House Deals Birther Movement as Blow

The House of Representatives has unanimously passed a resolution declaring Hawaii as the official birthplace of President Barack Obama.  This move is not without precedent; the US Senate had a similar measure a few years ago to make sure John McCain was deemed an American citizen despite being born in Panama.

But it puts the Birthers in Congress at odds with the nutjob wing of their base who are so desparate to “take their country back.”

News

Clockwise from top left, Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla.; Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla.; Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif.; Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas; Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif.

 From a story in Salon about the Birthers in Congress is OC’s own John Campbell:  “Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif.: Though he wasn’t the first member of Congress to board the birther train, Campbell is perhaps the most infamous, thanks to an interview on the topic with an unamused Chris Matthews.Campbell cites the same talking points — Romney, Goldwater and McCain — as Posey did. “Nice try,” responds Matthews, who then showed him the president’s birth certificate. “You’re verifying the paranoia out there. You’re saying to the people, ‘You’re right, that’s a reasonable question, whether he’s a citizen or not.'”

….

With a hint of malice, Matthews half-jokes his way through the end of the segment, saying, “Congressman John Campbell, who does believe — watch the rerun at 7 — that Barack Obama is a native-born American. So those wackos in your district out there, don’t vote for this guy, because he fundamentally disagrees with you. I’m just kidding.” Campbell winces visibly.”

Campbell, if he voted on the bill, voted “yes.” But his name on the birther legislation just demonstrates that priorities needed by residents in CD-48 are taking a backseat to partisan politics.

An Update: Campbell did not vote on this bill; HT to our readers for the details.