Inhofe: Birthers "Have A Point," "I Don't Discourage It"

In a story in Monday's Politico, conservative Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) indicates that he believes the argument of the "birther" activists -- that President Obama is not actually a United States citizen -- has some merit.

But as if to illustrate the touchiness of the subject, Hoekstra quickly added: "Not that this isn't important."

Sen. Jim Inhofe has also tried to find the elusive middle ground.

"They have a point," he said of the birthers. "I don't discourage it. ... But I'm going to pursue defeating [Obama] on things that I think are very destructive to America."

Matt Corley notes, "It's unclear why Politico characterizes Inhofe's decided support for the 'birthers' as an 'elusive middle ground' stance."

Update: At the Plum Line, Greg Sargent reports that Inhofe has clarified the "point" that he agrees with -- "the White House has not done a very good job of dispelling the concerns of these citizens."

HT: ThinkProgress

Comments

[axoaxo]

Inhofe is way out there as usual ~ are we sure he's even from this planet? ~ you know maybe he's an alien scout with a human costume preparing for the next passing of the haley bop comet


HAS ANYONE SEEN INHOFE's BIRTH CERTIFICATE????

[RockyGibraltar]

Inhofe has stated in the past :

"Much of the debate over global warming is predicated on fear, rather than science"

and " The threat of catastrophic global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people,"

So is it really a big leap for him to also say that birthers "have a point"? I would be surprised if he said anything else, frankly.

If it looks like a dinosaur, and walks like a dinosaur, it is a dinosaur.

[sippewissett]

"If it looks like a dinosaur, and walks like a dinosaur, it is a dinosaur."

There's a big overlap between birthers and creationists. Since the latter (like Palin) believe that dinosaurs co-existed with humans on our 6000-year-old planet, this line of thinking makes it a natural that we still have dinosaurs around!

[lorenzo48]

They have a point, the point is they are completely insane

[JohnSawyer]

They have a point on top of their heads.

[gretasmom]

I wish there was a government TEST that anyone who went into public office would have to take... something that asked basic questions that a high school government class would cover in it's curriculum. I am tired of having stupid politicians. The representative from Oklahoma is stupid. Palin was not a smart cookie... I think only smart people should work in Congress or as President... could we have a resolution?

[MJinCanada]

I've been wishing for the same thing in Canada for years!

The conservatives in Canada are smearing the Liberal (as in slightly right of centre) leader because he spent too much time outside Canada -- as a human justice professor at Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard. All the homegrown conservative politicians have never traveled anywhere except the US and if brains were lard they couldn't grease a skillet. Some are even creationists.

[sippewissett]

I agree completely on the need for smart politicians and, oh by the way, could they be ethical too? However how can you get dumb people to pass a resolution demanding that "Only Smart People Need Apply." They'd be yelling bloody murder that they are being discriminated against.

[FaceReality2]

I'd settle for an IQ test. Bush allegedly had an IQ of 125 so that is too low. If we made the cutoff 135, I wonder how many of our present congress people would qualify.

[NomadicView]

I have found evidence that the Birthers have been demanding. http://nomadicjoe.blogspot.com/

[dawnec1957]

Synonyms:
1. Treason, sedition mean disloyalty or treachery to one's country or its government. Treason is any attempt to overthrow the government or impair the well-being of a state to which one owes allegiance; the crime of giving aid or comfort to the enemies of one's government. Sedition is any act, writing, speech, etc., directed unlawfully against state authority, the government, or constitution, or calculated to bring it into contempt or to incite others to hostility, ill will or disaffection; it does not amount to treason and therefore is not a capital offense. 2. See disloyalty.

Otherwise known as Senator and Congressmen of the Republican party.

[dawnec1957]

Main Entry: trea·son
Pronunciation: 'trEz-&noun
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French treison crime of violence against a person to whom allegiance is owed, literally, betrayal, from Old French traïson, from traïr to betray, from Latin tradere to hand over, surrender
: the offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war; specifically : the act of levying war against the United States or adhering to or giving aid and comfort to its enemies by one who owes it allegiance —trea·son·ous /-&s/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

[turtleglow]

This has gotten to be just too big to ignore. Dobbs is right for wanting to know more.

[MJinCanada]

As in Limbaugh creating a movement hoping for the Obama government to fail.

[MJinCanada]

Also as in Wall Street execs undermining the economy for their own profit.

[spandautoseattle]

Gossip has taken it to the public that Sen Inhofe is palling around with these silicate-quadropeds from Betelgeuse IV. Now it's really about time to show the USA his Earth certificate. He no longer can deny the People insight into his possible double life as Siriun-ten­tacle-flap­per AND Senator here on Terra. Why should the rumors be wrong about the connection between his family of reptile aliens and these pesky mineral-eaters?
What can one believe? Nothing anymore, probably.
Good night.
Oh, and these are not really bed bugs.

[PoliSciJunkie]

Let America see the true face of the modern Republican party. Only helps Dems and drives independents away from Republicans. A great farce that most of the country understands. Let 'em wing nut out.

[bymyinitials]

As an Oklhoman from Tulsa, please do not compare the majority of good people in our state to the (hopefully defeated next term) Senator Inhofe.......He is not handling the GOP defeats in other "RED" well and should be doing the business of the people who sent him to D.C. more than once, or it may be his last re-election...we have long memories!

[sf girl]

Just curious: what does the general consensus seem to be among Oklahomans regarding Inhofe? He must have some support--is it waning?

[JohnSawyer]

Unfortunately, if we are to believe what some people say about the superior intelligence or morality of the majority of their locale's population, politicians like Inhofe, Bachmann, etc. manage to hypnotize the majority of their voters each election, into voting against themselves. No, we need to not lose track of the fact that at least half the people living in much, if not most, of the US are obstinate dinosaurs. Only then will we be able to help them.

[imaxfli]

What point do they have, that they are nuts???

[Jahbundance]

Do you believe we let these two-faced people run this country all those years?

[real1234]

Oklahoma is supposed to be a religious state with influences like the Oral Roberts university, a christian university and other organizations. The irony of all this is God cares more about how we treat others than they know and the majority of these people that think they are going to heaven, they are most likely going to the other place.

[velvetundergroundfan]

Sign the petition against Lou Dobbs :

http://dobbsconspiracy.com/

CNN = Conspiracy News Nonsense

[d49]

thanks signed the petition and email CNN last week

[DivergentMary]

He's a Maroon . . . along with the rest of the Repub Dodos who should be extinct by now . . .

[Ergon]

Has anyone noticed the main thrust of the birthers movement seems to come from neo-cons Joe Farah and Israel National News ws one of the first news outlets to report on this?