Birth of a Political Party

It's difficult to keep up with the right-wing these days. Even after reading about the reservist refusing orders to be mobilized to active duty a few weeks ago, I gave little thought to the conspiracy theories regarding President Obama's citizenship.

I recall when the issue came up before the election, after rumors surfaced that Obama's middle name is really Muhammed, causing the Obama campaign to post a copy of the original birth certificate on their website. As with any good conspiracy theory, each answer raised new allegations and demands for more information.

When I heard the rumor again a month or so later, I took a look at the documentation provided on several sites (including FactCheck.org), and forgot about it. But when I read recently that the fringe element clinging to this theory had been given a name ("Birthers") by the media, I realized the controversy would never die.

It's not surprising that those who make a living feeding ignorance have continued to keep this alive. Questions about Obama's citizenship raised by many media conservatives before the election live on with a more elite group of "trash for cash" media personalities. Even Lou Dobbs has decided to join the Rush Limbaugh/Sean Hannity crowd. Inside sources say Lou has been thinking about making a change ever since he heard about the eight year $400 million contract Rush signed last year. There's money to be made here.

Still, I object to elected officials pandering to fringe groups to score cheap points, and possibly pick up a few votes and/or donations. On the surface, there's nothing wrong with Congressman Bill Posey's (R-FL) amendment (H.R. 1503) to Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, requiring that a presidential candidate provide a birth certificate. I'm all for it.

But while Posey and the bill's nine co-sponsors may claim this "has nothing to do with Obama," the truth is that it's intended to cater to the Birthers, and imply that Obama's presidency isn't legitimate.

It's by no means clear that Republicans can control the fringe elements they've created. Just ask Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE), who recently lost control of a town hall meeting to a Birther. If you haven't seen the video, it's worth viewing (click here), if only to get an advance preview of the Republican party of the future.

Maybe this will all give "birth" to a new political party... to replace the party that seems so determined to destroy itself.