Bennett Backs Off Birther Threat, Apologizes To Arizona

[Tx4obama]

After days of ridicule for launching a conspiracy theory-fueled investigation into Barack Obama’s birth certificate, Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett on Tuesday backed off his threat to keep the president off the ballot in November and apologized to his state.

“If I embarrassed the state, I apologize but that certainly wasn’t my intent,” Bennett said in an interview with Phoenix radio station KTAR. “He’ll be on the ballot as long as he fills out the same paperwork and does the same things that everybody else has.”

Bennett said he still intends to keep asking Hawaii for verification that Obama’s birth certificate is authentic. But he said he only plans to use Hawaii’s answer as a way to satisfy demands from constituents who remain unconvinced Obama is a natural born citizen of the United States and so therefore eligible to be president.

-snip-

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/ken_bennett_apologizes_obama_birther_hawaii_arizona.php

[warrior1]

1. birthers heads explode

film at 11.

[tanyev]

3. I hope somebody's keeping an eye on Orly.

There may be a danger of spontaneous combustion.

[11 Bravo]

6. How would we be able to tell?

[bluestateguy]

2. Apology is not accepted

Resignation is the only acceptable outcome.

[arcane1]

4. Obviously, the new Black Panthers got to him, threatened his family etc

[1StrongBlackMan]

8. LOL. n/t

[gratuitous]

5. IF you embarrassed the state Mr. Bennett??

Hard to know how to answer that one. I'm not sure Arizona is capable of being embarrassed, what with your governor and the sheriff of Maricopa County and such. On the other hand, there are many good and fine individual Arizonans whose views are not those of these nincompoop elected officials. So yeah, you've probably embarrassed a lot of people, Mr. Bennett. Which is quite remarkable, considering that wasn't your stated intent. One can only wonder how badly Arizona might be embarrassed should you ever set your mind to it.

Idiot.

[Wait Wut]

9. ::raises hand::

Yep, pretty embarrassed on this side of the computer, I tell ya what. I can't even pick on my friends and family that live in other states, anymore. That whole "glass houses" thing is just dumb.

[panader0]

12. More Arizona bashing.........

Remember Janet Napolitano? She was our governor before being tapped for her new job, ushering in Brewer.
State bashing is dumb. You name the state, I'm sure there is something to bash about it.
Yeah, there are loonies here as everywhere. Right now I'm working to get Ron Barber to replace Gabrielle Giffoords elected.
Remember that Democrat? There are many progressives here, ranting about "cutting off federal aid" and "building a wall around Arizona" is DUMB! Get over it!

[Lifelong Protester]

7. Damage to Arizona's image already done

(sorry to any and all DUers who are from there)

That state will NEVER see a dollar from me as a visitor.
I will fly OUT OF MY WAY or NOT GO somewhere if I have to go through Phoenix.

Until things change, that place is TOXIC.

[thelordofhell]

11. I guess the dipshit got my E-Mail

As well as the E-Mails from much much more than the 1200 yahoos that sent them before.

Stupid jerkwad.

[goclark]

16. Yea!

Glad to hear the email's were very effective.

[Happydayz]

13. What about an apology to the POTUS?

This loser needs to resign, its amazing what rethugs get away with. If a dem would've questioned if GWB was a natural citizen, many of a politicians would've been fired. Hate to say it, but Arizona does suck, look at all the racist scrum bags in high positions in that state.

[panader0]

14. Welcome to DU. What state are you from?

[Happydayz]

18. Thanks, I'm from Florida

We have a lot of teabaggers here too, but a huge population of minorities and registered dems help even out the playing Field in this state.

[LadyHawkAZ]

15. Can we now get an apology FOR Arizona?

Since they're embarrassing the rest of the country?

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. To be fair, it's pretty hard to embarrass Arizona

I can see how he's be skeptical that such a thing could happen.