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Blitzer and Trump spar over Trump's 'birther' claims
(CNN) – Donald Trump did not back down Tuesday from his questioning of President Barack Obama's birthplace, instead arguing heatedly with CNN's Wolf Blitzer that "a lot of people do not think it was an authentic certificate," though he declined to offer names of experts who agree with him.
The issue of Obama's birth – litigated in the 2008 presidential campaign, then settled when the Obama White House released the long-form version of the certificate in April 2011 – is being brought to the fore in no small part by Trump, who is also set to fund-raise alongside presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney Tuesday evening.
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As one sided as these comments are it would be quite a story how the pros and cons are really running just as another story would be to know how many illegal voters voted last election in Florida.that story disappeared fast.
Why has no one asked these news people what happened in those new democratic countries they helped make such as Egypt and Libya and now Syria?
I like it when everything is censored. Hitting a nerve is more fun than anything.Democrats are stepping on their own foot becasue when there is no freebees here or illegals to free what will they use for a carrott.We are broke.
Trump has been accused of a lot of things but never being a true Republican.He is Democrat dyed in the wool.
@wolf the world knows where mr obama was born and this is not the time to talk where he was born no this when to disscus the growing of the econmy, jobs for the people and so on.
Wolf, I would like you to ask Trump, who is sound like torned trumpet,
If he want to talk about China, then he has to remove all china made products from all of his Casino, Hotels, and all the building he has ever build. If he is man of his word, and and true American who loves America he will do it. other wise He is also one of the republican liars. He always lied, and will do so,
If he can not remove all China made product from his hotels he has no right to speak about it, You fired Trump.
Wolf Blitzer, Donald Trump, news interviewers, right-wingers the Tea Party and people on this blog–you are all ignorant of the law and are perfect examples of why there is no news on the news and why we are called "Planet Stupid."
According to the law, even if you have one foreign-born parent, and even if you are born in a foreign country (which Obama wasn't), if one parent is a long-time U.S. citizen and your parents were married, then YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES! The Donald is not as smart as he thinks–and Wolf, don't you have some assistants who could bother to google this?
Why does the press still lthink that this man, who is obviously irrational, has anything to contribute to any rational discourse. Please stop wasting time with him.
I watched last night your interview with the Don......Why waste your breath Wolf...He's the Don and thinks he is always l00% right.....I enjoyed your interview and think you are a terrific reporter....god bless you.
Wolf, first you are known for very long time that you are mature and well respected journalist. The question however, is that when you asked Trump about Obama's birth certificate, the big mistake is that you wanted him to tell you what you personally want to hear, and not what Trump believes is true. I think that the core role of a journalist is being an intermediary between audience and other people’s opinion. It was very clear from your part when you used the world "ridiculous" for your guest, which is inappropriate, simply because you didn't like what he said. Even if your guest says something that you believe is completely wrong, or he/she does not stop talking, there are better ways to address that!
Keep in mind that CNN always has the brightest and most distinguished journalists in the world! What you did is kind of disappointing! But I believe that overall you are a great person.
Wolf was just asking Trump to back up what Trump claimed to be a "fact" not his "opinion". Wolf was being kind by calling Trump "ridiculous". Did you hear the interview? Because if you did you would have to say that Trump was acting like a 2nd grader as he often does when he gets angry with someone. Trump was very nasty when saying that his ratings were poor. Trump is a child and does not like anyone who disagrees with him. He is a poor sport, a spoiled brat, who is arrogant and adores himself. Wolf was kind in my "opinion". Trump deserves to be put in his place. He is nasty and arrogant when he has opposition.
Donald Trump is a way out there so called man...How can he even be left standing on his feet after what he has done???Romney is not any thing we could ever have in the White house...he is bad and could not handle our Nation..Unless he wants Trump to hold his hand.., Obama's HAS DONE A GREAT JOB FOR US......TRUMP GO HOME.
Your nuts. He has done a good job running this country into the ground with his Socialist ideas and lack of common sense.
Socialist? If you are talking about Health Care Reform, the one signed by Obama with universal mandate, was actually a republican idea in 90s. And Romney signed similar law in MA. So Romney must be a socialist too. So, this election will be battle of socialists. It just tells us how far we have come in discussion on policies matter. Any time somebody differs with you, start calling names instead of discussing the merits of the policy.
HI Bob, please provide an example of a SINGLE policy the has been implemented by this administration that you deem "socialist" Thanks.
The US is going down the tube have you not noticed????? Do even know what Socialism is????? It's what you need!
Obama can't lead this country effectively when you people think you are smarter than him. So much arrogance is destroying your country in the ground, so sad! You can't let your leader lead. Shame on all you nasty critics.
This is old and boring news.Lets get on the important stuff such as JOBS,WASTED TAXMONEY.SCREWING THE LITTLE PEOPLE.The worse government this country has ever had. Jim Thomas Phx.Az.
