Matthews, Heilemann suggest Obama at fault for "open[ing] the door" to birthers
August 09, 2009 10:54 am ET
From the August 9 edition of The Chris Matthews Show:
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Further, as I've said several times before, the "issues" raised by Obama's opponents won't simply go away because nothing he can say or do will satisfy them. If he produces a birth certificate, they say it's fake. If Obama produces the guy who typed it, they say he's lying or bribed. If he produces the doctor who delivered him, they say he's lying or bribed, too.
To people who have the strength of their BELIEF that Obama is evil, no FACT will dissuade them. In fact, if you provide proof that they're wrong, they take it as evidence that YOU'RE part of the pro-Obama conspiracy too -- in their warped view, your facts and evidence merely serve to validate their BELIEF that Obama is evil -- so evil that he's managed to ensnare you in his web of deceit.
These people are not rational and they cannot be reasoned with. We need to oppose them, not engage them or negotiate with them.
In my view, Obama did open the door to this conspiracy theory, because,at the outset, he should have posted the full certificate which would have answered the questions,EVEN IF not strictly required by law. It goes to respect for citizens whose president you will be and acknowledges their right to know every little detail of your background,because they trust you with their lives. People with secrets should not run and if they do, should expect to be exposed.By the way,the birthplace of some prior presidents was questioned but the questioners were not called racist,or worse,for doing so.
The same applies to Obama's academic records. He should be proud of them,not secretive, so why were they sealed?
I'm not a fan of Matthews,but he said nothing that could be construed as critical or doubtful about Obama. Even if he had, your comments look like you want anything unfavorable or even anything that questions him,suppressed. You add fuel to the cries of Fascism or Stalinism. Not in this country, please.
Finally, "These people" is one of the expressions racists use to characterize a race. It is equally repulsive when used to denigrate an entire group of people whose opinion is different from yours. People who oppose Obama come in all the shapes, races, colors, IQ and education levels of America. Just like those who support him.
For Obama the sign should read---Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
I could have sworn we'd moved on from the birthers lunacy.