Court declines Obama birth case

Posted: Monday, December 08, 2008 10:19 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Courts, Pete Williams

From NBC's Pete Williams
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to take up a case that questioned whether President-elect Obama met the Constitution's requirement that only a natural-born citizen is eligible to be president.

Video: NBC's Pete Williams on the Supreme Court decision not totake the Obama citizenship case.

As is the court's usual custom, the request to take up the case was denied with no explanation.

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Comments

Great! For once they have made a decision not dictated by the far right. The whole thing was
ridiculous, supported by the extreme right radicals.
Now, maybe the media will drop it and move on to
important, accountable issues.

katiec (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:25 AM)

If it hadn't been for that idiot clarence thomas the Supreme Court wouldn't even of had to say they wouldn't waste time on this nefarious frivilous lawsuit brought by some clueless idiot. So hypocritical of the repugnant ones who whine about frivilous lawsuits are party to one of the worst ever.

Fire US Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:26 AM)

Why liberals and the Obama administration are both wrong about this battle going on between them:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/12/8/92210/7759/593/670621

Dan, New York, NY (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:27 AM)

Now maybe these 'holes will go away. Their time and money would better spent trying to find Palin's brain cells.

bosborne charlotte,NC (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:30 AM)

As is the court's usual custom, the request to take up the case was denied with no explanation.
THIS DID NOT NEED EXPLANATION, THIS WAS PUT FOURTH BY A VERY STUPID PERSON AND THE HIGH COURT HAD NOT BUSINESS EVER HEARING LET ALONE GIVING A EXPLANATION AS WHY NOT. NOW EVERY BODY WE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN WILL HAVE A BLACK MAN AS THERE PRESIDENT.

jeff D Evanston IL. (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:31 AM)

What does it take for the Repukes to realize that "Times, they are a Changing"!

The courts no longer belong to THEM and their lunatic right-wing!

Off-point: David Gregory is NOT the right pick for MTP! His bias is so clear, and he will not be impartial. NBC will be replacing him in a few months. Doubt that I will be tuning in on Sundays!

Tim Russert was the best! You have done him an injustice!

Ed, San Antonio (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:32 AM)

Surprise, surprise. Not that it will stop the nutcases.

newdayDawning. (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:33 AM)

A frivolous lawsuit. Someone just grasping at straws.

It is amazing that in a country that is multi-cultural, there are still those who believe that only white men should be the only ones to run the country.

All I have to say to them is,

GET OUT OF THE CAVES!!!!

William, Dallas, Texas (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:35 AM)

Here's a useful public service that all of the major news outlets could perform: put the PICTURE of the fool that WASTED OUR taxpayer dollars on this garbage on EVERY nightly news show. They deserve the modern day equivalent of a scarlet letter.

And come on First Read: you make it sound as if there's something sinister at work. They declined it because it was GARBAGE.

Enough of the Garbage (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:36 AM)

Doubtless the whack-jobs on the right will continue to beat this dead and decomposing horse until there's nothing else. These guys should really seek therapy.

43 Days Until Inauguration Day!
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:37 AM)

so much for upholding the Constitution. I am very curious as to the reasoning.

wayne (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:37 AM)

Oddly enough, the only justice who thought the case should move forward was Clarance Thomas.

Just sayin'.

43 Days Until Inauguration Day!
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:40 AM)

Well duh - At this point does it really matter? Last 8 years have shown me what I don't want for the next 4 and hopefully 8. If anything GWBJR was a great teacher for me. It takes intelligence to be Commander in Chief, something he sure doesn't have. It takes morals and values, something he hasn't shown me. It takes compassion, something he hasn't shown me. I could go on and on but whats the point? ENOUGH!!!!

cindy, Las Vegas, Nv (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:41 AM)

Well, aren't there documents making official Obama's birth time and place? Perhaps something called a "birth certificate"? How about a "social security number" and when was it issued and where? It's not rocket science...

Lets see the documentation and lets trace the history of those documents.

BamaBoy (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:41 AM)

I really wish they had ruled on it. Now every decision he makes will be challenged by some whackjob with nothing better to do than try to cause problems. That's what some have already promised to do. I see nothing so far to stop them.

Annette, Odessa, MO (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:41 AM)

To take a case requires only four votes. Obviously, one of the conservative justices -- at least -- voted against taking it. They probably knew that if they took the case THIS TIME, there might be a revolution and they would be the center of it. There's that, and the fact that the case has no merit whatsoever.