Jim Thomas wrote: "This is old and boring news.Lets get on the important stuff such as JOBS,WASTED TAXMONEY.SCREWING THE LITTLE PEOPLE.The worse government this country has ever had. Jim Thomas Phx.Az."
Yes. So tell Trump to quit harping on it and SHUT UP!
"Wolfe, I still have my original birth certifiate (George's head on the stamp). It is a tattered sheet, bearly holding itself together, not like Obama's that looks as though it was printed just last year!!!"
Another ridiculous point. I had to replace my birth certificate about 10 years ago. Guess what. It still appears to look newly printed. I would suffice to say it looks newer than Obama's. What does the shape your birth certificate mean? Absolutely nothing.
"You don't need to know if people are born persay, it's more about 'Where were you Born?????????????????"
My verse was written when Donald still had presidential hopes.
Wolf you had Trump back pedaling , you new he was giving you BS, he never reveille is source because it all BS. It typical of the Obama haters they invent thing against Obama and expect for us to believe it.
Or they claim that you can tell this IS a conspiracy by the fact that there is no evidence! Ya that it. Its the perfect cover up! They're so twisted they only thing you can do is step away and let them bark at the wind.
According to the 14th Amendment the following provision appears to apply when it comes to being qualified to become President of the United States. Even if President Obama was born outside the US this provision would allow him to be President.
• Anyone born outside the United States, if one parent is an alien and as long as the other parent is a citizen of the U.S. who lived in the U.S. for at least five years (with military and diplomatic service included in this time).
So why all the fuss? If the above provision is correct why isn't it being reported by the press?
Thanks Wolf for stating the obvious! Iam starting a drinking game, one shot for every time Trump says "I'm proud of myself for..."
"Neither Mitt Romney, nor John McCain can prove who Obama really is, only the Guy in the whitehouse now can do that!" If you are going to hold office so high in a Coiuntry then you should prove who you are with your DNA.
Quote: Hardball: Romney bows to Trump’s birther notions
Season 2012 : Episode 0529
May 29: Chris Matthews talks with the Huffington Post’s Howard Fineman and the Las Vegas Sun’s Jon Ralston about Donald Trump’s continuing push to question President Obama’s birthplace, and why Mitt Romney is Unquote.
This birthed issue is a non issue as is Donal Trump. Why do you give him so much air time ? He is a circus act and we are all tired of him. He's fired.
This "...many people..." conspiracy business reminds me of "Tailgunner Joe's" list of commies that was never disclosed either. Good for Wolf for putting him on as the goofy guy he is.
"Ever read the book 'The man in the iron mask?' There were many kings in the world long ago, who were not! When you hold such high positions in the world today, you should prove who you are with your DNA."
Many people don't believe that Donald Trump was born on this planet.
Mr. Blitzer,
Did you ever read the Headline story from the Kenya Newspaper(June 27, 2004), called the Sunday Standard. The story they wrote about was the "Kenyan-born Obama all set for U.S. Senate' That was the title and it clearly reports his Birthplace as being Kenya. There was never a withdrawal from the Newspaper, nor was there ever a Denial from Obama......Where is your Instinct for the TRUTH, as a Reporter and Citizen of these once great United States?.....or does the Truth matter to you anymore?
Back in 1968 Mitt's Dad ran for president and he was born in Mexico (as Mitt's birth certificate says) but the legal interpretaion by the Congressional Research Service declared that the practical, legal meaning of "natural born citizen" would "most likely include" not only anyone born on U.S. soil but anyone born overseas of at least one parent who was a U.S. citizen. So if either of Mitt's grandparents was a citizen, Mitt's dad George was a citizen no matter where he was born – which is why he was allowed to run.
The Donald and birthers have never tried to claim Barack's mom wasn't a citizen so no matter whether Barack was born in Hawaii, in Africa, or on the moon he is an American citizen. Can we close this ridiculous case already?
Go away, Trumpmeister.
The newspaper birth announcements were standard announcements placed in the papers by the grandparents of Barrack to announce to birth of their grandson, like many people do around the country when children are born.
The announcements do not say where Barrack was born, only that he was born on a date and the parents names. Wolf said that the announcements said that Barack was born "in Hawaii", which they do not.
Also the address that was listed was the address of the grandparents, since Stanley and Barrack Sr did not live together. There needs not be any conspiracy for such typical announcements to be placed. Stanley Anne's parents were proud of the birth of their grandson, and they wanted their friends to know about it. It is not proof of location of birth.
Battle of the Egos! Who can shout down the other? You were BOTH ridiculous!
I don't think Trump would step down to a smaller plane and mansion to run. Let's say he was born in Kenya or anywhere else, and there's a theatrical PR circus to make even the suggestion of it appear comical. Maybe birtherism and the word birther is a clever tool. Who knows? Who cares? He's American enough– bought and paid for by big money interests just like every other politician, and elected with slick PR campaigns that have little to do with the truth. What's much more concerning is the other parts of the Constitution/Bill of Rights that have been trampled upon in the past decade in the name of safety and patriotism, and the neverending wars while the people at home suffer.
