White House releases Obama's long-form birth certificate

In response to media inquiries, US President holds press conference and releases long-form Hawaiian birth certificate; calls issue a "side show."

By DEBRA KAMIN
Obama Birth Certificate 311 (photo credit: courtesy)
Obama Birth Certificate 311
(photo credit: courtesy)
Since first announcing his candidacy for United States president, Barack Obama has faced intense questioning from critics about the legitimacy of his US citizenship. In 2008, while still on the campaign trail, his office attempted to quiet those inquiries and released his Hawaiian birth certificate. On Tuesday, in response to continued speculation as to his place of birth, the White House released Obama's long-form birth certificate and posted a copy on their website.
The certificate gives the president's full name as Barack Hussein Obama and lists his birth as occurring at 7:24 p.m. on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Many Obama critics and vocal Republican officials have voiced concern that Obama was actually born in Kenya, the birthplace of his father, a claim the US president has always vehemently denied.
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Obama held a brief conference on Tuesday as part of the certificate release, during which he expressed hope that the release of the long-form certificate would end debate over his birth place, which he called a "side show." He also said he had been "puzzled" by the intense scrutiny and expressed concern that the dialogue about his birth location was a distraction that took attention away many more important matters affecting the American people at this time.
"We're not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers," Obama said, adding, "We do not have time to discuss this."