DeLay Unsure Whether Obama Was Born In The U.S.: I Want To See His ‘Gift Certificate’

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Wed Aug-19-09 06:36 PM
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DeLay Unsure Whether Obama Was Born In The U.S.: I Want To See His ‘Gift Certificate’

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from THinkProgress:

DeLay Unsure Whether Obama Was Born In The U.S.: I Want To See His ‘Gift Certificate’

MSNBC host Chris Matthews brought on his good friend Tom DeLay today to talk about his training for “Dancing with the Stars.” After a few minutes of chit chat, Matthews asked DeLay about the far right and its conspiracy theories, including whether President Obama is proposing “Hitlerian health care.” Matthews asked, “So you want to get rid of what’s known as Medicare today… replace it with private sector health care?” “Amen brother,” replied DeLay, not realizing that Matthews was asking him a question, not making a statement.

Matthews then asked DeLay whether he is a birther. The former House Majority Leader mistakenly said that he would like to see the President’s “gift certificate” and asked Matthews to personally ask Obama for it. He also compared Obama to “illegal aliens”:

DELAY: Well, I’d like the President to produce his birth certificate. I can. Most illegal aliens here in America can. Why can’t the President of the United States produce their birth certificate? (...)

Chris, will you do me a favor? Will you ask the President to show me his gift certificate — I mean, his — gift certificate — his birth certificate?

MATTHEWS: No, I’m not going to ask him.

DELAY: Oh, c’mon, please!

When Matthews asked DeLay whether anyone has asked him for proof of his birthplace, DeLay responded, “The Democrats sued me for being a resident of Texas. That’s just like asking me for my birth certificate.” “No, it’s not,” responded Matthews. Watch it: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/19/delay-birther/

Even while out of office, DeLay has continued to push right-wing conspiracy theories, including that Obama is a “Marxist.”

Transcript:
DELAY: Well, I’d like the President to produce his birth certificate. I can. Most illegal aliens here in America can. Why can’t the President of the United States produce their birth certificate?

MATTHEWS: Are you actively seeking that paper? Are you, Tom DeLay, with your political and professional and career history in the United States government, questioning this man’s bona fides —

DELAY: No, no —

MATTHEWS: You’re questioning him. You want to see his paper.

DELAY: Chris, the Constitution of the United States specifically says you have to be a natural born citizen.

MATTHEWS: I know. But I’ve never asked you for yours.

DELAY: Ask me! I’ll give it to you!

MATTHEWS: Has anybody ever said, “Mr. DeLay, give me your birth certificate.” Of course not! Because you’ve got a Texas accent, and you seem homegrown.

DELAY: May I speak, Chris? Chris, can I speak? They have asked me if I’m a resident of Texas. They even sued me about being a resident of Texas. How about that? The Democrats sued me for being a resident of Texas. That’s just like asking me for my birth certificate.

MATTHEWS: No, it’s not.

DELAY: Yes, it is! What’s the difference?

MATTHEWS: Mr. DeLay, did anyone ask you if you’re an American?

DELAY: Yes!

MATTHEWS: Who?

DELAY: Democrats have looked through — Are you kidding me?

MATTHEWS: Have they ever asked if you’re an American or not?

DELAY: They have spent 15 years trying to demonize me or either put me in jail. Of course they’ve asked me if I’m an American citizen.

MATTHEWS: Let me just tell you something. The problem they have with you is not whether you’re homegrown or not, because you’re definitely homegrown. They’ve got other problems with you.

DELAY: Chris, will you do me a favor? Will you ask the President to show me his gift certificate — I mean, his — gift certificate — his birth certificate?

MATTHEWS: No, I’m not going to ask him.

DELAY: Oh, c’mon, please!

MATTHEWS: You want me to go up to the President and say, “Can I see your papers, sir?” like he’s an illegal alien and I want to see if he has the right to be in the country or not, when I’ve seen — No, here’s what I’ve seen. I’ve seen the Honolulu paper announcing his birth, in Hawaii. I’ve seen that.

DELAY: Newspapers —

MATTHEWS: You think they cooked up that newspaper announcement back in 1961? You think they cooked it up so that one day he could be president?

DELAY: Is a newspaper article an official document?

MATTHEWS: But do you think they cooked up?

DELAY: But wait a minute — is a newspaper article an official document?

MATTHEWS: No, it’s not. It’s just common sense that we’re talking about here. Common sense.

DELAY: There isn’t anybody in America that’s been born in America that didn’t get a birth certificate at Obama’s age. Maybe at my age there are people born out in —

MATTHEWS: They gave us the document that was made available to anybody in Hawaii that asked for a birth certificate. That document they give you. That’s all I know.