More seeds of confusion sown on eligibility

Headline from CBS–New York Times Poll: 'Birther' myth persists among tea partiers, all Americans

How's that for objectivity?

How's that for fairness?

How's that for balance?

The American people have not made up their mind about Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility for office, but CBS and The New York Times sure have.

If you're not 100 percent convinced, you believe in "myths."

But the headline is hardly the only problem with this first-ever Big Media poll on the issue of Barack Obama's legal qualifications for the presidency.

This is how the question was asked – of both self-described tea partiers and others: do you think President Obama was born in the U.S. or another country?

I suppose that information may be of some interest to the folks at CBS and The New York Times. But it is hardly the relevant question. The relevant question is whether Obama or anyone else has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that he is constitutionally eligible to serve as a "natural born citizen."

The honest answer for anyone responding to the CBS–New York Times poll is "I don't know." That's how I would answer it. There is simply no evidence that could possibly lead anyone to conclude Obama meets the test. That test starts with a valid long-form birth certificate. At that point, and only at that point, can you determine where he was born and who his parents were. Without that document, everyone is guessing. Anyone who says he was born in the U.S. is simply believing their favorite myth, along with those who say conclusively he was not. Only those who say "I don't know" are answering honestly and accurately.

Nevertheless, here is how Americans answered the stupid, non-answerable question:

30 percent of tea partiers said they believe he was born in another country

42 percent of tea partiers said they believe he was born in the U.S.

20 percent of all Americans said they believe he was born elsewhere

58 percent of all Americans said they believe he was born in the U.S.

32 percent of Republicans said they believe he was born in another country

But nearly 100 percent of the media elite believe anyone who has any questions about Obama's eligibility is stone-cold, certifiably nuts.

One thing you have to understand is that polls like this one aren't actually about gathering information. They are what is called in the polling business "push polls." They are actually designed to shape opinion. The purpose is to show how stupid anyone is who believes Obama hasn't proven his eligibility – even though everyone knows darn well he hasn't.

Imagine if the poll asked this question: "Should Obama release his long-form birth certificate to put to rest questions about his origins and constitutional eligibility?"

I believe most Americans would now answer that question affirmatively.

Don't you?

It wasn't always the case.

But it is now. Because this issue is not going away. The more Obama stonewalls, the more it breeds suspicion.

He's either going to have to answer to the people before 2012 or he simply will not be able to run again – at least not successfully. I don't even believe he will be permitted to get on 50 state ballots without providing some evidence. And, without getting on 50 state ballots, he will undoubtedly face a challenge even from within his own party.

Isn't it going to be a shocker for the media elite when state election officials start enforcing the rules in 2012?

Aren't you going to love that?

Of course, I won't hold my breath on WND winning a Pulitzer Prize for being alone in covering what turned out to be the biggest story of the previous four years.

Because, as we all know, it's the media elite that hands out Pulitzers.