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Lt Col Lakin Refuses to Deploy on Obama's Orders: 'Birther' Cause
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by Karen Hatter | April 21, 2010 at 08:34 am
1759 views | 32 Recommendations | 42 comments
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Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin has refused to obey orders to deploy to Afghanistan claiming President Obama does not have the authority to order his deployment because he is not an American citizen.
Lakin's attorney, Paul Jensen, said on G. Gordon Liddy’s radio program that if Lakin is court martialed under Article 32 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, he may use the process of discovery to promote the notion that President Obama is not a US National.
- Army to Court Martial Army Officer For Refusing Orders
- WorldNetDaily's Coverage Related to President Obama's Birth
"Every criminal defendant has to be allowed the benefit of the doubt to discover information that may be relevant to defend himself against charges that could land him in the penitentiary in years and years," said Jensen. WorldNetDaily, which has been promoting Lakin, has also raised the idea ….
[During] Senator Barack Hussein Obama Jr [‘s run] for the office of President of the United States, beginning in 2006, the claim that he was not an American citizen has been promoted by certain sectors of the American populous. Those adhering to this belief have come to be known as birthers.
History of US Birtherism
Since the beginning of then Senator Obama’s campaign for President of the United States in 2007, WorldNetDaily has provided coverage of concerns raised regarding his citizenship and eligibility to serve.
Several challenges regarding the authenticity of President Obama’s birth certificate and his U.S. citizenship have been dismissed within the U.S. judicial system on local, state and federal levels.
One case, originating in New Jersey and previously dismissed by a lower court, alleged President Obama to be a British national. The case was placed on the United States Supreme Court’s docket at the insistence of Justice Clarence Thomas as an emergency appeal.
The case was dismissed without comment in December 2008. President Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961.
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Karen Hatter
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Recommendations (32)
Rhonda J Mangus
North Tonawanda, New York, United States
Grace H
Austin, Texas, United States
Amy Judd
Vancouver, Canada
Spydermonkey
huntsville, Alabama, United States
Rory Cripps
New Port Richey, Florida, United States
stejeb
United Kingdom
Roberto Alvarez-Galloso
Miami, Florida, United States
The_Cynic
Freddy Beach, Where the deer r, Canada
Barbara McPherson
Nanaimo, Canada
utilaeastwind
East Harbour, The Bay Islands, Honduras
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (42)
at 08:49 on April 21st, 2010
Karen: Is there a link to Obama's birth certificate? If there is, could you post it here? I know that you love asparagus If you post the link, I'll prepare the best asparagus dish that you've ever had! :)
at 08:57 on April 21st, 2010
Hi, Rory.
A link to the birth certificate is found at this link:
at 09:01 on April 21st, 2010
Thanks Karen! I really didn't give this birth certificate issue any thought until recently. And that's only because people are still making an issue of it. It's just one of those things that doesn't seem to go away. JEEZ!
at 09:07 on April 21st, 2010
Karen: OK! I saw the birth certificate. Raised seal and everything. What is it about the birth certificate that the birthers base their contentions upon?
at 09:44 on April 21st, 2010
Who in the h*** knows, Rory, and I've lost all patience with any PRETENSE that theirs is an issue worthy of any consideration.
The media has allowed this nonsense to take up way too much time, nearly 4 years, as they humored this goofiness, giving many of these folks a manufactured, pseudo LEGITIMATE excuse to despise the President, rather than stating the REAL reason for their displeasure, which I think has been made abundantly clear.
at 09:47 on April 21st, 2010
What is the "abundantly clear" displeasure Karen?
at 11:33 on April 21st, 2010
A coupling of bigotry and denial, which thrives ardently among the ignorant--and thus easily manipulted and paraded about-- masses.
at 11:09 on April 21st, 2010
Lt Col Lakin could have given some better reasons to refuse deployment in Afghanistan instead of this one..
at 11:35 on April 21st, 2010
Grace, Who are the masses, the ignorant ?
at 13:42 on April 21st, 2010
The vast majority of the American public it would seem. Those who allowed themselves to be swayed by hateful and spiteful rhetoric and inane ramblings that they would dismiss like swatting a fly if they would but merely engage their brains.
at 12:19 on April 22nd, 2010
@ Grace. Looking at the U.S. from outside its borders it appears that this kind of attitude toward the "masses" that disagree with your sense of rightness is why they are protesting. It appears to me that they feel that the "elite" and "intellectual snobs" have taken over the U.S. and they want it back. Just an observation from a far.
at 03:54 on April 23rd, 2010
They are protesting becasue theyve been stirres to (for the most part.) They are a mob. If you look at the rallies and the unacceptable behaviours occuring (they called a black Republican congressman the N-word for one), it is quite self-evident.
