RNC Chairman Not a Birther, But OK with Those Who Are

Politically triangulating around the majority of loons
Wingnuts • Views: 30,757

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus came out today with one of those completely typical GOP responses to the Birther movement: RNC Chairman dismisses birther talk.

“Trump and the candidates can talk about it all they want, but my position is that the president was born in the United States,” Priebus told reporters at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.

“I don’t think it’s an issue that moves voters,” he said of the birth certificate chatter. “It’s an issue in my opinion that I don’t personally get too excited about, because I think the more important question is what’s going on in this country in regards to jobs, to debt, and the deficit and spending. Those are the things that people are worried about. People aren’t worried about these other issues.”

Notice that Priebus never actually denounced Birtherism. He’s doing the same thing Republicans always do with this issue: trying to have it both ways. He “believes” Obama was born in the US, but he’s fine with those who don’t believe it. (And he’d better be, because that’s the majority of the GOP base, despite Priebus’ laughable attempt to brush off the Birther movement as insignificant.)

This is definitely not a sign that the tide is turning against the Birther Bunch; it’s just more of the same weak pandering that’s been the GOP’s response to the Birthers since the craziness started.

If you’re waiting for a sign of real courage from the GOP leadership on this issue, don’t hold your breath.

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65 comments
1 windsagio  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:37:47am

They think they can use the Birthers and TP'ers, or at least that it's worth the risk of losing control >>

2 Obdicut  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:38:28am

Weird. Why can't the GOP bring itself to reject Trump? He's making them look like fools.

Well, even bigger fools than they already did.

3 HappyWarrior  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:38:36am

It's going to be funny when birtherism bites them in the ass and they wonder why.

4 Targetpractice  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:38:52am

re: #1 windsagio

They think they can use the Birthers and TP'ers, or at least that it's worth the risk of losing control >>

They're gambling that birtherism, even if not openly cultivated, will still be enough to get people to the polls next November.

5 Mattand  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:38:54am

Well, on the bright side, it appears he didn't use the bullshit "I take Obama at his word he's American" weasel phrase.

Yes, I'm reaching...

6 Targetpractice  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:41:46am

re: #2 Obdicut

Weird. Why can't the GOP bring itself to reject Trump? He's making them look like fools.

Well, even bigger fools than they already did.

Why? Because he's polling very well with a significant portion of their base. They're trying to engage in damage control, trying to claim they don't believe in birtherism...but seem to have no problem with the candidates voicing that they do.

7 Simply Sarah  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:42:33am

The modern GOP is all about 'reality' being something that can be different for every person (Or, alternatively, something you can vote on)...unless it involves a reality they don't like (Which is normally that real reality).

8 BongCrodny  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:44:03am

"I'm not a birther, but I do play one on television."

9 albusteve  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:44:15am

birtherism is just an excuse to oppose BO, where no excuse is needed....the whole notion has no political currency, none...it just does not matter at this point....like KT said, burnout is setting in

10 windsagio  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:44:50am

re: #7 Simply Sarah

The modern GOP is all about 'reality' being something that can be different for every person (Or, alternatively, something you can vote on)...unless it involves a reality they don't like (Which is normally that real reality).

It's hardly new tho', it's the same short-term narrowcasting the GOP has been obsessed with since the mid-60s.

The problem is that now, as its finally collapsing as political technique their answer is to dig in and get absurd instead of stepping away from the brink.

11 Simply Sarah  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:45:29am

re: #10 windsagio

It's hardly new tho', it's the same short-term narrowcasting the GOP has been obsessed with since the mid-60s.

The problem is that now, as its finally collapsing as political technique their answer is to dig in and get absurd instead of stepping away from the brink.

And, as a result, are pulling everyone else over with them.

12 windsagio  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:45:38am

(gah stupid lack of edit)

Seriously tho', I think Trump is just running a huge troll on the GOP if not the whole nation... something doesn't add up.

13 elizajane  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:46:00am

Just this morning, I read a comment on some right-wing blog that said, "If you're born in a barn, it doesn't make you a horse. Wherever O*** was born, I know he isn't an American." Which about says it all.

What about Trump's new line about how Obama isn't smart enough to have gotten into an Ivy League school? How many race cards can you play before you've used up the whole deck?

