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Barack Obama’s birth certificate was released by his campaign after requests from PolitiFact.com and other news media.
It hit our inbox just like the chain e-mail attacks that made us want it in the first place, the final piece to a puzzle we've been sorting out for months.
Sen. Barack Obama's birth certificate.
"I know there have been some rumors spreading about Obama's citizenship, so I wanted to make sure you all had a copy of his birth certificate," Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor wrote in an e-mail.
The document shows that Barack Hussein Obama II was born Aug. 4, 1961, at 7:24 p.m. in Honolulu. His mother is Stanley Ann Dunham, and his father is Barack Hussein Obama. There is no Muhammed in his name.
The birth certificate wasn't available before because Obama's birth state of Hawaii does not make such records public and the campaign did not release it.
Shortly after we posted this document on PolitiFact.com, some readers questioned its authenticity.
"You have shown a Certificate of Live Birth — not a birth certificate," one e-mailed. "There is a difference. Look at state laws regarding the completion of both forms."
Another wrote: "I have serious doubts about the purported 'birth certificate' you were sent."
To verify we did have the correct document, we contacted the Hawaii Department of Health, which maintains such records.
"It's a valid Hawaii state birth certificate," spokesman Janice Okubo said after we e-mailed her our copy.
Okubo said a copy of the birth certificate was requested this month, but she wouldn't specify by whom. But as we know from our attempts to get one in April, Hawaii law states that only family members can access such records.
Amy Hollyfield can be reached at (727) 893-8491 or ahollyfield@sptimes.com.
Read more at PolitiFact.com
We've updated the story that prompted our interest in Obama's birth certificate. Read "Even missionaries botch their facts." And read our Pants-On-Fire ruling about the chain e-mail statement, "His true name is Barak Hussein Muhammed Obama."
[Last modified: Jun 24, 2008 11:10 AM]
Comments on this article
by Megan
Jun 24, 2008 11:10 AM
Did she happen to explain why there was no "stamp" or "registrar name" on the document, when other Hawaii Birth Certificates have both?
by james
Jun 24, 2008 10:53 AM
here is his original birth certificate....
what hospital was he born..
Religion...
Ask questions
by Shawn
Jun 23, 2008 1:37 PM
Furhermore, Barack could provide his Birth certificate to real reporters not DailyCos bloggers.
This article was a sad attempt to dispell inquiries for records.
We still need the real documents.
by Shawn
Jun 23, 2008 12:08 PM
This is a fake...official copies of birth certificates and birth records would be certified and be complete forms of information.
The Janice Okubo comments are a fabrication, she wouldn't be the go to person for vital records information.
by Fek
Jun 19, 2008 5:50 PM
Well the only way to solve the issue once and for all is for someone to file a Court case so that a subpoena can be issued to the Hawaii records department to produce the document.
by Ann
Jun 19, 2008 9:10 AM
What would it matter if his name did include Mohammad or Mohammed? His parents named him as they chose to name him as it was their right to do so. Stop acting out of fear over those of Islamic or Muslim descent due to a minority of extremists!
by Charlotte
Jun 19, 2008 9:10 AM
The implications here are saddening. When a country boasts of having the few "meritocracies" in the world, why are we balking at a candidate's name? Let the 50 million American Muslims know that their name may prevent them from holding public office.
by Mike D
Jun 19, 2008 9:10 AM
Flag pins, preachers, foreign names, innuendo...... all signs of a desperate right wing that can't compete on issues.
by Jon
Jun 18, 2008 2:21 PM
There are still too many doubts and suspicions.
by geezer
Jun 18, 2008 2:21 PM
Seriously? I've been around a long time and I can't remember when a candidates birth certificate became an issue. The ignorance and hate contained in emails I have received make me shudder. They are the refuge of small minds. I am not afraid.
by Val
Jun 18, 2008 2:21 PM
The lies and smears will continute coming right up until election day because the the right can't win on policy and they know it. We see where those policies have left us after 7 years. Hopefully people are paying attention this time.
by Laura
Jun 18, 2008 2:20 PM
BARACKNOPHOBIA strikes again! Will the conspiracy theorists on the right ever stop?
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