Not that I harbor much pity for our governor here in Arizona, Jan Brewer. It's a bit sad, though, to observe as three of our eleven electors, including the state chair of her party, make one last stand for the birther cause, and embarrass her in the process. To say nothing of the rest of us.
Extreme (rawk on!) right wing conspiracy theories...they just won't die, no matter how pointless they have become.
Some of the day's news from Arizona Public Radio:
"I'm not satisfied with what I've seen," [state GOP Chairman] Morrissey said. "I think for somebody in the president's position to not have produced a document that looks more legitimate, I have a problem with that."
Elector Don Ascoli said the fact Obama got more popular votes is irrelevant to the truth.
Of course, they're not satisfied with what they've seen, perhaps because of their ability to perceive color. And they have declared the crushing electoral victory irrelevant, the popular vote win irrelevant, all of this must fall to their apparent dissatisfaction with the legitimacy of the President's birth certificate.
Meanwhile, the wicked witch of the west is still running away from...well, the other Republicans in charge of our state.
Gov Jan Brewer, who vetoed a bill last year to have the state demand candidates' birth certificates, sought to distance herself from her fellow Republicans.
"The bottom line is everybody's entitled to their own opinion. And I happen to disagree," she said.
As the
East Valley Tribune reports, that was the "birther bill" that Brewer vetoed, so one might say she's done more than just disagree with them. I suppose this means things
could be worse here. But the Tribune mentions a third elector who went birther during the Electoral College formalities...
Morrissey was not alone. John Rhodes, another GOP elector, expressed similar sentiments as he signed the required paperwork certifying his vote for Romney. Both also specifically used the president's middle name, Hussein, in their public comments.
Yes, can't forget the "Hussein," even though it's been years since the old Iraqi despot was killed. And for that matter, let's not forget our
Secretary of State, Ken Bennett, and his contributions to the birther cause.
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Ken Bennett, acting on his own, did ask officials in Hawaii to verify the authenticity of a birth certificate, a copy of which the White House had placed on the web. At the time Bennett said he was responding to various requests to determine if Obama's name should be on the ballot.
Bennett, who serves as the state's chief election officer, eventually said that Hawaii officials "have complied with the request, and I consider the matter closed.'' He said on Monday he remains convinced that Obama does meet the qualifications.
Not to mention Sheriff Joe and his 'volunteer posse' that allegedly went to Hawaii (didn't Trump play that game, too?) to investigate on behalf of the birther cause. Yes, the birthers are strong in this state, for the time being, anyway. Hopefully they will fail to spread as powerful a strain of racist asshattery to the next generation.