Trump Tells O'Reilly That He May Run For President As An Independent If The GOP Nominates A "Stiff"

From the June 10 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

Trump Picks $50 Million Entertainment Career Over Presidential Race

By Alyssa Rosenberg










Announcing that he wouldn’t run for president on Monday, Donald Trump said in a statement that “business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector.” It’s not surprising that he didn’t choose to run a campaign that he almost certainly would have lost. But Trump’s decision was probably based as much on an ultimatum from NBC, the network that runsThe Apprentice, Trump’s one undisputed business triumph, as it was by any particular love of business.

Mike Huckabee’s contract with Fox News pays him $500,000 a year, a sum that’s been quoted often in discussions of his decision not to run for president. But that contract pales in comparison to Trump’s take from his entertainment ventures: in its list of the wealthiest entertainers in 2009 and 2010, Forbes estimated that Trump makes $50 million annually from his entertainment ventures.

Trump might not have to sacrifice all of that income if he ran for president, because some of it comes from speaking fees, books, and products like a menswear line. There are no prohibitions on candidates receiving money for services rendered, so Trump probably could continue doing product endorsements as long as he wasn’t being paid unusually high rates for them, though he might have dropped some clients in order to avoid conflicts of interest or to appear more substantive. And NBC’s president for programming, Bob Greenblatt, told entertainment reporters that if Trump ran for president, the network would replace him but continue the show with a new host, a move they’d likely have been required to make to comply with equal time rules. That very public announcement left Trump with the unpleasant prospect of a campaign that could strip him of the most legitimate business enterprise in his portfolio.

Trump’s brief, incendiary campaign may have long-term negative implications for his brand, especially given how much he harped on President Obama’s citizenship. But continuing The Apprentice, one of the few things NBC knows works in the current lineup, gives Greenblatt desperately-needed breathing room to roll out an ambitious new programming schedule. Trump’s pseudo-run may have set the bar low for ugliness in the 2012 Republican primary, but in the short term, he’s still good business for NBC.

Trump: ‘I Am The Least Racist Person There Is’ Because A Black Guy Won The Apprentice Six Years Ago

By Alex Seitz-Wald

Potential presidential candidate Donald Trump has often found himself in hot water for making racially-tinged comments — saying in the span of a single press conference, for example, that President Obama should “get off his basketball court” and that a black reporter must be a “big Obama fan.” Yet, Trump insists he has a “great relationship with the blacks.” Responding to accusations of racism this morning on Fox & Friends, Trump said he is the “least racist person there is,” citing the fact that an African-American man won The Apprentice once as proof:

TRUMP: Well, you know, when it comes to racism and racists, I am the least racist person there is. And I think most people who know me would tell you that. I am the least racist, I’ve had great relationships. In fact, Randal Pinkett won, as you know, on The Apprentice a little while ago, a couple of years ago. And Randall’s been outstanding in every way. So I am the least racist person.

Watch it:

Indeed, Pinkett won The Apprentice six years ago in December 2005. Trump also pointed to the “tremendous” job rapper Lil Jon is doing on the current season of Celebrity Apprentice.

Pinkett recently said that he thought Trump’s rumored presidential campaign was “another publicity stunt and perhaps a wise and a shrewd one as the Celebrity Apprentice season is rolling around. But I have to say, in recent months, he is really beginning to sound like he’s serious,” Pinkett added, without offering an endorsement of Trump.

Meanwhile, Fox host Steve Doocy mentioned ThinkProgress’ successful campaign to have Groupon and other companies pull advertisements from The Apprentice. Trump said he was unconcerned about the loss, claiming there are “30 other” companies that would want to replace them.

Trump To Black Journalist: ‘I Know You’re A Big Obama Fan’

By Judd Legum

Yesterday during his press conference in New Hampshire –- after the cable news networks cut to President Obama’s remarks regarding the release of his long form birth certificate — potential GOP presidential candiate Donald Trump spent some time extolling infrastructure investments made by China and other countries, suggesting the U.S. should follow suit. This prompted Les Trent, a reporter for Inside Edition, to ask Trump: “Isn’t that what President Obama tried to do with his stimulus package?”

