Birther issue resurfaces, but now Democrats are the ones raising it

CBS/Peter Maer

UPDATED 1:32 p.m. ET

Three months after President Obama moved to end what he described as "the silliness" of the controversy over his birth certificate, the issue is back.

But this time it is the Democratic National Committee raising the issue in a pitch for campaign money.

The envelope is to potential donors is stamped "HELP US COUNTER THE GOP'S DIRTY TRICKS."

A red-letter alert reads, "ENCLOSED: President Barack Obama's Birth Certificate."

Recipients will indeed find a copy of the official State of Hawaii "Certificate of Live Birth."

A letter from DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz describes Republicans as "the masters of dirty politics."

"Some even went as far as to join the 'birthers' in their effort to throw doubt upon President Obama's birthplace," the letter added.

Donors who send at least $44.00 are promised a "Made in the USA" President Obama coffee cup with a copy of the birth certificate printed on the side.

On April 27 the president tried put the "birther" issue to rest by releasing a photo copy of his 1961 birth certificate.

"We don't have time for this silliness," Obama said in high-profile remarks, including a CBS News "special report."

He complained that the controversy was "the dominant news story" at the same time that the White House and Congress were in the early stages of crucial budget talks.

"We're not going to be able to solve problems if we get sidetracked by sideshows and carnival barkers," Mr. Obama told reporters.

He also noted that some people would continue to question whether he was really born in Hawaii "no matter what we put out."

The DNC letter plays off that theme, stating, "The Republicans know that if you sow enough seeds of doubt, misconceptions are sure to bloom."

The Obama White House, like its recent predecessors from both parties, tries to avoid commenting on campaign tactics.

A spokesman could not immediately confirm whether Mr. Obama personally approved the use of his birth certificate in a political mailing.

A party official said the president does not review direct mail copy sent by the DNC.

White House and party officials scoffed at any notion that the mailing would revive the "birther" issue.

[Dgunner]

I dom't care if the man was born under a rock and spends his nights in a wh----ehouse as long as he does his job. The melting pot of the world . If the constitution had read that only masons could be president? Then the man would have to become at a grand master.However at this point in the history of this nation we have a bad problem and thousands of REAL bad problems.I believe the american people are willing to listen to good sense and resolutions if the ideas came from a fifth grade math student.

[gbgentleman]

I think the state of Hawaii could erase their deficit by giving tours into their historical archives to birthers to show the original. Heck charge the birthers $50 to take the tour.

[sk8teronce]

I've seen a couple of people mentioning a "Connecticut SS#". What is the question?

[dave1369]

The question is: WHY would Obama have a SS# issued to Connecticut residents (according to the first 3 numbers) when he was in his late teens if he had never ever lived there or even visited there??? There is evidence it once belonged to a man from Connecticut, who later died in Hawaii with no living relatives. Such use of a SS# is a felony...small matter for a President though, especially if the nobody in the media bothers to investigate it.

There is an FOIA request moving forward for his original SS application, though it is in the courts now.

[Beclwith]

http://theobamafile.com/_eligibility/SocialSecurity.htm

[me0019276]

I donated and got the birth certificate t-shirt the last time the D's did this. It's pretty cool. I can walk around and hear lots of pi$$ed off R's with red faces stomping away like little kids. Pretty cool.

[dave1369]

You need to buy some permanent markers and write "Made in the USA" on it, as the birth certificate is a proven forgery!

[me0019276]

You said: >You need to buy some permanent markers and write "Made in the USA" on it, as the birth certificate is a proven forgery!

Actually, the front to the t-shirt already has "made in the USA" on it. That is what makes it cool. The back has the copy of the long form birth certificate. It's an intentional slap to those that will never believe in official US documentation. I think that means you.

[ALBrainTrust13]

Could the President now release his school records....like all the other Presidents / past presidential candidates have done?

[canislupus16]

BrainTrust (scary thought): "...like all the other Presidents / past presidential candidates have done?"

"ALL" of which Presidents/past presidential candiates" (whatever that means) are you talking about, and what is the source(s) for your assertion? I mean other than your azz.

[sgtrockis]

The democrats (see Hillary Clinton campaign) initiated the entire "birther" fiasco. Conservatives consistently dimissed the issue as a diversion for the simple minded. The pro-democrat media created the illussion that it was a conservative issue. There are morons on both sides (and in the middle) that will continue to argue over this non-issue. Obama's gotta go no doubt, but this has nada to do with it.

[EllaRobbins]

A "Made in the U.S.A." coffee cup that costs $44? Isn't that the REAL issue?

[patilee3]

Did you expect anything else from Debbie Wasserman Schultz?

[timincal]

Legitimate birth certificate from Hawaii?

What a laugh.

The liberal socialists do not want Americans to know this one fact of Hawaii.

Anyone can get a "Certificate of Live Birth"

Even Sun Yat-sen received one.

Sun Yat-sen was born on 12 November 1866 to a Cantonese Hakka family in the village of Cuiheng, Xiangshan (later Zhongshan county),Guangzhou prefecture,Guangdong province in Qing China.

By age 13 in 1878 after receiving a few years of local schooling, Sun went to live with his elder brother, Sun Meiin Honolulu,Hawaii.

In March 1904, Sun Yat-sen obtained a Certificate of Hawaiian Birth,issued by the Territory of Hawaii, stating he was born on November 24, 1870 in Kula, Maui.

"Official" files of the United States show that Sun had United States nationality, moved to China with his family at age 4, and returned to Hawaii 10 years later.

Should I say more on this subject of authenticity of his birth certificate?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Yat-sen

[bigsk8fan]

LOL these birthers are always good for a good laugh. if the state dept accepts the certificate for a passport, then that certificate is good enough for me.

[lraivala1958]

Just a question on this live birth certificate, wasn't Obama's name originally something else, Barry something??? Just a question.

[patilee3]

Barry is the nickname he used when growing up.