McHenry says he hasn’t ’seen evidence’ that Obama is a citizen then backtracks and admits he is.
McHenry says he hasn’t ’seen evidence’ that Obama is a citizen then backtracks and admits he is.
At a town hall in North Carolina yesterday, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) told a constituent that he did not know if President Obama was a United States citizen. “I haven’t seen evidence one way or the other,” said McHenry, adding that the issue is being addressed “in the courts.” In a statement today, McHenry walked back from the “birther” ledge:
Said McHenry in a statement this morning: “As I stated last night, I have not carefully reviewed the evidence as a jurist would. However, from what I have read, I have absolutely no reason to question President Obama’s citizenship. I anticipate that as a legal matter the courts will continue to come to the same conclusion.”
By waffling on the issue, McHenry joins the long list of conservative politicians who are afraid to confront the “wacko wing” of the Republican Party that continues to buy into the conspiracy theory that President Obama wasn’t born in the United States.
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cancervative political strategy:
make an erroneous statement and retract once the damage is done. someone ought to hold these assclown’s feet to the fire.
August 13th, 2009 at 10:58 amThat’s it!!! I’m done.
Everyone in Congress needs to PROVE their citizenship right now!!! Put your money where your mouth is!!
August 13th, 2009 at 11:00 amBy waffling on the issue, McHenry joins the long list of conservative politicians who are afraid to confront the “wacko wing” of the Republican Party that continues to buy into the conspiracy theory that President Obama wasn’t born in the United States.
Well, can you blame them, if they alienate the wackos, who the hell would vote for them then?
August 13th, 2009 at 11:01 ammatt@1,
August 13th, 2009 at 11:03 amsilly man, we know he rapes goats. but in north carolina it’s called “losing your virginity” and it’s a right of passage.
What amazes me is that the mainstream media still treats the Republican Party like its a major political party that represents a large segment of the population rather than just the fringe wingnut segment of society.
What amazes me more is that there are still ‘true’ conservatives who would rather identify with the Republican Party even though they know what its turned into…
August 13th, 2009 at 11:04 am“I haven’t seen evidence one way or the other,” said McHenry, adding that the issue is being addressed “in the courts.”
– - Umm, not so much, you treasonous ignoramus.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:04 amWhy don’t these moronic “birther” file a Freedom of Information request with the state of Hawaii and get on with it?
August 13th, 2009 at 11:06 amSimply stirring the pot to keep the fringe fired up and screaming at Dems. Unfortunately, these continued allegations run deeper and really are saying, “We don’t recognize ‘that man’ as being president of the USA because he doesn’t look like us.”
August 13th, 2009 at 11:07 amMcHenry must represent the chunk of North Carolinians who don’t think (know) Hawaii ia a state.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:07 amOT, in case you haven’t seen the full video (it’s only about 1:20) of the incident yesterday at McCaskill’s town hall, this video clearly shows a man standing up, walking to the woman, snatching her poster and ripping it up.
The woman is then escorted out by security. She’s very lucky this little video exists, as it exonerates her and show this man as the initiator.
PEACE
August 13th, 2009 at 11:08 amIs there a court anywhere that’s even considering this issue? I thought every time one of the crackpots tried to get a court to hear this, the court always dismissed it as frivolous and not worth their time.
So McHenry is trying to throw some legitimacy on the matter by suggesting this is “being addressed in the courts”?
I call BS. This is not “being addressed” or being decided “as a legal matter” anywhere. THERE IS NO LEGITIMATE DOUBT ANYWHERE THAT BARACK OBAMA IS A U.S. CITIZEN AND IS ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT. What about this is difficult to understand?
August 13th, 2009 at 11:08 amIs that a picture of Pat McHenry or Rick Steves?
August 13th, 2009 at 11:09 amI only have so much emotion left…it seems I’ve spent MOST of it hating, loathing, and feeling sorry for these morons.
I hate to admit it, but I’m almost drained…there is no end to their stupidity!!!
August 13th, 2009 at 11:10 amThe conservatives are afraid to confront the “wacko wing” of the party because they, too, are wacko. It would be like confronting themselves which is something that they never do.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:11 amParlezvous says:
Why don’t these moronic “birther” file a Freedom of Information request with the state of Hawaii and get on with it?
well but that would cost about 5 dollars and well we only have millions for busings people around and well theres those signs that have to be made, and well have to pay a few people to be from around the corner and down the street.
and well honestly if we did then we would not have some thing to whine about.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:11 amOne or more of these Birthers/Deathers is going to become a Lifer after someone is killed because of the rhetoric being spewed by the WhiteWing.
