Trump’s Statement on His Birther History Is a Lie From Start to Finish

Egomania
Politics • Views: 46,779

Today we get a series of outright lies from the Republican candidate for president of the United States, in a self-aggrandizing statement about his history of promoting the grotesque right wing racist Birther conspiracy theory:

“Hillary Clinton’s campaign first raised this issue to smear then-candidate Barack Obama in her very nasty, failed 2008 campaign for President. This type of vicious and conniving behavior is straight from the Clinton Playbook. As usual, however, Hillary Clinton was too weak to get an answer. Even the MSNBC show Morning Joe admits that it was Clinton’s henchmen who first raised this issue, not Donald J. Trump.

In 2011, Mr. Trump was finally able to bring this ugly incident to its conclusion by successfully compelling President Obama to release his birth certificate. Mr. Trump did a great service to the President and the country by bringing closure to the issue that Hillary Clinton and her team first raised. Inarguably, Donald J. Trump is a closer. Having successfully obtained President Obama’s birth certificate when others could not, Mr. Trump believes that President Obama was born in the United States.

Mr. Trump is now totally focused on bringing jobs back to America, defeating radical Islamic terrorism, taking care of our veterans, introducing school choice opportunities and rebuilding and making our inner cities safe again.” – Jason Miller, Senior Communications Advisor

Trump didn’t “bring this ugly incident to its conclusion.” Not at all. In fact, he continued to push the Birther conspiracy theory long after Obama’s long-form birth certificate was released in 2011. The Daily Beast’s Gideon Resnick compiled some of Trump’s tweets to prove this:

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There’s more at Media Matters. The simple fact is that Trump has been promoting this absurd irrational right wing fantasy for many years. He built his entire political career on it. And he used lies to do so, saying he had sent “investigators” to Hawaii (he didn’t), and saying he had an “extremely credible source” who told him the birth certificate was fake (he didn’t).

And he’s also lying about Hillary Clinton being the “first [to] raise this issue,” because Hillary Clinton never said or suggested Obama was born outside the United States. It never happened.

At LGF we’ve been fighting against Birtherism for many years, and last year we did some deep research into the origin of Birtherism, discovering what seems to be the first public mention of the theory at far right discussion forum Free Republic on March 1, 2008. Bottom line: the Birther conspiracy theory came from the right wing.

Trump’s self-serving statement is a lie from start to finish. The GOP nominee for president is a dishonest egomaniac.

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54 comments
1
Big Beautiful Door  Sep 16, 2016 • 11:50:52am

Speaking of Free Republic, I wonder what the Freepers are saying about Trump renouncing Hillary’s birther conspiracy theory?

2
Charles Johnson  Sep 16, 2016 • 11:55:03am
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3
gocart mozart  Sep 16, 2016 • 11:56:59am
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4
calochortus  Sep 16, 2016 • 11:57:02am

re: #1 Big Beautiful Door

Speaking of Free Republic, I wonder what the Freepers are saying about Trump renouncing Hillary’s birther conspiracy theory?

They are saying “Hahaha! Hillary is really losing it over this. She’s an evil person. Yay Trump.” More or less.

5
bratwurst  Sep 16, 2016 • 11:57:36am
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6
lawhawk  Sep 16, 2016 • 11:58:20am
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7
wrenchwench  Sep 16, 2016 • 11:59:31am
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‘whitewash’. Indeed.

8
The Vicious Babushka  Sep 16, 2016 • 11:59:45am

Of course SMOTI blames media for collapsing the stage at Trump’s staged event, with seekrit mind control rays.

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9
Sir John Barron  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:01:24pm

re: #2 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

These are some pretty saucy tweets.

10
Thanos  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:01:55pm

The wiki page is all wrong on this too

en.wikipedia.org

During the Democratic Party’s 2008 presidential primaries, anonymous e-mails from supporters of Hillary Clinton surfaced that questioned Obama’s citizenship in an attempt to revive Clinton’s faltering primary election campaign. These and numerous other chain e-mails during the subsequent presidential election circulated false rumors about Obama’s origin, religion and birth certificate.[26][27]

of course under wiki rules Free Republic is not a reliable source, so the earlier mention there won’t overturn the para….

