In an April 12 Washington Times column, Jeffrey Kuhner demanded that President Obama "[s]how us the birth certificate," adding that "[i]t is time Mr. Obama came clean. At a minimum, if he does not reveal his birth certificate, he cannot -- and should not -- be allowed to run for a second term." Further, Kuhner claimed that Obama “is hiding something. It may be the stated religious affiliation, the possible identity of his true father, the location of his birth -- no one will know until the records are revealed.”

From Kuhner's column:

The reality is that until Mr. Obama shows his proper, documented long-form birth certificate, the issue will not go away - nor should it. Many in Kenya's political and media class say he was born there before being brought to the United States. His Kenyan family members make the same claim, while others in Hawaii insist he was born in Honolulu. There is only one way to end the controversy: Show us the birth certificate.

Instead, what Mr. Obama has revealed is a certificate of live birth, which is not the same thing. It simply states that Mr. Obama was born in Hawaii; it does not prove it. Documents can be fraudulently manufactured after the fact.

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The president's supporters, however, cannot answer one simple question. If the controversy is so preposterous, then why has Mr. Obama's legal team spent campaign money to prevent the birth certificate from being unsealed?

The answer: He is hiding something. It may be the stated religious affiliation, the possible identity of his true father, the location of his birth - no one will know until the records are revealed. But protecting Mr. Obama's privacy is not a plausible reason and certainly not a justification for spending millions.

The birth issue is slowly casting a shadow over Mr. Obama's presidency; it threatens to undermine public confidence in his legal and moral authority to govern. Several states are pushing to pass laws compelling future presidential candidates - including Mr. Obama - to fully disclose all documents proving their natural born citizenship status. This desire for greater political transparency and accountability is healthy.

It is time Mr. Obama came clean. At a minimum, if he does not reveal his birth certificate, he cannot - and should not - be allowed to run for a second term.