Thursday, March 11, 2010

Some conspiracists harbor ominous hatred

Regarding C.B. Alyn's March 5 letter to editor: It's hard to decide if the charge that President Obama isn't constitutionally eligible to be president of the U.S. is dangerous, or merely ridiculous.

To be eligible for president, you must be at least 35 years old and be a "natural born citizen." President Obama is both. Natural born means a citizen at birth, and President Obama was born in the state of Hawaii. The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution defines citizenship as "all persons born or naturalized in the United States," and the law based on that amendment (Title 8 of the U.S. Code, Section 1401) specifies that "anyone born inside the United States" is a natural born citizen. The law is clear, and so are the facts.

It's unspoken, but there's a thin line between serious mental illness and some conspiracy theorists who see dark threats in anything governmental. These are the individuals who become hate-filled and violent toward leaders who don't share their twisted views, their color or their religion. Think about the assassins who shot Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, or domestic American terrorists like the (super patriot) Oklahoma City bomber and the murderers or shooters of guards at the Holocaust Museum and again, just days ago, at the Pentagon.

Are there "birthers" and believers in U.S. government involvement in 9/11 out there who are similarly demented? If so, don't patriotic right-wing conservatives, as well as liberals, have a responsibility to speak out and repudiate such conspiracy theories and all acts of violence?

Roger C. Kostmayer

Key West

No need to worry about Obama's citizenship

According to C.B. Alyn's March 5 letter, President Obama does not have the constitutional right to be president because he is not a U.S. born citizen as required by the Constitution.

I opposed his nomination because of his socialist views and because of his associates, like the Rev. Wright, terrorist Ayers and communists he mentioned in his book that shaped him as an adolescent.

Now, believe me, if he were not eligible to be president, do you think the Clinton machine would have allowed it? Former President Clinton tried several times using dubious tactics to derail Obama's nomination, and this one would have been the easiest one if it were true.

The American people are waking up and even though he rode the anti-Bush wave, he will be a one-term president as expressed by former Vice President Cheney, therefore, don't worry too much about his citizenship.

Diego L Caso

Key West

Someone is always quick to take credit

In anticipation of the next 2 million jObamas, that some year may come to the out-of-work force, I am taking the time, while I have it, to prepare my resume before some enthusiast claims that global warming causes earthquakes, forcing me into volunteering for Sarah Prayin's campaign of 2012. "God help me!" (Is that something she said, or was it me? You make the call.)

In a sad way, the earthquakes are creating jobs; and Jabba (Get it?) the Hutt took the credit before the politicians could. I hope an economist takes credit for the someday sewer system in the Keys before some ecologist does.

Mark Sanders

Cudjoe Key