Trump suggests Romney shouldn't disavow birthers

AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

Updated at 5:15 p.m. ET

(CBS News) Republican business magnate Donald Trump on Tuesday maintained his skepticism of President Obama's place of birth and even suggested that presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney would be unwise to write off the so-called "birthers" -- even as the Obama campaign is slamming Romney for failing to repudiate Trump's thoughts on the matter.

Trump, who joins Romney on the campaign trail today, tweeted, "@BarackObama is practically begging @MittRomney to disavow the place of birth movement, he is afraid of it and for good reason. He keeps using @SenJohnMcCain as an example, however, @SenJohnMcCain lost the election. Don't let it happen again."

The tweet came in response to a web video the Obama campaign released Tuesday morning showing how the last Republican nominee, John McCain, debunked myths about the president. It asks why Romney won't, by comparison, disavow Trump's charges that Mr. Obama may not have been born in the U.S.

Asked Monday whether Trump's "birther" association gave him pause, Romney told reporters, "You know, I don't agree with all the people who support me and my guess is they don't all agree with everything I believe in. But I need to get 50.1 percent or more, and I'm appreciative to have the help of a lot of good people."

Romney hasn't given any further comment on the matter, but his staff has said Romney has no question about the president's origins. "Mitt Romney accepts that President Obama was born in the United States," Romney's senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom said on CNN Friday.

On CNBC Tuesday morning, Trump maintained his skepticism. "Nothing's changed my mind...I walk down the street and people are screaming please don't give that up," he said. "I don't consider myself birther or not birther, but there are some major questions here."

The Obama campaign Tuesday afternoon released a statement slamming Romney for his "lack of moral leadership" on the issue.

"Mitt Romney's continued embrace of Donald Trump and refusal to condemn his disgraceful conspiracy theories demonstrates his complete lack of moral leadership," campaign manager Stephanie Cutter said. "Now he's even standing by silently as Trump assails John McCain's courage in standing up to the most extreme and hateful voices in the Republican Party -- all in order to raise money for himself. If Mitt Romney lacks the backbone to stand up to a charlatan like Donald Trump because he's so concerned about lining his campaign's pockets, what does that say about the kind of President he would be?"

Asked on CNN Tuesday afternoon whether he will try to convince Romney on birther issue, Trump said, "Not at all."

[Zann-Zel]

Obama had a mother.
She was an American.
Sooo...Obama is an American!

Case Closed.

OBAMA 2012 : )

[franknkissy]

Birther argument - who knows for certain as we here found my name & address listed on an on-line Beckgound Check web-site with an birthdate of December 31, 1969 - when in fact my birthdate is November 16, 1948 ! What is included in this supposed criminal records & mug shots & lurid sex information background check web-site costs a minimum of $20.00 which I won't but another prurient seeker might ! As to Prez Obama - we find it more interesting to explore what this eight-year old future president was taught at that Indonesian Madras .... during the Suharto 'NEW ORDER' military dictatorship in that nation !

[MIchael-Rosellini]

Not even the Obama apologists really believe Obama was born in the USA or have their doubts deep down. You'd have to be an idiot who can't see beyond your nose to believe he was born in Hawaii. The guy has been a mystery man with a sketchy past that keeps reinventing himself like a chameleon or shape shifter.
Most of America has their doubts but the left has no choice but to pretend they believe he was born here.
Where there is smoke there is fire and only the fools on the left refuse to go take a good look and we all were burnt by this fraud and impostor.
They would rather cut off their nose to spite their face.
That is hilarious.

[calif7]

You are saying that the State of Hawaii and the hospital Obama was born in are lying. Get real! Speaking of mystery men, why won't Mitt release his tax returns like his dad and President Obama? The citizens of the USA deserve to know what tax rate he is paying and how much money he has hidden in the Cayman Islands and Switzerland before we go to the polls.

[AttyFAM]

by RCRawlings May 29, 2012 6:17 PM EDT
Obama is a Kenyan citizen like his father.
No certification of live birth in 1961 from Hawaii overrides that.
Case closed
--------------------------------------
Rawlings -
There are laws in this country. Read them. They are even available on-line for free. Let me even give you a hint. U. S. Code, Title 8, Section 1401 and the following sections. It is indisputable that President Obama was born in the USA.

[sandiegopete]

Romney has released his birth certificate. It clearly states his father was a Mexican. It appears Romney is an anchor baby.

[AttyFAM]

Come on, Romney. You can do it. For once in your life, stand up and declare an opinion and hold to it. Tell the birthers that they are wrong and they have always been wrong. Tell them that you disagree with the President on principle but that he is the President, he was born in the USA, and he deserves their respect as President of the United States and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States.

If you cannot do this, then you stand for nothing, nothing at all.

[Zann-Zel]

Amen!

[76SpiritOf]

Well I guess GOP actions speak loader than words once again.

Our economic recovery should be the most important issue, but Mittens and Trump want to discuss birth certificates? What is wrong with these people?

The GOP does not represent us because is they gave a rip about the masses they would have worked with Obama to stimulate job growth rather than play presidential politics at our cost!

This is a failure in leadership and I'll make this prediction. The GOP is going to play their imaginary debt card once again in November when Obama wins to lengthen the recession.

Of course if Romney wins, the debt will be ignored because according to Ronnie, deficits do not matter!

[Lindag20]

Is Romney REALLY this desperate for votes that he'd hang out with the Trumpet? Just associating with the Donald should turn many rational people off.

[TimeIsNowfor99]

Trump is the Jerry Springer of Right Wing Politics. Next, Trump will have a press conference with Mitt and announce that Obama is the son of Romney Senior and that Obama and Mitt are really brothers. Then, by some new defacto law, Mitt becomes President now since Obama was born outside the US. All while Trumps hair lays so sweetly.

[RCRawlings]

I have to go for now but dwell on the information and let the seed of doubt I planted in your minds grow and flourish.
You'll be better off in the end.
Ciao!

[MurdochSucks]

There is no seed of doubt planted by a disclosed interest hoax! It only plants more seeds of doubt with the entirety of the Birther movement as a racist ruse.