BTW, am I the only one who thought the gun-toter who appeared on Hardball on Tuesday bore a striking resemblance to Lee Harvey Oswald?
PEACE
August 13th, 2009 at 11:12 ampoliticscorner says
August 13th, 2009 at 11:07 am
McHenry must represent the chunk of North Carolinians who don’t think (know) Hawaii ia a state.
____________________________________________________________
It’s entirely possible. His district is in the western part of the state — where you’ll find some of the prettiest countryside and some of the least educated people.
Worth noting — his district is right next to the district of Virginia Foxx (”Matthew Shepherd’s murder was a hoax”). Similar demographics. The God, guns, and gays crowd.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:14 amFalse eyes on some prey
August 13th, 2009 at 11:20 amDistract the predator’s gaze
Repubs use falsehoods
I’ve seen no evidence that rethuglicans are members of the human race. Please submit DNA samples immediately.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:23 amSpencer’s mom says:
BTW, am I the only one who thought the gun-toter who appeared on Hardball on Tuesday bore a striking resemblance to Lee Harvey Oswald?
ahhh no>>>>>> however now that you bring it up, Yes he dose have that look to him.
good call and well good memory recall as well,
i just wish my two remaining brain cells would just communicate with each other more theses days.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:23 am(winks, the 60`s was good to me) smiles
Cats, don’t you think a large part of their reasons not to confront Teh Crazy is because it’s their only remaining reliable voting block?
The overt racism can be directly traced back to Palin’s campaign speeches. She was supposed to deliver the vagina and fundie vote, but instead she brought the racists and bigots out of the closet and into the forefront. Now the GNOP is defined by the racists.
They can’t rely on the elderly any longer as they are, quite literally, dying off. They can’t rely on their fundies because many of the Christian base are questioning the neglect of the poor, hungry, homeless and seeing the truth behind the C Streeters. They’ve alienated every minority and they failed to capture any of the youth vote.
It’s up to the racists to elect GNOPers. Thankfully, they are a loud by small minority.
PEACE
August 13th, 2009 at 11:24 ammisscoleopteramolly says:
THERE IS NO LEGITIMATE DOUBT ANYWHERE THAT BARACK OBAMA IS A U.S. CITIZEN AND IS ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT.
What about this is difficult to understand?
__________
The problem’s not w/ “understanding” it, MissMolly… it lies w/ “ACCEPTING” it.
People like McHenry and his core constituency just find it almost impossible to accept the fact that “The Sheriff is A N*##er!”
Teh Stupid runs strong and deep in these people.
It is a force to be reckoned w/ and beholding to none.
And it may yet destroy the country.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:25 amWe get a “two-bit” comment from a “two-bit” Rep like McHenry not surprising….just let out a long yawn on this one.
I bet if you asked one of McHenry’s constituents what US state Pearl Harbor is located in, they would probably say, Alaska??? The conservatives signs of intelligence working here.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:26 amI haven’t seen any evidence that anyone in the rethuglican party has any intelligence whatsoever. I have not seen any evidence the rethuglican party knows the difference in right or wrong or dishonesty and truth. They seem to be some very sick people.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:27 amdae says:
Please submit DNA samples immediately.
____________
Don’t ask that. More than few of them will gladly oblige you, on the spot.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:27 ambzb says:
I bet if you asked one of McHenry’s constituents what US state Pearl Harbor is located in, they would probably say, Alaska???
___________
And insist it was named so in honor of Minnie Pearl…
August 13th, 2009 at 11:28 amSorry McHenry, the Supreme Court has already weighed in on this and despite the right wing ideologues who take up the majority on the bench, have thrown out every claim disputing Obama’s citizenry. Not that the birthers or even elected members of Congress will listen to and accept the decision of the Supreme Court. Glenn Blech knows better cause the voices in his head said so.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:31 amsmom – Part of the reason that they pander to their base is because they identify with their base. That’s what excites them.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:31 amUpdate: A recent Public Policy Polling survey found that 47 percent of North Carolina Republicans think that Obama is not a citizen.
– - Not exactly true. This number is derived from those that are sure Obama isn’t and those that aren’t sure if Obama is a citizen.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:33 amPretty sad when your party consist of birthers and deathers.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:33 amBy waffling on the issue, McHenry joins the long list of conservative politicians who are afraid to confront the “wacko base” of the Republican Party that continues to buy into the conspiracy theory that President Obama wasn’t born in the United States.
There, fixed it.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:33 amUpdate: A recent Public Policy Polling survey found that 47 percent of North Carolina Republicans do not think.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:37 amFor any lamebrain who doesn’t think the President is a US Citizen, there is a great research done on factcheck.org a year ago during the presidential election. This is a non-issue for everyone with a brain.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:37 amWhen will someone finally out this closeted fat boy already? And did anyone ask him the obvious follow-up about precisely which of the courts are addressing this myth?