11
allegro  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:02:14pm

I think I woke up in an alternate universe. CNN is about to air Michelle Obama’s speech. Wow, the left getting actual airtime and not squished down into the corner of the screen with no sound while the cameras are on Trump’s empty podium?

12
gocart mozart  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:06:26pm
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13
lawhawk  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:11:48pm
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14
gocart mozart  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:12:56pm

To: Be Careful
I believe The Kenyan is a Kenyan. But it’s not racist in any way. It’s about the con put over on the American people by the Democrat Party and their handmaidens in the media. Obama said he was born in Kenya on the dust jacket of his book. He never released his real birth certificate. He has a CT SocSec#. And there are no records anywhere really, of him having even existed. It’s not about racism. it’s about the con. Imagine how pissed Hillary is going to be when the truth finally comes out that The Kenyan, was a Kenyan.

21 posted on 9/16/2016, 2:57:36 PM by major-pelham

15
BeachDem  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:14:24pm

re: #6 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

[Embedded content]

Yet old faithful, Maggie Haberman’s article has this kinder and gentler header:

Trump Drops False ‘Birther’ Theory, but Floats a New One: Clinton Started It

16
Belafon  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:16:29pm

re: #14 gocart mozart

How pissed is major-Pelham going to be when he finds out Trump wasn’t carried down from the mountain by a bird, but came out of his mother’s vagina like everyone else? (Yes, I’m making a Kim Jong-Il reference.)

17
BeachDem  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:17:51pm

re: #13 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

[Embedded content]

Since when did a PR tour of a hotel become “news?” Oh wait, it’s Hugh Hewitt babbling—never mind.

18
blueraven  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:18:15pm

So, checking some twitter feeds of so called MSM journalists.

Here is the latest tweet from Mark Halperin since Trump’s stunt this morning.

.
.

.

.

.

*crickets*

19
Ziggy_TARDIS  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:20:53pm

re: #18 blueraven

You got the word order wrong. So called should be after MSM.

20
BeachDem  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:21:38pm

re: #14 gocart mozart

Was all this before or after he went by Barry “Soweto?”
///

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Trump can’t even keep his own conspiracy theories straight. (What with that great mind and perfect memory…)
21
nines09  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:22:34pm

I expect some in depth, hard hitting investigative reporting from all the major news services on this. Yeah.

22
lawhawk  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:23:43pm
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23
Belafon  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:23:52pm

re: #20 BeachDem

Back then, Obama was trying all sorts of names on for size: Sotoro, Soreto, Sirota, Soweto, BeachBum, CigaretteGuy, etc. Later on, he would decide the original was just fine.

24
BeachDem  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:25:35pm

re: #23 Belafon

Back then, Obama was trying all sorts of names on for size: Sotoro, Soreto, Sirota, Soweto, BeachBum, CigaretteGuy, etc. Later on, he would decide the original was just fine.

I first read BeachBum as BeachDem and thought, “I coulda been a contender.”

25
Sir John Barron  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:26:55pm

re: #18 blueraven

So, checking some twitter feeds of so called MSM journalists.

Here is the latest tweet from Mark Halperin since Trump’s stunt this morning.

.
.

.

.

.

*crickets*

Halperin: Trump very presidential. Pivot. Hillary no one like.
/

26
b.d.  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:31:03pm

Has Orly been reached for comment?

//

27
ipsos  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:31:25pm

It’s hard not to feel like today has been the single ugliest, most cynical day of this entire miserable excuse for a political season.

And Michelle’s amazing speech right now only wiped away the bad taste from the rest of the day just a tiny little bit.

As ever… “don’t boo. Vote.”

28
Stanley Sea  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:31:25pm

Love her

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29
allegro  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:35:25pm

re: #28 Stanley Sea

Love her

[Embedded content]

I am so going to miss her. Oh and the guy she’s married to, too. :D

30
EPR-radar  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:35:49pm

re: #27 ipsos

It’s hard not to feel like today has been the single ugliest, most cynical day of this entire miserable excuse for a political season.

