Missouri Birther Caucus

"It's a fact -- if people are asking questions based on factually wrong premises -- or are doing so to delegitimize the president of the United States -- it's incumbent on a politician to indeed diminish those who ask the question."

Marc Ambinder, politics editor of The Atlantic, expressing his disgust with Roy Blunt and other GOP candidates for the U.S. Senate who "wink at the Birthers"

Frustrated with the proceedings of a mid-February hearing of the House Energy and Environment Committee, a citizen who testified briefly sent a frustrated email to the full membership of the committee.  He was frustrated with the way Chair Walt Bivens allocated time for different points of view. 

In response, Representatives Casey Guernsey (R-Bethany) and Tim Jones (R-Eureka) -- a pair of Republicans who collaborated last year in propagating birther conspiracy theories -- unleashed angry responses. The offending citizen letter and emails from Guernsey and Jones can be read below the break.  I've redacted the name of the individual who sent the letter -- his testimony is part of public committee documents, so I'll leave it to others if they want to criticize him by name. 

Steve Walsh caught up with Rep. Cynthia Davis (R-O'Fallon) at Lincoln Days to talk about her campaign to unseat Sen. Scott Rupp (R-Wentzville). She did not disappoint:

“Why is it a negative to talk about our principles and our values?” asks Davis. “That’s a positive. I’ve got nothing to hide. My voting record is strong and clear. He [Rupp] has got a lot to be ashamed of.”

While she is critical of Rupp, Davis has come in for a lot of criticism of her own. She has come under fire, especially in the left wing blogs, for being involved in what is known as the birther movement - the questioning of whether President Barack Obama was born in the United States and is constitutionally allowed to serve as Commander in Chief.

“They’re trying to create shame for people who ask questions,” replies Davis. “That defines the problem right there. Why is there shame in asking questions? It’s a legitimate question and Barack Obama has spent over a million dollars to try and not answer it. If I wanted to answer a question I’d show you my birth certificate if you cared that I was born in Chicago. Obviously, he’s embarrassed of where he’s born because he’s trying to hide the records.”

Absolutely insane.

Orly Taitz, lawyer for Reps. Tim Jones and Cynthia Davis in their federal lawsuit alleging that Barack Obama is actually a Kenyan man who usurped the presidency, is officially an issue in the 2010 election cycle.

These quotes from Republican Rep. J.D. Hayworth aren't all that different from those of his colleague, Rep. Roy Blunt. Last summer, Blunt said birther conspiracy theorists were asking "legitimate" questions about Obama's birth certificate, and said the Missouri and DC press corps lack "any capacity to talk about that [Obams's questionable citizenship] in a legitimate way."

The editors at RedState may have gotten a little ahead of themselves in supporting Roy Blunt's bid for the U.S. Senate.

The popular conservative website endorsed Blunt in August despite their "passionate disagreements," particularly on budgetary and earmark issues.  It was a curious endorsement, coming a full year before the 2010 primary and ignoring Blunt's more ideologically compatible competitors.  And now, it appears that the site has actually banned Blunt from participating in any future website activities because of his unapologetic questions about Barack Obama's birth certificate.    From a Friday post by Erick Erickson, managing editor for the site:

Today I want to reaffirm and make it more definitive. If you think 9/11 was an inside job or you really want to debate whether or not Barack Obama is an American citizen eligible to be President, RedState is not a place for you.

In July, you may recall, Blunt said questions about Obama's birth certificate were "legitimate," and said he wanted to know "why the president can't produce a birth certificate."  A month later, Blunt actually said it was the press who didn't have "any capacity to talk about that [Obama's birth certificate and citizenship] in a legitimate way," and expressed no regrets about his questions regarding the President's American birth.

Former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent and Sen. Jim Lembke (R-Lemay) and Sen. Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield) are all chillin' this weekend at the Constitutional Coalition's Educational Policy Conference in St. Louis.  As you can see from the list over at The Beacon, Talent, Lembke and Cunningham will be joined by a formidable "Who's Who of Right-Wing Lunatics" at the St. Louis Frontenac Hilton. 

Roy must be so proud.

BORN IN THE USA?
'I don't know whether Obama's a U.S. citizen'
Growing list of lawmakers, talkers questioning eligibility of president

Tennessee state Senate speaker and gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey has joined the growing ranks of officials and prominent commentators who say they are unsure of whether President Barack Obama is a U.S. citizen...

Ramsey is just the latest addition to a long line of lawmakers and prominent personalities who have questioned Obama's citizenship status or asked why he hasn't released a birth certificate...

Rep. Tim Jones (R-Eureka) had absolutely nothing to say at today's "Sovereignty Rally" about his federal birther lawsuit. 

When did Jones decide it was okay for a Kenyan usurper to be President of the United States? 

Taitz in Jefferson City in July 
 

Orly Taitz, the lawyer for Reps. Cynthia Davis and Tim Jones in their federal birther lawsuit, wrote on her blog yesterday that "it might be time to start rallies and protests using our second amendment right to bear arms and organise in militias."

