An Epic Blunder

On Wednesday morning, President Barack Obama released his official birth certificate to the media, drawing accolades from the press corps who have spent the last several months hammering away at conveniently labeled "birthers" for their insinuations that the commander-in-chief was born in a foreign nation. To the media and their spin network, this is a crushing blow to the GOP, discrediting the party for its involvement and further lampooning the TEA Party for advocating that the president show his true documents on the issue.

(Photo courtesy of Greater Phoenix Tea Party Patriots)

But is it? As fanciful as the notion may be to Democrats that this development is a boon to the president, Obama may have committed the unthinkable by coming forth with the document, setting off a chain of events which will make him potentially more vulnerable to defeat in next year's election, which promises to be tumultuous.

One, by releasing his birth certificate Obama shows a lack of general continuity which will undoubtedly leave some hanging. Since his days vying for the nomination, he campaign failed to produce a copy for even the Clinton machine, and for nearly four years he has kept silent on the issue even while questions were raised by both sides of the aisle regarding his legitimacy. Perhaps this is simply neglect, yet at the very least it makes him appear secretive, leaving some citizens angry or even put off after such a long hiatus.

Then the president committed a massive PR error by lowering himself to the same level as the skeptics by forcefully bringing out the certificate. This might appear natural enough, but it is worth recalling that the Executive Office has been historically one embodying national unity--not partisan squablings. By caving to birther pressure, Obama has proven that he cannot maintain a steady hand under fire from even as irrelevant of an opposition group as the truth movement, signaling weak leadership and even a streak of appreciation for  political division rather than American strength. In comparison, the Bush Administration hardly gave time to the equally radicalized notions that the 9/11 attack was endorsed and funded by the Clinton and its successor government.

Even less compelling about the president's choice is that the man to finally draw out the document is none other than Donald Trump, a billionaire and television star often mocked for his behavior despite arguably firm business holdings. This hangs Obama's mature leader image out to dry, as Trump is the last to have impressive political qualifications, yet he achieved where even Hillary Clinton's well-connected 2007-2008 campaign was unsuccessful.

Obama's decision goes beyond damaging to his image however. While the certificate dilemma gave him something to malign the GOP-TEA Party coalition for, its absence gives the president's allies few other issues to continue that line of assault with. He will now face a weak economic record and staggering costs from his spending programs and three wars entering the 2012 season--all focus items which no president desires to have on his plate. In simpler terms, the president just shot himself in the foot to appease the fringe of America.

Time will tell what the legacy of the birth certificate issue becomes, yet without a slight doubt it promises to be constant dog at the president's heels as long as he remains an active figure in American elected politics, and certainly with his immediate reelection looming next year.



Jessica Yi

National Alliance Vice Chairman