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Email MyBestYears GUEST eCOLUMN.com
Email MyBestYears GUEST eCOLUMN.com
Speaking of birthdays, I couldn't help but hear and read all over the news this past week
about the fresh attention to your constitutional eligibility and natural-born citizen status. I
hardly can believe that individuals are offering bounties—one for $100,000—for any
personal witness or sufficient evidence to your American birth.
Believe it or not, I'm not writing you to challenge whether or not you were born
in America, though I see nothing wrong with the American public's voicing that
constitutionally based grievance with someone in your esteemed position. As
one blogger wrote, after all, "We aren't talking about a 12-year-old qualifying to play
Little League here." Or as Ronald Reagan once said, "Trust but verify."
I must admit that I find it a bit of a groundless stretch not to believe in the birth
announcements in two major Hawaiian newspapers in August 1961, in which Hawaii's
Health Department would have been required to post information it received directly from
hospitals: "Mr. and Mrs. Barack H. Obama, 6085 Kalanianaole Hwy., son, Aug. 4."
Nevertheless, that proof doesn't answer why you refuse to reveal your original
birth certificate and end the growing tides of controversy.
I'm writing you because this is no longer a matter merely about proving you meet a
presidential prerequisite in the Constitution. Refusing to post your original birth
certificate is an unwise political and leadership decision that is enabling the
"birther" controversy. The nation you are called to lead is experiencing a
growing swell of conspirators who are convinced that you are covering up
something. So why not just prove them wrong and shut them up?
I agree with CNN's Lou Dobbs, who was
chastised by his own media outlet for
demanding the release of your original
birth certificate. Why was that such a
bad request? We certainly know why
Jon Klein, the president of CNN/U.S.,
thought it was a bad idea. He previously
declared that CNN researchers had
determined that your 1961 birth certif-
icate no longer exists.
But Hawaii officials confirmed again
last week that they indeed have your
original birth certificate on file.
Dr. Chiyome Fukino, director of the Hawaii State Department of Health, repeated her
October 2008 statement that she had seen with her own eyes the "original vital records."
Some claim that even you cannot see or request your own personal birth certificate
because Hawaii's disclosure law (Hawaii Revised Statutes 338-18) states that "it shall be
unlawful for any person to permit inspection of, or to disclose information contained in
vital statistics records, or to copy or issue a copy of all or part of any such record."
But the law further states that Hawaii's Health Department "shall not permit inspection of
public health statistics records, or issue a certified copy of any such record or part
thereof, unless it is satisfied that the applicant has a direct and tangible interest
in the record " (emphasis added).
Isn't categorically satisfying constitutional requirements for a president or answering the
First Amendment grievances of hundreds of thousands of Americans or ending a
national debate or healing a country's divisions enough "direct and tangible interest"?
Mr. President, as more and more people realize that you are refusing to release
your original birth certificate, further questions will fuel the fires of debate or
at least hinder the embers from ever being snuffed out. Questions such as, "Does
it really contain the Hawaiian physician's name?" "Does it disclose something other than
his birthplace that he wishes others not to see?"
Of course, not every U.S. citizen has access to his original birth certificate, but you do,
and yours is the only one under debate. As valuable as copies can be, textual critics
know that nothing outweighs an original, especially when only it contains the information
under question.
Again, why don't you simply request,
release and give permission to make
public your original birth certificate?
Mr. President, you promised the American
people that you are "committed to creating
an unprecedented level of openness in
Government." In fact, in your July 23 prime-
time news conference, you said that your
administration has been more transparent
than previous administrations: "I think that
we have provided much greater transparency
than existed prior to our administration
coming in."
So again, I ask: Why not live out that transparency promise by posting your
original birth certificate and end the division and debate?
Well, I have a birthday to plan, so I had better get going.
Again, happy birthday, Mr. President.
about the fresh attention to your constitutional eligibility and natural-born citizen status. I
hardly can believe that individuals are offering bounties—one for $100,000—for any
personal witness or sufficient evidence to your American birth.