at 07:55 on April 23rd, 2010
Grace- Just as the notion that Obama is not an American can be debunked by the birth certificate presented online - I would hope you have some accurate documentation (other than the word of a politician whom we all know are famous for lying) - that he was called the "n" word by someone from these "mobs" you call civil protesters. I am sure if these "mobs" reflected your ideology you would not term them "mobs". And how can you be sure that if indeed someone did say that - that is was one of the "mobs" and not one of your kind. Something else to think about - why did these Congressman choose to walk right through the middle of these "mobs"? They do have their own private tunnel and entrance to the Capitol Building if they really WANTED to avoid this type of situation. I don't believe they wanted to to avoid it - I believe they did it to "encourage" it so they could make false accusations. You really need to understand the real dirty game of politics - on both sides of the aisle.
at 09:19 on June 12th, 2010
Maybe the masses should think about "who benefits" from the divisiveness (racial, ethnic, political, etc.) that we are seeing today. The answer is not to attack other groups (all Republicans, all Democrats, all blacks, all whites, all latinos, etc.) but to investigate what processes are set up to divide us. Clearly anyone who becomes president is supported by various factions with their own interests (I'm not speaking about African American support for Obama, but more politically motivated factions since there's hardly been a dent in the status quo). But then what's the point of the rumormongering about Obama? Who really benefits from that?
at 11:51 on April 21st, 2010
Thanks for continuing to follow this story, Karen.
Also on NowPublic: Army Flight Surgeon Seeks Truth About Obama's Eligibility.
at 14:13 on April 22nd, 2010
You're welcome, Rhonda.
at 12:48 on April 21st, 2010
Obama and his team have been unwilling to release the contents of his original birth certificate because, it appears "legally" they do not need to.
Could the contents of the original birth certificate have made it difficult for him to become president even if it confirmed his natural born status? Quite possibly.
Will, with the eventual release of the Birth Certificate, people of America feel as if they were deceived by the suppression of this information? Also possible.
The Military acts as the defender of the Constitution and the President is it's Commander in Chief. Obama and his lawyers have done the job in convincing the judicial branch of the United States that he is indeed eligible to be president but other branches seem more skeptical.
Now, plenty of red blooded and virtually all red necked Americans will circle this issue more and more as the "Change" initiated by Obama unfolds.
Do not be surprised if the day comes when top commanders turn their back on Obama and refuse his orders based on this issue. The rank and file under their command will most likely follow. You can imagine all the possibilities from there.
America, as an Empire, is being attacked on many fronts. North Korea, Iran, Venezuela and Russia are actively working to take America down a peg or two. A major part of their strategy is to plant the seeds of discontent within America by funding the right people in the right places. Stuff right out of the CIA play book.
The USA is looking very weak and her enemies are ready to pounce when the time is right. The last thing you need is a divided military.
This controversy will not go away without an original birth certificate being released. Even the majority of American people, who believe that Obama is American, need to realize this.
The President should also.
at 07:52 on April 22nd, 2010
The problem with the rationale laid out, Utilaeastwind, birthers do not represent a substantial percentage of the American population and are mainly found among those known as the Tea Partiers, Republicans and conservatives, less than 25% of the electorate.
Any and all rednecks/racists don't need any excuse for defiance of the Black president.
The 'America appears/is weak' talking point, meant to imply America is at the mercy of other nations and 'un-American' influences, is a key component of Right Wing extremists' recruiting rhetoric, used to justify their anti government activities and behavior.
Of course, since the Armed Forces relaxed their guidelines awhile back after September 11, 2001, called moral waivers, the Armed Forces has become a sort of haven for the criminal element as well as neo Nazi and White supremacist types yet, they STILL are a minority within the Armed Forces.
Source: fas.org
The majority of the servicemen and women in the United States Armed Forces do not believe the birther nonsense nor would they be inclined to engage in treasonous actions against their government or their president.
As far as any of the above mentioned groups or individuals that are in opposition to the President and his administration and those that find comfort in and have an affinity with the birthers, they will never be convinced no matter the evidence presented to them.
Most rational, reasonable people in America have long since moved on.
at 11:09 on April 22nd, 2010
The 'America appears/is weak' talking point, meant to imply America is at the mercy of other nations and 'un-American' influences, is a key component of Right Wing extremists' recruiting rhetoric, used to justify their anti government activities and behavior.
This may be true. However, many anti government movements in the 70's were from the Left. I do not think that you can honestly state that it is only okay to be actively anti government if you are from the Left Wing. This is two sides of the same coin.
at 12:44 on April 22nd, 2010
Utilaeastwind, this current thread, regarding Lt. Co. Lakin, who is a birther, discusses those of similar minds, many being Right Wing, as are the Oathkeepers, and a report that was compiled by the Bush administration (2000-2008) and released in April 2009, identifying specific concerns due to the nature of current conditions in the United States.
Current conditions saw a rise in Right Wing extremism in the 1990s.
The report on the Left Wing, released in January 2009, also generated by the Bush administration, concerned itself with cyber threats.
at 12:35 on April 22nd, 2010
@ Karen,
You said, "found among those known as the Tea Partiers, Republicans and conservatives, less than 25% of the electorate." I think that you really need to check you figures. Besides 25% of an electorate is a lot of people.
you said, "Any and all rednecks/racists don't need any excuse for defiance of the Black president." I think that this is a cheap shot and a racist remark. Using the race card is so old world. The President is half-African-black, literally, and half Caucasian American. So let us be honest and clear.