And Michelle’s amazing speech right now only wiped away the bad taste from the rest of the day just a tiny little bit.

As ever… “don’t boo. Vote.”

I’m sure Trump will come up with something worse shortly. And we have to remember that Trump is a symptom of larger problems.

A candidate can’t win the primary of a major party by bigoted hog calling to pig-people unless that party has marinated those pig-people in bigoted resentment-based propaganda for decades.

31
lawhawk  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:38:17pm
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Flee… run for your lives?! Trump and his advisers as Denethor

LOTR: The Return of the King - “Abandon your posts! Flee, flee for your lives!”

32
Dr. Matt  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:39:00pm

iPhone 7 just arrived. The headphones are not blue tooth. They have a lightning male end. It also includes a lightning male to mini-jack female adapter.

33
Decatur Deb  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:39:45pm

Jesse Ventura gets one right.

Former Navy SEAL Jesse Ventura Supports Colin Kaepernick’s Anthem Protest

maxim.com

34
klys (maker of Silmarils)  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:40:36pm

re: #30 EPR-radar

I’m sure Trump will come up with something worse shortly. And we have to remember that Trump is a symptom of larger problems.

A candidate can’t win the primary of a major party by bigoted hog calling to pig-people unless that party has marinated those pig-people in bigoted resentment-based propaganda for decades.

This.

What makes a vote for Trump that much worse than a vote for Republicans? That he’s more honest about it? That he’s a little more willing to go outside the lines? The GOP is making it clear they’re perfectly willing to follow him in that.

I’m trying to understand what makes someone like DF (using him as an example here) worth reaching out to and engaging with (sure, he says he won’t vote for Trump but will vote for the rest of the Republican slate so…) but someone like my grandfather (who might or might not vote for Trump - I honestly can’t tell you for sure because we don’t talk politics in my family) should be grounds for cutting myself off from extended family. Because human rights over biology, as someone said yesterday.

I don’t see much difference between Trump and the GOP when it comes to human rights.

35
lawhawk  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:41:15pm

3d party nitwits will now cry bitter tears that their afterthought candidates were an afterthought by the commission on debates:

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They couldn’t get enough support in enough polls to matter.

36
Belafon  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:42:00pm

re: #34 klys (maker of Silmarils)

While I don’t think you have to give up on your grandfather, we’ve been pretty much mocking D_F every time he shows up since we saw is tweets about Clinton. There’s a reason he hasn’t returned.

37
Dr Lizardo  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:42:41pm

re: #35 lawhawk

3d party nitwits will now cry bitter tears that their afterthought candidates were an afterthought by the commission on debates:

[Embedded content]

[Embedded content]

They couldn’t get enough support in enough polls to matter.

I’ll bet ya that Trump will now refuse to debate.

38
Sir John Barron  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:43:12pm

re: #35 lawhawk

3d party nitwits will now cry bitter tears that their afterthought candidates were an afterthought by the commission on debates:

[Embedded content]

They couldn’t get enough support in enough polls to matter.

Trump won’t like it either. Oh well. Sadz.

39
BlueGrl21  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:43:30pm

The spouse and I are both off work this afternoon due to a beautifully shared case of pink eye. I have been calling him my disease vector. We have been discussing this with a bit of glee.

The media got conned beautifully. They provided him a free promotion for his new hotel AND a free campaign ad. Well played, Mr. Trump.

I think the rampant ego within our very serious media will finally kick in over this and they will do their goddamn jobs. It’s one thing to report news as entertainment, it’s another thing to BE the entertainment. Trump even promoted this as a huge announcement to get them there, then took the cameras ON A TOUR OF HIS HOTEL.

Glorious.

40
Dr. Matt  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:44:03pm

re: #32 Dr. Matt

41
EPR-radar  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:44:30pm

re: #36 Belafon

While I don’t think you have to give up on your grandfather, we’ve been pretty much mocking D_F every time he shows up since we saw is tweets about Clinton. There’s a reason he hasn’t returned.