August 13th, 2009 at 11:40 amI guess he thinks they can appeal to a higher court.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:41 amAs politicscorner mentioned up top #10, on Rachel’s show last night she brought up the fact that 12% of those polled in NC either didn’t think that Hawaii was a state or weren’t sure.
Unbelievable.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:41 amMr.McHenry must of forgot that Obama and went through a vetting process by the CIA,FBI,NSA and other agency`s just like members of congress………are these Reich wingers racist or what?All of this non-sense is about race and they are mad that they lost to an American who happens to be of African descent…….
August 13th, 2009 at 11:42 amWhat’s even more amazing is that Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) was one of the 12%.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:45 amA few years back I spent a week at the outer banks. I didnt realize that 47% of the people there were dummies. Im sorry NCer`s I just reread the post ,its 47% of repugs. That explains it.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:45 amA lot of people have conveniently forgotten that it was John McCain who called Mr. Obama “That One”, it was then that the wink was given to go after him like they are now. Some of you continue to believe that McCain is an honorable man deserving of some respect because of his service, wrong.
Mr McCain, if he had any honor left would be out in the forefront right now denouncing all of this garbage, but instead of doing that he’s playing guess what I forgot.
There are no “responsible” Republicans left for if there were they would be standing up for the President, for decency, for country, and not for party affiliation.
And oh yea the Democrats are just as bad for allowing the Republicans to again beat the hell out of them with fear.
RIP
August 13th, 2009 at 11:47 amSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
afraid to confront the “wacko wing” of the Republican Party
That’s the base, the 46% OF THE ELECTORATE who preferred four years of McCumstain/Palin, the worst, weakest, stupidest, vilest, most cynical “ticket” ever assembled to throw an election (i know it was thrown cuz the Pukes din’t try to steal it)…
August 13th, 2009 at 11:48 amMcHenry and I have a lot in common.
He hasn’t seen evidence of Obama’s citizenship.
I haven’t seen evidence of McHenry’s masculinity.
I don’t WANT to see evidence of McHenry’s masculinity.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:51 amHe doesn’t WANT to see evidence of Obama’s citizenship.
mary lacewing says:
As politicscorner mentioned up top #10, on Rachel’s show last night she brought up the fact that 12% of those polled in NC either didn’t think that Hawaii was a state or weren’t sure.
Unbelievable.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:41 am
No, it’s really not. It’s quite believable, actually. Americans are stupid.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:51 amThat’s the same 47% that didn’t vote for Obama in 2008 which means 53% of North Carolinans believe Obama is a ‘natural’ born citizen of the US which are the same people that put Obama in office.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:53 amWhile the press and the right wing encourages the ignorance and spread lies about this administration , perhaps handing billions to the banks and corporate giants ,as Americans lose their equity and homes and allowing the drug companies to write the bill on health care isn’t helping either ?
August 13th, 2009 at 12:01 pmThe best government money can buy !
one of the primary problems with out political system is that it takes an entirely different set of skills to get elected than it does to govern.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:02 pmA recent Public Policy Polling survey found that 47 percent of North Carolina Republicans don’t think.
Mmmmm, I think that that number should be higher.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:04 pmbirthers/deathers = racists
August 13th, 2009 at 12:05 pmBut Toasterhead – that was supposedly 250 million years ago! You know those same 12% probably believe the earth is only 7,000 years old!
August 13th, 2009 at 12:05 pmDr. Hussein Matt says:
William Kostric vs. Lee Harvey Oswald:
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4170/williamkostricoswald.jpg
You know I think that Lee Harvey Oswald shows more life in his eyes than Kostric in those pics.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:09 pmKeeping the system that benefits the powerful intact is what this health care bill is all about . The American people have spoken loud and clear for decades when polled on this subject !
August 13th, 2009 at 12:15 pmWE WANT SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE !!!
The insurance industry is an unneeded middle man that produces nothing for the consumer ! The government could set drug prices for the pharmaceutical industry thereby saving billions !
Single payer was never even on the table .Got democracy ?
Why waste time on anyone – especially this little turd – who espouses the birther fantasy?
