Today's Chicago Tribune (12/01/08, Sect 1, pg 21) carries a full-page ad from WeThePeopleFoundation. It's an open letter to Barack Obama demanding that he provide proof to this organization that he's a natural born citizen of the USA.
This letter is signed by Robert L. Schulz of www.WeThePeopleFoundation.org, who claims to represent "thousands of responsible American citizens." He claims that he is entitled to all original paperwork about Obama's past from his birth in Hawaii (or, the allegation is made, in Kenya), to all information on his mother, his education, and anything else this group deems required to prove Obama's eligibility to hold the office of President of the USA.
Schulz claims that if Obama does not provide all asked-for paperwork, he will be a "usurper" and would be unable to take the "Oath or Affirmation" on 1/20 without committing the crime of perjury.
The balance of Mr. Schulz's open letter then threatens Obama with the claim that he would not be entitled to allegiance or support from the People, the Armed Forces, civilians in the executive branch, and Congress.
He goes on to state that any Supreme Court Justices appointed by Obama would be void, and no legislation signed would be credible.
Schulz then calls out members of the Electoral College. He pretty much demands that if all the above information isn't provided to Mr. Schulz, then it is unconstitutional for members of the EC to elect Barack Obama. He puts EC members "on Notice that unless you provide documentary evidence before 12/15, that conclusively establishes your eligibility, they cannot cast a vote for you without committing treason to the Constitution."
I know that all of this has been a hot topic for some on the right, but I thought that it had all been dealt with. This man seems obsessed, and he has plenty of money to buy full-page ads in the Tribune. He is angry at all judges who've decided he is not entitled to Obama's private information and this seems to be some sort of end run around his losing court battles.
And so I wonder if WeThePeopleFoundation has gone after other Presidents in this fashion. And I wonder what Mr. Schulz will do next if his demands are not met. If the EC ignores him and elects Obama on 12/15, will Mr. Schulz be left on the sidewalk stomping and ranting like a fool, or is this nonsense something that Obama will have to put up with the next four/eight years? I don't recall anyone asking for a President's personal information from previous generations to present day before. When just one aspect of W's personal information was asked for - his National Guard attendance records - there was hell to pay. This seems more invasive than required, and there should be a question of just whose money is backing Mr. Schulz.