While I think this birth certificate stand is foolish and a waste of time the administration by not addressing this issue swiftly and quickly with out reservation only added suspicion and fuel to the fire.
at 15:17 on April 22nd, 2010
59% of those called the Tea Party either believe President Obama is a foreign national or aren't sure with 58% of Republicans having the same uncertainty.
An overlapping of birthers, Tea Partiers and Republicans, at less than 25% of the electorate, means more than 75% are others not supporting the birther nonsense.
From The State of Hate:
Source: civilrights.org
From In Their Words:
Source: splcenter.org
at 01:56 on April 23rd, 2010
Hi Karen, I do not think it means that 75% are not supporting the "birthers nonsense". I think that it means 75% do not actively support or identify with the movement. It says nothing of their willingness to vote against democrats and/or the deny their support to the President.
at 07:13 on April 23rd, 2010
My discussion point did not address willingness to vote against Democrats.
My discussion point discussed those that seem not to embrace the birther nonsense.
The polling statistics addressed findings that reveal more than the majority of those claiming to be Tea Partiers and Republicans either don't think the President was born in the United States or don't know.
The questions posed regarding citizenship were not framed to address supporting or identifying with birthers.
In a recent poll, 84% of those calling themselves Tea Partiers believe their views reflect the views of most Americans, while only 25% of overall Americans actually say the Tea Party reflects their views.
There is a large disconnect in the Tea Partiers' understanding of the majority of Americans' views and beliefs.
Source: cbsnews.com
at 13:49 on April 21st, 2010
You are wrong there. America had no standing army until World War One. There was no conept of military or army, only Militia.
Even then, many military leaders notably Dwight Eisenhower (and Washington well before him) warned of the dangers of having one and thereby a military-industrial complex.
The Judicial Branch defends the Consitution in that it declares any laws or decrees as constitutional or unconstitutional. And, the Supreme Court has the final say therein.
And in absoulte and as nicely as possible to so express this: there is NO way Obama would be president right now if he is was not a natural-born American citizen. The media and others are too adept and technology too advanced that he would not have been caught in an alleged lie.
at 13:54 on April 21st, 2010
Furthermore, the President alone swears to preserve the Constitution. The buck therefore stops there.
at 16:21 on April 21st, 2010
Grace: You mean that military personnel don't swear to serve and protect the Constitution? I thought that they did but I'm really not sure now . . . .
at 06:23 on April 22nd, 2010
Rory, the oath of enlistment also pledges to obey the President of the United States and commanding officers:
Source: history.army.mil
Of course, those refusing to follow orders most likely are attempting to rally around the section of the oath that declares defense of the Constitution against " .... all enemies, foreign and domestic ...." , with birthers claiming the President is a foreigner on domestic soil.
at 08:11 on April 22nd, 2010
Karen,
What you are quoting is the oath for enlisted soldiers. Commissioned officers have a different oath...
“I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.
Further, there are many members of the Armed Forces who openly state they will refuse a variety of orders.
1. We will NOT obey orders to disarm the American people.
2. We will NOT obey orders to conduct warrantless searches of the American people
3. We will NOT obey orders to detain American citizens as “unlawful enemy combatants” or to subject them to military tribunal.
4. We will NOT obey orders to impose martial law or a “state of emergency” on a state.
5. We will NOT obey orders to invade and subjugate any state that asserts its sovereignty.
6. We will NOT obey any order to blockade American cities, thus turning them into giant concentration camps.
7. We will NOT obey any order to force American citizens into any form of detention camps under any pretext.
8. We will NOT obey orders to assist or support the use of any foreign troops on U.S. soil against the American people to “keep the peace” or to “maintain control."
9. We will NOT obey any orders to confiscate the property of the American people, including food and other essential supplies.
10.We will NOT obey any orders which infringe on the right of the people to free speech, to peaceably assemble, and to petition their government for a redress of grievances.
http://oathkeepers.org/oath/
I think that the Uniform Code of Military Justice would be very important to study to confirm the obligations of soldiers. Either way, it is evident that there are members of the Armed Forces who openly state that they will defy presidential orders under certain circumstances.
at 10:33 on April 22nd, 2010
Utilaeastwind, I stated in my comment the oath listed was the oath of enlistment.
Officers are not considered enlisted men/women.
As I stated above, with the same words appearing in the officer's oath:
"Of course, those refusing to follow orders most likely are attempting to rally around the section of the oath that declares defense of the Constitution against " .... all enemies, foreign and domestic ....", with birthers claiming the President is a foreigner on domestic soil."
Source: mediamatters.org
I repeat:
"The majority of the servicemen and women in the United States Armed Forces (including officers that serve in the Armed Forces) do not believe the birther nonsense nor would they be inclined to engage in treasonous actions against their government or their president."