Trump Takes Credit For Decision To Release President Obama's Birth Certificate
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Donald Trump is claiming credit for the White House's decision to release President Barack Obama's full birth certificate.
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"I'm really honored and I'm really proud that I was able to do something that nobody else was able to do," Trump said.
Trump made his remarks during a visit to New Hampshire Wednesday, the site of the nation's first presidential primary. The visit itself fueled speculation that Trump may run for the White House in 2012.
"I hope [the birth certificate] is true," Trump said, adding that it will have to be examined by experts.
Trump has recently been featured in a series of television appearances in which he has hammered away at the question of whether or not Barack Obama's birth certificate is legitimate.
"He should've [released] it a long time ago," Trump said. "Why he didn't do it when the Clinton's asked for it, why he didn't do it when everybody else was asking for it, I don't know."
"I am really honored frankly to have played such a big role in hopefully, hopefully getting rid of this issue," Trump said. "Now we can talk about oil, we can about gasoline prices, we can talk about China ripping off this country," he added.
Speaking in New Hampshire, Trump said he will not make an announcement about 2012 intentions until after his television show's season ends in May.
That didn't keep him from speculating about how he'd fare against the President in the contest.
"I think I beat Obama," Trump said. He cited recent polls that put him at the top of the Republican pack of potential contenders.
People who spoke with 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria on Wednesday said releasing the document was probably a good idea.
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"I think it was about the only way he could respond to a ridiculous non-issue that has consumed far too much time already," one man said.
Another New Yorker said he hoped the issue would finally be put to rest.
"I hope so because people can focus more on the economy and jobs," he said.
In a brief but blistering press conference, Mr. Obama took aim at his political critics who have been trying to derail his presidency and his reelection by claiming he wasn't born in America.
"We do not have time for this kind of silliness," he said. "We're not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers.'
The long form birth certificate says the president was born on August 4, 1961 at a maternity hospital in Honolulu. He did not comment on why the document had not been released earlier.
A USA Today/Gallup poll taken last week showed large numbers of voters continued to doubt Mr. Obama was a natural-born citizen eligible to be president. Only 38 percent said he was definitely born in the United States, while 18 percent said he probably was, 15 percent say he probably was born in another country, and nine percent said he definitely was born elsewhere.
"Some right wingers will say this is fake this is not real and contonue bashing the president every way they can," said Hank Scheinkopf, political consultant.
What do you think of the birth certificate issue? Is Trump seriously thinking about running for president? How would he do if he ran? Sound off in our comments section.
