Some cold water on overheated birther-mania (Bookman | Atlanta J-C)

[struggle4progress]

7:44 am January 27, 2012, by Jay

Having done a little more research into the legal process, I want to try to clear up any confusion about yesterday’s birther hearing before we move on. And yes, we will move on quickly.

Under state law, Deputy Chief Judge Michael Malihi’s job was to gather the evidence in the case through the hearing process and then issue a recommendation on whether Barack Obama’s name should remain on the Georgia ballot. His role in the process was to serve as a fact-finder rather than final arbiter ...

Nothing presented in the absurdist comedy of that courtroom yesterday would justify barring a sitting president of the United States from the Georgia ballot. It was a farce. The birthers’ only chance is a recommendation from Malihi based not on their “evidence,” but on the refusal of the Obama camp to put up a defense against it.

Until I sat in that courtroom yesterday, I wasn’t sure why the Obama legal team had chosen not to appear. But in hindsight, they were right. Showing up to refute the nonsense presented would have given the birther arguments a dignity they do not deserve. You cannot refute air and sheer fantasy. How many times can an opposing lawyer say, in so many words, “Your honor, this is just really and truly stupid”? ...

http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/01/27/some-cold-water-on-overheated-birther-mania/

[sinkingfeeling]

1. And how many death threats has Jay had?

[jimlup]

2. Unfortunately Georgia may actually end up being a contested state

But still I strongly agree that the Obama team's decision not to dignify this racist crap with an answer was the correct move.

[COLGATE4]

3. I see the possible problem with Obama appearing

(through his attorneys) is that by doing so he is acknowledging this court's jurisdiction over him in this matter. I'm not sure as a matter of law that they would have this jurisdiction - if I'm right, he sure as hell doesn't want to give it to them on a silver platter.