Romney Riffs on Obama Birth Certificate

Candidate implicitly raises conspiracy theory about president

Mitt Romney has referred to a false conspiracy theory about President Obama's birthplace. At a Michigan rally with his wife the GOP presidential candidate was trying to show off their home state bona fides, The Washington Post reports.

"Ann was born in Henry Ford Hospital, I was born in Harper Hospital. No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate; they know that this is the place where both of us were born and raised," Romney said.

The riff brought a mixed crowd reaction, CBS Chief Political Correspondent Jan Crawford tweeted: "At Romney event, two reactions to his birth certificate joke: reporters gasped--and a crowd of thousands laughed and cheered."

It's actually not the first time a Romney family member used a birther line in front of a crowd. At a December 2011 campaign event in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney's son Matt joked that his father would share his tax returns when President Obama released his birth certificate, among other things. Matt Romney later called it a "bad joke."

Via The Washington Post.

Was Mitt Romney wrong to bring up Obama's birth certificate?

[Emerald1]

Just another distraction..who really cares...Now..about those jobs and the economy.

[Bobolinsky]

In addition to this throw away laugh line that everyone except the reporters in the tank for Obama understood as a laugh line. Mitt Romney had some other things to say today.

Mitt Romney: What I Learned at Bain Capital

"My business experience taught me how to help companies grow—and what to do when trouble arises. When you see a problem, run toward it before the problem gets worse."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000087239639...

[Wilberhum]

OMG Romney is buying in to the Conspiracy Theories.
I guess he as bigoted and stupid as the demented 17%.
And I really did think better of him.

[ir0nw0lfe]

Joke much?

[Wilberhum]

@ir0nw0lfe Not when Romney joins the 'Birthers'.

[AlexanderKM]

I feel that to question Obama's history is completely legitimate, and I'm hardly any of those things. I DO however have a slightly demented sense of humor. xD

[Wilberhum]

@AlexanderKM It is always wise to question any President's history.
I to have a demented (Perverted) sense of humor.

[AlexanderKM]

@Wilberhum Then why label people as 'nutters' for questioning Obama's past?

[Fishbone345]

Ron Paul was born in Pittsburgh.
And he doesn't make moronic statements like this one.
Win win!!

[ir0nw0lfe]

Really? I think this is making a mountain out of a mole hill. No one except Trump thinks the birther issue has any relevance to voters. Does Mitt scare Dems that much?

[Fishbone345]

@ir0nw0lfe Dunno Wolf. Does Dr. Paul scare Mittens? I think the answers are the same.

[ir0nw0lfe]

@Fishbone345 I don't know. I think there is something to be said for Ron Paul keeping mitt on his toes.

[Sterling]

President Obama, pure joke.. Another puppet for the liberal agenda. More debt...slower economy.. America can't afford another 4 years of this type of leadership.

[Souljah]

but if you say he's a puppet then he cant be the one leading us? and if thats the case NO election will change a thing cause the string pullers who own the corporations will still be there and be given more power.

[Toni]

No. Millions of Americans doubt Obama's nativity story. Apparently even Obama, since he had to have one fabricated.

[PuroChorizo361]

Wasting time on this subject. Obama is and will forever be the 44th president of the United States. A birth certificate is not gonna change that now move on with that nonsense!

[FollowTheMoney]

The campaign engines are firing on all cylinders. Of course their going to give it all it's got.

[kosmik]

It wasn't necessarily out of bounds but the fact that he's bringing it up indicates that his campaign isn't doing near as well as they'd like us to believe.

McCain gambled and took the side that Obama was unquestionably qualified. That wager lost him the support of the lunatic fringe. Romney appears to be doubling down on that segment at the risk of losing the more reasonably minded folk towards the middle.

[Emerald1]

Well, now we know Obama was unquestionably unqualified.

[kosmik]

@Emerald1
I wouldn't go so far as to say Obama was or is unqualified. I truly believe that he is a natural born citizen so constitutionally he is qualified. While I can't say he's done the best job, I don't know who could have done any better other than Hillary.

All the GOP has to offer is more of the same that got us here in the first place. They have no real solutions and certainly no one, including the Mittster, who seems to have a bold, new approach.

[Emerald1]

@kosmik As a former Hillary supporter I cannot bring myself to vote for the man who ran such a dirty campaign against her...I will vote Romney because I do believe they have a bold new approach.

[Emerald1]

Everybody but the reporters thought it was funny, so do I. Just more nonsense about a nonissue.

[Jackie312gm]

I can not see KENYA IN AFRICA from my house. Mr. Romney should also hammer borraco husain obamo about his aunt. Last i heard she's still here in America ILLEGALLY. She belongs in KENYA AFRICA that's where she came from according to newsprint.

[marine1]

If it is from chicago and it aint Don &Roma then you know that you aint gettinALL the truth

[Nagyt77]

Obamas birth certificate is covered up with lies and false information. Do the research. Bottom line new president or r freedom is demolished. He wants to destroy the u.s. and make us like other countries. No rights and everything is chosen for us. Sorry but I want my rights and freedom.

[Jmb]

Yea, doesnt anyone care that the hospital he said he was born in didnt exist until the 70's!

[RAWalker]

I can't believe that Mittens would say this kind of thing about President Davis---er, Soetoro...oops, I meant to say Obama.

[CanisCanemEdit]

"At Romney event, two reactions to his birth certificate joke: reporters gasped--and a crowd of thousands laughed and cheered."

Love it!

[ir0nw0lfe]

So Reid can accuse Romney of tax evasion without proof but Romney makes fun of the birther nonsense and he's the bad guy. Lighten up people. If Bill Maher said it all would be well.

[Sonny]

Yep...but this guy has already proven that he will say and do anything to try to win the presidency.....They don't call him Mr. Flip/Flop for nothin'. And to throw out this "birther" nonsense....I don't want to hear him whine anymore about ...."his record being distorted"...He is a liar and a fake, and not worthy of the office.

[InjusticeSucks]

And the Truth just keeps marching on the Mormon Moron.But i don't care After the Bain Documents i wont Vote for Mitt no matter what.

[Simkea]

NOPE. keep bring it up. NO-OBOMA should to be arrested and put on trial for defrauding the REAL American people

[Waynestew]

Hey Matt Romney I guess we'll be seeing your dads tax returns any day now..........still waiting..........and waiting..........seen the birth certificate..........still waiting.