My cousin sent this email forward to my mom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA6_k3NtXZs

It’s a 12 minute video, which I sum up in my response, so you don’t need to watch the whole thing if you don’t want to.  The basic premise is that an attorney has filed suit demanding Obama prove he’s a US citizen.  After Obama did this by publically posting his birth certificate online, the attorney still disbelieves Obama is American and has continued with the suit, still demanding Obama prove he’s a citizen:

Here’s my reply.

Hi, this is Eric Atria here.  Let me please start by saying your vote is your choice, your political preferences are your choice.  I’m not trying to tell someone to have liberal values instead of conservative ones.  I try to respect everyone’s position, so please respect mine and read the following response to your email forward about this Phillip Berg lawsuit/video.

I believe the comment was from Aunt Maryanne saying she hopes this video isn’t true:  Well, of course it’s not true.

Obviously, we should all be concerned about our presidential candidates, however, you should turn to legitimate news sources, not Youtube videos.  I have made Youtube videos, many of them.  One of them is about our tortoise eating a Tomato.  Who’s to say that makes me an expert on reptilian affinity to nightshade fruits?  The video in question was self admittedly created in 36 hours.  How much research do you think was done in 1.5 days?

Here are some talking points:
1. saying you’re an independent doesn’t mean you’re an independent.  The people creating this video were clearly motivated by an agenda, whether it was Republicanism, Conservatism, Racism, who knows.  However, when you make a series of videos attacking one political party alone, I hardly see that as being Independent.

2. Phillip J Berg says Obama is trying to destroy America.  He alleges that Obama wasn’t born an american citizen and that Obama won’t submit proof of his birth certificate. He further says that Barack Obama is not a natural born citizen.  A quick google search reveals that McCain himself was not born in America.  Don’t reach for your legal paperwork yet, Mr. Berg, he was born in Panama to American citizen parents, thus making him a citizen jus sanguinis, which is a latin term for “by the blood.”  Since McCain wasn’t born on American soil, his citizenship was transferred through his American citizen parents.

Now, Barack Obama’s father was NOT an American citizen, he was an immigrant, just like all of our ancestors.  His mother, though, was a citizen.  However, Barack Obama’s citizenship was transferred jus soli, which is also a latin term for by place of birth.

Since we’re all good Americans, we know the US Constitution by memory, including the most important amendments.  For example, the 14th Amendment was a Big one.  It defined US citizenship, requiring equal protection of the law to ALL US citizens.  Most notably, it freed the slaves.  However, we use it to this day to establish women’s rights, minority rights, etc.  More specifically, the 14th Amendment states that “[a]ll persons born or naturalized in the United States , and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.”  Since Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, a state just like Sarah Palin’s Alaska, he is a Citizen of the United States by birth.

3.  Mr. Berg goes on to assert that Obama’s birth certificate must have been forged.  He believes Obama cannot produce a Birth Certificate because there is not a Birth Certificate.  Why can’t Mr. Berg do his own homework and check the public records of Hawaii?  Why can’t Mr. Berg consult the dozens of newspapers who have examined Obama’s birth certificate?  When you file a lawsuit, you can’t demand the other party to prove your case for you (see below).

4. Mr. Berg goes on to state that Obama lost his citizenship (if he ever had it) because he must have been granted citizenship in Indonesia when he briefly lived there as an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILD.  There is no proof that he was ever granted Indonesian citzenship, nor that his American citizenship was invalidated by his living in Indonesia.  This is just an allegation by Mr. Berg.  Another quote from Mr. Berg reads as follows: “We really don’t believe he was born in Hawaii.  We think he was born in Kenya.”  That’s hardly clear and convincing evidence.

Mr. Berg should know that the United States Justice stystem is set up in such a manner that the plaintiff  (defined as:One who initially brings the Suit. In a personal action, he seeks a remedy in a court of justice for an injury to, or a withholding of, his rights.) must allege a wrong and then must present evidence to prove such a wrong.  In a criminal case, the plaintiff (or the State) must prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt (the highest standard of the law).  In civil matters, there are varying burdens of proof, the lowest of which requires the Plaintiff to prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence (basically 51%).   Apparently Mr. Berg doesn’t “believe” certain facts about Obama’s past and “thinks” other things.  These types of cases get thrown out of court for the same reason that cases about obese children suing McDonalds for making them overweight do.  They are groundless!

5.  Mr. Berg continues to demand that Obama hasn’t produced credentials affirming his birth and he refuses to present his birth certificate.  You can see it for yourself here.  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/06/obama-birth.html amongst many other sites.  I’m sure you could even fly to Hawaii and check the public records yourself.  It would make for a wonderful vacation.

6.  Mr. Berg continues to assert that Obama’s practices are a disgrace.  May I take a moment of indulgence to state that YOU Mr. Berg are the Disgrace for filing your frivolous lawsuit and wasting our time with your hatred.

People. If you agree with John McCain’s policies, then by all means vote for him.  If you earn enough money to be benefitted by his tax policies, then by all means vote for him.  If you vote solely on god, guns, and gays, then by all means vote for him.  But please don’t vote for McCain only because you saw videos like these.

If you’re still undecided, please take a moment to think of what you want in a president.  Then, go to each candidates website and read their policies.  Do you agree with one or the other?  Then vote on it!

Thank you for your time.

Currently listening : For Emma, Forever Ago By Bon Iver Release date: 2008-02-19