Anna Molly (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:42 AM)

Now, will this finally silence the extreme right wing nut cases? No. They still won't be satisified. Too bad; Obama is the 44th President of the United States. If you don't like it, then leave. See if it's better anywhere else.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:43 AM)

1. AXJ Says:
December 8th, 2008 at 7:43 am

The international civil and political rights organization known as AXJ asks why the Supreme Court will not review this matter. Is it up to the Electoral College and the WE THE PEOPLE Foundation? http://www.axjus.com

AXJ, NY,NY (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:44 AM)

Silly season is over, in which we were inundated with false statements and blatent unfounded rumors, is over. The elections have been held! Questioning Obama's birth certificate is just another ploy by a few rabble rousers to hang a cloud over the head of Obama's Presidency. Politians, and the public, need to focus on the needs of our country (economy, jobs, health care, affordable college educations, ending the war in Iraq, etc./etc.

Lindy Ausburne, Waco, Texas (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:46 AM)

I so hope that we are past the notion of contesting the legitimacy of the next president on any grounds whatsoever. The people have spoken and Obama won a decisive victory. I swear that half the problems of teh last two presidencies could be traced to 1) the right resenting Clinton--who did not win a majority of votes-- and unseated GHW Bush and 2) the left resenting GW Bush for losing the popular vote and then becoming president thanks to the Supreme Court. Americans say enough! We have plenty to worry about without this needless, unproductive partisanship.

Sean McLeod, Washington, DC (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:46 AM)

Can we close this chapter, finally? It is baseless, and now even the court that appointed Bush agrees. Well okay, it isn't the exact same court - it's even more Right Winged, now.

Movin' on.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:49 AM)

The sheer ignorance of this claim is shameful to the american people! A few very unhappy republicans can't accept defeat from a man of mixed heritage! The people have spoken, so get over it!! Some people can be such jacka$$es, the man hasn't even taken office yet and "you" people, and you know who you are, couldn't wait to put the "white sheets" back on and show your "true" colors!! This message is not intended for everybody, just the hateful bigot, racist, neo-nazi "FEW" whom the shoe fits!! I repeat "you know who you are" and America will be better off when you perish from this earth!! Thank you!

So sick and tired of RACISM!! (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:50 AM)

To all the racially oriented people out there: Obama will still protect your kids & your job even though you hate him. The rest of us will just enjoy having a smart president for a change.

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:50 AM)

So sick and tired of RACISM!! (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:51 AM)

I wonder if there are laws that I do not have to follow.

Tim Moore, Cypress, Texas (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:55 AM)

It's a ridiculous question to begin with. Does not deserve the court's time and effort.

Isn't Hawaii part of the United States? If the man is hiding something would he dare run for the Presidency? Unlike the Repubs treatment of their candidate, Barrack was vetted by the DNC.
In a time like this where people are nervous and need a true leader, these morons who brought up this case can't think of anything else but along party lines. Pathetic.

Joyce, NY (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:56 AM)

Soooo---Do you think we have heard the last of BERG--finally?

There really are more important issues at hand!!

BethanyB (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 10:58 AM)

I wonder if Alan Keyes lawsuit will have better luck. I wish Mr. Obama would at least make a statement telling us all where he was born. This stonewalling foolishness has to stop.

James Orleans (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:00 AM)

This is crap~

Tamara (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:03 AM)

Good! I think this entire situation was utterly ridiculous and had a shadow of racism. There are more important things to worry about---the economy, the economy, and the economy!!!!!

Lifelong Republican for Obama, Columbia, TN (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:04 AM)

Obama wasn't born, he was created!

Miss Iaye (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:06 AM)

The court gave no explanation because they thought the case was too stupid for words.

Indie Woman in Denver (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:07 AM)

The conspiracy is larger than we thought! Obama's mother conspired with the Hawaii state department into issuing an original birth certificate (as confirmed by actual physical contact by factcheck.org) so her son could be president one day. Obama conspired with the state departments of all 50 states into letting him onto the ballots. He conspired with the republican party into not taking up the issue. He conspired with the US state department under the current *republican* administration, headed by Condoleeza Rice, into not getting involved. And now he's conspired with ALL NINE of the justices of the US Supreme Court!

He probably conspired with over half of the voters in the 2008 election too!

Time for everyone to wrap a couple more layers of tinfoil around our hats - the mind control rays are more powerful than we ever imagined.

Alan Marshall, Chapel Hill, NC (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:10 AM)

Please get your facts straight. There were TWO parts to Donofrio's case. Only one part has been denied and that was not to stay the Electorial College vote. However, the other part has not been commented on by the SC and in fact in the Orders Document dated 12/08/08 it is VERY CLEAR that Writ of Certiorari has not been DENIED.

I expect better reporting from MSNBC!!!

Terri Lamsdale (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:12 AM)

Maybe they should look into McCain's birth certificate

It was public knowledge that he was born in Panama

didn't that make him ineligible for the Presidency?

Non-native birth is what's saving use from Calif Gov. 'Gonad the Barbarian'

MSierra, SF (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:12 AM)

Okay what next? Obama should be able to continue smoking if he wants and not be harassed for it. It's his right and it does not hurt anyone. Smokers ban together for our rights. Stay out of our personal business. If President Elect wants to continue smoking that should not matter. Get off this man's back.

