Democrats to boycott effort to remove Barack Obama from Georgia ballot
Democrats, including the attorney representing President Barack Obama, have made a last-minute decision to boycott the Thursday hearing to consider a “birther” effort to remove Obama from the March 6 presidential primary ballot.
“They can tilt at windmills on their own,” said state Democratic spokesman Eric Gray on Wednesday night.
Last week, in a surprise ruling, a Georgia state administrative judge declined to quash a subpoena directing Obama to attend a hearing Thursday at the Fulton County courthouse on a challenge to strike him from the Georgia ballot this fall on claims he is not a natural born U.S. citizen. Read more background here from my AJC colleague Bill Rankin.
Among tomorrow’s no-shows will be Michael Jablonski, the Atlanta attorney serving as counsel to Obama. He’s written a letter to Secretary of State Brian Kemp, a Republican, asking him to intervene and bring the circus to a halt.
Among those pressing the action is state Rep. Mark Hatfield, R-Waycross. But many ranking Republicans are doing their best to keep their distance.
Here’s the statement just released by Mike Berlon, chairman of the state Democratic party:
“Several lawsuits were recently filed against President Obama questioning whether he is an American citizen in an attempt to remove him from the Georgia primary ballot. Despite the fact that these issues have been thoroughly litigated, a hearing has been scheduled in these cases for Thursday, January 26, 2012. The Democratic Party of Georgia is not a party to any of these lawsuits.
“This afternoon we received a letter from counsel for the President directed to the Georgia Secretary of State asking him to intervene in these lawsuits and bring them to a halt, because it is well established that there is no issue here – a fact validated time and again by courts in this country.
“In the letter, counsel also indicated that they had no interest in continuing to appear or participate further in the litigation and have suspended their involvement.
“We respect the President’s position and urge the Secretary of State to bring this matter to a conclusion. We also believe that each political party has the absolute legal right to determine who should appear on their primary and general election ballots according to their own rules without interference from outside parties.
“In light of these developments the Democratic Party of Georgia has no plans to continue to be involved in these baseless cases. Furthermore the Democratic Party of Georgia will cooperate with the President and his campaign in any way requested to make sure that his name appears on the primary and general election ballots for 2012.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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552 comments Add your comment
Bruce Springsteen
January 25th, 2012
8:22 pm
George Bush and Richard Nixon were born in the USA and look where that got us!
Just Me
January 25th, 2012
8:23 pm
Does it matter, like Obama has a chance in hell of winning Georgia
Just Me
January 25th, 2012
8:26 pm
Hey Bruce, Ben Franklin was never president. This law only applies to Presidents
George Johnson
January 25th, 2012
8:27 pm
Everybody really should wonder why they’re doing everything they can to NOT prove he is a citizen. Just PROVE it once and for all!! Why is he spending SO much money, to NOT prove it? (not counting releaseing FAKE federal documents, which is also a FEDERAL CRIME!)
The closer they get, the stronger they protest. And this is the worst of all, by “boycotting” it and trying to get somebody to “just call it off” instead of just proving it.
Really, it’s a simply matter, just RELEASE THE DOCUMENTS!!!!
KD
January 25th, 2012
8:30 pm
This is why, after almost 20 years as a resident, I’m glad I left Georgia. The racial climate and sensibility of the state is in reverse. The racial intolerance is palpable.
Then What?
January 25th, 2012
8:30 pm
I think it would be a hoot if this little court in Georgia produced evidence that OBOZO has been running this country on a FORGED birth certificate. Then what libbies? Welcome President Gingrich you socialist swine!!!
Look before I leap...
January 25th, 2012
8:32 pm
Dr. J.
January 25th, 2012
8:16 pm
From the Georgia Ballot: ByeBye, Barry Hussein O-bama. Didn’t like him anyway. He has, with Bush’s help, destroyed this country’s economy.
The major stock market indices are up 50 to 85% over 2008 EOY levels.
Roads are getting paved and built
Bridges are being maintained and repaired
The lights are still on.
Mom is still getting her Social Security and USM survivor benefit checks.
We still have a strong military. One war down, one to go.
I have 11 friends who have started business since 2009, all are doing well and employing dozens of people.
My business is double what it was 3 years ago.
Unemployment high? Yep. Talk to the CEOs of the Fortune 500 who are sitting on 1 trillion in CASH and ask them why they are not hiring.