Anyone who is serious about this knows that a whole panel of experts has looked at Obama's Birth Certificate, and their conclusions ranged from they had a problem with it to it's an outright fake! I've been after my Congressman and others about this a long time now, and their answers range from vague to evasive. Why can't they just put the Birth Certificate out there for experts to verify, and put this to rest? I had to submit mine when I got my Top Secret Clearance, and if there had been a problem all Hell would have broken loose til it was figured out. Why not the same scrutiny for Pres. Obama?
Wolf, that was poor journalism. Instead of asking Donald Trump for his sources, why not do some investigating for yourself (e.g. were people's births erroneously published in Hawaiian newspapers?). I love The Situation Room but I didn't love that interview.
How about a special hour report expose' with many independent Forensic document experts and come to a verifiable consensus...We DOUBLE DARE you CNN, to do that..but I bet you won't or do you have the guts to do a special report on this issue???
I use to really like and respect Donald Trump. Now he is becoming a sad sad shell of what he once was. Doesn't matter to him what I think though... I'm beginning to seriously wonder if the may have some medical condition affecting his cognitive function.
Wolf,
I watched the phone interview you had with Trump, and could not understand why one has not asked to ascertain an immigration records, if any, of Obama's mom departure and arrival record from USA to Kenya. Again, there has to be a record of Obama immigration records of departure and arrival records from Kenya to USA. It is obvious that such immigration records do not exist. Trunp, in most people opinion, craves for attention. This is the only reason why he continues to bring up the birth certificate issue.
They did a FIA request for micro film information from the National Archives, pertaining to names of people that flew in and out of the country via the Freedom of Information Act around the time Obama was born. They did get many months of micro film BUT there was 5 months of micro film missing of the names of people flying in and out of the country at that time. HOW ODD! What would be the chances of that ...Hmmm! how clearly convenient!
The Cold Case Posse looking into the birth records has reported that records for flights into the US during the month in question around August 1962 do not exist anymore. In other words, there is a gap in the records. Interesting.
shalandra – you watched th phone inter view with trump , but you did not listen
I agree it doesn't make sense that Obama was born in Kenya since there are no records of his mother having traveled there. However, Obama still hasn't produced a legitimate birth certificate. The one released last year was determined to be fraudulent by Sheriff Arpaio in Arizona. Furthermore, why are so many of his records sealed such as university records? Very strange how someone pops up out of nowhere and the next thing you know, he's the President.
You're kidding, right? Sheriff Arpaio? He's about as brainless as Donald Trump. And where are you getting this information on sealed records etc? Have you done ANY scholarship?
Donald Trup should know better. We are a country at war,to disrespect our commander in chief is not being a good American. In my eyes he's as good as a traitor.
It matters not where Obama was born. He is not eligible because of his father not being a US citizen. What matters a great deal now is that Obama has provided a government document for which an official law enforcement investigation has determined probable cause that it is criminally fraudulent.
William:
"What matters a great deal now is that Obama has provided a government document for which an official law enforcement investigation has determined probable cause that it is criminally fraudulent."?????
I believe "William" is actually the Donald!
Donald Trump wanted to talk about other things but you wouldn't let him. You kept talking about it and asking him, not him wanting to talk about it. Then for the rest of your show you talked about it. You were wrong not him. I wouldn't blame him if he never talked to you again. Then again, it has to be brought up on John King show. How about some news, not your pettiness.
Why would Wolf Blitzer want to talk to Trump if not for the Birther issue? Trump is not running for office, Trump's show is over for the season, and the only reason Trump's in the news is because of his stupid insistence that President Obama wasn't born in Hawaii. Even the conservative judges of the U.S. Supreme Court haven't found a reason to question President Obama's U.S. birth.
Of course he doesnt want to talk about his nutty views to someone who will challenge him on them.
Has anyone ever seen Donald Trump's birth certificate, if so, how do we know it is real?
Trump is not running for President; and if he did, he would provide a copy if asked, just like everyone does to get a driver's license. John McCain did, and he was determined to be eligible because both his parents were US citizens.
For some, it appears that there is no way for determining that anyone is eligible to be President because there is no way to determine anything is real.
I believe "William" is actually the Donald!
The Donald sure knows a lot of folks named Many.
The point Trump was making is that Wolf refuses to do the hard journalism by doing the research himself. Wolf's talking points have been the same from the beginning and apparently refuses to investigate the work that others have been doing, including ongoing official law enforcement investigations. Wolf knows the names. And if he doesn't, then he is totally clueless.
Wolf's use of the newspaper clippings as proof of an Hawaiian birth is almost embarrassing, not to mention extremely shallow. All they say is that a son was born to the Obama's on a certain date and the address was the address of the grandparents. No conspiracy, just normal operating procedures for grandparents, especially when the parents have Hawaii connections but have no address themselves.