Obama On Oprah: Birth Certificate Issue Raised During Interview (VIDEO)

President Barack Obama addressed the release of his birth certificate during an interview with Oprah Winfrey on Wednesday just hours after the White House disclosed the document.

"Why did you wait so long, though?" Oprah asked the president about the timing of the release of his birth records. "When it first came up, were you thinking, I hope I was born here?"

Sitting alongside the first lady, Obama said, "Can I just say I was there, so I knew," adding, "I knew I had been born. I remembered it."

The president noted that baseless skepticism raised by critics regarding his birthplace has been an issue for more than two years. He said that the decision to release the records came with the hope that the ordeal could be put aside.

"I said to my team, look, even though this is not usually what the state of Hawaii does," he explained, "even though the Republican governor of Hawaii, the Democratic governors of Hawaii, all the various officials had confirmed that I was born here, let's ask them for a special dispensation where they will go ahead and provide us with the original to see if we can put this to rest."

HuffPost's Sam Stein reported earlier in the day on the release of the president's birth certificate:

The move came as a surprise to the press corps, many of whom had not shown up for Wednesday's early-morning White House briefing. By the time word had spread that Obama would be making a 9:45 a.m. statement on the matter, however, the top anchors at all the networks had scurried into the briefing room.

Once there, they received a presidential scolding for their concern with "silliness." Obama began his five-minute statement with the complaint that he wouldn't be able to get the networks to break into their regularly scheduled programming for a speech on policy proposals.

"I know that there is going to be a segment of people for which no matter what we put out, this issue will not be put to rest," Obama said. "But I am speaking for the vast majority of the American people as well as for the press. We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We have better stuff to do. I have got better stuff to do. We have got big problems to solve."

Below, a segment of the interview the president and first lady conducted with Oprah on Wednesday. The full sit-down is scheduled to air on May 2.

WATCH:

Comments

[Hot celeb]

02:28 AM on 05/17/2011

Doen't matter where was he born ....He rules n rocks .greatest president for AMERICA till date
http://hotstuffcelebrity.blogspot.com/ OBAMA :)

[ampdem]

09:01 PM on 05/02/2011

The entire Oprah interview is such a bunch of BS. Mr. You have managed to get elected once based on charm and a whole lot of lip service. It will not happen again, we are watching very closely and we will not be fooled for a second term, unless you get things done according to those that put you in office not those that did not want you there to begin with. Veeer left, or else....

[ampdem]

08:52 PM on 05/02/2011

Oprah, Obama, and the Mrs. keep referring to keeping their "eye on the prize" what might the "prize" be? Complete dominance by the world's top 2% over the rest of us? To the point where we are no longer compensated for anything, and officially declared property? Keep up the good work of those that came before you (for the past 30yrs) Mr President the prise is just beyond your grasp.

[scrapluv]

12:35 PM on 04/30/2011

OWBH = Obama Was Born Here

[raym57]

04:47 AM on 04/30/2011

The question of his birth certificate is not the issue today but the question of why he waited so long to produce it, is. Any candidate, running for office of the president of this country, who has one parent who was never a citizen of this country, should have to prove their birthright, regardless of race. He should have been "forced" to produce his birth certificate before being approved to run for the office. He has caused all of this "silliness" and should be apologizing to the American people rather than shrugging it off. Many people still believe the certificate is manufactured and was not real at the time of his birth. Only time will tell.

[rylo]

10:36 AM on 04/30/2011

You're a fool.

[Jeff Cook]

11:24 AM on 04/30/2011

You sound silly.

[raym57]

04:42 AM on 04/30/2011

The question of his place of birth doesn't seem to be the concern today but the question of why he waited so long to produce the birth certificate is. Any person running for public office that is required to be a natural citizen of this country but has one parent who was not a citizen, should have to prove their birthright, regardless of race. Obama, like Nixon, could have spared this country a lot of grief just by either telling the truth or at least clarifying the situation. He brought all of this "silliness" on himself and should be apologizing rather than blaming others.

[Cory111]

07:39 PM on 04/29/2011

Sign in a rural area on a church bulletin board below, "Birthers give birth."
“Be sure and register early and get to the polling places so you can be first in line to vote. Remember, “Let he/she who is without thought cast the first vote.”

