Boehner reacts to birther outburst

[brooklynite]

Source: MSNBC

In his interview with John Boehner, NBC's Brian Williams got the new House speaker to react to today's outburst by a birther in the House gallery during the reading of the Constitution.

Williams: I'm curious as to how much responsibility you feel specifically because of something that happened this morning. During the reading of the Constitution, Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey, was reading a portion of the document, interrupted by someone who heckled from within the chamber. It was to express doubt over the president's American citizenship. Provided you believe the president is an American citizen, you've got 12 members co-sponsoring legislation that does about the same thing, it expresses doubt. Would you be willing to say, "This is a distraction, I've looked at it to my satisfaction. Let's move on"?

Boehner: The state of Hawaii has said that President Obama was born there. That's good enough for me.

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/01/06/5778682-boehner-reacts-to-birther-outburst

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Boy, he's never going to hold onto the Tea Party Caucus with foolish comments like this...

[justiceischeap]

1. I love how he doesn't acknowledge his birth certificate

But lays the "validation" on the state of Hawaii. He also didn't answer the question about stopping time-wasting legislation.

[rhett o rick]

4. good point. nm

[monmouth]

10. He's very immature in many respects. That's due in large part to

his alcohol consumption...

[SnakeEyes]

12. the state of hawaii validation is based on

having looked at his birth certificate.

[melm00se]

26. of course he does

the US federal government does not issue birth certificates, only the states do that. As such, he has to leave the validation of the state issued birth certificate to the state that actually issued that certificate.

[xchrom]

2. right out of mcconnel's playbook.

in other words --'i think he's probably lying -- but if the state of hawaii says -- he's born there -- well'

[Mumble]

3. Did Boner cry

when he answered?

[zanana1]

15. I was going to post that!

It seems you can't trust the guy unless he's crying, and even then you wonder if he's just a good actor.

[HeroTwins]

5. this is the silver lining of having Boehner held accountable as Speaker

he wasn't asked this question for 2 years.

[CLANG]

6. Yeah, pretty soon he'll be called a libtard by the Tea Party fucks.

[Frisbee]

7. He's just picking his battles...

and probably realizes that one is unwinnable or at the very least may risk his "bipartisian" relationship with the Whitehouse. I expect plenty of right-wing assholery will be forthcoming quite soon.

[Ikonoklast]

8. The right will put insane pressure on this guy.

He'll end up cracking.

[AsahinaKimi]

9. I could easily see

Fox News putting a "D" next to his name, if he makes a major gaff in the next couple of months.

[tanyev]

11. Class of 2010 already leaving a stinking mess of used and discarded tea bags in their wake.

[lunatica]

13. I can't wait for the teabaggers to turn on him!!!!!!

I'm going to enjoy that thoroughly. His big old fat crocodile tears will be sincere self pity ones then.

[dogfacedboy]

14. Boehner would never have said this if the psychotic birther lady

hadn't befouled the House with her wretched existence.
And, pardon the whiff of misogyny here, but why do the wackiest of teamonkies always seem to be women?

[kpete]

16. Boehner to 'birthers': Hawaii good enough for me

Source: MSNBC

Boehner to 'birthers': Hawaii good enough for me
New GOP House speaker tells NBC Nightly News he doesn't question Obama's citizenship; calls new health law 'biggest job killer'

New Republican House Speaker John Boehner says he doesn't question President Barack Obama's place of birth but it's not within his purview to tell others what to think.

"The state of Hawaii has said that President Obama was born there. That's good enough for me," Boehner, R-Ohio, told NBC 's Brian Williams in an interview to air Thursday night on NBC Nightly News.

Pressed by Williams on what he would say to members of his party who have expressed doubts about Obama's citizenry, Boehner replied: "Brian, when you come to the Congress of the United States, there are 435 of us. We're nothing more than a slice of America. People come, regardless of party labels, they come with all kinds of beliefs and ideas. It's the melting pot of America. It's not up to me to tell them what to think."

So-called "birthers" have dogged Obama with claims that he is ineligible to be president saying there's no proof he was born in the United States. Hawaii officials say Obama was born there and point to a birth certificate showing the president's birth date of Aug. 4, 1961, city and name, along with his parents' names and race

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40953865/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

[Ohio Joe]

17. "It's not up to me to tell them what to think."

How much you want to bet he lets them begin some type of "investigation". Fucking stupid teabaggers.

[Andy823]

18. Yep,

He won't tell them how to think, but he sure will tell them how to "VOTE"! :evilgrin:

[Journeyman]

19. A person of integrity would have said, "Mr Obama has said he was born in Hawaii". . . "

"That's good enough for me."

[Psephos]

20. That would not address the birthers as well as what he said.

The birthers are all about "proof."

[RedCloud]

22. They probably think with a "white" and "black" grandparents, Mr. O should be "grey"

[bhikkhu]

23. He does speak to the most important point of law, however

which is that the final law and authority over domestic births lies with the state. If Hawaii says Obama was born there, then its case closed, end of discussion.

[Journeyman]

25. 'Tis true, but respect for the man would necessitate no additional confirmation. . .

and that's the larger issue I addressed.

If Boehner were a man of integrity, he'd stand on his beliefs, if his belief included trust in the President. The birthers are never going to believe anything contrary to their delusions. Boehner should rise above their level, if for no reason other than his own integrity - which is so obviously absent, given his own words.

[bhikkhu]

28. agreed. n/t

[handmade34]

21. a decent person

would have said "It is time to end this nonsense about Pres. Obama's place of birth and get busy with real concerns"

what John Boehner said only continues to fuel the fire... not a decent thing to do

[obxhead]

24. A group primarily made up of white rich men is a melting pot now.

Phew, glad that's all cleared up now as well.

[guitar man]

27. Hmmm

I wonder if he feels a little bit of solidarity with the president. I mean, with Obama being the first non-white President and Boner being the first non-white Speaker and all....

:spray: