Chris Matthews Smacks Down Birther Rep. Campbell; Makes Him Admit Obama is U.S. Citizen

[jefferson_dem]

Run time: 09:02 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVndfV4--5g   Posted on YouTube: July 21, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 21, 2009 By DU Member: jefferson_dem Views on DU: 6056

 

[GivePeaceAchance]

1. They make things so difficult they're fading a failing it's only time now....

They mostly have 2 options become humane or become obsolete, it's their choice I get the feeling they're going for obsolete.

[Renaissance Man]

2. Birther Idiots

You know, it's not about his birth certificate.

It's about a larger implication by hard-right wing Republicans that African-Americans are somehow not American. You would have thought that the "he's a terrorist, Marxist, socialist" crap during the campaign would have ended. Chris Matthews literally makes this idiot admit that Pres. Obama is an American citizen.

Has this ever happened to any other sitting U.S. President?

[JuniperLea]

3. Well, no other POTUS has been black...

So no:)

Yep, it all boils down to racism. There's nothing wrong with the KKK, you know, except for those pot smokers! Do I really need :sarcasm:?

[jberryhill]

4. Yes, It Has...

Chester A. Arthur was dogged by rumors he was born in Canada.

[Renaissance Man]

7. Well...

Were the modern conveniences of health records and microfilm (you know, to actually retrieve the newspaper announcement of his birth in 1961) available to Chester Arthur to prove his citizenship?

Was Arthur's citizenship still questioned AFTER IT HAD BEEN CONFIRMED BY MULTIPLE SOURCES (including even sources supporting the opposing party than that of Arthur)?

Did Arthur serve in his state legislature, the U.S. Senate, and then run for President successfully without ever having his citizenship questioned, until of course after he won a Presidential election having been called a terrorist, a Marxist, an America hater, etc.?

Sorry, but the shit Pres. Obama's dealing with is beyond the pale.

[jberryhill]

12. Oh, I totally agree with you that this is nothing more than re-directed racism

...I just wanted an excuse to post the picture of Chester A. Arthur.

Someday, I am going to grow massive porkchop sideburns.

But... look closely at the picture.

He looks sort of... Canadian, you know.

Here, look at this one... He looks really Canadian in this one:



Maybe it's just profiling, but... you know... you gotta look out for those Canadians. Some of them are pretty sneaky.

[izquierdista]

31. Looks Canadian, yea, right.

You wouldn't know two Canadians if they came up and farted on you.

[jberryhill]

32. Disturbing New Evidence

Oh, yeah, smarty pants!

[Bette Noir]

44. Hahahahahahaha!

[rationalcalgarian]

52. Hey!

Isn't that guy on our 5% bill?????

[jberryhill]

65. The Canadian one, yes /nt

[Solomon]

6. You're right. This has much larger implications.

When Obama won the election, I posted about how for the first time, I felt like an "American". Not an "African-American", but an "American". And I'm fifty four years old. Whoopi Goldberg, of all people, said it best when she said, you feel like you can finally put your bags down.

I'm trying to wrap my mind around how this birther thing keeps growing when I realized that it took the exact route that is detailed in the book, "The Eliminationists - How Right Wing Radio Radicalized The Right."

The book, among other things, describes the process of how the most extreme views on the right, wind up in the end, getting airplay and touted by the mainstream media.

It also makes me sad because it makes me realize now that just as good as I felt being an "American", there's still a large portion of the population that hates it just as much as I like it,... that I would even presume to feel that I am an "American".

[jberryhill]

48. Don't Worry....

THOSE people are going to have to PICK THEIR BAGS UP.

[Jade Fox]

61. I love what Whoopi Goldberg said....

I remember when I watched her say that on The View, a big old light went on in my head.

[jhrobbins]

28. Where are the wingnuts saying he was born?

[Lorien]

41. Kenya

and apparently they had no problem with McCain ACTUALLY being born outside of the US.

[jberryhill]

47. Depends....

There are two birther theories - also wrong - which don't get much airplay.

Aside from "born in Kenya" there are:


1. Born in Hawaii but "lost" his US citizenship in Indonesia through adoption. This belief is fallacious, as it is not possible for a minor child born in the US to "lose" citizenship. Only an adult can revoke citizenship to a US consular official in a foreign country.

2. Born in Hawaii, but "dual citizen" because his father was Kenyan. This is correct, but the birthers do not understand that there is no "dual citizenship" under US law. Instead, they believe the laws of other countries determine whether one is a US citizen. Under this theory, Iran could declare all US citizens to be citizens of Iran, and then nobody could be president.

3. Notwithstanding the 14th Amendment, some birthers believe there are three classes of citizen, and that "natural born citizen" requires two citizen parents. They get this by misreading certain cases, while totally ignoring others.

Major Cook, by the way, subscribes to one of theory 2 or 3 above. He is a pinhead.

[Cha]

33. You have a good point because it's

definetly not about the "birth certificate".

[bugisbug]

57. I agree, and

It is easier to hide behind the birth certificate issue than to just come out and say you are racist. "It isn't because he's black. Oh no, not at all - it's a citizenship issue."

I was also trying to figure out why this is becoming such a big issue again, and I think it has something to do with healthcare reform. If Rethugs can whip up agitation and get people scared about Obama again, then that concern can be used as a hit against his policies. How can you trust that Obama is going to work for you on healthcare when he lies about his citizenship?

You've got to get the populace worked up and arguing about a non-issue so that they don't look at what is really going on and concentrate on real issues the country needs to deal with.

[WCGreen]

5. What a dip shit....

Guilty until proven innocent is not one of the founding tenents of this country...

Unless, of course, you are a black man running for president...

The difference bewteen their party and our is that no democratic congressperson would ever stoop so low as to sponsor a bill such as this...

[howmad1]

36. Good God, how I hate rethuglicans.

As each day passes, I hate them more and more. What a better place this world would be without these whack jobs.

[Richd506]

8. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I love Chris!

[tomm2thumbs]

9. dat man is doopid

Matthews really pulled his teeth on that one

[bjobotts]

16. Congressman knows what is implied by his actions.That's why he avoided saying yes to Mathews

[rwheeler31]

10. That brunette was in another nut job video . Who is

this woman?

[me b zola]

11. Matthews smacks birthers about the head and shoulders

Just wow. Thank you, Chris.

[Dennis Donovan]

13. Watching the replay now - Tweety's smacking this douche-nozzle around...

...like a cat with a mouse.

Lovin' it!!!:rofl:

[Libertas1776]

14. Matthews

can get on my nerves a lot. But this time all I can say is I love the guy. He totally bitch slapped this mofo. He served him so hard and shut this birther sack of shit right the fuck up.

[moonbatmax]

15. I seem to recall...

...some people calling to amend the Constitution to remove the native requirement for U.S. President.

Of course, this would have been back when the thought of Arnold Schwarzenegger actually winning election might have seemed plausible. Nowadays, maybe, not so much, but I still like to call it the "Schwarzenegger Amendment."

Right now, I think Arnie would have a pretty rough time of it he actually decided to run. I don't think his own state would vote for him except to get him out of the Governator's house, and being CA, that's a lot of electoral votes to write off. Still, we know the length of the American memory :eyes: so keep your ears open. We'll hear what tune those birthers are singing seven years down the road, maybe...

[thelordofhell]

17. Could it be that "birthers" are...

Sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigots?

[burning rain]

18. Campbell actually seemed surprised that Matthews came after him so hard.

What a dumbass. This guy might be even dimmer than Darryl Issa.

[Bette Noir]

45. But not more evil.

It would take a Rick Santorum to be more evil than Darryl Issa.

[PatrynXX]

55. Paris Hilton is likely smarter than any idiot on this stupid issue.

Why the fuck are we still talking about it? This got more press than George W Bush blowing up the Twin Towers in 9/11. That George W Bush killed 4000 Americans.? Course I don't think he had the manpower to do so, but that never got the press this horseshit does.

[AspenRose]

19. Dumbasses.

Tweety did good (this time).

[knixphan]

20. haha! Go Tweet!

[justiceischeap]

21. I can't help but think this whole birther thing is because

His father is Kenyan. That and the fact that people mistake a hospital birth certificate with a state issued birth certificate. I lost my baby book in a move (which held my hospital given birth certificate with my footprints and all) and when I got a copy of my BC from the state, it was this white piece of paper, sans feet and had an embossed seal on it (not the pretty gold one from the hospital). I think they are so stupid they don't realize that his state provided BC is going to look different than the pretty BC you get from the hospital (and the one from the hospital really has no standing).

[Chemisse]

22. Chris is just plain sexy when he really slams these wackos until they talk sense.

[canucksawbones]

23. this clip

reminded me of Matthews with that radio guy who didn't know what Neville Chamberlain did that appeased hitler. Hell Campbell even sounded like the radio schlock.

G

[Tangerine LaBamba]

49. Great moments in TV -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh6W4VUUZYE

[Divine Discontent]

24. hysterical slap down - go Tweet!!!! eom

[Wetzelbill]

25. I'm not sure what to make of this guy

He seemed surprised to be taken to task like that. He seems fairly affable, most likely one of those malleable types who has never had an original idea in his life and felt it was good politics with his constituents to get involved in this bill. He got beat up pretty good here though, well deserved too, he's playing with fire inciting the whacko side of the party. I also take issue with the thing that people on the left would be saying John McCain wasn't a U.S. citizen. I don't know anybody who would do that, I'm sure some would, but nothing like the GOP is doing with Obama. Birthers are mainstream in the GOP, people questioning McCain's birth would never be even remotely close to mainstream in the party, they would be few and far between.

[ihavenobias]

26. K & R n/t

[Seldona]

27. That was awsome!

He pinned this guy like a bug being put into a collection. Then at the end Chris tells the birthers in this loon's district not vote for him, he fundamentally disagrees with you? ROFL!!!

[99 Percent Sure]

29. Post deleted by poster.

[99 Percent Sure]

30. I watched this in real time. Tweety put his left foot so far up the

guy's rump, he probably had to go to Walter Reed afterwards to get it removed.

Good work, today, Chris Matthews, bless your heart.

[Cha]

34. Not like he

didn't deserve it.}(

[Jack Rabbit]

35. Now, there's a politician trying hard to have it both ways

Mr. Campbell, really. You could have just ignored those lunatics. It probably wouldn't have hurt you to do that and you you wouldn't have to face any embarrassing questions or respond with awkwardly equivocal answers.

[Douglas Carpenter]

37. KICK AND RECOMMEND!!!

[gauguin57]

38. OK ... now I'll have the giggles all night.

Chris cut that doofus off at the knees!

[firedupdem]

39. He knows that it's all about race that's why he kept saying

"if John McCain"...yeah right. Thanks Chris, I only wish he'd stated that they are playing to the crazy racist wing of their party. Sick fucks.

[Bette Noir]

40. I like this Tweety better than yesterday's, when he gave

Michael Steele a friendly interview.

[burning rain]

63. That wasn't the greatest.

I groaned when Matthews said he'd voted for Steele for Senate. Otherwise I can see some rationale for why Matthews frequently gives pretty nice interviews to conservative douchebags. He wants to be able to get them to come in, and come back. I noticed how he was friendly with the horrendous Tom DeLay, but plainly enjoyed it when Debbie Wasserman-Schultz demolished him.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

42. I just watched the 11 pm rerun of Hardball.

For once I am proud of Tweety!!

:rofl:

Loved Tweety waving the BC around and reading from it!

Campbell was rippling and roiling under his facial skin -- pretty amusing.

[peacetalksforall]

43. I think this birther thing is marvelous. It shows how close minded they are.

Just last week we had the Sotomayor hearing. One afternoon the camera disappeared. They held a close door meeting to go over the FBI findings on her.

Does anyone not know that you have to file to become President?

Don't you think that rabid Republicans would have given anything to keep him out and would look at everything surrepticously if not up front? (They wanted Clinton, not Obama - why not disqualify him if they could? They couldn't).