[Daryl E Claybrooks]

03:50 PM on 04/29/2011

This birth certificate issue is non-existent compared to the real problems facing the country. The country has been going in a bad direction for some time. What needs to be done now is to come together, compromise to reach positive solutions not make or create more problems. Yet there are those who would still replay issues that have nothing to do with the real problems. All the problems facing the country are not the President's making alone!!!

[forestnomad]

04:25 PM on 04/29/2011

Well, I would argue that when 70% of the voting base in a party (in a two0party system) believes in something ludicrously, patently, false, that would comprise a 'real problem'.

[CaptainBerz]

02:21 PM on 04/29/2011

Obama like many presidents is a two talker. Until we get rid of people in office who lie we will get no where. This video sums this whole subject up, say one thing and do another. LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwKB1VPH6cE

[CaptainBerz]

02:19 PM on 04/29/2011

Two talker is what Obama and many presidents are all about. Oprah, LOL!
This video sums it up, LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwKB1VPH6cE

[Zelykz]

10:29 AM on 04/29/2011

I would like to know who accused Bush of being an illegal immigrant.

[marshallwyattearp]

10:23 AM on 04/29/2011

Maybe he is the messiah... he remembers being born in Hawaii. He didn't submit it right away, because there wasn't one to submit. It took this long to find a typewriter with about the same type used there in that time. Plus they had to make sure everyone on the document was dead, so they couldn't be questioned... that's not the issue.. THE REAL ISSUE IS... HE and HIS PARTY are ruining this country by making everyone dependant on the government. Look around you. More and more people are seeking aid becasue they aren't making ends meet. We are giving Billions to foriegn countries that support terrorism, paying outrageous fuel prices, which are causing food and clothing to folloe suit. No matter what they say, this country was built with the trucking industry, trains can't go everywhere. When is Oprah going to put her pride aside and deal with the real issues? Like how the Democratic party is keeping the African Amercan people down, by keeping them as dependants? Now they have started on the Caucasions. ALL THE FREEBIES ARE FREE... YOU ARE GIVING UP YOUR RIGHTS AS FREE THINKING AMERICANS WHEN YOU SIGN ON TO THE PROGRAMS. HELLO???
Marshall

[naijaman]

12:47 PM on 04/29/2011

marshall...you need help.

[marshallwyattearp]

05:44 PM on 04/29/2011

I need help? This whole country needs help. We are supposed to be Americans. We are supposed to be a free people. If you look at the freebie system that has been put in place... The people are punished for thrying to get off it. Really look at it for once. If something happens and you do need help, assistance, call it what you will... You have to sign your soul away. You think I'm being racist? Think again, and read the whole thing. They are making everyone dependant on the government. People need to wake up... where is all this money going to come from, when there are no jobs? Who is going to make the food, clothing, everything that is neede to live? The stuff just doesn't pop out of thin air.

Marshall

[Chatty Tee]

03:25 PM on 04/29/2011

Marshall no matter what I say here will change the way you think because undoubtedly you were raised to be ignorant. BUT The entitlements alone didn't put the US in this economic spiral, the lack of concern and now how by the previous administration and the GREED of wall street and the financial institutions. Read your news articles WE have for many years shelled out millions/billions of dollars in foreign aid UNTIL now which is why a certain group of people are crying foul b/c Obama's administration did cutback on foreign aid. African Americans are no more dependant than any other race. What is free? If your talking about welfare Blacks help support that also, If you are talking about Medicaid/medicare, Blacks help support that too. Blacks have paid into Social Security which isn't free. Public education and public services, guess what? Blacks support that too. AND the last I checked the freebies are free for all.

[marshallwyattearp]

05:37 PM on 04/29/2011

Get a life... As I put... they are making all the people (black, white,and brown) dependant on them. Quit being so closed minded and see things for what they are. The fact of the matter is WE ARE ALL OF THE HUMAN RACE. Skin color , ethnic backgrounds, call it what you want are just ways the government is keeping us from uniting as one people as it was meant to be.

And for your information, my wife is of African ancesterory. My post was not to bash people for getting aid. It is for people to see what the government is doing. NOW... you want to call me names? I am a part white male,Yes, and a disabled veteran. When I was crippled and paralyzed from the waiste down, I could not get aid to help my family. However, when I seperated from my wife, she could get aid. Tell me I'm way off base? Facts are facts. Do you actually think that they are really working their butts off to help us when they have their meeting? Think again... They are having closed door parties, smoking, drinking and laughing because they know the American people have become doscile, and to scared to stand up for what is right. As for the Aid, there are people that need it for the rest of their lives... but to keep their future generations dependant on it... It's shameful... Who is the ignorant?

