Obama is an American Citizen . . . OK?!

Just moments ago, I learned that the Arizona Legislature recently passed the "Presidential Birther Bill," which would require all presidential candidates to prove their citizenship before their names can appear on an Arizona ballot.  A brief disclaimer - I have only read one article about this bill, and it was posted on AOL news, which I realize is not exactly a Diana Sawyer account of the legislation.  That being said, it is my understanding that this bill would require hopeful candidates to submit a copy of their birth certificate, an affidavit in which the candidate-hopeful provides his or her age and swears that he or she is a United States citizen, and a sworn statement in which the candidate discloses where he or she has lived for the past 14 years. If, for some reason, the candidate-hopeful is unable to obtain a copy of his or her birth certificate, he or she could submit hospital records (the article gives circumcision records as an example) or "baptismal" records.  If one submits these alternative documents and the Secretary of State doesn't believe that the candidates have satisfied the citizenship requirements, then that candidate would no longer be a candidate.  

A Republican Representative stated that this bill is about "the integrity of our elections."  I have one word to say to that - bull@*$(.  And here is why that is my choice, and only, word in response.  Republicans, and I'm sure some Democrats, have been questioning Obama's citizenship since the moment he became a Presidential candidate.  Even now, more than half-way through his term, people (like the all-wise Donald Trump and his million-dollar hair piece) are still questioning his citizenship.  I am aware that the Constitution mandates that the President of the United States must be a natural-born citizen, and if there was any legitimate question about his citizenship, I would be all for continuing to investigate the claims that he was born abroad - but there isn't.  Hawaiin officials have confirmed that he is a citizen, and he has made his birth certificate public.  So, he has satisfied the requirements of the "birther bill," but he hasn't satisfied all of the people in the country who continue to waste time and money debating it.  Do we really want the United States of America to turn into a country where the President is required to provide his circumcision records to satisfy the likes of Donald Trump?  Seriously? Not to mention how stupid it is that baptismal records can satisfy the requirement, but Obama's provision of his birth certificate isn't good enough? Because it is IMPOSSIBLE for someone to be born out of the country, but baptized here?  And if you aren't circumcised or you aren't religious and thus, you have not been baptized and do not belong to a church, are you just SOL? Ok . . . sorry for that rant.

But seriously, my question is this - what is the point?! What is the point of such a bill if satisfaction of the bill's requirements is STILL insufficient to make citizenship a "non-issue."  What is the point of such a bill if the candidate, once elected President of the United States, has to continue to spend time, effort & money to defend his or her citizenship?  And after compliance with the "birther bill's" requirements, the Secretary of State can still possibly keep your name off the ballot because he or she isn't satisfied?  The fact of the matter is, this is an effort to deter minorities from having the nerve (sarcasm) to run for president.  If Obama was white, and his last name was Smith, do you think ANYONE would care that his dad was born in Kenya?! No.  Would people be constantly questioning his birthplace?  No.  Would people instead be focusing their energy on tackling the deficit, creating jobs, etc?  One can only hope. 

Finally, and most importantly, why is a state's Legislature wasting time (and Arizona taxpayers' money) coming up with this bill, when it could be spending that time and money on coming up with solutions to the unemployment rates, or how to reduce the state's spending (if that is necessary)?  I hope that the Governor of Arizona refuses to sign the measure into law.  

In the words of Forest Gump, "that's all I have to say about that."

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/15/arizona-legislature-oks-presidential-birther-bill/?icid=maing-grid7|aim|dl1|sec3_lnk1|56322