Trump’s response to Trent, who is African American, was “Look, I know you are a big Obama fan.” Trent replied, “Why do you say that?”

Here’s the transcript of the exchange:

TRUMP:When was the last time – if you go to China, as an example – bridges being built, massive bridges. When is the last time we built a bridge in this country, other than a little toy.

LES TRENT: Isn’t that what President Obama tried to do with his stimulus package?

TRUMP: The President… Look I know you are a big Obama fan.The president doesn’t know what he’s doing.

LES TRENT: Why do you say that?

TRUMP: Because of your question. The President doesn’t know what he is doing.

Watch it:

In an interview with ThinkProgress about the exchange, Trent said, “I think race was a factor. … I’m just assuming, I mean I have no way of knowing that. But I just don’t understand why he said that to me and not anyone else.”

The incident appears to be part of a pattern of recent racially-tinged comments by Trump.

With additional reporting by Alex Seitz-Wald

UPDATELast night, on CBS Evening News, Face the Nation host and CBS correspondent Bob Schieffer criticized Trump's recent statements regarding Obama'scollege transcripts, saying race was Trump's underlying motive:

"That's just code for saying he got into law school because he's black.This is an ugly strain of racism that's running through this whole thing. We can hope that kind of comes to an end too, but we'll have to see," Schieffer said.

Trump responded today, saying he wasn't suggesting anything about Obama's race:

"That is a terrible statement for a newscaster to make. I am the last person that such a thing should be said about." [...] "Affirmative action is out there. It's a program that is available. But I have no idea whether it applies in this case. I'm not suggesting anything."

Facing Trump Backlash, Groupon Announces It Will Stop Sponsoring The Apprentice

By Judd Legum

Potential GOP candidate Donald Trump has been peddling false and malicious attacks on President Obama. He gains much of his prominence from his prime-time NBC show The Apprentice. This morning at 9:30 am on Twitter, ThinkProgress urged concerned citizens to ask Groupon to stop sponsoring the show.

Dear @Groupon: Are you going to continue to sponsor The Apprentice and support Donald Trump + his malicious attacks on our President?less than a minute ago via TweetDeck  Favorite  Retweet  ReplyThinkProgress
thinkprogress

Moments ago, a Groupon representative announced that, in the future, they will block their advertisements from appearing on The Apprentice website.

You can contact Enterprise Rental Car, which is telling customers they don’t sponsor The Apprentice, but are currently advertising on their website.

Acclaimed Historian Douglas Brinkley Calls For NBC To Dump Trump, Corporate Sponsors To Pull Ads

By Judd Legum

Moments ago on CNN, acclaimed historian and author Douglas Brinkley pinned the blame for the reemergence of birtherism on NBC Entertainment for giving real estate mogul Donald Trump a primetime platform. Brinkley called on NBC to immediately drop Trump’s show, The Apprentice, from its lineup. If NBC decides to keep Trump on the air, Brinkley called on corporate sponsors to pull their ads or face a massive consumer boycotts:

We don’t have to blame “the media” for dealing with this issue. We have to blame NBC Entertainment. They need to dump Trump from his primetime news show. He’s a poison toad on the airwaves. What corporate sponsor is going to be buying ad time for Donald Trump’s show.Any company that goes into Trump and is willing to pay is going to find consumer boycott like they’ve never seen before. If you are going to do what Trump did and go after the President of the United States in such a grotesque and disingenuous way you better cough up the goods. Today the Obama administration has shown what a charlatan Donald Trump really is.

Watch it:

Corporate sponsors of “Celebrity Apprentice” currently include: Enterprise Rental Car, Clorox, Sprint, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Walt Disney, and Groupon.

Whoops: Trump claimed he would commit war crimes if elected president

By Stephen C. Webster

In a little-noticed admission last week, billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump, who currently leads all likely Republican candidates for the presidential nomination in 2012, admitted that he would commit war crimes if he were elected president.