14 BongCrodny  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:46:58am

re: #13 elizajane

Just this morning, I read a comment on some right-wing blog that said, "If you're born in a barn, it doesn't make you a horse. Wherever O*** was born, I know he isn't an American." Which about says it all.

What about Trump's new line about how Obama isn't smart enough to have gotten into an Ivy League school? How many race cards can you play before you've used up the whole deck?


Unfortunately, it's a deck full of jokers.

15 Simply Sarah  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:47:09am

re: #13 elizajane

Just this morning, I read a comment on some right-wing blog that said, "If you're born in a barn, it doesn't make you a horse. Wherever O*** was born, I know he isn't an American." Which about says it all.

What about Trump's new line about how Obama isn't smart enough to have gotten into an Ivy League school? How many race cards can you play before you've used up the whole deck?

They're using one of those giant blackjack shoes you see at casinos.

16 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:48:04am

re: #13 elizajane

Just this morning, I read a comment on some right-wing blog that said, "If you're born in a barn, it doesn't make you a horse. Wherever O*** was born, I know he isn't an American." Which about says it all.

What about Trump's new line about how Obama isn't smart enough to have gotten into an Ivy League school? How many race cards can you play before you've used up the whole deck?

So...if you aren't Native American, you aren't an American, you're really a European, African, Asian, etc.

(This is silly. Do you know how few people are literally indigenous?)

17 windsagio  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:49:04am

re: #16 EmmmieG


(This is silly. Do you know how few people are literally indigenous?)

You only get to count as native if your parents came of their own free will >>

18 Ming  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:49:10am

Birtherism can be quite destructive. It's incredibly negative and nihilistic. It insults the entire Obama family, in the manner of high school bullying. I believe that when Obama's grandmother passed away, 2 days before he was elected President, she died in the same apartment where the family lived in 1961, when Obama was born. This is a perfectly decent American family. I can only imagine what they're feeling. I'm sure we've all faced some challenges, but do you know anyone who has had to listen to the repeated public lie that his family is lying about where he was born? No good can come of this. I can't imagine a Republican winning the presidential election on the birther issue, then being able to govern the country.

19 Targetpractice  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:49:24am

re: #13 elizajane

Just this morning, I read a comment on some right-wing blog that said, "If you're born in a barn, it doesn't make you a horse. Wherever O*** was born, I know he isn't an American." Which about says it all.

What about Trump's new line about how Obama isn't smart enough to have gotten into an Ivy League school? How many race cards can you play before you've used up the whole deck?

Didn't you know? Trump has made inroads with "the blacks."

//

20 andres  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:49:42am

re: #13 elizajane

What about Trump's new line about how Obama isn't smart enough to have gotten into an Ivy League school? How many race cards can you play before you've used up the whole deck?

And this is coming from the guy who bankrupted a f******g casino???

21 wrenchwench  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:50:03am

What's this, the "big tent" version of reality? Room for all versions? Teach the controversy?

22 Targetpractice  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:50:33am

re: #20 andres

And this is coming from the guy who bankrupted a f***g casino???

It's just jealousy, because his daddy's money couldn't get him into an Ivy League school.

23 Simply Sarah  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:52:07am

re: #21 wrenchwench

What's this, the "big tent" version of reality? Room for all versions? Teach the controversy?

It's the most recent New Age fad. The power of negative thinking!

24 Inconsequential Consequence  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:52:26am

re: #20 andres

And this is coming from the guy who bankrupted a f***g casino???

How do you bankrupt a casino? Games of chance are all in the casino's favour.

25 McSpiff  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:53:16am

re: #24 b_sharp

How do you bankrupt a casino? Games of chance are all in the casino's favour.

Gotta have enough people playing

26 windsagio  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:53:37am

re: #24 b_sharp

How do you bankrupt a casino? Games of chance are all in the casino's favour.

The Art of the deal.

27 shiplord kirel  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:55:17am

re: #20 andres

And this is coming from the guy who bankrupted a f***g casino???


It's still mind-boggling to me that someone who even visited a casino on a regular basis, let alone owned one, would be such an icon to the religious right.
These are not my father's Baptists.

28 windsagio  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:56:14am

man, twice in the last 10 years too.

