Officer calls Obama an "Imposter"

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

Using words such as "imposter" and "usurper," an active-duty Army officer in Iraq has joined a California lawyer's lawsuit intended to force President Barack Obama to prove he is a legal U.S. citizen, and therefore able to legally serve as the commander in chief.

"Until Mr. Obama releases a 'vault copy' of his original birth certificate for public review, I will consider him neither my Commander in Chief nor my President, but rather, a usurper to the Office -- an impostor," 1st Lt. Scott R. Easterling states in his letter published at Defendourfreedoms.com.

An Army spokesman told Military.com today that officials are aware of Easterling's letter

"We are taking a look at that ourselves right now," Lt. Col. Christopher Garver said. "We are always trying to balance our ... military requirements under the Uniform Code of Military Justice versus critical freedoms that all Americans enjoy."

California dentist turned attorney Orly Taitz, who has brought the lawsuit, told Military.com Tuesday that it is her "understanding that there will not be a serious consequence to his career [for his statements], but I don't know for sure."

"I told him 'you're doing something very brave for this country, and that you can call me any time, 24/7 [for advice],' " she said. "If you're investigated by [the judge advocate general] and if there are any hearings ... and if an officer is defending you, I will provide documents totally proving it's illegitimate for [Obama] to be president."

The story was first reported in the right-leaning World Net Daily news site Feb. 24.

Taitz said she is willing to go to Iraq for Easterling's defense. Her Web site includes names and photos of congressmen and retired service members who she says are supportive of the lawsuit intended to force Obama to present documents showing he is an American citizen.

While Obama has presented a legal Hawaiian birth certificate, Taitz and others claim the state historically has permitted American parents of children born in other countries to apply for such documents. Easterling says he wants to see a "vault copy," which is not explained in his letter but is taken to mean the original document.

In his letter, Easterling said he was a KBR contractor in Iraq in 2005 and 2006, then joined the Army when it raised the maximum enlistment age to 40. He said he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant in August 2007.

After an assignment to Fort Knox, Ky., he was deployed to Balad. He was promoted to first lieutenant on Feb. 2.

He said in his letter that it pains him to join the lawsuit against Obama, "but as an Officer, my sworn oath to support and defend our Constitution requires this action."

"I implore all Service-members and citizens to contact their Senators and Representatives and demand that they require Mr. Obama prove his eligibility. Our Constitution and our great nation must not be allowed to be disgraced."

Attorney Mathew B. Tully of the Washington, D.C.-based firm Tully Rinckey PLLC, cautioned "that nobody's actually heard directly from this ... lieutenant. We're getting this from a third party with an axe to grind."

It has happened in the past, he said, that stories emerging from the combat theater turn out to be wholly or partially false.

If true, however, Easterling, as an Army officer, "is subject to ... [provisions] against using contemptuous language toward the president." There were such incidents in the 1990s, he said, when service members were disciplined for comments made against President Clinton. In one case brought under the provisions of Article 88 of the UCMJ a major general was forced to retire for comments he made, Tully said.

Easterling also could be charged with conduct unbecoming an officer, he said.

If an officer actually believes there has been some misconduct by the president, Tully said, there are ways he could have responded.

Under Article 138, he said, any person can bring an allegation of misconduct by a commander through the chain of command, "though I don't think [it] has ever been used to allege misconduct by the president."

He may also have tried reporting his allegations under the whistleblower protection act, Tully said. But the Defense Department directive on that spells out the inspector general and the Congress as the places to take allegations, he added.

"People in the military ... have rights protecting them for reporting [alleged] misconduct, but there are strict procedures," Tully explained. "And joining a civil lawsuit and calling the president of the United States an imposter is not one of those avenues."

Tully said there already is extensive case law involving these allegations about Obama's birth and citizenship -- at least 10, he said -- that have been dismissed.

"And on TV last night I saw the chief of staff of the Army salute President Obama, so there are a lot of people who believe he is the president," Tully said.

I think his claims are valid, however, after reading the article, I scrolled down to read the comments. Apparently, many people believe the officer is a racist who should resign his commission and join the KKK.

[TruBlu]

If there is nothing to hide, why not release the document?

As to this officer's alleged statements, it is unbecoming of an officer to say such things while uniformed seeing as though that is a protest, something not allowed by any military person in uniform. Backing this bold statement up:

Originally Posted by DoD Directive 1325.6

3.5.6. Off-Post Demonstrations by Members. Members of the Armed Forces are prohibited from participating in off-post demonstrations when they are on-duty, in a foreign country, when their activities constitute a breach of law and order, when violence is likely to result, or when they are in uniform in violation of DoD Directive 1334.1 (reference (d)).

