Roy Blunt’s Spokesman Declines To Say Whether Blunt Thinks Obama Is Legitimate President
Looks like GOP Rep. Roy Blunt is seriously doubling down on birtherism: In an interview with me just now, the spokesman for his Senate campaign declined repeated chances to say whether Blunt thinks Obama is legitimately the president.
I asked Blunt spokesman Rich Chrismer for clarification of Blunt’s comments on a video by blogger Mike Stark that made the rounds yesterday, in which Blunt asked “why the president can’t produce a birth certificate,” calling this a “legitimate question.”
Chrismer’s response: He’s accusing the blogger of selectively editing the interview and taking Blunt’s quotes out of context. “We encourage this blog to release the video of the entire interview instead of the edited version,” Chrismer told me.
When I asked Chrismer directly whether Blunt believes Obama is legitimately the president, Chrismer didn’t directly answer, instead repeating: “We’re ecouraging the blog to release the entire interview.”
When I asked Chrismer the same question again, Chrismer again sidestepped and repeated the same demand. Asked if he knew what Blunt, the former number two in the GOP House leadership, said that had been allegedly edited out, Chrismer said he didn’t.
Who knows — it’s possible that the full interview does show Blunt challenging birtherism, though the comments seem pretty straightforward. I’ll try to track the full interview down. But for now, the spokesman for the likely GOP nominee for Senate in Missouri won’t say whether he believes Barack Hussein Obama is legitimately our 44th president.
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Update: FireDogLake posts the full interview, and at the beginning, Blunt confirms that he doesn’t “have any reason not to believe” that Obama was born in the United States. But he still says the birthers are raising legit quesions about his birth certificate. And his spokesman still won’t say whether Blunt views Obama as the legit president.
Update II Blunt’s spokesman clarifies, says Blunt does believe Obama is legitimately president.
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Wheeee!
He would have been better off not saying anything and just letting it go.
Seriously, this is getting ridiculous.
Insane. But his Chrismer’s name is misspelled.
He’s trying to have it both ways. It won’t work: Republicans are going to have to face up to the fringe of their party sooner or later.
Update: FireDogLake posts the full interview, and at the beginning, Blunt confirms that he doesn’t “have any reason not to believe” that Obama was born in the United States. But he still says the birthers are raising legit quesions about his birth certificate. And his spokesman still won’t say whether Blunt views Obama as the legit president.
What else is new ? Another repub gutless wonder hedging both ways.
Meteor Blades at dkos has a wonderful suggestion for loud obbs.
Take a Trip to Hawaii, Mr. Dobbs, My Treat
Reward good journalism.
Right-wing fringe claims Obama ineligible for presidency
by Virginie Montet – Thu Jul 30, 9:31 am ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) – A small group of fringe conservatives, many fundamentally opposed to the notion of an African-American as president, are challenging President Barack Obama’s eligibility for the US presidency.
On blogs and even before US courts, the so-called “Birthers” are using the Constitution, with its stipulation that presidents be US natural born citizens, to argue Obama should not be in the White House.
Despite proof that Obama was born in the US state of Hawaii, including a birth certificate affirming that fact, rumors continue to spread, fueled by a group that critics say includes right-wing militants, racists and Holocaust deniers.
And someone at dkos takes up Meteor Blades’ offer
Hilarious diary and comments.
Hey, birthersm read it & weep.
If you want any positive from this, it is that we can use this issue against republicans for generations.
Second point, am I the only one who sees Karl Rove hiding behind the curtain and pulling the strings?
Blunt’s claim is just another proof why the Repugs should never get control of the White House again. They are just a bunch of hate-filled racists.
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