[Tim The Enchanter]

10:07 AM on 04/29/2011

There are 52,000 race cards in the race card deck.

[fowlersammy]

09:27 AM on 04/29/2011

None of this is really about the birth certificate per se, it's about the lack of transparency from Obama and his administration. Why won't he actually live up to his own pledge about being the most transparent president and administration in history? Why not release everything...transcripts, medical records, etc. like other presidents? Voters are getting tired of all this and will be one of the reasons he will not be reelected. Not only are people tired that the economy is in the tank, energy prices are sky high, inflation is on the rise, debt and deficits are out of control, three wars are raging, food prices are rising, and unemployment is high, they are tired of all the drama behind the scenes coming from the WH and this administration.

[Chatty Tee]

03:54 PM on 04/29/2011

HOGWASH!!! If you are a voter, you didn't vote for Obama the first time and for whatever reason, you aren't going to vote for him in 2012, or 2016, or whenever. And another thing, speak for yourself, I am a voter and I want to know why does Obama have to PUBLICALLY disclose anything...Since I have been following politics going back to Carter, I don't EVER remember seeing anyone's birth certificate, financials, school transcripts, voter registration, passport, dental records, car registration or whatever. Don't try to hide behind transparency b/c we can see right through, this is an ISOLATED INCIDENT and if for any reason Obama is not reelected (or any other black man or woman elected) I am sure we want EVER see this again. By the way this people is tired but I am tired of REPUBS and TEA POTTIERS sabotaging US progress with ploys and games because they are so afraid that Obama is going to inch us out of this mess and it would always be known. When he took office in 2008 the weight of the world was placed on his shoulders and here it is 2011 and all I can say is HERCULES, HERCULES!!! #tryandfigurethatout

[fowlersammy]

05:34 PM on 04/29/2011

Obviously you've been living under a rock. You can't tell me you don't remember all the fuss over how dumb GWB was and how smart Kerry was until they both released their transcripts. They showed that Bush actually had better grades. Moat, if not all, presidents in the past 50 years have released their records. Why are you dodging the core point of my post....Obama's non-transparency. He hasn't lived up to half the promises he made as campaign Obama. He will not be reelected, not because of his skin color but because of his record. I have a feeling that the h8tred displayed in post after post on this site, not by conservatives but by you liberals, is because you all know Obama has not been a successful president.

[fowlersammy]

05:45 PM on 04/29/2011

One termer.

[cougar44]

04:03 PM on 04/29/2011

Who cares about the BC, who cares about college transcripts?? I care about jobs, medicare, social security, gas prices, wars?? What is wrong with you people?!?!?!?

[Alfern Webb]

03:22 AM on 04/29/2011

I am so tired of people asking why it took so long for him to produce the long form.

He provided a legal document over 2 years ago, he's the President, anybody asking for more can ask until their tongue falls out and hits the carpet. I would not jump through hoops to prove anything to anybody.

The birthers were doing such a good job making an A$$ of themselves, why stop the fun.

Lastly, the Republicans and Tea Baggers think they are so dang smart. They're putting laws on the books in about 10 States called "Proof of Eligibility". This law requires anyone wanting to be on the Presidential ballot in that State must produce an original birth certificate.

Had this law passed and Obama didn't produce the document, they would've attempted to keep his name off the ballots in those states, thus solidifying a Republican win.

Pres Obama anticipated where they were going so he requested the COLB and busted them all.

However, the crazy people do not like feeling defeated so they've moved on to other conspiracies, like he was adopted by Soterro, The document is fake, he wasn't smart enough to go to Harvard, etc.

Right now they are tearing their hair out while they rip those "Where's the Birth Certificate" bumper stickers off their cars. LOL....LOL....LOL... Priceless!!

[MisterBriteside]

04:45 AM on 04/29/2011

I want to fan your post....you are SOOOOOOOOO correct.

[exPatPatti]

08:18 AM on 04/29/2011

Fanned, especially for the visual of your last sentence. LOL!!