting on Abercrombie (hopefully busy with health care?):

Akin
Barrett (SC)
Bishop (NY)
Boucher
Brady (TX)
Braley (IA)
Brown (SC)
Camp
Campbell
Carter
Costello
Courtney
Crenshaw
Cuellar
Davis (AL)
Davis (IL)
Deal (GA)
Engel
Graves
Green, Al
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Higgins
Hodes
Hoekstra
Johnson (IL)
Kilroy
Larsen (WA)
Lynch
Maloney
Marchant
McCarthy (NY)
Miller (NC)
Murphy (CT)
Murtha
Olson
Ortiz
Paul
Platts
Quigley
Radanovich
Rodriguez
Rohrabacher
Rush
Schakowsky
Sestak
Sires
Smith (WA)
Stupak
Tiberi
Tsongas
Wamp
Waters
Waxman
Weiner

dosido July 27th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

Ugh, sorry for the long “comment”.

Phoenix Woman July 27th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

In response to Jane Hamsher @ 17

Yupper. Here’s the official record:

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll647.xml

Phoenix Woman July 27th, 2009 at 4:49 pm

In response to dosido @ 32

Probably, since Waxman was one.

yellowsnapdragon July 27th, 2009 at 4:50 pm

In response to Teddy Partridge @ 25

Do you happen to have a link to the “five-years-after-attaining-age-fourteen” nonsense? I’m curious about what they are passing off as law…

dosido July 27th, 2009 at 4:51 pm

In response to OldFatGuy @ 31

OK. But Obama was a US citizen at birth no matter where he was born. He wasn’t naturalized, or what have you.

That’s my understanding.

I’m sick of the weirdos driving the conversation in our country.

darkblack July 27th, 2009 at 4:51 pm

In response to Teddy Partridge @ 27

Some have even called it catty.

;)

All levity aside…Frankly, I’m somewhat aghast for Americans that this ‘birther’ drivel has become any type of noteworthy issue – but it certainly is helping to put names and faces to the incessant chorus of dog whistles as performed by the ‘Let’s make up our own real’ brigade.

;>)

OldFatGuy July 27th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

In response to dosido @ 37

Yeah, I’m sick of the weirdos, period.

I hear ya, I was just explaining their “rationale” and, at least as far as I’ve been able to find, there isn’t any definitive source to say whether they’re right or wrong (as far as what defines a natural born citizen, obviously they’re wrong on where he was born).

But yeah, I was just trying to explain the rationale, and I too, am tired of their made up lies, distortions, and unequalled ability to be able to control the stuff we do talk about.

As far as I’m concerned, the right wing of this country is a far greater threat to America than any terrorist organization ever will be. They’re out of control.

ThingsComeUndone July 27th, 2009 at 4:59 pm

Michelle Bachman, who earlier tried to block the resolution, voted “aye.”

What the Birthers lost Michelle? Just what is the GOP’s internal polls telling them? I wonder who’s job it is to tell her honey your making a fool of yourself and even worse you are hurting us in the polls so much even the 20%ers are getting embarrassed.

akak July 27th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

In response to OldFatGuy @ 31

Natural born citizen extends to the children of U.S. citizens, wherever they might be, since the child is at birth a citizen and doesn’t have to apply for it. As opposed to naturalized, which requires an application.

akak July 27th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

In response to dosido @ 37

oops, didn’t see your response. ditto!

NorskeFlamethrower July 27th, 2009 at 5:01 pm

In response to darkblack @ 38

Citizen darkblack:

I’m not worried about the “distraction” of the people out here in the boonies who are tryin’ ta keep body and soul tagether…most regular folks are NOT distracted or confused by the Republican fascists in the Congress, it’s the “Democrat” fascists who folks in my neck a the woods are pissed off at. And it’s the fuckin’ Democrats or at least their leadership who we should be organizin’ primaries for right now, dammit!

OldFatGuy July 27th, 2009 at 5:03 pm

In response to akak @ 41

Do you have a link??

Thank God, I’ve been trying to find a definitive definition for weeks, and I can’t even find it in SCOTUS cases (at least yet).

I wanted to find something to quote to throw back at one of em that keeps on bringing it up on a baseball forum I also frequent. Any links would be appreciated.

Twain July 27th, 2009 at 5:04 pm

The newspapers in Hawaii, printed on the day after he was born, are proof that he was born when and where he has said. Don’t try to make sense of what these nuts are saying – it’s impossible.

dosido July 27th, 2009 at 5:04 pm

In response to akak @ 42

No prob. I’m glad you had my back onthat one (wasn’t sure).

dosido July 27th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

In response to OldFatGuy @ 39

Yeah, I know we’re on the same page.

