Yesterday I had a conversation with a very nice women, former US Army member. Probably in her 40's. An Obama supporter, having voted for him twice, she saw an Obama campaign momento in my office and asked if I was a supporter.
Of course, I told her. But did you vote for him she asked. Of course, I told her. Twice! And campaigned for him.
Then she said something about him having been born IN IRAQ!! I told her no, he was born in Hawaii, in Honolulu. Went to high school there.
He did live in Indonesia for awhile as a young child, but never lived in Iraq.
We went further with the conversation and she kept referring to him being born in Iraq.
I told her, no, Hawaii. His father was from Kenya, his mother from Kansas. Mom's family had moved to Hawaii.
She asked me how I knew all of this. I told her that, for one thing, he has written two books and it's all in there. She wasn't interested in reading any books.
This conversation left me non-plussed, to say the least.
How is it that a person who actually supports Obama, and voted for him twice, doesn't know these basic facts?
I'm baffled.
Reflecting, I realized that many Republicans probably have similar misconceptions. But the larger issue is, how can it be that a member of the US armed services has this notion?
It didn't seem to bother her that he was, according to her version, born in Iraq. She had no idea that would disqualify anybody to run for president of the US. If Senator Cruz, the Canadian born son of a Cuban father and American citizen mother, were to run, would she have any problem with that?
After all the discussion, all the controversy, all the explanations in so many formats, how is it possible anybody could still be so misinformed ? And not understand the larger issue about being a "natural born citizen?"
Good grief !