Donald Trump's latest "bombshell" against Obama

[lordlundar]

I'm amazed that anyone takes this windbag seriously.

Well Obama sure isn't. He was on Jay Leno last night and was insulting Trump left right and center over it.

[XCashier]

Well Obama sure isn't. He was on Jay Leno last night and was insulting Trump left right and center over it.

Is this the right clip? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1C453KwDzY

[lordlundar]

Is this the right clip? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1C453KwDzY

The very same.

[Skunkle]

What Birther ideas boil down to, in my opinion, is as follows: "Obama is not, will not be, cannot be MY President. I just need a reason to put behind it beyond 'because he's black.'" Do I think the majority of birthers don't like Obama mainly because he's black? You bet your bottom dollar! Sure, "because he's a Libtard" is in there, but I'd guess the color factor is level with or higher than the political affiliation.

I DON'T think Trump is a birther. Not a real one, anyway. I don't think he believes it. Donald Trump shares an unusual ability with Sarah Palin: they both have an uncanny knack for knowing exactly what to do and say to keep their names in the papers. Donald Trump's biggest talent is making publicity for Donald Trump. Birther-ism is shocking, it's controversial, it makes the news, so of COURSE he's latched onto it!

[daleduke17]

I am not a birther by any logical definition, but, there is one thing I would like to know:

If Obama moved to the Philippines and went to school there back in the 60s, the school (or country) required the student to be a resident of the Philippines. This was at a time (supposedly) that neither the US or Philippines acknowledged dual citizenship. So, if he really went to school in the Philippines as a citizen, he would have to no longer be a US citizen. When he came back to the US, he would be considered an immigrant citizen, right? Or does the fact that he was born in the US override that when he decides to move back (basically "once an American, always an American")?

[the_std]

My understanding (and I could be wrong) is that the only way to lose American citizenship is to renounce it through an embassy or the proper documentation. From what I've seen over the past few years (considered emigrating to both the States and Scotland), citizenship is very hard to take away from someone unless there are severe criminal charges involved.

[Lady_Foxfire]

Also, "resident" and "citizen" are not the same thing. Obama could have been a legal resident of the Phillipines without ever becoming a full citizen, and thus never needing to renounce his American citizenship.

[Andara Bledin]

If Obama moved to the Philippines and went to school there back in the 60s, the school (or country) required the student to be a resident of the Philippines.

As Lady Foxfire said, resident status is not the same as citizenship.

All the people in the US on visas and the like? They're US residents, but still citizens of their home countries.

^-.-^

[daleduke17]

As Lady Foxfire said, resident status is not the same as citizenship.

All the people in the US on visas and the like? They're US residents, but still citizens of their home countries.

^-.-^

Thank you for reiterating what was just told to me.

[Panacea]

I am not a birther by any logical definition, but, there is one thing I would like to know:

If Obama moved to the Philippines and went to school there back in the 60s, the school (or country) required the student to be a resident of the Philippines. This was at a time (supposedly) that neither the US or Philippines acknowledged dual citizenship. So, if he really went to school in the Philippines as a citizen, he would have to no longer be a US citizen. When he came back to the US, he would be considered an immigrant citizen, right? Or does the fact that he was born in the US override that when he decides to move back (basically "once an American, always an American")?

First of all Obama didn't go to school in the Phillipines and never lived there. He lived in Indonesia because his step father was from there.

Secondly, there is a huge difference between citizenship and residency. If you move to another country, you have to get a visa to allow this. Some people get student or work visas that are meant to be temporary. Others get permanent residency permits/visas, especially if a spouse is a citizen.

Obama never applied for Indonesian citizenship, or renounced his US citizenship. He probably had permanent or temporary residency in Indonesia; he was a child living with a parent who was a citizen.

To renounce US citizenship, you have to do it formally in a US consulate, before someone from the State Department, who will actively discourage you from doing this. I doubt they would accept a renouncement from a child, who cannot make informed consent. In any case, you don't have to renounce US citizenship in most cases to live in another country, especially short term. Obama returned to Hawaii when still a teen, and still a US citizen.

However, if you renounce your US citizenship and want to come back to the US, you have to apply for a green card like everyone else.

[daleduke17]

Indonesia. Thank you... thought it was the Philippines. Also, thank you for the information. Very informative about the process.

[MadMike]

The birther nuts have been on this dead horse for awhile now, demanding his college transcripts. At first, they pretended it was about his grades, but when people pointed out that a guy with bad grades does NOT get on the Harvard Law Review, the real motives came out.

Thanks for posting that. I was wondering what their point with that was, since as far as I know, college education isn't a requirement for the presidency.

Interestingly enough, when I was coming home from work on Friday, I saw a car that had some papers taped to its back window, with a sign above them that said, "Here are my college transcripts. Where are Obama's?"

It was pretty easy to read all that, since the idiot in that car cut me off in a lane change. Apparently this college man never learned the basic rules of the road. Or maybe he couldn't see what was behind him with all that crap in his back window.

[Nyoibo]

Usually renouncing citizenship does not become an issue until 18, most countries that require you to only have citicenship in that country allow you to hold dual/multi citizenship until 18 when you must then make a choice.