CNN investigation finds that, yes, Obama was in fact born in the U.S.

By Michael J.W. Stickings

Did we really need a CNN investigation to tell us what we already knew, what the facts told us, namely, that President Obama was in fact born in the U.S., more specifically in Hawaii on August 4, 1961?

No.

But we got one nonetheless and if nothing else it provides additional confirmation.

And what we can also confirm is that Birtherism is not just a delusional conspiracy theory but a blatant lie and complete disregard for the truth.

But will this finally silence the Birthers? Will it put an end to Donald Trump's self-aggrandizing ravings? No, of course not. The facts mean nothing to the Birthers, including Trump, who will no doubt continue to talk up his own secret investigation. Think Progress:

CNN researchers decided to save Trump the trouble and actually investigate. First, they spoke with Dr. Chiyome Fukino, former Hawaii Department of Health Director and a Republican, who took advantage of a state law allowing her to see President Obama's birth certificate stored in a vault. Fukino declared the certificate "absolutely authentic." She even put disputed Trump's suggestion that Obama is hiding that he's a Muslim to rest, pointing out that no birth certificate from that time mentions faith.

Aware of Trump's concern that no one remembers baby Obama, CNN went ahead and found them too. Not only did Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) reiterate his memory of celebrating the birth with Obama's mother, but so did Dunham's college adviser and another mother giving birth in the hospital when Obama was born. She remembered because "in those days, there were hardly any other black babies."

The repeated debunking of the birther conspiracy has convinced numerous Republicans that Trump offers nothing but a "joke" candidacy. Last night, Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) told CNN's John King that this issue "is leading our country down a path of destruction." Americans agree, with 64 percent saying "they would definitely not vote for Trump in 2012" and half of all Americans believing he'd be a "poor" or "terrible" leader. This, however, seems to be another fact Trump will entirely ignore. 

Republicans embrace Birtherism at their peril -- and yet that is precisely what they're doing. Yes, there are some in the "establishment," including Brewer, who are worried about it, but Birtherism is rampant among the base, which explains why so many establishment figures, whatever their own views, are careful not to dismiss it (by insinuating that it might be true or by making it a matter of belief instead of fact) and which helps explain Trump's significant popularity even as a "joke" candidate.

Trump has other things going for him (e.g., broad name-recognition, ubiquitous media presence, myth as self-made Super CEO who possesses astounding business acumen, and lots of money, always popular with Republicans), but his current standing has a lot to do with the fact that he's tapping into the deep reservoir of grassroots Republican paranoia and fear. It's not an accident that he's embraced Birtherism. It's his key to Republican success, should he seek it, and he's not about to drop it just because a CNN investigation says he's crazy.

The facts haven't stopped Republicans before. They won't stop them now either.