Obama Trumps Trump

SINCE June 2008, Americans have seen the Certification of Live Birth for Barack Hussein Obama II. It is machine-printed, the only kind Hawaii issues now, and it states that Obama was born at 7:24 p.m., Aug. 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.

This, and the birth announcement from the Aug. 13, 1961, Honolulu Advertiser, convinced us long ago that Obama is a natural-born citizen, as specified in the U.S. Constitution, and that the "birthers" who insist on disbelieving it have coconut husks for brains.

The birthers asked why Obama had not released the long-form "certificate of birth" filled out in 1961 and signed by the delivering physician? Why, indeed? Maybe Obama was waiting for a really high-level coconut head to play the fool.

Maybe he was waiting for Donald Trump.

Now comes the very document the birthers clamored for. It is a "certificate" rather than a "certification." It is filled out by typewriter, not printed off a computer. It has the name of the hospital. It has the signatures of Obama's American-born mother and of the delivering physician.

Trump attempts to turn this to his advantage. "I'm very proud of myself," he said.

We knew that.

Trump now takes credit for forcing the president of the United States to prove his American birth. It is not an act to be proud of. There is a nativist tinge to it and, because Obama is of half-African descent, a racial tinge. By quibbling over forms — "certification" versus "certificate," etc. — a false suggestion is planted that Obama is un-American.

The assertion of hidden secrets is an old chestnut in politics. Some people prefer to believe that all appearances are false, and that real truth is concealed. People on both sides do it. Recall the preposterous theories that the 9/11 attacks were an inside job of the administration of George W. Bush.

This lie, at least, could be slain by a piece of paper. That is now done. Please, let the coconut heads be quiet.