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Far be it from me to impugn the character of someone who volunteers to serve their country's armed forces -- especially during a time of war. But the judgment of U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Stefan Frederick Cook is fair game for questioning after he announced he wasn't going to fulfill his commitment to serve in Afghanistan because, now get this, he believes Barack Obama was never eligible to be president of the United States. ...
Cook, a reserve officer who volunteered for active duty, is standing with a group of folks, led by political gadfly Alan Keyes, who believes that Obama is not a "natural born citizen" as is required in the U.S. Constitution. Keyes filed a federal lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of Obama's presidency.
Few are taking the Keyes legal action seriously. In December, the Supreme Court dismissed without comment a similar case challenging Obama's right to take the oath of office. But the weakness of any legal argument aside, I wonder why Cook would use such a flimsy rationale to avoid going to Afghanistan.
Cook volunteered to serve in May, according to a report in the Huffington Post, and the reason for his change of heart is unknown. I would think that anyone willing to put their life on the line for their country would do so for reasons that go a lot deeper than where the president was born (Hawaii, not Kenya).
I'd like to think that all of those soldiers ducking bullets and roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan would still serve even if they found out the president was born on a spaceship.
Don't feelings of patriotism and duty to country trump a president's birth certificate?
But seriously, let's get past this already. The man was born in Hawaii!
_________________
Paul Shepard blogs the Democrat side of politics for Black Voices. He has been a journalist for 16 years on the national urban/minority affairs beat for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and for AP in Washington. He now runs his own public affairs firm, Shepard Strategic Communications.
Comments: (38)
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By: Sheryl on 7/21/2009 12:32AM
The man hasn't been in office a yr yet, and he is being condemned. But I didn't see anyone else's name on that ballot. Those who can, DO...those who can't criticize, and judge. Until you can achieve the level of success he has achieved... and the level of education (because you have gone above and beyond to prove your ignorance) Ruination? Seriously? After all the crap Dubya put us through....sending our troops to play "tag you're it" because of his father? Bush played a pissing contest and used our troops as collateral damage.
He should have just been a man about it... pulled out the ruler... saw that his shyt was as small as his pea brain... and let by gones be by gones.
But nooo.... yall gave him an inch, he tried to be a ruler, and failed miserably.
That whole family is a screw up... his dad... his grandma looking mother, his own children AKA the 'Anheuser Busch Twins'... Jeb's prescription addicted daughter, forging prescriptions... and the younger Bush getting caught with prostitutes in Thailand, and claiming "they were already in the room when he got there".
We NEEDED a break from stupidity... now back to the real world. Someone who has a mind of his own, and doesn't have to be backed up by the 'good ole boys' network.
Obama will be in office for the next 8 yrs...so get use to it.
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By: HELORIS on 7/20/2009 8:09AM
they have been in obama's colon if he wasn't born here you would know it fool
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By: Jayla on 7/20/2009 8:58AM
Barak's mother and her parents were Chicago natives. Maybe Stefan should question the legitimacy of all past presidents. I don't believe all their ancestors were first generation Americans. They probably moved to Hawaii to relieve themselves of he evil, no soul, devil worshiping racists in this country. Many are still living today. Maybe he's one too.
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By: J. Nash on 7/20/2009 10:38PM
President Obama should just put this to rest by presenting his birth information, what is his problem?
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By: Donna Miller on 7/21/2009 12:20PM
TURNS OUT THE MILITARY DID REVOKE HIS ORDERS WITH NO COMMENT. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THERE MAY BE SOMETHING BEING COVERED UP HERE AFTER ALL. WHEN HAS THE MILITARY EVER REVOKED ANYONE'S ORDERS WITHOUT A FIGHT OR EXPLANATION? WHY ELSE WOULD THEY DO SO NOW?
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By: Sandra Garland on 7/21/2009 3:20PM
DO YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THE REPUBLICANS WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THIS MAN TO RUN-MUCH LESS WIN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IF HE WERE NOT AMERICAN BORN?
YOU NEED TO CONCERN YOURSELVES WITH ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHO HATE BLACK, BROWN, RED, YELLOW, WHITE AMERICANS AND WHO ARE PROBABLY LAUGHING AT THE PETTY CRAP YOU'RE TALKING AS THEY
MAKE THEIR PLANS TO COME OVER 'AGAIN' TO BLOW UP SOME MORE OF OUR BUILDINGS!!!!!
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By: Coorky Johnson on 7/28/2009 3:23PM
I can only believe that you are not interested in the truth. I point out a major discrepancy with CNN's claim that Hawaii destroyed all paper documents in 2001, including Obama's long form birth certificate -that according CNN chief Jon Klein as a result of his effort to put the Obama birth certificate controversy to rest. However, Chiyome L. Fukino, MD, Hawaii's Health Department's director, stated that she saw Obama's long form birth certificate and that he was indeed born in Hawaii. Problem is that she did not take office until 2002. Klein says he was told that the records were destroyed in 2001.
So, instead of looking in to this issue, you simply delete my comment. No that is the mark of a truth-seeker.
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