Comments by a candidate for Congress continue to generate controversy.
The candidate is Tracey Mann. He's running in the Republican primary to succeed Rep. Jerry Moran in the Kansas First Congressional District.
At issue is an interview Mann gave to KSAL radio in Salina. In it, he says President Obama should prove that he's an American citizen:
Interviewer: "Are you a birther?
Mann: I think the President of the United States needs to come forth with his papers and show everyone that he's an American citizen and put this issue to bed once and for all.
Interviewer: So the short certificate that was shown by the state of Hawaii and the Secretary of State is not sufficient for you. Correct?
Mann: I would like to look into it more."
President Obama was born in Honolulu on August 4, 1961. Two newspapers carried birth announcement. Hawaiian law does not allow the release of someone's long-form birth certificate.
The Hutchinson News, which previously endorsed Mann, has withdrawn its endorsement.
Our news partners at The Salina Journal also plan to withdraw their endorsement. "I am pulling my endorsement and will have another editorial early next week," said Journal editor and publisher Tom Bell. He said he will take another look at the five remaining Republican contenders.
In response, Mann released the following statement to Eyewitness News:
"I have no interest in pushing what some have called the 'birther' issue in Congress. If it was a priority for me I would have put it in the 'Mann Plan.' I was simply answering a question about the Obama administration's handling of the controversy. While I believe they have handled the controversy poorly, I have never had any interest in spending any time on the matter. I'm disappointed and mystified by the Hutchinson News' decision to withdraw their endorsement over what is clearly a misunderstanding of my position. If I was interested in pursuing this issue in Congress I would understand their concern. However, I have no such agenda. I've spelled out my goals as clearly as I can in the Mann Plan and in countless conversations with voters across the district. I trust their wisdom, discernment and judgment and am confident my agenda and plan best represents their goals and aspirations."
Mann's comments and subsequent walk-back have garnered national attention. CNN.com, the website Talking Points Memo and New York magazine each have stories about the issue.
Eyewitness News contacted each candidate in the First Congressional District about this issue. Below are their responses:
Jim Barnett (R)
“Jim’s question is not where was Barack Obama born, but what planet is he coming from with policies like nationalized healthcare and cap and tax,” stated Barnett for Congress Spokesman Patrick Graham. “Jim is not a part of the birther movement."
Sue Boldra (R)
"I think it's a distraction. I'm not worried about it. As a government teacher, the whole idea of the political party is to decide whether a candidate is eligible to be President. That's should've been something the party did. I would assume if they put someone up they would've known it. The party should've known the candidate was legitimate."
Marck Cobb (R)
"I would assume that was looked at when he (Obama) was nominated by the Democratic party and before he was sworn in that issue would've been checked by government officials. Granted, there's always been a question, but my position is that I don't have the facts first-hand. I do make the assumption the government did the proper checks."
Tim Huelskamp (R)
"No -- I do not question him on that. But I do question him on his liberal policies. My concerns with President Obama are based on his radical liberal agenda, which includes massive government intervention in our lives."
Alan Jilka (D)
"This is a complete distraction of the issues facing this country today. He (Alan Jilka) does not subscribe to the views or opinions of the birther movement," said spokesperson Shawn Colvin.
Robert Wasinger (R)
"While I believe that President Obama is an American citizen, I strongly believe his liberal agenda that punishes success and suffocates the entrepreneur spirit is un-American, and I'll focus my efforts as a Congressman in defeating Obama's radical agenda, not on questioning his citizenship."