I wish I were so cool I could go bankrupt, keep everything, and then 3 years later go bankrupt again :(

29 Targetpractice  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 11:57:40am

re: #28 windsagio

man, twice in the last 10 years too.

I wish I were so cool I could go bankrupt, keep everything, and then 3 years later go bankrupt again :(

Actually, last I heard, he's been involved in 4 bankruptcies, all of which he's walked away from. The last 2, he declared bankruptcy just to avoid the debt collectors, relying upon his image as a "successful businessman" to keep him out of the poor house.

30 Inconsequential Consequence  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:01:19pm

My daughter's new boyfriend is a Canuck birther. It looks like birtherism has gone global.

I told him birtherism was irrelevant made-up bullshit. He didn't say anything back.

Kids these days, too chicken to argue with the old man.

31 goddamnedfrank  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:03:50pm

re: #6 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Why? Because he's polling very well with a significant portion of their base. They're trying to engage in damage control, trying to claim they don't believe in birtherism...but seem to have no problem with the candidates voicing that they do.

Exactly, the GOP base is basically atavistic, racist trash and assholes who worship at the altar of their own egos. Trump speaks to precisely who they are, and they're listening.

32 engineer cat  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:05:41pm

re: #24 b_sharp

How do you bankrupt a casino?

this should really become the inevitable answer to any birther question teh donald brings up, and the constant drumbeat dogging his campaign

"mr trump - how in hell did you manage to bankrupt a casino???"

33 reine.de.tout  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:05:46pm

re: #27 shiplord kirel

It's still mind-boggling to me that someone who even visited a casino on a regular basis, let alone owned one, would be such an icon to the religious right.
These are not my father's Baptists.

LOL.
No kidding.
My 8th grade teacher was Baptist.
We took a field trip, by bus.
She told us before we left that we should not even think about bringing a deck of playing cards to use on the bus ride - she didn't believe in playing cards of any sort, and wouldn't allow us to do so while she chaperoned our field trip.

So no, Shiplord - these are not your father's Baptists, by a long shot.

34 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:05:51pm

re: #30 b_sharp

My daughter's new boyfriend is a Canuck birther. It looks like birtherism has gone global.

I told him birtherism was irrelevant made-up bullshit. He didn't say anything back.

Kids these days, too chicken to argue with the old man.

A boyfriend should agree with the father on politics and the mother on religion. Or he should be quiet.

35 windsagio  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:08:34pm

re: #34 EmmmieG

The boyfriend should end all arguments with 'excuse me while I plow your daughter'

36 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:09:38pm

re: #35 windsagio

The boyfriend should end all arguments with 'excuse me while I plow your daughter'


That...would...end...all...arguments.

Yeah. He would never argue with that young woman's father again.

37 Kragar  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:10:06pm

The GOP's constant failure to call out the fanatics in their ranks, and to increasingly embrace them and actually pander to them, is the reason I'm an Independent today.

38 lawhawk  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:10:14pm

re: #32 engineer dog

Three times.

Let me repeat. Trump's casinos have declared bankruptcy three times.

39 reine.de.tout  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:10:27pm

re: #36 EmmmieG

That...would...end...all...arguments.

Yeah. He would never argue with that young woman's father again.

Or her mother.
Or the young woman, either, for that matter.

40 Kragar  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:11:05pm

re: #32 engineer dog

this should really become the inevitable answer to any birther question teh donald brings up, and the constant drumbeat dogging his campaign

"mr trump - how in hell did you manage to bankrupt a casino???"

Maybe he can hire the production team of Atlas Shrugged as his media team.

41 researchok  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:12:03pm

re: #30 b_sharp

re: #34 EmmmieG

Daughters boyfriends ought to stay quiet.

And behave.

42 windsagio  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:12:17pm

I forgot, never make that joke to mothers >

43 Kragar  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:12:33pm

re: #38 lawhawk

Three times.

Let me repeat. Trump's casinos have declared bankruptcy three times.

You forget that to Trump, his investors are the players and he is the house.

44 windsagio  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:12:34pm

re: #42 windsagio

or fathers :p

(stupid thing ate my post again!)