Did this LT say anything like this? We don't know. Will anything come of this suit? Probably not. But in my opinion, the certificate should be released. With that I would be satisfied. Of course Shooter would like a date, time, location, and serial number permanently branded into the man's head as proof lol!

[PhilK]

California dentist turned attorney Orly Taitz, who has brought the lawsuit, told Military.com Tuesday that it is her "understanding that there will not be a serious consequence to his career [for his statements], but I don't know for sure."

Yeah right. His career is over...he just doesn't realize it yet.

[a777pilot]

This is going nowhere rapidly.

This would have to be adjudicated in a Federal court and I know of no Federal court that is going to challenge a sitting President that was duly elected...no matter the facts or rumors of that President eligibility. The fact remains he was elected.

Sad but true.

[Psybadek]

I agree to a point in I dont see why it's such a big deal he can't show documents proving his citizenship, but the guy did go out of the line a little with his statements. Whether we like it or not, Obama is our president.

[03_SHOOTER]

Originally Posted by Buffa1oso1di3r

I think his claims are valid, however, after reading the article, I scrolled down to read the comments. Apparently, many people believe the officer is a racist who should resign his commission and join the KKK.

That's the typical response toward anyone who questions the legitimacy of the illigitamate Kenyan illegal immigrant to serve as POTUS.

When all else fails, and you can't prove your point, scream "racist", or "bigot", or some other vile invective.

[Rabbit]

Originally Posted by 03_SHOOTER

When all else fails, and you can't prove your point, scream "racist", or "bigot", or some other vile invective.

That only works one way though, in my opinion. God help the white man who calls a black man racist.

As far as the lawsuit goes, good luck with that. Though, with perspective on our country as I see it, nothing good will come of it.

[03_SHOOTER]

Originally Posted by Psybadek

I agree to a point in I dont see why it's such a big deal he can't show documents proving his citizenship...

It's "such a big deal" because Article II Section 1 Clause 5 of the United States Constitution REQUIRES that "No person except a natural born citizen...shall be eligible to the office of President...".

Originally Posted by Psybadek

but the guy did go out of the line a little with his statements.

I realize that in this day and age most people barely give passing notice of that dusty old document, that was written so long ago, by those wig wearing gentlemen in their silly stockings, but the fact remains that every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and Marine has sworn to "support and defend" that dusty old document, and the good Lt. is merely doing what he swore to do. Now, if that's considered to be going "out of the line a little", then I would suggest that everyone who is well within that line is in the WRONG PLACE!

Originally Posted by Psybadek

Whether we like it or not, Obama is our president.

He might be YOUR President, but until such time as the vault copy of his Certificate of Live Birth (as opposed to the Certification of Live Birth that we've been shown) has been presented, with all the pertinent information contained thereon (including the time of birth, length, weight, eye color, hair color, footprints, and the attending physicians signature), as far as I'm concerned the Lt. is correct and the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is nothing but an illegitimate Kenyan illegal immigrant.

[03_SHOOTER]

Originally Posted by Rabbit

That only works one way though, in my opinion. God help the white man who calls a black man racist.

As far as the lawsuit goes, good luck with that. Though, with perspective on our country as I see it, nothing good will come of it.

Then God must be on my side, because I've done it several times.

As far as the lawsuit is concerned, I really don't expect the judges on the courts to abide by their oaths, do their jobs, and actually enforce the Constitution, as that would require them to actually know what it says...and means, and if they did, they would have to rule over half of the laws on the books unconstitutional on their face, and that would put entirely too many of their fellow lawyers out of work!

[03_SHOOTER]

Originally Posted by a777pilot

This is going nowhere rapidly.

This would have to be adjudicated in a Federal court and I know of no Federal court that is going to challenge a sitting President that was duly elected...no matter the facts or rumors of that President eligibility. The fact remains he was elected.

Sad but true.

Actually, the only thing that would have to happen would be for the Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus ordering the hospital to present the vault copy of the Certificate of Live Birth to the court as part of 'discovery', Once the vault copy has been presented to the court, the case is over, period, and that's precisely what all of the uproar is all about. It's entirely too easy to prove whether or not he actually was born in a hospital on Hawaii and they haven't done it.

Combine that with the fact that the illegitimate Kenyan illegal immigrant has steadfastly refused to produce so many of the other documents from his past (college transcripts, etc.) and "something is rotten in the State of Denmark".