Yeah – our “destroyed economy”. Can someone direct me to the nearest Hooverville and soup line?
Jim
January 25th, 2012
8:32 pm
@George Johnson: He did release his documents, verified by the only legal entity that could verify them…the State of Hawaii. So what’s the problem?
Look before I leap...
January 25th, 2012
8:34 pm
George Johnson
January 25th, 2012
8:27 pm
Everybody really should wonder why they’re doing everything they can to NOT prove he is a citizen. Just PROVE it once and for all!! Why is he spending SO much money, to NOT prove it? (not counting releaseing FAKE federal documents, which is also a FEDERAL CRIME!)
The closer they get, the stronger they protest. And this is the worst of all, by “boycotting” it and trying to get somebody to “just call it off” instead of just proving it.
Really, it’s a simply matter, just RELEASE THE DOCUMENTS!!!!
Take a chill pill and BREATHE!
The documents have been released, examined and verified.
Just as a side note, birth certificates are NOT Federal documents, they are state documents.
Idiots Are You
January 25th, 2012
8:35 pm
Hey George Johnson, WHAT flipping documents is he supposed to produce? What documents do YOU have to prove you were born? Your birth certificate, you say? What else? A-HA! You’re a fraud!
Think, George, think.
Hugh G. Rection
January 25th, 2012
8:37 pm
He is not a US citizen. Let them boycott. Let them hold their breath until they turn blue and stomp their feet. They won’t go to court because they KNOW he is not eligible to be president. And the liberal media carries his water and covers for the socialist in chief.
Mr. Ected
January 25th, 2012
8:37 pm
Republicans seem to think America hates President Obama as much as they do. It’s their biggest miscalculation.
God Bless Barack Obama.
DoWhatsRight
January 25th, 2012
8:38 pm
The Dems, just like saying the Clinton thing was about sex rather than admitting he lied under oath; again they are in denial, that this President may have broken the law. Read the Constitution’s requirements on becoming a President. Read Court decisions since the Constitution was written. Then tell me that PO is a natural born citizen? Again, minimize the issues when its to your benefit and blame the other party. Hey did you hear about the Republican who went and joined the Democratic Party? Yes, the average IQs of both parties went up!
Mr. Ected
January 25th, 2012
8:38 pm
Hey Hugh:
FOX News is far from liberal, runs 24/7/365
What?
January 25th, 2012
8:42 pm
Yet another way Georgia is so f#$%ed up!! No wonder Michael Moore called this state a backwards state!! We can do better than this for crying out loud!!
obama loves dumb blacks
January 25th, 2012
8:42 pm
who cares where he was born! F him and vote his lame A out of office
Jim
January 25th, 2012
8:43 pm
@Dowhatsright Well, I tend to believe the courts more than I believe you. And, the Indiana court of appeals does NOT agree with you:
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/in-court-of-appeals/1501011.html
“Based upon the language of Article II, Section 1, Clause 4 and the guidance provided by Wong Kim Ark, we conclude that persons born within the borders of the United States are “natural born Citizens” for Article II, Section 1 purposes, regardless of the citizenship of their parents. Just as a person “born within the British dominions [was] a natural-born British subject” at the time of the framing of the U.S. Constitution, so too were those “born in the allegiance of the United States [ ] natural-born citizens.” 15″
Being born a citizen makes you a natural-born citizen. Well established by the courts many times over.
My Vote
January 25th, 2012
8:43 pm
Go Barack Obama!! He’ll win!! I have complete confidence!!
Mr. Ected
January 25th, 2012
8:44 pm
Here’s an idea for all the IDIOTS pushing for Obama to prove that he’s a natural born citizen: PROVIDE PROOF THAT HE IS NOT.
Isn’t it hilarious how certain they are that he is lying, when they cannot produce a smidgeon of proof to make their case? Like everything, they are simply looking for anti-Democrat slogans to repeat ad nauseum. It’s all they’ve got. When it comes to LEADERSHIP and IDEAS, they are bankrupt. They made this mess, and then blamed the successor.
God Bless President Obama.
Second That
January 25th, 2012
8:44 pm
Yes, he will indeed!!!
