Raises issue of eligibility in speech at annual breakfast gathering

“The questions, however, over Obama’s “citizenship,” actually go to the core of the American republic. Multiple lawsuits have challenged that he is not qualified for the Oval Office under the Constitution’s requirement that U.S. presidents be a “natural born citizen.”

The plaintiffs – who run into the hundreds so far and who still have a number of cases pending at the appelllate level – have alleged that failing to meet that constitutional requirement means he actually is a usurper, with no actual authority to be president.

On a forum page at The Hill newspaper, one commenter wrote that the president has only himself to blame for the questions.

“Personally I am no birther … but I am curious as to why Obama continues to beat on this issue .. is it a political ploy by his handlers to continue to use this as a divisive issue? To try and embarrass a certain segment of the population? And if not, why doesn’t he just provide the certificate and end all the speculation for the conspirators once and for all? Obama has certainly been a little less than forthcoming on his grades, his Harvard review publications and many other accomplishments…”

The reference apparently was the first time the issue has been addressed by Obama, even though he did not provide any answers. His press secretary, Robert Gibbs, repeatedly has ridiculed questions related to the subject, and the White House itself has declined to respond to any of a multitude of questions submitted by WND over months on the issue.”