45 albusteve  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:12:53pm

re: #37 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

The GOP's constant failure to call out the fanatics in their ranks, and to increasingly embrace them and actually pander to them, is the reason I'm an Independent today.

had M Steele raised holy hell about this shit, things might be different today....the toady weasel pissant copped to the man and the rest is history...no guts, no glory

46 windsagio  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:14:07pm

re: #45 albusteve

I'm willing to give Steele a pass to some degree. Powerless 'hey we have negroes too, look!' tokens can't expect to get much done.

47 Kragar  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:14:07pm

re: #45 albusteve

had M Steele raised holy hell about this shit, things might be different today...the toady weasel pissant copped to the man and the rest is history...no guts, no glory

The one time the man stood up, he got slapped down and apologized to Rush the next day.

48 Kragar  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:16:17pm

re: #46 windsagio

I'm willing to give Steele a pass to some degree. Powerless 'hey we have negroes too, look!' tokens can't expect to get much done.

Reminds me of the General in Mars Attacks;

"Didn't I always tell you honey, if I just stayed in place and never spoke up, good things are bound to happen."

49 goddamnedfrank  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:16:30pm

re: #45 albusteve

had M Steele raised holy hell about this shit, things might be different today...the toady weasel pissant copped to the man and the rest is history...no guts, no glory

Steele wasn't hired to lead, he was hired to act as a deodorant to the GOP's overpowering stench of racism.

50 engineer cat  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:16:31pm

so i'm listening to this gop spokesperson on the teevee, and she's laughing off trump and birtherism, "oh, it's so early, he's very amusing, but in six months we'll have forgotten about him and be talking about serious candidates"

i don't think the regular gop quite realizes what they have gotten themselves into by lying down with dogs

51 Kragar  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:18:14pm

re: #50 engineer dog

so i'm listening to this gop spokesperson on the teevee, and she's laughing off trump and birtherism, "oh, it's so early, he's very amusing, but in six months we'll have forgotten about him and be talking about serious candidates"

i don't think the regular gop quite realizes what they have gotten themselves into by lying down with dogs

Didn't they same the same thing about Ron Paul?

52 zora  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:21:39pm

re: #28 windsagio

man, twice in the last 10 years too.

I wish I were so cool I could go bankrupt, keep everything, and then 3 years later go bankrupt again :(

“If you owe the bank $100 that's your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that's the bank's problem.”

Jean Paul Getty

53 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:23:03pm

re: #42 windsagio

I forgot, never make that joke to mothers >

One of my daughter's friends is currently in a very unhealthy relationship. I made the comment to my daughter and one of her other friends that if the young lady's last name was (our last name) or (friend's last name) Daddy would have escorted him out by now.

They both gave my this Look and told me that it would never have reached that stage. They would have gotten rid of him.

54 Lidane  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:28:14pm

re: #2 Obdicut

Weird. Why can't the GOP bring itself to reject Trump? He's making them look like fools.

He's giving the birthers a rich and famous face to latch on to. They're so desperate to beat Obama next year, and their own crop of candidates sucks, so why not cater to the billionaire birther?

55 Winny Spencer  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 12:46:12pm

re: #51 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Didn't they same the same thing about Ron Paul?

They said he was a zero then, but who's the wingnut hero now?

56 Buck  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 1:05:17pm

re: #2 Obdicut

Why can't the GOP bring itself to reject Trump?

How would that rejection look like? Throw him out of the party? Give him back his membership fee?

Make announcements that he should be banned from all and any events where conservatives or Republicans might gather?

I am the ultimate anti birther, but you can't stop people from saying stupid shit.

57 SanFranciscoZionist  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 1:12:41pm

re: #19 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Didn't you know? Trump has made inroads with "the blacks."

//

I'll believe that when I hear it from the blacks.

58 BongCrodny  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 1:18:59pm

re: #29 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Actually, last I heard, he's been involved in 4 bankruptcies, all of which he's walked away from. The last 2, he declared bankruptcy just to avoid the debt collectors, relying upon his image as a "successful businessman" to keep him out of the poor house.


And at least during one of the corporate bankruptcies he remained as head, collecting a $2,000,000 salary.

BankTRUMPtcy

I wouldn't vote for The Donald for President even if my choices were only him and The Divine Mrs. P.

However, if I were looking for someone who knows how to game the system...

59 Obdicut  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 1:32:47pm

re: #56 Buck

How would that rejection look like? Throw him out of the party? Give him back his membership fee?

