J.D. Hayworth bangs the birther drum while planning to challenge McCain in the Republican Primary

[Amerigo Vespucci]

McCain primary challenger: Obama should ‘come forward’ with birth certificate

By David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 -- 11:49 am

http://rawstory.com/2010/01/hayworth-obama-should-come-forward/



The former Arizona congressman turned radio host who intends to challenge Sen. John McCain in this year's Republican primary wants the world to know that he is an unrepentant "birther."

In an appearance Tuesday on MSNBC's Hardball, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth repeatedly described Senator McCain as out of touch with Arizona conservatives and took pains to emphasize that he stands to the right of McCain on most issues. "While I think all of us think the world of John McCain ... he's just been in Washington too long," Hayworth insisted. "John is, quite candidly, a moderate."

Host Chris Matthews finally asked Hayworth bluntly, "Are you as far right as the birthers?" Are you one of those who believes that the president should have to prove that he's a citizen of the United States, and not an illegal immigrant? Are you that far right?"

"Well, gosh," Hayworth replied in a folksy tone. "We all had to bring our birth certificate's to show we were who we said we were, and we were the age we said we were, to play football in youth sports. Shouldn't we know exactly that anyone who wants to run for public office is a natural born citizen of the United States, and is who they say they are?"

"I'm reading your letter that says the president should go back and get his birth certificate from the governor of Hawaii," Matthews went on. "Do you stand by this letter? Should the governor of Hawaii produce evidence that the president is one of us?