The startling claim went without controversy until today, whenGood Magazine pointed out that Trump's "plan" to seize $1.5 trillion from Iraq's oil profits to "reemburse ourselves" for the invasion and subsequent occupation would actually be an explicit violation of international law -- a violation considered to be a war crime.

"According to the 1907 Hague Convention, 'pillaging,' the stealing of valuable goods from a locality, especially during combat, is a war crime, regardless of what you feel you deserve," noted Cord Jefferson, Good's senior editor. "In the Hague's exact words: 'The pillage of a town or place, even when taken by assault, is prohibited.'"

Many have suggested that Trump's "campaign" may not be entirely serious: that he may only be doing it to get his show on NBC renewed for another season.

The billionaire has not said whether he'll officially launch a campaign, but he's become a staple guest on the Fox News Channel, where he's been given carte blanche to promote unfounded conspiracy theoriesabout President Barack Obama's birthplace.

A poll in February found that in a hypothetical match-up, Trump would lose to President Obama by just two percent of the vote.

NBC Allows Trump To Begin Campaigning On ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’

By Tanya Somanader

While bathing in the media limelight, real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump is still playing coy over whether he fully intends to run for president. Any announcement will necessarily come after the completion of his show “The Celebrity Apprentice” because, as he’s said, “I can’t announce during the show.” The FEC’sequal-time rule requires radio and TV stations to provide commensurate time to opposing candidates if they give free airtime to one announced candidate.

Trump has said he will address his candidacy during the show’s finale on May 22 — a move many attribute to flagging ratings rather than political ambition. But last night, Trump may have pre-empted himself — and slid around FEC rules — by polling his once-famous contestants on whether he should run for president. After securing singer Meatloaf’s and TV personality Star Jones’s endorsement, Trump issued a ruling that anybody who would not vote for him “would immediately be fired because they’re stupid”:

TRUMP: Good morning. Everybody is saying I should run for president. Let me ask you a question. Meatloaf, should I run for president?

MEATLOAF: Absolutely.

TRUMP: Now you would definitely vote for me.

MEATLOAF: I would vote for you, I would help you with your campaign.

TRUMP: Ok, I thought so. What do you think Star? You’re a political analyst.

JONES: Of course, I’m right here now, ready to roll.

TRUMP: Who would not vote for me?…I would say anybody that raised their hand would immediately be fired because they’re stupid.

Watch it:

NBC is certainly aware of its the equal time restrictions and is claiming that Trump’s finale stunt will only announce a “time and place of a press conference” at a later date at which time he can officially announce his run. Until Trump formally declares, NBC isnot obligated to offer equal time to another candidate.

However, NBC’s special treatment of Trump did not extend to former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN) in 2007 who departed his Law & Order gig “after he indicated that he would seek the Republican nomination in 2008.” He had yet to form an exploratory committee. Fox News is now operating under the same principle, ending its contractswith former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — before either offered a formal declaration.

In using his reality show as a venue to promote and poll for his candidacy, Trump is quickly trampling any legal line NBC is trying to toe. After all, he told CBS that he views leading the country as more “important” than his show and said “there’s no doubt in my mind I want to run as a Republican.” So perhaps, as Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) suggests, while “there is no law against stupid,” NBC should tell Trump “You’re Fired.”

Trump: a frontman for hatred?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Fox News Goes Full Birther

From Media Matters:

Following Donald Trump's lead, Fox News figures have recently embraced or promoted aspects of the birther conspiracy theory by falsely claiming that President Obama has not produced his birth certificate, or by hosting birthers to hype their discredited theories unchallenged

.Hannity Leads The Fox News Birther Charge

Palin Embraces Trump's Birtherism: "More Power To Him"

Fox News Figures Embrace Hannity And Palin's Birtherism

Fox Uncritically Hosts Birthers, Promotes Birther Conspiracy Theories

Obama Has Released His Birth Certificate; Did Not Spend $2 Million Preventing Its Release

Hannity Leads The Fox News Birther Charge

Hannity: "Produce The Birth Certificate, It's Over And Done With." On the March 24 edition of Fox News' Hanntity, host Sean Hannity asked: "What's the deal? Produce the birth certificate, it's over and done with." He later again demanded that Obama "[s]how the birth certificate" and asked, "Why won't they release the birth certificate?" From the March 24 edition of Hannity:

HANNITY: First of all. What's the deal? Produce the birth certificate, it's over, done with. Chris Matthews wants it.

[...]

McGUIRK (Imus in the Morning Executive Producer): Show the birth certificate--

HANNITY: Show the birth certificate.

McGUIRK: Get it over with.

 HANNITY: Get it over with.

HELDMAN: Wait, what does Indonesia have to do with being born in the United States? How is that material to whether or not he was born in the United States? What is the logic?

HANNITY: Why won't they release the birth certificate?

HELDMAN: What is the logic? What's the connection?

HANNITY: Why don't they just release it and get it over with? And, we don't have to talk about it -

HELDMAN: Because it's insulting.

EHRLICH: In fact, I'm tired of talking about it now.

HANNITY: So the only reason they don't release it is because it insults him. [Fox News,Hannity, 3/24/11]

Hannity On Obama's Birth Certificate: "Can't They Just Produce It, And We Move On?" On the March 23 edition of his show, Hannity asked, "What do you think about this birth certificate issue? I mean, it has not been my main issue, but it kind of does get a little odd here after a while. Can't they just produce it and we move on?" [Fox News, Hannity, 3/23/11]

Hannity Asked, "Why Can't They Just Release The Birth Certificate?" On the March 25 edition of his show, Hannity stated, "Donald Trump brought up the issue of the birth certificate, and it's getting huge buzz around the country," and later asked, "Why can't they just release the birth certificate, you know, and just move on?" [Fox News, Hannity, 3/25/11]

Hannity Said It's "Not True" That Obama Has Shown His Birth Certificate. Later on the March 25 edition of his show, Hannity stated: "Do I think he was [born in America]? Yes. Do I think this is odd that they won't produce the birth certificate? It's beginning to get odd to me." Hannity later stated that it's "not true" that Obama has shown his birth certificate. [Fox News, Hannity, 3/25/11]

Hannity Says Obama Was Born In The U.S. But Demands That He "Show The Stupid Birth Certificate." On the April 5 edition of his show, Hannity said that Obama was born in the United States but demanded that he "show the stupid birth certificate and move on." [Fox News, Hannity, 4/5/11]

Hannity Claimed The "Strongest Case" For Obama Being A Citizen Is Printed Birth Announcement. On the April 14 edition of his show, Hannity stated that the "strongest case" for Obama being born in Hawaii was "the announcement that was in one of the newspapers eight days after" he was born. [Fox News, Hannity, 4/14/11]

Hannity Defends Birthers: "Why Are They Crucified And Beaten Up And Smeared And Besmirched?" Interviewing WorldNetDaily editor and CEO Joseph Farah on the March 24 edition of his radio show, Hannity said that Farah has "been beaten up so badly in the press" for pursuing the birther issue and that birthers have been "crucified and beaten up and smeared and besmirched":

HANNITY: All right. Now, Joseph, you've done the most work of anybody that I know here on the issue, and we heard Donald Trump -- if you ask the question, "All right, well, why not just show us the certificate?" "Ah, you're a birther! You're a birther, that's what you are." It's not been my number-one issue, but I've been following it, and I've been saying, why are all these people that just ask to see it, why are they crucified and beaten up and smeared and besmirched the way they are? [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/24/11]

Hannity Wondered Why Trump's Birtherism Is "So Toxic," Asks Panel For Their Birth Certificates. On the April 18 edition of Hannity, during a discussion about Trump's birther claims, Hannity asked why it's "so toxic to bring up" the birth certificate issue. He then asked his panelists for their birth certificates. [Fox News, Hannity, 4/18/11]

Hannity Provided Birther Platform For Trump In Interview. During the April 15 edition of his show, Hannity aired an interview in which he provided a platform for Trump's birther theories, including asking Trump what his investigators in Hawaii have found regarding Obama's birth. [Fox News, Hannity, 4/15/11]

