'Birther' claims force GOP leaders to take a stand

[babylonsister]

'Birther' claims force GOP leaders to take a stand
By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press


It's the conspiracy theory that won't go away. And it's forcing Republican officials and presidential contenders to pick sides: Do they think Barack Obama was born outside the United States and disqualified to be president?

As the Republican candidates tiptoe through the minefield, Democrats are watching. They hope the debate will fire up their liberal base and perhaps tie the eventual GOP nominee to fringe beliefs that swing voters will reject.

In recent days several prominent Republicans have distanced themselves, with varying degrees of emphasis, from the false claim that Obama was born in a foreign country. But with a new poll showing that two-thirds of adult Republicans either embrace the claim or are open to it, the GOP leaders for the most part are not calling for a broader effort to stamp out the allegations.

"It's a real challenge for the Republican Party and virtually every Republican candidate for president," contends Democratic pollster Geoff Garin. If it's not handled well, he said, all-important independent voters might see Republicans as extreme or irrelevant.

more...

http://www.salon.com/wires/us/2011/04/23/D9MP804G4_us_obama_birthplace/index.html

[DCBob]

1. This may be a hot issue with the ignorant right.. but clearly this helps the President..

with moderates and normal people who just see this as lunacy and re-confirms the negative image of the RW.

[SpiralHawk]

2. The Republicons should face up to LIHOP as well

I mean, if we are talking about shameful crap the republicons have pulled, ya gotta shovel LIHOP onto their immense, groaning crap heap.

The whole 9/11 pack of republicon lies just absolutely steenks to high heavens.

CAPTION: xCommander George AWOL Bush (R) goes AWOL. As usual.

[Peacetrain]

3. The GOP and their supporters are down the tubes on this one..

There is no taking this back, what the birther issue was and is all about. To have even covertly supported it in silence implicates the whole group.

[DCKit]

4. "...voters might see Republicans as extreme or irrelevant."

Shocking.