By the way I’m proud to be from North Carolina and I’m proud I’m not in McHenry’s district.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:19 pmmary lacewing says:
You know I think that Lee Harvey Oswald shows more life in his eyes than Kostric in those pics.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
___________
Will Ferrell could totally play Kostric in the movie adaptation.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:20 pmCongerscritter McHenry sez, “i boink myself, I boink myself not, I boink…. Sheeit, do I have to keep this up until 2010… I boink myself… Are they really stoopid enuff to believe this crap that long… I boink myself not…”
Our recommendation, Congerscritter McHenry, is that you authorize your campaign manager and money shill to go buy an AutoBoink Mk I, so that the leaves and petals of your dayplanner will still be torn off, but you’ll be able to devote yourself to other higher forms of false witness.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:23 pmPoor lil Pat – stuck between the truth and a dumb place.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:24 pmIt’s being “addressed” in the courts by being laughed out of them. Orly Taitz couldn’t even produce her California state bar number, meaning she may not even have one, meaning what the hell are you doing in my court!?
August 13th, 2009 at 12:24 pmUosdwis says:
It’s being “addressed” in the courts by being laughed out of them. Orly Taitz couldn’t even produce her California state bar number, meaning she may not even have one, meaning what the hell are you doing in my court!?
August 13th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
______________
What about her American Dental Association membership card – doesn’t that count?
August 13th, 2009 at 12:26 pmThe other 53% couldn’t fill out the survey.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:26 pmSpencer’s mom says:
OT, in case you haven’t seen the full video (it’s only about 1:20) of the incident yesterday at McCaskill’s town hall, this video clearly shows a man standing up, walking to the woman, snatching her poster and ripping it up.
The woman is then escorted out by security. She’s very lucky this little video exists, as it exonerates her and show this man as the initiator.
Ok, I’m confused. If the man tore up her poster, why was she escorted out?
August 13th, 2009 at 12:39 pmThe Coward McHenry panders to his crowd, so they won’t get mad at him and yell rude things at him, but then backs down in private — hoping none of them will notice.
Typical.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:40 pmchiroptera toasterhead says:
mary lacewing says:
You know I think that Lee Harvey Oswald shows more life in his eyes than Kostric in those pics.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
___________
Will Ferrell could totally play Kostric in the movie adaptation.
You might be on to something there toasterhead. Will Ferrell making fun of the lunatic fringe by playing a crazy Libertarian might be just the tonic we need!
I mean you can’t reason with them so might as well make fun of them.
Ferrell’s character would have to say, “Federal Reserve!” and “second amendment!” a lot and pose in front of the mirror with his guns in his boxers trying to look tough.
Then he can drive down the road cursing taxation while complaining about the state of the roads, with his guns of course.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:41 pmThe poll also showed that 100% of North Carolina Republicans knew Alaska was a state, and they believed that they would one day have sex with Sarah Palin.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:42 pmAnd they won’t.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:43 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins says:
Ok, I’m confused. If the man tore up her poster, why was she escorted out?
August 13th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Because she had the nerve to object, and she confronted the ignorant, rude, and hostile white man while being black.
Seriously, the meeting would have been completely disrupted if they took the time to figure out exactly what happened, so both of them should have been taken out, and they could sort it out later. But that’s not what happened, is it? I don’t see anyone interviewing HER on the teevee machine…
August 13th, 2009 at 12:44 pmPatrick McHenry is a deeply closeted gay man who votes against the interests of gay men and women who live openly.
You can read more about McHenry at BlogActive.Com.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:46 pmParlezvous says:
Why don’t these moronic “birther” file a Freedom of Information request with the state of Hawaii and get on with it?
1) Their request would be rejected because the State of Hawaii (like all other states) have rules that only people with a legitimate need will be given access to this private information.
2) Because even if they viewed his original birth certificate on microfiche, they would still say it was a fake.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:46 pmDamn straight, shoeless.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:46 pmZooey says:
Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:
Ok, I’m confused. If the man tore up her poster, why was she escorted out?
August 13th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Because she had the nerve to object, and she confronted the ignorant, rude, and hostile white man while being black.
Seriously, the meeting would have been completely disrupted if they took the time to figure out exactly what happened, so both of them should have been taken out, and they could sort it out later. But that’s not what happened, is it? I don’t see anyone interviewing HER on the teevee machine…
————–
If it makes you feel any better Zooey I saw her being interviewed this morning on “teevee” – I think it was CNN. And she came across as very reasonable and calm. I didn’t catch it all but something about how she was holding the poster through every security checkpoint so didn’t think it’d be a problem.
I also heard that they’re considering assault charges on the man who attacked her and I believe he was arrested afterwards.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:02 pmmary lacewing says:
I also heard that they’re considering assault charges on the man who attacked her and I believe he was arrested afterwards.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Fantastic!! Thank you, mary lacewing!
August 13th, 2009 at 1:12 pmHe seems to be another example of a Republican who is so intimidated by and afraid of his rank and file that he has to pander like this. If you are afraid of your own base, are you not in the wrong Party?
