I don't buy into the idea that Obama is playing 11-dimensional chess while the rest of us are slogging around in 3-D. But in this case I think a lot of people have misunderstood the implications of the White House release of the Long Form. I think we should follow our disappointment to its logical conclusion....
....everyone said: ZOMG! What were they thinking? Don't they realize that it will simply revitalize the Birthers? Don't they know those racist loons will redouble their efforts?
Exactly.
Recently a number of Republican politicians have tried to make Birtherism disappear. Jan Brewer, the gov of AZ, slammed it last week. Tim Pawlenty, who often tries to appear rational, has said it shouldn't be in the discourse. A couple of other Republican politicos have made comments in that direction. Birtherism is a giant cancer on the Republican party that may harm its chances of getting a rational human being to oppose Obama in 2012.
So what happens as the Republicans appear to be moving in the sane direction? The WH releases the long form, guaranteeing more months of Birther conspiracy theorizing. Encouraging loons like Trump. Yay!
Remember this summer there are a series of Republican debates culminating the Ames Straw Poll in August. Whoever is the Republican candidate will now have to spend the summer taking Birtherism seriously.
No doubt the WH has a plan for re-stoking Birtherism fires before the primary season next year.
Maybe it is all coincidence, but I find it highly unlikely that the WH missed consequences that everyone out here in the real world spotted instantly.
Vorkosigan