John Boehner Defines Stance On Birthers, Obama Citizenship

WASHINGTON — House Speaker John Boehner says Americans have a right to think what they want to think, even when they're wrong about President Barack Obama's citizenship and his religion.

Some people believe that Obama, a native of Hawaii, was actually born outside the U.S. or in some other way is not a natural-born citizen eligible to be president. There is also a persistent belief among some that Obama, a Christian, is actually a Muslim.

When the host of NBC's "Meet the Press" asked Boehner whether he, as speaker of the House, had a responsibility to "stand up to that kind of ignorance," Boehner told David Gregory: "It's not my job to tell the American people what to think. Our job in Washington is to listen to the American people."

Boehner continued: "Having said that, the state of Hawaii has said that he was born there. That's good enough for me. The president says he's a Christian. I accept him at his word." He later called those "the facts" of Obama's background.

Gregory asked, "But that kind of ignorance, about whether he's a Muslim, doesn't concern you?"

"The American people have the right to think what they want to think," Boehner replied. "I can't – it's not my job to tell them."

Boehner denied that he is willing to let those misperceptions remain because they weaken and delegitimize Obama.

Comments

[ghost geezer]

11:57 PM on 02/15/2011

He reminds me of Josef Goebbels, although he looks more like
the eyeless one in Plan 9 From Outer Space in his charming
lead photo here. This man is one of the most chilling creeps
that ever crawled down the floors of Congress. That he is there
is a rebuke to the entire nation, its standards. We are slipping
away when something as vile as this slithers into power.

[cutesky]

02:50 PM on 02/15/2011

It's not his job to tell Americans what to think? Except when he wants to!

[ghost geezer]

11:58 PM on 02/15/2011

And we should eagerly await the next time that he does that
and then slam his words up his nose.

[ZeraLee]

12:01 PM on 02/15/2011

'"The American people have the right to think what they want to think," Boehner replied. "I can't – it's not my job to tell them."

Boehner denied that he is willing to let those misperceptions remain because they weaken and delegitimize Obama.'

Telling people an inconvenient truth is not telling them what to think, it is leadership. Someone who had pledged their sacred Honor to the success of this country would not hesitate to demonstrate such leadership.

I could list some examples of how committed conservatives are to telling people what to think, but there is a word limit...

[ghost geezer]

11:59 PM on 02/15/2011

That's exactly it. Slimy cynicism. Fanned and faved for saying it clearly
in your second paragraph.

[heardingcats]

11:47 AM on 02/15/2011

"It's not my job to tell the American people what to think. Our job in Washington is to listen to the American people."

...What a Boehner!

[houseofd]

10:55 AM on 02/15/2011

More than I would expect from him, yet still terribly less than he should be.

[Clevelandinwi]

08:35 AM on 02/15/2011

'....it's not my job to tell the American people what to think....'. And, of course, when something really ridiculous is out there, take no stance on it, thus making you a party to the riciculous. = the jon boehner story.

[bluesjones63]

07:15 AM on 02/15/2011

White folks simply DO NOT KNOW how to handle PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, America's first black president. President Obama KNOWS he will be treated like JACKIE ROBINSON, now lionized by white America.

Deal with it!!!

[Clevelandinwi]

08:36 AM on 02/15/2011

YO !

[houseofd]

10:56 AM on 02/15/2011

The white folks who don't support him, yeah without a doubt.

[brushfinch]

06:08 AM on 02/15/2011

Mr. Boehner:
If you want to be a leader, and do some good for Americans, as you claim, you have to stick to the facts, and not let ignorant folks live in fantasy land...It sounds to me like you are unable to lead..

[Larkinvos]

02:58 AM on 02/15/2011

Yes, Mr. Boehner, it IS your job.

If you're not sure what to do, dig up the videotape of the GOP 2008 standard-bearer, John McCain, to find out how a situation like this SHOULD be handled. During the campaign, a woman in the audience referred to Obama as an "Arab." McCain gently, but firmly, corrected her, (paraphrasing) "No, ma'am, he's not an Arab; he's a Christian gentleman; we just disagree on some things." Take a lesson, Mr. Boehner.

[Clevelandinwi]

08:37 AM on 02/15/2011

Slow learners and drunks don't take lessons well.

[Vicendithas]

02:11 AM on 02/15/2011

Who's job is it to tell people what the actual facts are? Everyone is saying, "that's not my job".

[ThankGodhesgone]

02:02 AM on 02/15/2011

Mr Boehner. Can we see the long form of your birth certificate? I mean, what is good for Obama is as good for you. Or are you really a secret mus lim, com munist, n azi, so cialist. fac ist infiltrator?

[Mabeline]

01:13 AM on 02/15/2011

Mr. Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, third in line to the Presidency, are you kidding me? It's not your job to be a leader and correct flat out ignorance (literal use of the word, not derogatory) ? The President's birth data is NOT, repeat NOT, a matter of opinion. I expect my Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States of America to know this difference. I expect more from you, sir.

1+1=2 Right? If someone said, 1+1=3, wouldn't it be your solemn responsibility to correct that ignorance? Wouldn't correcting that ignorance be good for our country? And don't you understand that it is part of your job to help correct ignorance?

[Jerry Aripez]

12:17 AM on 02/15/2011

You tell your repugs everything else that you feel the American people need to know about except this....HHHHmmmmm
A coward dies a thousand times before his death.

[nopretense]

11:56 PM on 02/14/2011

"The American people have the right to think what they want to think," Boehner replied. "I can't – it's not my job to tell them."

OK Mr. Boehner, if one of your mentally challenged constituents made the statement:

"Black people are mentally inferior to white people"

Would you just say, "oh well, you can think what you want it's a free country" or would you tell them they are ignorant and wrong and humiliate them into never showing their face in public?

Given your above statement, I guess you would say, "it's a free country who am I to judge?".

Wrong is wrong Coward.

[nopilikia]

11:50 PM on 02/14/2011

How's the job creation going?

[ThankGodhesgone]

02:03 AM on 02/15/2011

Not sure that Boehner et al knows what that means.