Speaking for myself, my tolerance for Republican excuse-making here is zero, and I would happily mock and personally abuse any Trumphhroid that somehow manages to not get banned.

42
wrenchwench  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:46:08pm
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43
EPR-radar  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:46:33pm

re: #37 Dr Lizardo

I’ll bet ya that Trump will now refuse to debate.

If that happens, the Clinton social media team might well make use of the Brave Sir Robin song. That would be very entertaining.

Edited to add: they could probably get the rights from Monty Python to make it a full internet video ad.

44
lawhawk  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:48:20pm

Oh Junior, don’t ever change:

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45
klys (maker of Silmarils)  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:48:32pm

re: #36 Belafon

While I don’t think you have to give up on your grandfather, we’ve been pretty much mocking D_F every time he shows up since we saw is tweets about Clinton. There’s a reason he hasn’t returned.

I should make it clear: I think that’s fair. He says shit, he should have to answer for it.

I was just noticing a double standard I’ve seen applied in a few places.

46
Decatur Deb  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:49:04pm

re: #41 EPR-radar

Speaking for myself, my tolerance for Republican excuse-making here is zero, and I would happily mock and personally abuse any Trumphhroid that somehow manages to not get banned.

dKos has filled that ecological niche. LGF has room for any but the irredeemable, and that includes DF. Most people are not well equipped to get very far from where their family and education drop them.

47
Big Beautiful Door  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:50:21pm

re: #32 Dr. Matt

iPhone 7 just arrived. The headphones are not blue tooth. They have a lightning male end. It also includes a lightning male to mini-jack female adapter.

Sexy!/

48
EPR-radar  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:51:41pm

re: #46 Decatur Deb

dKos has filled that ecological niche. LGF has room for any but the irredeemable, and that includes DF. Most people are not well equipped to get very far from where their family and education drop them.

Two different categories in my #41. Republican excuse-making will be dealt with on its lack of merit.

Trumpism and Trumphhroids deserve personal abuse and mockery, and online there is no particular reason to hold back.

49
MsJ  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:52:03pm

re: #32 Dr. Matt

iPhone 7 just arrived. The headphones are not blue tooth. They have a lightning male end. It also includes a lightning male to mini-jack female adapter.

Other than that what do you think of it?

50
Decatur Deb  Sep 16, 2016 • 12:55:32pm

re: #48 EPR-radar

Two different categories in my #41. Republican excuse-making will be dealt with on its lack of merit.

Trumpism and Trumphhroids deserve personal abuse and mockery, and online there is no particular reason to hold back.

“You’re hopelessly fucked up” is a poor opening line for proselytization.

51
EPR-radar  Sep 16, 2016 • 1:00:47pm

re: #50 Decatur Deb

“You’re hopelessly fucked up” is a poor opening line for proselytization.

True, but what else is there to say to a Trump supporter?

I don’t expect to ever convert a Trump supporter, so in the hypothetical case of one showing up here and not getting banned, my goals would be personal entertainment and the possible edification of the spectators.

52
klys (maker of Silmarils)  Sep 16, 2016 • 1:04:21pm

re: #51 EPR-radar

True, but what else is there to say to a Trump supporter?

My mom, bless her, is working on my aunt to try to get her to understand.

No lie, the argument that has had the most traction so far is “are you really supporting the same candidate as your husband?”

But she’s at least thinking about it now, and there’s some hope.

There wouldn’t be any hope at all if we just went right to the “you’re fucked up” part.

53
Decatur Deb  Sep 16, 2016 • 1:09:59pm

re: #51 EPR-radar

True, but what else is there to say to a Trump supporter?

I don’t expect to ever convert a Trump supporter, so in the hypothetical case of one showing up here and not getting banned, my goals would be personal entertainment and the possible edification of the spectators.

DF could still be talked off the ledge, if he were listening. When I hit Trumpisti, I bump them towards Johnson and move on. We can solve that problem later.

54
CuriousLurker  Sep 16, 2016 • 3:30:01pm

re: #12 gocart mozart

This thread has been pulled.


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