Release of President Obama’s Birth Certificate Removes a Distraction America Can No Longer Afford

Today’s release by the White House of President Barack Obama’s “long-form” birth certificate, confirming that he was born in Hawaii and therefore is indeed the legitimate President of the United States, puts a long overdue period on what has been an absurdity unprecedented in the history of the U.S. presidency. This farce reached a crescendo when Donald Trump attached his brand, which stands for outrageous excess, to the so-called “birther” movement. Now, in an incredible act of ridiculousness that would make P.T. Barnum blush, Trump is reportedly taking credit for “forcing” the White House to release the birth certificate.

Trump, supposedly considering a presidential run, should be ashamed of exploiting and elevating the birther issue to the point of intolerable distraction from the real and serious issues being faced by the nation and the world, issues that require the Obama Administration’s undivided attention. That Trump would so irresponsibly lend credence to doubts about Obama’s U.S. citizenship (while hypocritically stating that he believes that the President is an American citizen) suggests anything but fitness for any public office, much less the American presidency.

President Obama provided the same proof of citizenship and eligibility as a presidential candidate as every other modern presidential hopeful when he submitted his standard short-form birth certificate in 2008. To have allowed this issue to evolve from that point is irresponsible and absolutely disrespectful to the Office of the Presidency. It is unfortunate that, three years after being legitimately elected, President Obama had to go to this length to remove an untenable distraction from his real work of service to the American people.