Believe it or not, I'm not writing you to challenge whether or not you were born
in America, though I see nothing wrong with the American public's voicing that
constitutionally based grievance with someone in your esteemed position. As
one blogger wrote, after all, "We aren't talking about a 12-year-old qualifying to play
Little League here." Or as Ronald Reagan once said, "Trust but verify."
I must admit that I find it a bit of a groundless stretch not to believe in the birth
announcements in two major Hawaiian newspapers in August 1961, in which Hawaii's
Health Department would have been required to post information it received directly from
hospitals: "Mr. and Mrs. Barack H. Obama, 6085 Kalanianaole Hwy., son, Aug. 4."
Nevertheless, that proof doesn't answer why you refuse to reveal your original
birth certificate and end the growing tides of controversy.
I'm writing you because this is no longer a matter merely about proving you meet a
presidential prerequisite in the Constitution. Refusing to post your original birth
certificate is an unwise political and leadership decision that is enabling the
"birther" controversy. The nation you are called to lead is experiencing a
growing swell of conspirators who are convinced that you are covering up
something. So why not just prove them wrong and shut them up?
I agree with CNN's Lou Dobbs, who was
chastised by his own media outlet for
demanding the release of your original
birth certificate. Why was that such a
bad request? We certainly know why
Jon Klein, the president of CNN/U.S.,
thought it was a bad idea. He previously
declared that CNN researchers had
determined that your 1961 birth certif-
icate no longer exists.
But Hawaii officials confirmed again
last week that they indeed have your
original birth certificate on file.
Dr. Chiyome Fukino, director of the Hawaii State Department of Health, repeated her
October 2008 statement that she had seen with her own eyes the "original vital records."
Some claim that even you cannot see or request your own personal birth certificate
because Hawaii's disclosure law (Hawaii Revised Statutes 338-18) states that "it shall be
unlawful for any person to permit inspection of, or to disclose information contained in
vital statistics records, or to copy or issue a copy of all or part of any such record."
But the law further states that Hawaii's Health Department "shall not permit inspection of
public health statistics records, or issue a certified copy of any such record or part
thereof, unless it is satisfied that the applicant has a direct and tangible interest
in the record " (emphasis added).
Isn't categorically satisfying constitutional requirements for a president or answering the
First Amendment grievances of hundreds of thousands of Americans or ending a
national debate or healing a country's divisions enough "direct and tangible interest"?
Mr. President, as more and more people realize that you are refusing to release
your original birth certificate, further questions will fuel the fires of debate or
at least hinder the embers from ever being snuffed out. Questions such as, "Does
it really contain the Hawaiian physician's name?" "Does it disclose something other than
his birthplace that he wishes others not to see?"
Of course, not every U.S. citizen has access to his original birth certificate, but you do,
and yours is the only one under debate. As valuable as copies can be, textual critics
know that nothing outweighs an original, especially when only it contains the information
under question.
Again, why don't you simply request,
release and give permission to make
public your original birth certificate?
Mr. President, you promised the American
people that you are "committed to creating
an unprecedented level of openness in
Government." In fact, in your July 23 prime-
time news conference, you said that your
administration has been more transparent
than previous administrations: "I think that
we have provided much greater transparency
than existed prior to our administration
coming in."
So again, I ask: Why not live out that transparency promise by posting your
original birth certificate and end the division and debate?
Well, I have a birthday to plan, so I had better get going.
Again, happy birthday, Mr. President.
- Yours truly,
Chuck Norris
| Chuck Norris is the star of more than 20 films and the long-running TV series Walker, Texas Ranger. His newest book is entitled Black Belt Patriotism. Learn more about his life and ministry at his official website, ChuckNorris.com. |
CHUCK NORRIS
First, happy birthday. I do hope today is an enjoyable day
for you and your family. Coincidentally, I also will be
celebrating this week the birth of someone dear to me, my
beloved wife, Gena, whose birthday is Aug. 9.
- ...Dear Mr. President
First, happy birthday. I do hope today is an enjoyable day
for you and your family. Coincidentally, I also will be
celebrating this week the birth of someone dear to me, my
beloved wife, Gena, whose birthday is Aug. 9.
| Copyright 2009 Chuck Norris Used by permission |
| Transparency? |
| "Why not just prove them wrong and shut them up?" |