DoWhatsRight
January 25th, 2012
8:46 pm
And where is the proof that he really was born in the US? Why did it take him two years to provide a Birth Certificate that most Americans can produce in five minutes? Why did the newspapers of Kenya talk about PO coming back to his “place of birth” when he visited Kenya. I strongly believe that this President is illegitimate!
MSU Alum
January 25th, 2012
8:47 pm
George Johnson, have you had your head in the sand. Obama has issued the documents over and over. Finally submitted the long form several months ago and all of this nonsense stopped until the stupid Republicans of Georgia decided that wasn’t good enough either. The good old South racism is alive and well in Georgia and that is a FACT!!!!
Bob
January 25th, 2012
8:48 pm
The only true natives of this country are the Indians!! Everyone else qualifies as an immigrant, so there!! President Barack Obama is a citizen just like everyone else!! Geez, there are way too many idiots in politics these days!! Obama for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016!!! Trust me, our country will be in way better hands than any of the Republican candidates that have so far surfaced!!
Mr. Ected
January 25th, 2012
8:50 pm
Hey DoWhatsRight
And after 4 years, where is YOUR proof that he’s NOT a natural born citizen? Your meaningless “gut feelings?”. Your twisted interpretation of a Kenyan newspaper you never read?
Or maybe it’s just from listening to hyperbolic, one-dimensional blasphemy on the radio day in and day out that is your PROOF that a native Kenyan is now running our nation, and doing a damned fine job of it too.
Jim
January 25th, 2012
8:50 pm
@Dowhatsright: He produced it long before the election. Allowed independent media to examine, touch, take pictures of it. But even better, the State of Hawaii says he was born there. And since the State of Hawaii is the only legal entity that can vouch for the fact that he was born there, it’s a slam dunk. It’s just people who don’t like the President’s skin or his policies that can’t get it through there thick skulls.
Vermillionb
January 25th, 2012
8:51 pm
All this just proves, if you don’t think it’s all about Black vs White down here, you just don’t know about the South.
David Beall
January 25th, 2012
8:52 pm
I find it humorous how liberals dismiss conservative arguments by calling us ignorant or calling us “hicks” rather than addressing the numerous questions surrounding the President’s citizenship status by refuting the argument with FACTS.
DoWhatsRight
January 25th, 2012
8:52 pm
MSU you simply contribute to the problem that is holding back the minorities of this country. Yes, hide behind the term “racism” instead of fixing the real problem. You subscribe to the policy of lowering the standard of living so that more people are equal rather than pulling people up from the bottom. Yep, you always take the effortless road. PO subscribes to the same. This is why we now have more people on welfare and food stamps than ever before. This is why he wants everyone on the same health care plan, so we can all be the same. That is everyone except him.
Georgia Born
January 25th, 2012
8:52 pm
Stupid Republicans really showing that Georgia ignorance and hate.
Sally
January 25th, 2012
8:53 pm
Not suprised by anything in Georgia. What a state to live in…so glad I’m just visiting.
Ann
January 25th, 2012
8:54 pm
MSU Alum, you’re right! Racism and hatred are very much alive along with sexism and whole host of other hateful characteristics! So sad!! Why can’t we all at least respect one another as human beings? President Obama has a heart of steel and others are only jealous because they lack in this area, and can’t possibly understand were he’s coming from. They’re so selfish and greedy! They don’t give a damn about the needy! Think they show any appreciation to our troops who fight for their freedom and are the only reasons they’re remotely able to be successful?? I highly doubt it!! Selfish, narcissistic, and greedy politicians are trying to take over the world!! Here’s an idea, Occupy Congress!!!
DoWhatsRight
January 25th, 2012
8:54 pm
Vermillionb, if the South is so bad, why did you move here? If it really is as bad as you make it out to be, then move back North. You would make yourself and a lot of Southerners happy.
Mr. Ected
January 25th, 2012
8:55 pm
Alright David Beall, if you have the FACTS on your side, WHERE IN THE HELL ARE THEY?
All you have is accusation, innuendo and posturing. Not one scintilla of proof. The burden of proof is on you, the accusers. The courts and the state of Hawaii concur that our President is a natural born citizen. Do you, David Beall, hold the key? Are you the keeper of the Big Secret that, once released, will expose our President as a pretender?
Didn’t think so. Crawl back in your hole, sir.
