Donald Trump has been making President Obama's failure to release his long-form birth certificate a huge public issue for several weeks now, though it has been much discussed in Internet political circles for the last three years. But now that the president has finally made the birth certificate public, I have a few thoughts about it.
The timing of the release is a strategic blunder two-fer.
Trump has said that he would run as an independent in the 2012 presidential race if he didn't get the GOP nomination. Such a race would ensure President Obama's reelection. However, since the president released the certificate today, he has effectively deflated a Trump spoiler candidacy and neutralized a potential weapon against the GOP candidate (it would have been far more damaging to the GOP candidate had the president released the certificate, say, in September 2012).
I don't think that was what the president intended to do. But, thanks anyway, Mr. President!
How does this kill off a Trump run in 2012 ? Do you think he was seriously running as a "birther" candidate ?
Trump was never a birther, he was simply hitting the hot button until Obama was made to blink ...
Now watch him go off on the college transcripts ... a couple of weeks of that and Obama may blink yet again ...
Notice that we have Trump to thank for Obama releasing this now when as you admit, it would have been better for Obama to wait until Sept 2012 ...
So Obama loses one of his race cards for the 2012 campaign ...
If you think Trump lost this battle you really don't understand what Trump is doing ...
he wanted to get Obama to respond to him ... IN ANY WAY ... having accomplished that he will now see if he can get another response out of Obama ...
He wants Obama reacting to his requests ...
Posted by: Jeff | April 27, 2011 at 12:07 PM
In addition to what Jeff said, I believe part of the reason the President decided to release the Birth Certificate now is that it was no longer an effective tool to marginalize his opponents. As long as anyone who mentioned the lack of the birth certificate could be branded a kook, it worked in Obama's favor. Since Trump entered the fray, polls have shown more and more people seemed to be thinking Obama was hiding something by not releasing the document. He was probably afraid that at this point it was becoming more of a liability than a bludgeon.
In the end, whether this spells the end of Trump's candidacy or not (assuming he really intends to run - I'm not so sure he's for real) depends on perception: whether the voting public think he's outsmarting Obama, or just a goofy conspiracy theorist.
Posted by: Suburban Scarecrow | April 27, 2011 at 12:43 PM
White people all have turned into a bunch of loonies get them straight jackets ready for these looney whites
Posted by: bobfrythefish | April 27, 2011 at 03:44 PM
It kills Trump's candidacy because it takes away Trump's one cudgel. He had nothing else to stand on for a GOP nomination or an independent run. One look at his words and his contributions shows that he's not even a RINO; He's a Democrat and we don't need another.
Posted by: baldilocks | April 27, 2011 at 06:18 PM
Take the ignorance and the racism to another blog. Thanks.
Posted by: baldilocks | April 27, 2011 at 06:19 PM
If that was his only Cudgel, then Trump deserves to fade away.
So if he comes up with new stuff and new approaches that work, good for him. If not, oh well.
Posted by: ErikZ | April 28, 2011 at 07:19 AM
The point, Erik, was about Trump as presidential candidate.
Trump is not a conservative and, as GOP candidate or independent candidate, would be a win for Obama. So, basically, Obama helped the GOP by releasing the BC now where it cannot be used against the GOP candidate and by lessening Trump's RINO arsenal.
I personally don't give a crap about what's good for Trump. My country is being destroyed. He's done his service and I thank him.
Posted by: baldilocks | April 28, 2011 at 07:42 AM
Thank you for labeling Trump a Democrat.
I've seen more Republicans and Conservatives falling for this guy's schtick just because he's taking it to Obama and ignoring Trump's donations, record and political causes he supports.
He's not a Conservative. He's not even a Republican!
And for those who'd say, well, lots of folks refine their opinions over time. Even Reagan was a Democrat at one point right? The problem with that position is that Reagan's change developed over a long period of time. Trump just donated $50,000 to RAHM IMMANUEL for his Mayoral race.
So I appreciate you're calling him what he is and not falling for the media hype about this fellow.
Posted by: Mary Beth | April 28, 2011 at 06:27 PM
Wow, we're assuming a lot here, aren't we?
I like Dennis Miller's comment best:
"If he doesn't get the unemployment numbers under control, a 'syphilitic camel' could beat him in the next election."
And I not only agree with that, I think that's exactly what will happen...
(Bad unemployment numbers, not the camel with VD!)
His job approval numbers put him in "unelectable" territory right now. Independents are re-thinking their vote for him last election. He has to do something really drastic in order to change the course of the economy and job outlook, but he's now shot all his arrows...
He's got no more good options.
Gas prices have him terrified and his wonderful ideas to tax the rich will make things worse.
Higher taxes on corporations will just run more of those jobs overseas.
I'll be very surprised if he doesn't end up with several primary challengers, Ms. Pantsuit bein' one of 'em.
And as a conservative/libertarian I hate to say it, but I sure as HELL don't want a republican House, Senate, AND Presidency. I'm damned tired of absolute power absolutely corrupting.
Posted by: Greybeard | April 29, 2011 at 12:25 AM
Trump is a populist with a Democrat's donation history. He's not a conservative, so the Republicans would be foolish to jump on his bandwagon.
Having said that, Trump has his uses. Getting Obama off his game even a little counts as a victory.
Posted by: KingShamus | May 01, 2011 at 02:29 PM