August 13th, 2009 at 1:18 pmMcHenry might be afraid of his base, but the other party has black people in it.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:28 pmoff topic (sort of)
I sure hope CheeseFlap is keeping all the haiku he writes here.
He could publish it and make a few bucks.
I’d certainly shell out a tanner for a copy.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:16 pmI haven’t seen any evidence on way or the other that Representative Patrick McHenry is an alien from Rigel, but I suspect that when his fake skin is pulled back, the alien reptile underneath will be clearly exposed.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:32 pmconclusion:
McHenry is not genuine. He is one of the Rethuglizan.
McHenry has been outed.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:34 pmI haven’t seen any evidence that McHenry is straight. Not that there is anything wrong with being totally gay.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:40 pmA recent Public Policy Polling survey found that 47 percent of North Carolina Republicans think that Obama is not a citizen.
Remind me, who carried NC last November?
LMFAO
August 13th, 2009 at 3:58 pm60. shoeless sez:… It’s even better than that, shoeless. Rachel Maddow’s people dug into one of those surveys in NC and found that a significant number of NC Republicans aren’t sure or don’t think that Hawaii is a state. The number is around 12% of the respondents in that class.
WTF? Guess NC is going to have to go do Political Geography 99 again (that’s Remedial Political Geography, not 101 – Freshman Political Geography)
August 13th, 2009 at 4:24 pm79. 60. shoeless again:…
Ha, now that I’ve read past your post at 60, shoeless, I see that mary lacewing had already noted the geo-political ignorance of the NC rePublicrite crowd. My comment about the pack of ‘neck idiots needing remedial geography stands though. Witless ‘tards. :)
August 13th, 2009 at 4:54 pmDumb Question: How much evidence have you seen that Ronald Reagan is a citizen ?
Seen his birth certificate ?
Citizenship papers ?
Passport ? (and we know that some folks were fired for peeking at the computer files of Obama’s passport).
What about Nixon ?
GWB ?
GHWB?
Boehner ?
How many Senators have you seen any evidence of their citizenship ?
August 13th, 2009 at 6:43 pmAfrica’s Secret: GABON 30 August election tragically under threat. After embezzling dictator of 41 yrs Bongo dies, ruling party tries to force dynastic successor, his son Ali. http://tiny.cc/01Ddg. Candidate http://www.Moubamba.com calls for democracy and end to brutal poverty in oil rich Gabon. Support change in Africa
August 13th, 2009 at 11:47 pmDid you guys and gals go on and on this much asking to see GWB’s Nat. Guard records? I assume so, right? After all, he couldn’t possibly have served in the Guard, ’cause Bill Burkett said he didn’t show up! Oh wait, when there was the uproar about his records, he PRODUCED them…end of story….just like the current President has produced his birth certif….er…wait…no he hasn’t….well I’m sure he will, any day now….for sure…well, maybe….
August 14th, 2009 at 1:29 am83. Lurking sez:…
Dear Lurking Troll. Is Wrong.
Oh sure, ol’ Shrub produced his Guard records, not. He may have authorized the release, but someone else retrieved them and produced them, complete with lacunae. Do you know what lacunae are, eL Troll? Those are blanks, voids, skips, missing information, holes, etc. There are a few voids in Shrub’s TXANG record, blanks of up to a year or so. But that may have simply been an abstract; I haven’t looked to see if the TXANG put Shrub’s entire service jacket (that’s mil-spec speak for record) in the public domain. I wouldn’t expect them to; there may be data in there that is covered by personal privacy restrictions.
On the other hand, President Obama apparently authorized the appropriate authorities in HI to release his birth certificate because they did. And there aren’t any significant blanks on it, either.
August 14th, 2009 at 12:43 pm83. Lurker sez…
One more thing, Lurker, or Lurking, or whatever it is your proper Troll name is.
We don’t really need to reprise all the birther bullshit or the Shrub TXANG crap on the thread.
The topic is Congerscritter McHenry’s flip-flop.
August 14th, 2009 at 12:49 pm“That poll is old,” Grassley replied dismissively. “I base my decisions not on polls but on town meetings and mail,” he added.
IOW, he listens to the AstroTurf™ Screaming Blue Meanies that the insurace companies and their RW cohorts in talk radio and the like have sicced on him. Yes, the best way to good policy is to listen only to the loudest of the loud. That’s the mark of sincerity.
Cheers,
August 14th, 2009 at 10:07 pmOoops. Wrong thread. Sorry … nevermind.
August 14th, 2009 at 10:08 pmvery thanks for article
August 14th, 2009 at 11:39 pm