Soldier for life
January 25th, 2012
8:56 pm
Of course it’s black and white and it always will be especially in my “good ole boy” home state of GA. Kind of makes you wonder why we service men and women gave so much of our live to this screwed up country.
DoWhatsRight
January 25th, 2012
8:57 pm
Simply put, why won’t they show up in Court, if it is so easy to dismiss this? Smells fishy to me!
Ugh!
January 25th, 2012
8:57 pm
Can’t wait to see Obama and Gingrich debate! Wait, do they use teleprompters during the debates??? HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Jim
January 25th, 2012
8:58 pm
@DavidBeal the numerous questions are being asked by people who have no clue what they’re talking about. I mean really, if you’ve read any of the court cases that have been done, you’d realize that the people have no proof that he’s not exactly what he says he is. All we’ve seen in the past 3 years is forged documents, wild theories, and no understanding of the law or the constitution by the people who are now 0-76 in trying to “get” President Obama. At some point you have to realize, They’ve got absolutely nothing on the President!
mx
January 25th, 2012
8:58 pm
Marxists unite in November!! Vote democrat!
honested
January 25th, 2012
8:58 pm
Judging by many of the comments, I guess it is no surprise that many morons were outside the Capitol today whining about an amendment to give TAXPAYER FUNDS to essentially church and private schools.
With this sort of nonsense, AL and MS will have to work hard to beat us at stooopid!
smallmouth6
January 25th, 2012
9:00 pm
Just me: Yes, it does
DoWhatsRight
January 25th, 2012
9:00 pm
Obama, the Teleprompter-in-Chief!
WAW
January 25th, 2012
9:00 pm
I tried to find a link and didn’t, but I recall that a Municipal Judge in Selma Alabama demanded that JFK appear to answer for violating Jim Crow laws. Same thing all over again.
smallmouth6
January 25th, 2012
9:00 pm
Ugh, Last laugh will be on you.
Clarice
January 25th, 2012
9:00 pm
Atlanta’s made up mostly of northerners who transferred here due to cold weather and poor schools! True southerners have more respect than these idiots in power! Racism is real, but the fact of the matter is, NYC PD is more racist than APD. So to say that racism is more prevalent in the south, is nothing but a mere lie! It’s alive, just as sexism is alive, everywhere!! It’s just that there are more African Americans in the south which makes it seem as though there’s more racism. However, it’s New York were the real problem lies. Let’s do better people! Stop hating people just because they’re different from you!! Let’s respect each other’s differences! We’re all Americans after all.
Realist
January 25th, 2012
9:01 pm
If only Obama’s mother had exercised her right to choose, then we would all be better off.
Cisco Streetlove
January 25th, 2012
9:02 pm
This is the disgusting inhumanity I have to deal with in Georgia. The GOP and its white following in the state are a bunch of inhuman savages – just shy of 2,000 Maniacs. They were wrong about slavery; wrong about the Civil War; stuck on stupid with segregation. If you want a lily white society, go back to Europe – or timewarp to 1843. The Georgia Goobers are a lower form of life; who don’t know anything about hard work; and live in the tired old fantasy of white is right; and “innocent white people are bedeviled by darkies.” You goobers are a bunch of maniacal nihilists – clutching Atlas Shrugged.
mx
January 25th, 2012
9:03 pm
post of the day:
Realist
January 25th, 2012
9:01 pm
If only Obama’s mother had exercised her right to choose, then we would all be better off.
DoWhatsRight
January 25th, 2012
9:03 pm
Why isn’t the Democratic Party known as the Socialist Democratic Party like it is in most Marxist/Socialist/Communist states? Same philosophy, so why not call it the same?
Vermillionb
January 25th, 2012
9:03 pm
Actually from South of here, in Louisiana. You don’t have to be from up there to figure out what goes on down here.
Sam-B
January 25th, 2012
9:04 pm
First of all can you count? The Coolest Pres in the world was born in 1961, get over it he is as american as you are,he just has a better tan and prettier smile. You should focus on having a candidate that has a 1/10 of the character he has. But no, you are considering Newt!!!! really? we all know what this is a really about all of your women think he is a hottie!!! And pretty darn smarter on top of that. Can you saw Harvard educated, Oh I forgot that is low level education. Let’s let the world continue to laugh at us as we waste time on dumb stuff. Four years of this madness is enough.