What is the real intention of this Kenyan, Indonesian communist usurper? Is it to provide security for us or to destroy our security? Judge for yourself.

Seeing targeted destruction of our economy, our security, dissipation of American jobs, massive corruption in the Government, Congress Department of Justice and Judiciary, it might be time to start rallies and protests using our second amendment right to bare arms and organise in militias.

Davis and Jones have steadfastly refused to disavow their association with Taitz or express regret for joining Taitz to sue Barack Obama for allegedly usurping the presidency, filing (multiple, contradictory) fake birth certificates in federal court suggesting he was born in Kenya or accusing Obama and his administration of all sorts of other crimes.

No, I'm not kidding.

Orly Taitz posted the language for a "Motion for Clarification" on her website yesterday pertaining to the birther lawsuit she filed in federal court with Reps. Tim Jones (R-Eureka) and Cynthia Davis (R-O'Fallon).  Apparently, Taitz and her plaintiffs aren't totally sure if their case is completely finished:

The order did not state that it was a final order and it did not state that it was a dismissal with prejudice...

WHEREFORE, the undersigned counsel requests clarification and confirmation that the 10.29.09. order was not a final order, that it was not an order with prejudice and that she can exercise her right to file a second amended complaint on all causes of action aside from Quo Warranto. 

Unreal. 

Yesterday, Sarah Palin said asking about Barack Obama's birth certificate was "a fair question."  Speaking to a conservative talk radio host she said: "I think it's a fair question, just like I think past association and past voting records -- all of that is fair game. The McCain-Palin campaign didn't do a good enough job in that area." But today, she walked that back a bit, and and claims she just meant voters can ask whatever they want.

Contrast that with from Roy Blunt's birther fiasco.  In late July, Blunt said, "What I don't know is why the president can't produce a birth certificate. I don't know anybody else that can't produce one. And I think that that's a legitimate question -- no health records, no birth certificate."  When asked repeatedly to clarify those remarks, Blunt stood by them. From an August 5 article in the News-Leader:

Blunt, for his part, stands by his previous statements, a spokesman said. But he declined further comment at an energy policy event Tuesday in Strafford.

"What I actually think is that you guys don't have any capacity to talk about that in a legitimate way, so I'm going to stop talking about it," Blunt told a reporter.

Orly Taitz, lawyer for Reps. Tim Jones and Cynthia Davis in their now-dismissed federal birther lawsuit, just won't quit:

In response to federal Judge David O. Carter’s earlier statement that he received affidavits from witnesses who said Taitz asked them to lie to the court, Taitz says it was the two witnesses who were lying. Click here to read my story about those wintesses’ claims.

She also complains that another plaintiff with a similar case being handled by a different lawyer is a convicted forger and should not be trusted. She draws a tenuous link between Obama and a Roman Obama, pointing out that the latter studied in Moscow at a school known for “heavy Communist indoctrination.”

KBIA had an short story yesterday on the continued existence of the birther movement in Missouri politics featuring Reps. Cynthia Davis (R-O'Fallon) and Ed Emery (R-Lamar). It's frustrating to hear the local NPR reporter does present their questions as semi-legitimate queries, but the lunacy from Davis and Emery is countered by Rob Farley of PolitiFact.com (you can read what he's written about the bogus controversy here). Listen: 

Curiously, Rep. Tim Jones (R-Eureka), a plaintiff with Davis in Orly Taitz' federal birther suit filed in California, refused to comment on Obama's alleged usurping of the presidency.  It sure is odd that Jones is willing to sign on to a lawsuit in California alleging that Obama has committed treason and incredible other crimes, but he's completely unwilling to speak to Missouri reporters about his involvement. 

Lawyer Orly Taitz has filed a new motion in the birthers' federal suit in California on behalf of State Representatives Tim Jones and Cynthia Davis, demanding that their case by reconsidered.  She has a long list of reasons why their case should be reconsidered, including the Fort Hood shootings.  From the new filing (paragraphs added for readability):

Recent terrorist incident at Fort Hood has given this question [whether Jones' & Davis' fellow plaintiffs who serve in the military can avoid deployment while figuring out if Obama is a Kenyan] paramount importance.

This order has advocated blind obedience by the members of the military. If someone were to have common sense, brains and strength of character to challenge allegiance of Nidal Malik Hasan in court, after he made numerous anti-American and antimilitary statements, maybe 12 young boys wouldn’t be 6 feet under today, maybe 12 mothers and 12 fathers wouldn’t had their hearts ripped out of their chests and torn apart.

The birther lawsuit brought by Orly Taitz, Rep. Tim Jones (R-Eureka) and Rep. Cynthia Davis (R-O'Fallon) was dismissed today in federal court. In the judge's order, Jones and Davis' claims as State Representatives were shot down, and their counsel's actions were described as "improper and unethical."