Birthers 0-for-3 in knocking Obama off PA primary ballot
Pennsylvania "birthers" are 0-for-3 in their efforts to knock President Obama off the April 24 Democratic primary election ballot after a ruling in Commonwealth Court today.
Birthers 0-for-3 in knocking Obama off PA primary ballot
Pennsylvania "birthers" are 0-for-3 in their efforts to knock President Obama off the April 24 Democratic primary election ballot after a ruling in Commonwealth Court today.
Philip Berg, a Lafayette Hills attorney who previously has tried to take his claims about Obama's citizenship to the U.S. Supreme Court, had his ballot challenge rejected yesterday by the Commonwealth Court at the request of attorney John Lavelle Jr., the Pennsylvania counsel for Obama for America.
The court, in a two-page order, said ballot challenges can be based on the authenticity of signatures on nominating petitions, the affidavits of the people who circulated those petitions or the affidavits filed by candidates about their financial interests.
"The sole basis for the objection is [Berg's] contention that President Obama is not a 'natural born citizen' eligible for the Office of President of the United States under the United States Constitution," the ruling said, adding that Commonwealth Court does not have the jurisdiction to rule on Berg's claims about Obama's citizenship.
Berg called the ruling "unconscionable" and said he was considering an appeal, either to the state Supreme Court or another try in federal court.
"As far as I'm concerned, he's a phony, he's a fraud, he's an impostor and this is the biggest fraud perpetrated on the country in history," said Berg, repeating his claim that Obama was born in Kenya.
The U.S. Supreme Court in December 2008 refused to hear Berg's lawsuit challenging Obama's right to hold the office of President. The court also did not take up Berg's efforts to delay the 2008 general election, the January 2009 official count of the votes by the presidential electors and Obama's inauguration that month.
Obama released his short-form birth certificate from Hawaii during his 2008 presidential campaign and the White House in April 2011 released his long-form birth certificate from that state. State officials in Hawaii have vouched for their authenticity.
Commonwealth Court, also citing a lack of jurisdiction, dismissed on March 2 a similar challenge brought by two Lehigh Valley men. The court, on the same day, dismissed a ballot challenge from former Congressional candidate James Schneller of Delaware County, ruling that he was a registered in independent and lacked standing to challenge a Democratic candidate in a primary.
Schneller on Monday filed an appeal to the state Supreme Court.
Yeah, but birthers will probably win this comment thread 10-1. So much hate + so much time on their hands.— ahab- Who cares about the birthers? If they win then Hillary wins. Lets move the election day. Why Tuesday. Google that one. Then and only then will America vote with integrity. — 08204
- These people are losing their minds! Now he was born in Kenya? WOW! What will they try next?— 2thru
- Mr. Berg, in case you were both wondering, is a prominent Democrat....— Mirror
- This comment has been deleted.— wildwood
- Wrong. Ankeny v. Governor of Indiana (2009), Tisdale v. Obama (2012) and Swensson v. Obama (2012). — biffguiznot
- Well the "Truthers" couldn't get W impeached or off any ballot and they were way more insane, so what do you expect??— sarah89
- Phil Berg, in case you were wondering, is an idiot!— greenie
John McCain, who was not born in the United States, is never questioned. This racist attack by people who are mentally ill or just hate Obama's guts for no real reason other than crazy personal animus is just more proof of the greatness of the country as a whole in electing a multi ethnic President. The minority of crazies who come up with stuff have always been with us in their paranoid delusions, they are just not getting their way this time around. 4 more years!!!!!!!!!!- Fernando, I believe it is possible Obama was born outside the country and is thus ineligible to be President. To my mind McCain is obviously ineligible. — hodg99
- @ Fernando: To set the record straight, John McCain was born to two American parents while his father, a US Naval officer was stationed in the US Canal Zone, a distinct area owned by the US until returned to Panama under Carter. McCain met all the tests to be considered a US natural born citizen . Even if someone was born to two US parents while they were traveling in a foreign country, they would still be considered Americans. Obama's issues stem from a father on a "British" (Kenya was British in 1961) passport......and an American mother who was 18, and didn't meet the age test at that time.....IF....Obama was born in Kenya. The fact that Obama's grandmonther and several other relatives stated many times that Obama was born in a hospital in Mombasa ( in British East Africa...now Kenya) certainly is a cause for questioning......rather than being based on simply hate filled reasons, as you say. The truth is, that much of Obama's past is shrouded in mystery ...and his release of his "long form" birth cert. brings up more questions than answers...and experts in the technical aspects of Adobe say this long form he supplied is a forgery as well.
— Henry Howard Earl of Surrey - McCain was born on a US naval base, which is US soil. That's why there is no questions about him. These Obama "birthers" are blatant idiots. Next they'll claim his a Martian or something.
— verve - Are we also claiming that all records of his birth abroad are "sealed" as well. PACs and campaigns dig up all sorts of dirt on opposing candidates. Do you really believe that ALL evidence of his birth has been hidden? This reminds me of the claim that Noah's ark is on top of a mountain, but we just can't seem to get to it because it's sooo remote (more remote than K2 or the ocean floor?). The life of no public figure in the US is "shrouded in mystery." Your language simply screams "conspiracy theory." The GOP hates Obama, so if any of what you say is true they would be exploiting it for full gain in the upcoming election.
— InNane - "John McCain, who was not born in the United States, is never questioned"
FACT CHECK/Washington Post:
The Pinocchio Test
There is a valid constitutional debate about what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they decided that only "natural born" citizens should be eligible for the presidency. But there is no foundation for the rumors that have surfaced on the Internet that John McCain was born in the Panamanian city of Colon, rather than inside the U.S.-administered Panama Canal Zone.
"4 more years!!!!!!!!!!" of what?- lies??? That is the question: "Do you want 4 more years like the last 4"??? We'll see!! LOL!!!— sarah89 - Ah, sarah89, you are as lovely in spirit as another sarah of national reputation. But I'm still supporting that Kenyan socialist. I remember 4 years ago, and while I remain unemployed and draining my retirement so as not to take a dime of public money, I will gladly take 4 more years of Obama and hopefully a Congress more interested in the nation than political points. Barack is more like Reagan than any Republican.— bosco11
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