It would involve condemning his stupid birtherism, pointing out that all of his conservative opinions are of incredibly recent provenance, and asking why the hell a man who's bankrupted so many companies is seen as at all a viable candidate.

60 Buck  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 1:50:38pm

re: #59 Obdicut

It would involve condemning his stupid birtherism, pointing out that all of his conservative opinions are of incredibly recent provenance, and asking why the hell a man who's bankrupted so many companies is seen as at all a viable candidate.

All of that has been done. Karl Rove and many other conservatives have pointed out that he is not a real conservative, and said in very clear language that the Birther stuff is nonsense.

However being civil to someone is not the same thing as kinda agreeing with them. It is ok, in polite society, to just say you disagree without being insulting.

By the way declaring "bankruptcy" or Chapter 11 is not a big deal. It just means getting a chance to reorganize.

It has never happened to me, but it has happened to many companies over the years, where they come out of it, pay all their debts and continue to do business.

Not defending the Birther crap, but when his real estate holdings had dropped in value and the banks were giving him a hard time, he had a lot of cashflow and was able to hang on.

It is a funny story that when he wanted to borrow money for his Atlantic City casino hotel from his dad, he was not allowed due to some legal issues his dad had gone through. So the solution was for his father to walk in and buy millions in chips and just not use them.

61 Obdicut  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 2:02:17pm

re: #60 Buck

All of that has been done. Karl Rove and many other conservatives have pointed out that he is not a real conservative, and said in very clear language that the Birther stuff is nonsense.

Then why ask the question? That's what I want Prebius, and all the other GOP members, to do.


However being civil to someone is not the same thing as kinda agreeing with them. It is ok, in polite society, to just say you disagree without being insulting.

Where did I suggest insults, please? Or did you just make that up?


By the way declaring "bankruptcy" or Chapter 11 is not a big deal. It just means getting a chance to reorganize.

Yes, it is, indeed, a big deal. Good luck trying to convince people otherwise. Astounding that you'd make this claim, but then, it's a claim in service of a GOP politician, so of course you'll make it.

62 Obdicut  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 2:02:44pm

re: #60 Buck

It is a funny story that when he wanted to borrow money for his Atlantic City casino hotel from his dad, he was not allowed due to some legal issues his dad had gone through. So the solution was for his father to walk in and buy millions in chips and just not use them.

Wow, he committed fraud, too. Awesome.

63 Buck  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 3:06:02pm

re: #61 Obdicut

That's what I want Prebius, and all the other GOP members, to do.

All the other members? Thats a high order.

Look, most have been very clear. The very important ones are just saying he has a right to say anything he wants. And that is true. He does not represent the GOP, he only represents himself. No one elected him. He is just another business man from NY.

Prebius can no more shut him up than anyone else.

I have met Trump on two occasions, and the impression I got was that he didn't care what anyone thought about anything. He seems to be focused on his goals and would be interested in anyones opinion on how to move forward.

I also (like many other conservatives) do not believe for a minute that he is really going to run for office. This whole thing is a magicians trick to take your attention away from his real goal.

That is very clear to me.

64 Obdicut  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 3:52:38pm

re: #63 Buck

All the other members? Thats a high order.

Then just Prebius. Which is who my original comment was about.

Prebius can no more shut him up than anyone else.

Weird, you're acting like I said Prebius should shut him up, when I didn't say anything like that.

And you previously implied I was suggesting insulting him, when I hadn't.

You really love making up shit, Buck. Why? Why can't you actually argue from a factual basis?

65 Iwouldprefernotto  Tue, Apr 26, 2011 5:37:48pm

re: #63 Buck

All the other members? Thats a high order.

Look, most have been very clear. The very important ones are just saying he has a right to say anything he wants. And that is true. He does not represent the GOP, he only represents himself. No one elected him. He is just another business man from NY.

Prebius can no more shut him up than anyone else.

I have met Trump on two occasions, and the impression I got was that he didn't care what anyone thought about anything. He seems to be focused on his goals and would be interested in anyones opinion on how to move forward.

I also (like many other conservatives) do not believe for a minute that he is really going to run for office. This whole thing is a magicians trick to take your attention away from his real goal.

That is very clear to me.

Trump doesn't care what anyone else thinks. Who does that remind me of? George something or other.


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