Fact Check: "Obama is not a US citizen"
What We Know
The claim that Barack Obama is not a U.S. citizen has been a persistent conspiracy theory, often referred to as the "birther" movement. This theory alleges that Obama was not born in the United States, thus making him ineligible to serve as President. However, evidence shows that Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961, at the Kapiolani Maternity & Gynecological Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii, which makes him a natural-born citizen of the United States.
In 2008, a lawsuit known as Berg v. Obama was filed by an attorney seeking to have Obama declared ineligible for the presidency, claiming he was not a natural-born citizen. The case was dismissed due to lack of standing, and the dismissal was later affirmed by the court of appeals.
The "birther" movement, as explored in various analyses, has been debunked repeatedly. The U.S. Constitution requires that a president be a natural-born citizen, and the legal consensus is that being born in the U.S. meets this requirement. Additionally, Obama's birth certificate, released by the White House, confirms his birth in Hawaii.
Analysis
The claim that Obama is not a U.S. citizen primarily stems from conspiracy theories rather than credible evidence. The lawsuit filed against Obama was dismissed, and the court found no merit in the claims presented. Furthermore, the legal analysis of the term "natural-born citizen" supports the understanding that anyone born on U.S. soil is considered a natural-born citizen, regardless of parental citizenship.
The sources that propagate the birther conspiracy, such as Wikipedia and BBC News, highlight the political motivations behind these claims. These sources are generally reliable, providing a comprehensive overview of the conspiracy's origins and its debunking over time. However, the persistence of the theory can be attributed to its political utility rather than factual accuracy.
Conclusion
The claim that Barack Obama is not a U.S. citizen is False. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, making him a natural-born citizen of the United States. Legal challenges to his citizenship have been consistently dismissed, and the evidence overwhelmingly supports his eligibility to serve as President. The "birther" conspiracy is a politically motivated theory lacking credible evidence.
Sources
- Barack Obama's Citizenship
- What The Birthers Have Taught Us About Barack Obama And The Constitution
- A psychodynamic exploration of doubts about Obama's citizenship
- Berg v. Obama Complaint
- Earned Citizenship | The White House
- Berg Memorandum in Support of TRO
- Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories - Wikipedia
- The birth of the Obama 'birther' conspiracy - BBC News