Hannity Promotes Trump: His "Popularity" Is Due To Taking On "Controversial Issues," Is A "Lesson" For Republicans. On the April 15 edition of his show, Hannity claimed that Trump's "popularity" provides "a lesson, here, for Republican candidates: Fight, fight -- take on controversial issues, don't back down, and battle." [Fox News, Hannity, 4/15/11]

Hannity Jumped Aboard "Trump 2012" -- Birtherism And All. During the April 15 edition of his show, Hannity helped to promote Trump's birther claims, later airing a graphic promoting a "Trump 2012" presidential run. [Fox News, Hannity, 4/15/11]

Palin Embraces Trump's Birtherism: "More Power To Him"

Palin On Trump Allegedly Sending Researchers To Hawaii To Investigate Obama's Birth: "More Power To Him." On the April 9 edition of Fox News' Justice with Judge Jeanine, Fox News contributor Sarah Palin said of Trump's claim that he sent researchers to Hawaii to investigate Obama's birth certificate: "More power to him." Palin later stated, "I think that [Obama] was born in Hawaii, because there was the birth announcement put in the newspaper, but obviously, if there's something there that the president doesn't want people to see on that birth certificate, that he [seems to] be going to great lengths to make sure that it isn't shown, and that's kind of perplexing for a lot of people." FromJustice with Judge Jeanine:

JEANINE PIRRO (host): All right, Governor. Donald Trump, who is considering a run for the presidency, says that he's got investigators in Hawaii looking for President Obama's birth certificate. What do you make of that?

PALIN: Well, I appreciate that the Donald wants to spend his resources in getting to the bottom of something that so interests him and many Americans. You know, more power to him. He's not just throwing stones and - from the sidelines. He's digging in there; he's paying for researchers to find out why President Obama would have spent $2 million to not show his birth certificate. So, you know, more power to him. [Fox News, Justice with Judge Jeanine,4/9/11]

Palin Declared Trump Is "Being Really Treated Unfairly" By Media Over Birth Certificate Issue.From the April 19 broadcast of Fox News' Hannity:

PALIN: First, I do have respect for Donald Trump and for his candidness. I think people are craving that today in the world of political speak that we're coming out of the White House and the confusing messages that come from so many of our politicos, we appreciate that Donald Trump is so candid. Donald Trump is the one being really treated unfairly, I'd say though in the press when they're hammering him about the one issue he brought up and not been shy about and that's the birth certificate. He's merely answering reporters' questions about his views on the birth certificate and then reporters turn that around, saying, "That's all he's got. He's running on a birth certificate issue," when that's not the case. Donald Trump is running on the issue bottom line that President Obama is so far over his head he has gotten us on the road to bankruptcy and insolvency and a less secure nation. And Trump and so many of us want to do something about that. [Fox News, Hannity, 4/19/11]

Fox News Figures Embrace Hannity And Palin's Birtherism

DOOCY

Doocy: "He Could End It Simply, Just Show [The Birth Certificate] To Us." During an interview with Trump on the April 18 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Steve Doocy responded to Trump's claim that Obama "has not given a birth certificate" by saying, "He could end it simply, just show it to us, and it'd be over." [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/18/11]

Doocy: Birth Certificate Produced By Obama's Campaign "Is Not The Exact Birth Certificate."After airing Trump's birther claims from an appearance on ABC's The View, Doocy stated during the March 24 edition of Fox & Friends that the Obama campaign "did produce - before the election - something called a certificate of live birth, which is not the exact birth certificate, but something that the state says indicates that he was born there." [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/24/11]

O'REILLY

"Bor[ed]" Of Birth Certificate Issue, O'Reilly Calls For Obama To "Put This Whole Thing To Bed." On the April 8 edition of his Fox News show, Bill O'Reilly said that the birth certificate issue is "getting boring" and that Obama should "put this whole thing to bed." [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor,4/8/11]

PIRRO

Pirro: Obama "Is Refusing To Show His Birth Certificate." On the April 9 edition of Justice with Judge Jeanine, host Jeanine Pirro said to Palin, "What do you think of the fact that the president is refusing to show his birth certificate?" From Justice with Judge Jeanine:

