Joplin Globe: "Focus on Real Issues, Not This Citizenship Drivel"

The Joplin Globe is not impressed with Rep. Ed Emery's (R-LaMars) fraternizing with Orly Taitz and fellow anti-Obama conspiracy theorists. In a new editorial, the Globe editorial board rightly demands that Emery start worrying about important issues facing his constituents.

Never mind the facts that Obama was born in Honolulu on Aug. 4, 1961, that the Honolulu Advertiser printed notice of his birth nine days later and that his birth certificate is on file with the state of Hawaii. Facts like those don’t matter to birthers, who have a conspiracy theory too compelling to ruin with facts...

What’s chilling is that Emery would waste constituents’ time giving that theory any credence.

In a statement, Emery said he attended the meeting for exactly that reason — to represent his constituents and defend the Constitution.

If he is truly interested in “representing his constituents,” then he should focus on real issues, not this citizenship drivel.

There is plenty of other pressing business in Missouri. We are facing budget cuts. We need jobs. We need to control spending. We need to figure out health care.

Emery should be fighting for those things. Not this work of fiction worthy of a David Baldacci book.

The Globe also hints at another truth in this whole embarrassing ordeal: no amount of facts is likely to convince Emery or the birthers that they're wrong. Remember Emery's prediction that "the media" won't actually look at the facts?

I did discover that I will have to do my own investigation; the media will not. That was appallingly clear!

It's the rest of us who are crazy -- not the crazy people.  In fact, any public scrutiny or media attention seems to reinforce their beliefs that everyone else is conspiring against them to help perpetrate Obama's criminal, Nazi, Islamic, communist, mob-like enterprise.