There's something in this article that you won't see very often, praise for an elected official. What's more, he's a Republican. Here's what Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-02) had to say when FireDogLake's Mike Stark asked him whether he thinks that President Obama is a natural born citizen of the United States, and thus eligible to be President:
Franks: Yes, sir. I believe that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. [momentary interruption]
Stark: In the United States?
Franks: He was born in Hawaii, a state in the United States, and therefore is a constitutionally natural born citizen of this country.
Stark: That's the clearest expression I've heard from a Republican in a single [pause] All your friends seem to be listening to the lunatic base ..
Frank: You know, I'll be honest with you. My office received a lot of information that put that in question. There was a lot of very fascinating information that put that in question. My office did very in-depth research, and we found birth records in the newspapers, in Hawaii, that couldn't possibly have been forged.
This is my own transcript of that conversation, so it's possible it's not entirely right. Go see the YouTube for yourself. If you want to skip all the comedy, his conversation starts at roughly 3:30 into the video.
Now, this guy is a dyed in the wool Republican. He went on to rant about how Obama was making America safe for abortion on demand and wasn't keeping it safe from jihadis. Clearly, you don't have to have my world view to understand that the people who believe this nonsense are idiots. Media Matters found a whole list of conservatives who have publicly said that this is nonsense. That list includes Michael Medved, Joe Scarborough, Little Green Footballs, Allahpundit, David Horowitz, and Michelle Malkin. This one clearly isn't hard to figure out.
What Rep. Franks did is what I expect political opposition to do in this country. No doubt sensing a potential political advantage, he treated the information these fruitcakes sent him skeptically, but researched it. He found there was nothing to it, and said so. If there had been something to it, or some real reason for doubt, he probably would have made this case in Congress. He clearly doesn't mind going out on a rhetorical limb, if his statements about abortion and jihadis are at all typical. This is what the opposition is supposed to do. I wish the Democrats would do that more often when they're not in power.
In contrast, somehow Rep. Dave Reichert (WA-08) doesn't think this is his responsibility. On this YouTube that he didn't believe Congress had any right to investigate this question. It's sad that this numskull is there instead of Darcy Burner, who quite clearly did understand Congress's role. It's even sadder that this fool was once in charge of enforcing the law in King County.
Rep. Franks also made it clear that you don't have to insult the people who send you this "fascinating information" in order to clearly state that you don't believe it. Why so many of his colleagues refuse to do this is a mystery.
UPDATE: Dana Hunter found this inspirational poster:
Image credit: from here
and I just had to share.
2 comments:
I nearly had a cardiac mishap when I saw that video. If he hadn't gone whacko at the end, I would've even praised him myself.
At least Arizona has a rep who's got the balls to stand up and call a spade a spade - and is right part of the time.
If he hadn't gone whacko at the end, I would have suspected he wasn't really a Republican.
Seeing past the bullshit one's own political compatriots are spewing is such a rare talent that I feel it deserves praise. Besides, given his other views, I'm sure the gentleman from Arizona will be back in the dog house before too long. He should enjoy his brief moment in the Sun. He certainly earned it.
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