PIRRO: What do you think of the fact that the president is refusing to show his birth certificate. And I've heard that number before -- $2 million that he's spending to not have to show the birth certificate. There's a difference between a birth certificate, apparently, and a certificate of live birth. But what do you think? Is that relevant? [Fox News, Justice with Judge Jeanine, 4/9/11]

MORRIS

Fox's Morris Reportedly Said Trump's Birther Claims Are "Within The Foul Lines." In an April 3 article about Trump, the New York Post reported that Fox News contributor Dick Morris said that Trump's recent "birther talk" is "within the foul lines," while "everyone else who spoke with The Post [sic] thinks it's a major tactical mistake." [New York Post, 4/3/11]

CROWLEY

Crowley: Myths About Obama Persist Because His Policies Are "Seriously Antithetical To American Values." On the April 12 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News contributor Monica Crowley stated that Trump is "gaining traction" with the birth certificate issue because Obama has "adopted some policies that are seriously antithetical to American values: European-style socialized medicine, massive nanny state, big deficits, big government, big taxes. These are the things that rub the majority of the American people the wrong way. And it feeds into all of these things ... that he really isn't, quote, one of us." [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 4/12/11]

Fox Uncritically Hosts Birthers, Promotes Birther Conspiracy Theories

Cashill On Kilmeade's Fox Radio Show: "Where's The Birth Certificate?" During the March 18 broadcast of his Fox News Radio program, host Brian Kilmeade gave more than 16 minutes of airtime to Obama conspiracy theorist Jack Cashill. During the interview, Cashill said that a reporter should ask Obama, "Where's the birth certificate?" [Fox News Radio, Kilmeade and Friends, 3/18/11]

Trump Told Unquestioning Fox & Friends Hosts, "I'm Starting To Wonder ... Whether Or Not [Obama] Was Born In This Country." On March 28, Fox & Friends hosted Trump, who stated, "I'm starting to wonder myself whether or not he was born in this country." [Fox News, Fox & Friends,3/28/11]

Ratcheting Up Birtherism, Fox Hosted Trump To Call Birthers "Great Americans." During the March 28 edition of Fox News' On the Record, Greta Van Susteren hosted Trump, who advanced his birther conspiracy theories. Van Susteren pointed out that Obama has a passport and one would need to submit a copy of their birth certificate in order to obtain a passport. Trump did not address this point, instead referring to birthers as "great Americans." [Fox News, On The Record, 3/28/11]

Fox Nation Promoted Corsi's Upcoming Birther Book. On March 28, Fox Nation posted a video promoting a new book by discredited author and birther Jerome Corsi about Obama's birth certificate. [Fox Nation, 3/28/11] 

Fox Nation Provided Platform For Trump Birtherism. A March 29 Fox Nation post promoted Trump releasing his "official" birth certificate. [Fox Nation, 3/29/11]

Fox Nation Again Celebrated Trump's Birther Claims By Saying He "Thump[ed] MSNBC Hosts On Obama's Birth Certificate." An April 1 Fox Nation headline read, "Trump Thumps MSNBC Hosts on Obama's Birth Certificate." Fox Nation linked to a video of Trump's appearance on MSNBC, in which Trump said, "I feel that there is certainly a chance [Obama] was not born in this country."  [Fox Nation,4/1/11]

After Hosting Trump Birther Theories, Fox & Friends Increases Promotion  Of Trump's WeeklyFox & Friends Appearances. Following Trump's then-newly announced birther theories, Fox News began to increase their promotion of Trump's regular weekly segment on Fox & Friends. [Media Matters,4/3/11]

Fox Nation Continues To Promote Trump Birtherism: "Investigators ... Cannot Believe What They're Finding." An April 7 Fox Nation headline stated, "Trump: I have Investigators in Hawaii... 'They Cannot Believe What They're Finding.' " [Fox Nation, 4/7/11]