I love how we’re referred to at HuffPo as “non-insane Americans”! :]

dosido July 27th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

In response to Twain @ 45

As Mike’s vid makes painfully clear, the gop pander to the crazy way too much. so much that they cannot speak to reality based citizens for fear of losing the crazy vote.

darkblack July 27th, 2009 at 5:09 pm

In response to NorskeFlamethrower @ 43

Quite so, Norske – More and more it appears to me that the divide is between those who are prepared to acknowledge objective realities and act on them decisively, irrespective of ideology…and the party stalwarts who will not rest until their cherished dogmas are chiseled upon America’s tombstone.

;>)

ThingsComeUndone July 27th, 2009 at 5:09 pm

The GOP media is deflecting they would rather talk about Obama’s health care plan than where he was born?
Then why is the Chamber of Commerce guys pushing the Senate to make a deal on healthcare before the break?
Because they have seen the polls we are wining this debate on healthcare the business community want a deal now the congressional break because then congress meets the voters.
The stupidity of the birthers are back firing on the GOP. Moderates won’t support the GOP as long as the GOP backs loony Birther, Tea Part movements and bobby and Sarah.

Elliott July 27th, 2009 at 5:10 pm

Firedoglake Movie Night: The Way We Get By upstairs, come join in.

akak July 27th, 2009 at 5:38 pm

In response to OldFatGuy @ 44

Will this help?
http://volokh.com/archives/arc…..1204246912

http://volokh.com/archives/arc…..1204265246

akak July 27th, 2009 at 5:41 pm

“I assume that “a natural born Citizen” is someone who was a citizen of the United States at the moment of his or her birth, under then-current law.10 This definition includes citizens born outside the United States, as the First Congress recognized in 1790.11″

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/pa…..id=1236882

Kitt July 27th, 2009 at 6:03 pm

They played even more of the Mike Stark footage on Countdown than they did on Hardball.

siri July 27th, 2009 at 6:04 pm

Rachel’s got him on too!!! GO MIKE!!!
Don’t get thrown around this time.
lol
i alllways knew that man was gonna be somebody someday!
lol

Larue July 27th, 2009 at 6:09 pm

In response to dosido @ 18

I’m wondering how many of them (Waxman?) were in Committee’s or not in The House at the vote time?

KayInMaine July 27th, 2009 at 6:23 pm

Notice how none of the right wing loonies voted “NAY”. What a bunch of cowards they all are! Love it.

nonplussed July 27th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

In response to KayInMaine @ 57

I know you’re not surprised in the least…

KayInMaine July 27th, 2009 at 6:30 pm

In response to nonplussed @ 58

Not surprised even a little, Nonplussed! LOL Someone on Think Progress said most likely some of the 55 non-voters tonight were pretending to be shopping for pencils to avoid having to go on record. Bah hahahahahahaha! Oh probably.

ChrisB July 27th, 2009 at 7:55 pm

The election in 2010 is going to be so much fun. Only the loonies left to vote for the Republicans. :)

cinnamonape July 27th, 2009 at 8:02 pm

In response to akak @ 5

They confuse “native born” with “natural born”. The first means born within the United States…the latter means “not requiring naturalization” (i.e. by parentage or birthplace).

Seems the “birthers” have a problem with English Comprehension.

cinnamonape July 27th, 2009 at 8:12 pm

In response to OldFatGuy @ 31

Sorry…you are confusing “native born” with “natural born”. The former is strictly territorial. But the Constitution specifically uses the term “natural born”. Arnold had to be “naturalized” because neither of his parents were US Citizens, and he wasn’t born within the territory of the United States.

Even IF (which he wasn’t) Obama was born in Kenya, his mother (Ann Dunham) would’ve make him a “natural born” citizen. He would not have needed any sort of “naturalization” process. He’s “natural born”. Technically this goes back to two aspects of Roman Law…”jus sanguinus” (”law of blood”) and “jus soli” (”law of land”) either one of which automatically conferred Roman Citizenship.A ll others needed to be “naturalized” through a process of Imperial fiat or through legislation (usually awarded through performing some act beneficial to the State).

cinnamonape July 27th, 2009 at 8:23 pm

In response to yellowsnapdragon @ 22

They do assert that Obama must have used a different passport to enter Pakistan many years ago. They assert, erroneously, that Obama could not have used a US passport since there was a period of time when travel by US citizens was “banned” to Pakistan. That means he must have used a secret “Kenyan” or “Indonesian” passpo rt. Problem is, there wasn’t a ban…it was a “travel warning”.

The whole thing about Obama not being a declared citizen by age l4 is just as absurd. He travelled to Indonesia about age 8 with a US Passport (necessary since he wasn’t an infant). I would bet that he had to submit a copy of his birth certificate to obtain that…and that his passport prominently stated that Honolulu was his place of birth.

Loo Hoo. July 27th, 2009 at 8:29 pm

The main problem is that America is being embarrassed again. This is semi-treasonous. No?

becca656 July 28th, 2009 at 5:21 am

As an old manager of mine used to say:

‘I refuse to have a battle of wits with someone who is unarmed.’

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