The Secret Origin of the Birthers [View all]
For those remaining puzzled over "where did birtherism begin", this is the definitive reference:
http://birthofanotion.com/home/the-secret-origin-of-the-birthers
And that rumor first appeared in the early hours of Saturday, March 1, 2008, on the conservative web forum, FreeRepublic.com. In a thread entitled FR CONTEST: Pin the Middle Name on the Obama, where posters were offering various funny middle names for Barack Obama in lieu of Hussein, a poster named FARS posted this non-sequitur:
I was told today that Obama swore in on a Koran for his Senate seat. I do not believe he did. Can someone clarify this for me? I am under the impression only a Congressman has so far sworn in on a Koran.
Also that Obamas mother gave birth to him overseas and then immediately flew into Hawaii and registered his birth as having taken place in Hawaii.
Again, any clarifications on this? Defintely disqualifies him for Prez. There must be some trace of an airticket. While small babies are not charged air fare they do have a ticket issued for them.
Long time ago but there may be some residual information somewhere. Good ammo (if available and true) BEST USED AFTER he becomes PREZ (if that occurs) and its too late for Dems except accept the VP.
Most of the essential elements of the rumor are here, from the immediate flight to Hawaii for registration to the eligibility concerns. All that is lacking is a specific reference to Kenya, which well see was remedied shortly thereafter. He acknowledges that Obamas public biography states that he was born in Honolulu, and he alleges that the public biography is false. He actively endorses the idea of Obamas family covering up a birth in Kenya, and as such, is proposing a conspiracy theory.
Importantly, despite being the first person, anywhere, to report this rumor, he cites no source for it. No news report, or broadcast program, or website. Only I was told today. The fact that it appears alongside the oft-repeated and equally oft-debunked false rumor that Obama took his oath of office on a Koran illustrates the level of FARS willingness to factcheck rumors before repeating them.
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