Arizona Birther Bill, Previously Vetoed By Jan Brewer, Returns Without Circumcision Requirement

Republican lawmakers in Arizona have reintroduced legislation requiring presidential candidates to prove their U.S. citizenship, this year without a controversial amendment that led Gov. Jan Brewer (R) to veto the original bill.

Last spring, Brewer vetoed the legislation, which would have made Arizona the first state to pass a proof-of-citizenship requirement for candidates. The governor specifically opposed an amendment that would have required candidates who could not provide a birth certificate to instead provide "baptismal or circumcision certificates, hospital birth records and other documents" in order to get on the state's ballot.

Brewer said the legislation went "a bridge too far."

"I never imagined being presented with a bill that could require candidates for president of the greatest and most powerful nation on earth to submit their 'early baptismal or circumcision certificates,'" she said. "This measure creates significant new problems while failing to do anything constructive for Arizona."

The new version of the bill was introduced by state Rep. Carl Seel (R-Phoenix) earlier this year, without the maligned circumcision or baptism certificate requirement. When that bill failed to gain traction, Seel's birther language was tacked on to a separate health care proposal that cleared the House last week. This legislative move was spearheaded by state Sen. Judy Burges (R-Sun City West), who introduced last year's bill and has been an ally of Seel's in the birther push.

Seel and Burges' bill was approved by a Senate committee on Wednesday. The bill will have to clear another committee before the Senate votes on the measure.

If made into law, the bill would require candidates to sign a sworn affidavit that they are eligible for office. The requirement would also require national party chairs to sign on behalf of their candidates. If found to be ineligible, candidates and their party's chair could be charged with perjury.

Comments

[Big Patootie]

05:31 AM on 03/22/2012

You guys resort to name-calling - really - name-calling? That was the tactic in second grade, pretty silly looking. What if birthers are right? A Democrat has now brought a lawsuit against Obama's eligibility. Don't you know - loving a lie and degrading fellow Americans makes honest people dig in even more? Roman persecution of Christians is why Christianity exploded. Come-on - be a little more open-minded about this - it isn't going away - even if Obama wins in 2012 - even after 2016 birthers will pursue this like a cat chasing a rat. Think about the ramifications of eight years erased by an act of treason.

[madbonger618]

02:34 PM on 03/28/2012

So you think the top people in government in the State of Hawaii are engaged in a conspiracy against the American people?

[PatA]

03:36 PM on 03/28/2012

Everyone is. The U.S. government is in on it, NA.SA is involved, The Junior Main League, M>I>L>F>, Bluebirds of Blackwell, Oklahoma, A Texas lacrosse team, Cousins of Carl Lagerfield, The factory that makes the mint cookes that are sold door to door , Women's League of Shoppers , BigFoot devotees, The Bishops for the Holy Church of the Jaded Chihauhaus , The Dallas Cowgirl Cheerleader's nephews, The Chicken "Ranch" in Nevada, Hairweavers of America, The Association of the Born Again Waxers, Four-Wheelers of Missouri, The Big League of Rappers and Hip-Hoppers, New Jersey Jellies and too many more to mention.

I'm surprised you didn't know this. I've been selling tee-shirts with the list on the back since 2008-1/2,

JOE (BO) KNOWS.

[PatrickFreeman]

09:24 PM on 08/23/2012

You're not really arguing that politicians never lie are you?

[Will737]

12:11 PM on 05/07/2012

You don't mean "open minded." To actually believe any of the Birther theories you would have to be "brain dead." Over 200 cases decided against the Birthers with not one win. You might as well be arguing that the Earth is flat.

You certainly may, if you wish, present your favorite of the Birther arguments. On the other hand, we are free to ridicule your support for insanity.

[Col Hogan]

09:17 PM on 03/20/2012

I lost my circumsion record but I want to run for President.
"Excuse me while I whip this out." --with apologies to Mel Brooks

[madbonger618]

02:36 PM on 03/28/2012

the line I cite most with regards to the President is the scene where the townfolk are waiting the arrival of the new sheriff. The old Geezer with the telescope on the roof sees him first realizes he's black and starts screaming The Sheriff is a N... . Republicans have been shouting that for four years now using code words

[PatA]

03:38 PM on 03/28/2012

Don't post again when I have water in my mouth! Keyboard is soaked.

[joe mamavitch]

02:15 PM on 03/19/2012

Arizona: now passing Florida and South Carolina as the wackiest state in the country

[MountainPenelope]

03:47 PM on 05/18/2012

We, the few sane people left in S.C., are so very thankful.