Van Susteren Gave Trump Free Reign To Repeat Birther Theories. During the April 11 of her Fox News program, Van Susteren gave Trump the opportunity and airtime to push his birther conspiracies and discuss his efforts in Hawaii to look into Obama's citizenship. [Fox News, On the Record, 4/11/11]

Obama Has Released His Birth Certificate; Did Not Spend $2 Million Preventing Its Release

Obama Released Certificate June 2008. In June 2008, Obama's campaign made public a copy of Obama's certificate of live birth, which was published on the Internet by the campaign and numerous media outlets. Many experts, including a team from FactCheck.org, reviewed the document in person and determined it was authentic. From FactCheck:

FactCheck.org staffers have now seen, touched, examined and photographed the original birth certificate. We conclude that it meets all of the requirements from the State Department for proving U.S. citizenship. Claims that the document lacks a raised seal or a signature are false. We have posted high-resolution photographs of the document as "supporting documents" to this article. Our conclusion: Obama was born in the U.S.A. just as he has always said. [FactCheck.org, 8/21/08]

Hawaii Health Dept. Official Certified That She Had Personally Seen Obama's Birth Certificate.As USA Today reported on July 28, 2009, Dr. Chiyome Fukino, director of the Hawaii State Department of Health, certified that she had personally seen Obama's birth certificate in the original records maintained by the Hawaii government. In a press release, Fukino stated:

"I, Dr. Chiyome Fukino, Director of the Hawaii State Department of Health, have seen the original vital records maintained on file by the Hawaii State Department of Health verifying Barack Hussein Obama was born in Hawaii and is a natural-born American citizen. I have nothing further to add to this statement or my original statement issued in October 2008 over eight months ago." [USA Today, 7/28/09; Hawaii Department of Health press release,7/27/09]

Salon's Elliot Debunked Claims That Obama Spent $2 Million "To Not Show His Birth Certificate." Trump repeatedly claims that Obama spent $2 million dollars trying to prevent the release of his birth certificate. This claim appears to have originated from the conservative website WorldNetDaily and has been repeated by numerous right-wing media figures, such as Palin. However, Salon's Justin Elliot looked into the claim and reported:

While the $2 million figure has now been invoked thousands of times around the Web, it appears to have originated on WorldNetDaily, a right-wing news website that conducts original (and often unreliable) reporting on a variety of conspiracy theories.

[...]

Specifically, WND's Chelsea Schilling wrote a series of articles on the legal bills in 2009. See here, here and here. According to the WND articles, the Obama campaign paid $1.7 million in fees to the law firm Perkins Coie between October 2008 and October 2009.

Perkins Coie's Bob Bauer, who is now White House counsel, represented Obama in at least one birther lawsuit that WND has also written about. In 2009, Bauer fired off a brief letter to an attorney who brought a case questioning Obama's eligibility to be president. Bauer warned the attorney that the case was frivolous and asked him to stop pursuing it. (The case is called Hollister v. Soetoro -- with Soetoro referring to the name President Obama supposedly used as a child in Indonesia. It was recently appealed to the Supreme Court, which turned it down.)

The implication of the WND stories -- though not explicitly stated -- is that because Perkins Coie worked on a birther suit, and because the Obama campaign paid Perkins Coie $1.7 million, therefore the campaign paid $1.7 million fighting birther suits. That's an obvious logical fallacy.

Indeed, just last month Roll Call published a look at the Obama campaign's post-election legal spending -- now totaling $2.8 million, most of it to Perkins Coie. DNC National Press Secretary Hari Sevugan told the paper: "The campaign has incurred ordinary legal expenses related to the wind-down of its operations and other legal services which all campaigns incur and which are proportional to the unprecedented size of this campaign." Roll Call continued:

Legal costs for presidential campaigns can balloon following Election Day as these organizations face compliance issues and sometimes court cases stemming from the campaign season.

Sevugan said some legal fees were needed to defend the campaign against "unmeritorious" suits, including one challenging Obama's citizenship.

So, yes, it's clear that the Obama campaign has spent some money fighting so-called eligibility lawsuits. But the $2 million figure is baseless. [Salon.com, War Room, 4/11/11]