Millionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump was a vocal birther—someone who insinuates Barack Obama was not born in the United States—until at least 2014. Today, he's supposedly going to denounce this position for good, following some recent equivocation on his part.
Adds Trump: "We have to keep the suspense going."
This sort of statement enrages liberals because it reminds them of how easily Trump manipulates the political media's hunger for a horse race—especially now he's neck and neck with rival Hillary Clinton in national polls and there's no sign of them realizing he understands them better than they understand him.
The fear today is of equivocating headlines such as "Trump, Clinton trade accusations on Birtherism," allowing him the plain lie of a she-did-it-first controversy.
But days of Trump benefiting from a smarmy rehabilitation narrative, when the most nakedly racist dogwhistle in American politics is still glistening with his saliva, is what's almost too much to bear. Here's Josh Marshall:
1. We need your help today. We're going to be closely monitoring which journos treat it as done and in the past if Trump simply says …
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) September 16, 2016
2: Obama was born in US and I helped prove it. If you see examples pls flag here and add #birtherwhitewash hashtag. We'll ag them together.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) September 16, 2016
Accusing his opponent of whatever he is accused of is one of the three key tools in Trump's media arsenal, used over and over again to amazing effect (the others: "I'll tell you tomorrow" and "Something's going on.") Journos are defensively, cynically attached to a supposedly objective voice from nowhere that conceals editorial judgment in the framing of subject matter, and Trump's been doing well since Hillary switched her focus to the "Romney moderates" most influenced by it.
Right-wing provocateurs are eager to help the media avoid contaminating balance with facts. One hot emerging term is "post-factual" (cf. Post-truth) which describes both the mainstream journalistic practices they've lucked into and the world they hope will emerge from them.
Slate collects all of Trump's birther quotes in once place, for whatever they're worth.
Made in America? @BarackObama called his 'birthplace' Hawaii "here in Asia." http://t.co/dQka2PIr
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2011
Let's take a closer look at that birth certificate. @BarackObama was described in 2003 as being "born in Kenya." http://t.co/vfqJesJL
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2012
.@BarackObama is practically begging @MittRomney to disavow the place of birth movement, he is afraid of it and (cont) http://t.co/eHvjlV0S
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2012
I want to see @BarackObama's college records to see how he listed his place of birth in the application.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2012
In his own words, @BarackObama "was born in Kenya, and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii." This statement was made, (cont) http://t.co/nIsSypv9
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2012
My @CNN interview with @wolfblitzercnn where I discuss @BarackObama's 'birth certificate' and why @CNN has low ratings http://t.co/PQwR5XUh
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2012
I wonder what the answer is on @BarackObama's college application to the question: place of birth? Maybe the (cont) http://t.co/E8q0xakY
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 17, 2012
Congratulations to @RealSheriffJoe on his successful Cold Case Posse investigation which claims @BarackObama's 'birth certificate' is fake
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2012
Why does HI Revised Statute 338-17.8 allow an HI resident who doesn't have to be US citizen to procure an official Hawaii birth certificate?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2012
Via @BreitbartFeed–why doesn't @BarackObama release his original book proposal which says he was born in Kenya?http://t.co/pDDHJcjH
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2012
With @BarackObama listing himself as "Born in Kenya" in 1999http://bit.ly/JaHQW0 HI laws allowed him to produce a fake certificate. #SCAM
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2012
Read this–@BarackObama's birth certificate "cannot survive judicial scrutiny" because of "phantom numbers" http://t.co/DIv9sLI2
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2012
An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2012
Why do the Republicans keep apologizing on the so called "birther" issue? No more apologies–take the offensive!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2012
.@BarackObama is petrified of the birther issue so they go on the offensive to try & make the Republicans feel (cont) http://t.co/HVvlnsvh
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2012
Media silent when @BarackObama called @MittRomney a murderer & felon. Mitt mentions 'birth certificate' and they go nuts. Double standard!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2012
What a coincidence–Michelle Obama called Kenya @BarackObama's "homeland" in 2008 http://t.co/lQKQ2C7n
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2012
Wake Up America! See article: "Israeli Science: Obama Birth Certificate is a Fake" http://t.co/f7esUdSz
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2012
In debate, @MittRomney should ask Obama why autobiography states "born in Kenya, raised in Indonesia."
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2012
A lot changed when David Letterman said " he was probably born in this country"— the word probably is a total disaster for Obama.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 28, 2012
Dave Letterman @Late_Show said during my interview that Obama was "probably" born in the US–the word "probably" is a disaster for Obama.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2012
“TRUMP HITS BACK AT CHRIS MATTHEWS’ BIRTHER RANT: ‘HE USED TO BE A MUCH MORE INTELLIGENT MAN’" http://t.co/bBlm1jymlr @MadeleineBlaze
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2013
"@CTrain_: @realDonaldTrump Honestly who gives a shit where Obama was born? It's where he lives now that's the problem" Interesting!!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2013
"@artlab: @realDonaldTrump Still waiting for the apology on the birth certificate thing. You must be kidding joker!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 7, 2013
"@davidrhythmguit: @realDonaldTrump @Chuffman48 Mark Cuban accepts the fact that the President of the United States was born here." Doubt it
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2013
@jonkarl interviews me on This Week during which time he stated that he was "pretty sure" President Obama was born in the U.S. Bad question!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2013
Why are people upset w/ me over Pres Obama’s birth certificate?I got him to release it, or whatever it was, when nobody else could!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2013
People should be proud of the fact that I got Obama to release his birth certificate, which in a recent book he “miraculously” found.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2013
"@HoppMar: @realDonaldTrump I saw his brother in Kenya interviewed, HE may be wiser, actually." I'm so surprised his brother lives in Kenya
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2013
“If you like your healthcare plan you can keep it.” = “I was born in Hawaii.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2013
How amazing, the State Health Director who verified copies of Obama’s “birth certificate” died in plane crash today. All others lived
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2013
Pres. Obama is about to embark on a 17 day vacation in his ‘native’ Hawaii, putting Secret Service away from families on Christmas. Aloha!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2013
"@johnnyb23390: @realDonaldTrump – the only confidentiality agreement he signed was for his real birth certificate. keep up the great work!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2014
"@Boycottmaypac: @realDonaldTrump He got the president to show his Birth Certificate! He has clout my friend! He can really stir things up!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2014
Always remember, I was the one who got Obama to release his birth certificate, or whatever that was! Hilary couldn't, McCain couldn't.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2014
Attention all hackers: You are hacking everything else so please hack Obama's college records (destroyed?) and check "place of birth"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 6, 2014
"@futureicon: @pinksugar61 Obama also fabricated his own birth certificate after being pressured to produce one by @realDonaldTrump"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2014