[treasuredtrophie]

08:49 AM on 03/19/2012

Another law suite for Obama. Yets see 26 states suing OB and OB suing how many states. Have you ever heard of this in this country?

[momoluvsu]

11:20 PM on 03/19/2012

its a tea party thing

[MalleusMaleficarum]

08:13 AM on 03/19/2012

Imbeciles have seized power in Arizona. Time to put them back into their padded cells.

[Bobbito]

07:58 AM on 03/19/2012

Brewer however is offering circumcision without benefit of anashetic

[TimTim17]

03:42 AM on 03/19/2012

"Brewer said the legislation went "a bridge too far.""

The bridge too far has been built a long time ago. Insanity. Sheer insanity.

[icwhite02]

09:43 PM on 03/19/2012

"A bridge too far.." or "A bridge to nowhere.." seems like the Repugs/teabaggers have constant trouble "bridging the gaps" whether it's a natural span or a span between peoples, they always just make things WORSE!

[jenniferkizzy]

01:28 AM on 03/19/2012

what is this world coming too and where is it headed

[icwhite02]

09:46 PM on 03/19/2012

Armegeddon! I'd rather see that than see the Repugs/Teabaggers win in November! At least if it were Armegeddon, I KNOW that would eventually culminate in a better world!

[jenniferkizzy]

10:08 PM on 03/19/2012

yes it would

[SpookyAnnya]

01:09 AM on 03/19/2012

George Romney was born in Mexico so what does that do to Mitt's qualifications?

[Anthony Thoms]

07:23 AM on 03/19/2012

He is fine, because he's white.

[treasuredtrophie]

08:51 AM on 03/19/2012

Ah the race card waiting for that. When you can't make sense bring out the race issue.

[etherboss]

12:34 AM on 03/19/2012

Next they'll add that the candidate must also prove that they're of pure Aryan blood.

[jenniferkizzy]

01:28 AM on 03/19/2012

that actually terrifies me since i am of european decent bye

[Wildweezle]

11:40 PM on 03/18/2012

Two things that should never be used together in a news article....

The word circumcism along with a photo of Jan Brewer.......

[Jack Knowlton]

07:40 AM on 03/19/2012

Oh man, thanks for that visual...

[icwhite02]

09:52 PM on 03/19/2012

Doesn't her picture alone cause circumcision to happen, or was that castration? And the Repugs are constantly talking about how THEIR women are more attractive! Seems like she's overdue for her every-5-year facelift! They should put her picture in the prison cell of every sex offender! That'll CURE THEM!

[Wildweezle]

12:17 AM on 03/20/2012

Castration... you might be on to something..... Y not use J'brews photo as punishment for those convicted of rape..

[eagle17765]

11:38 PM on 03/18/2012

these people are freaks.

[Yorksgal]

11:26 PM on 03/18/2012

The inmates are definitely running the asylum in Arizona.

[jenniferkizzy]

01:31 AM on 03/19/2012

wasn't there an inmate up rising in new mexico i think i can't remember the name but i remember hearing about it once on t'v bye

[PatA]

03:43 PM on 03/28/2012

Yes, there was a prison uprising (riot) over the food in the Santa Fe prison. People were killed. It was bad.

[anelore]

11:16 PM on 03/18/2012

A circumcision certificate? Sounds pretty sexist to me.

[icwhite02]

10:09 PM on 03/19/2012

No it's not sexist, it's RELIGIOUSIST, (if that's a word, LOL!) In this country, all it would do is prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that a guy is JEWISH! some Christian religions advocate circumcision & some don't, but Jews ALWAYS do!

[anelore]

11:09 PM on 03/19/2012

It is sexist because asking for a circumcision certificate would insinuate that the presidential candidate is a male.

BTW: the Muslim faith also requires circumcisian.

[wmnorton]

11:11 PM on 03/18/2012

Hard to believe Brewer is just 29 years old, goes to show what too much sunbathing will do to you!!!

[chicagurl]

11:34 PM on 03/18/2012

Ha, for a minute I thought you were serious. My mother, however, looks far younger than Brewer and she's in her mid-80's. That sun definitely does do a number on your skin.

[wmnorton]

02:03 AM on 03/19/2012

My mother in law also looks better than Brewer, and she is 94.

[Will737]

03:50 AM on 03/19/2012

And that high level of internal meanness and hate eventually registers itself on your features too. For example, isn't it hard to believe that FOX New's Gretchen Carlson was once a Miss America, and she's only 45 now.

[icwhite02]

10:12 PM on 03/19/2012

OMG! I'm 49 & I thought she was AT LEAST 10 years older than me! My mom is 69 & looks better than her!