There is at least one department that proves the legitimacy of the candidate. How can any citizen believe that the candidates are all not vetted. Think about how costly it would be to reprint ballots? Running for President is serious stuff. Do all these vacant minded fools think that the rules of candidate eligibility are not checked out?

The real fools here are the corporation networks for keeping it all going. They are distracting needy health care Republicans and pumping up their hate.

[handmade34]

46. I am incredulous that

people like Rep. Campbell are in a position of power. This man is an asshole (and I don't use that word lightly) and his ilk need to be held responsible for their reprehensible words and actions. I hold these things in disgust and am embarrassed that so many people in our society are so ignorant...

[vaberella]

50. I miss you Chris. If it wasn't for that prick Buchanan, I would be watching your show.

Ugh...I feel so lost right now.

[cboy4]

51. I just can't figure out why politicians are known as being dishonest

I'll tell you what, this Rep Campbell dude is a cowardly little weasel.

What an embarrassing display on national television.

[onestepforward]

53. This is the best I've ever seen of Tweety!

Too bad he wasn't so tough and questioning during the bush years though.

[Archie_Leech]

54. VERMIN SCUM =

SUBhuman DROOLING KNUCKLE DRAGGING rightwing reactionary SHIT-F0R-BRAIN (isn't the terms "rightwing reactionary" and "shit-f0r-brains" REDUNDANT????) reSCUMlican VERMIN = EXACTLY THAT!!!!!!!!

[progressoid]

56. I'm sure this is a great clip, but I just can't bear to watch anymore idiots on TV

I think I've had my fill for a while.

[pleah]

58. K&R That was worth watching again. n/t

[jamesatemple]

59. Don't you think that the idiocies of the Republicans is a gift to us?

The majority of major media sources don't give much exposure to Progressive point-of-view. It seems that I'm exposed to Republican rants on nearly every news program, including C-Span. But hope for reasonable discussion is not lost; those same Republican vignettes are revealing their true racism, their true class distinctions, their true greed, their true imperialism.

Some of our like-minded friends will express the concern that the Republican base, like brain-dead zombies, will accept propaganda garbage as fact and will swear to it, enhance it, and disseminate it to other racists. It is a valid concern, it seems to me, but not one worth any amount of worry on our part. I feel that that there is a sizable number of Republican racists that would not believe in the citizenship of our President even if they had midwifed his birth. As in their religion, which many right-wingers laud, their belief cannot, will not be predicated on reality. All the facts, all the reason that exists will not change their belief.

If my premise is so, then why should we exert any great effort to change their opinions...change the unchangeable? Instead, don't you think we should take the proof that they provide us in their public pronouncements and give it the greatest exposure that we can with all the attendant ridicule that it deserves? Would that act change anyone's mind? Absolutely not! But I'm sure that there are a lot of good folks whose apathy could be lessened by being exposed to the mind-boggling nonsense that pervades the Republican base. Truth seems to have a clarion ring to reasonable folks while it is dismissed by the unreasonable.

Let the Republicans continue to "shoot themselves in the foot". Our job, it seems to me, is to make that "shot" heard 'round the world. And to trust that anyone whose opinion can be changed will change it in the light of reason and truth. I just hope that we outnumber them...and I believe that we do.

[Jade Fox]

62. Good post......

The sheer idiocy and desperation of the Birthers makes them their own worst enemies.

Having said that, we are living in a world where many people seem to be losing any sense of judgment. Whipped into a frenzy on a regular basis by talk radio, there is growing group of people who, at the direction of their radio puppet masters, would be outraged if President Obama wore mis-matched socks. People who can't think for themselves, can't think for themselves. One symptom of that affliction is the inability to recognize their own ridiculous behavior.

[GOTV]

60. I still say tweety is a lightweight

He glossed over the whole 2012 thing, with one laughing mention that Obama would have to present some other birth certificate to run for re-election. He let Campbell slide on the fact that this is absolutely aimed at Obama. They figure that, with this legislation, they can firewall Obama at one term. They are convinced there's some fact in the hospital records that would give them traction to disqualify him and this legislation will get them access to that data.

[lumpy]

64. A pity that an intelligence test isn't required to become a US

Congressional member.