Kathy, Charlotte (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:15 AM)

Don't worry, nothing will stop the right side wing-nuts from attempting to prevent Obama's Presidency. So horrifying was the shock of the ass whooping they recieved that all they had left was the last defence of the desperate: okay, he won, but he can't actually win for reasons that are unknown, uncollaberated and unspecified. The best part is when they try to hide behind the Constitution (example: the Constitution still MATTERS!), like they actually give a crap about the constitution (or indeed, understand the constitution) and aren't just trying to find any desperated excuse to stop Obama being President. If it were Republican being accused of violating constitution, something tells me they wouldn't be quite so fast at jumping on that old bandwagon.

bill (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:17 AM)

I want to thank my democrat brothers for helping remove that dirt bag Willie "Ice Box" Jefferson. Lousiana will be a less crime infested state with him out of office. Crooks like Ice Box need to be removed and replaced. Thank you for the early Christmas present.

Charles B., Lake Charles (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:19 AM)

Now, will this finally silence the extreme right wing nut cases? No. They still won't be satisified.
---------------------------------------------------
Hey Diane, the majority of these lawsuits were brought by DEMOCRATS. The most prominent one by a former head of the Montgomery County, PA Democratic Party.

Deanna, Lansing MI (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:24 AM)

Obama doesn't "KNOW" where he was born. He only knows what he was told about where he was born, just like the rest of us. The original certificate is a piece of paper you are not allowed to possess. You can have a certified copy. Until now that has always been considered sufficient.

P (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:27 AM)

P (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:28 AM)

I seriously doubt these same right wing lunatics would have questioned the constitutional right of *McCain* to be President since he was born in the Panama Canal zone. Just more hypocracy and sour grapes.

Jackson, Seattle (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:28 AM)

very discouraging.. If he didn't have something to hide he wouldn't need to spend his money hiring two law firms to fight it for him.. It's a shame that they wouldn't up hold the U.S. Constitution in this matter.. Very disappointed in this case and the lack of Obama not showing his Birth Certificate.. This will not go away until obama produces proof.. what a shame...

jq (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:28 AM)

And this decision was made by conservative judges!!

Ron Indiana (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:31 AM)

There is a cover-up taking place, and now the Supreme Court is in on it. As I've been telling you all election season, Obama was born on another planet and was sent here to either save or take over the world (not sure which - guess we'll find out).

But I supported him anyway. I figure we've pretty much exhausted our planet in the search for intelligent life, so why not try an alien from the planet Xununu?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:40 AM)

I wonder if Alan Keyes lawsuit will have better luck. I wish Mr. Obama would at least make a statement telling us all where he was born. This stonewalling foolishness has to stop.
James Orleans (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:00 AM)
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Do you remember where you were born? PE Obama can only tell us what he was told or what his birth records indicate.

I doubt if any of has a memory of our birth much less the location.

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:40 AM)

TO the folks who don't think David Gregory was a good pick to moderate MTP -- I think you're wrong, but we all have a right to our opinions. It's not fair to compare David as host on Race for the WH and 1600 Pennsylvania to MTP because the formats are WAY different. And besides, as even Tim would admit, he wasn't as good in the early days as he became over the years. NOBODY can ever BE Tim Russert again, because he was one-of-a-kind (and we still miss you, guy!). I think Tim would be very proud of David, and he'd want us all to give David a chance.

Indie Woman in Denver (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:43 AM)

It is frightening how ignorant a significant portion of the US population is. I fail to see how Obama could have masterminded this "conspiracy."

Don't the nut cases that keep screaming about this think that:
The democrats would have shut down an Obama campaign if there was question as to his birth?
The Bush led administration, with all its powers, its willingness to do pretty much anything in wants "in the interests of national security," and the resources of the CIA, NSA, and FBI at their hands, would have uncovered a false birth certificate?

I've never understood the whole conspiracy and terrorist theory. What do people think, that Obama is going to strap a bomb to himself and blow up the Whitehouse? Or perhaps he will hoodwink our Senate and Congress into passing laws that allow terrorists free reign over the country?

These people are nuts! Truly nuts!

Chris - IL (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:49 AM)

Alan Marshall, Chapel Hill, NC < you sir are a complete idiot.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 11:54 AM)

If the DNC would put forth a valid birth certifcate on Obama and stop resisting about it, then the whole issue could go away. Until then, the country has the right to know if Mr Obama does indeed qualify to become the President in accordance with the US Constitution. If he is not, then the DNC has pulled a sham on the country and snubbed the Constitution that they have all sworn an oath to to defend and protect.

Sam Moore (Sent Monday, December 08, 2008 12:01 PM)

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