Not Sure You Can Keep Calling The Birthers A "Fringe Movement" In The Missouri GOP
The crazy for-profit birthermercial we mentioned last week did indeed air on KSPR last week. The general manager for KY3, Inc. (which runs KSPR) said "the opinions of this particular program may be a minority of our viewers, but certainly I think this group has the right to express themselves. I don't think it's libelous in any fashion."
In his story, Catanese said the conspiracy theorists "may be a fringe movement," and the post on the story at The Turner Report described the birthers as the "lunatic fringe." While I certainly agree that the birthers' accusations are pure lunacy, it's important to remember that the alleged "fringe" includes a disturbing number of high-ranking leaders in the Missouri Republican Party.
Rep. Tim Jones
Jones is expected to be the GOP Floor Leader in the next legislative session and remains a favorite of financier Rex Sinquefield, but is still suing Obama in federal court (California's Central District) without apology or explanation. He is currently Chair of the House General Laws Committee and Vice-Chair of the Workforce Development and Workplace Safety Committee.
In fact, Catanese interviewed attorney and U.S. Justice Foundation Leader Gary Kreep, who is currently representing two of Rep. Jones' and Rep. Davis' co-plaintiffs in their federal lawsuit against Obama. Jones and his fellow plaintiffs have filed competing forged birth certificates, and his reputation as an attorney may be forever damaged.
Roy Blunt
Congressman Blunt, as noted in Catanese's story, believes the birthers are asking "legitimate" questions, and believes that reporters like Turner, Catanese and the News-Leader's Chad Livengood lack the capacity to report on the issue in a "legitimate" way.
One could argue that Roy Blunt is the highest-ranking Republican in the country to engage in birtherism.
Rep. Ed Emery
Emery says "it's important" to not put the birther conspiracy theories aside, and attended Orly Taitz' July 1 event in Jefferson City not as someone interested in watching her logical trainwreck, but as a legislator intent on "protect[ing] the liberties of the citizens of District 126 and of Missouri. After the meeting, he expressed great dismay at reporters' explanations of why Orly's theories are ridiculous. Emery is the Chair of the House Utilities Committee.
Rep. Cynthia Davis
A litigant in the federal suit with Jones, Davis actually travelled to California to meet with Orly Taitz and potential witnesses (who later accused Taitz of asking them to lie under oath), and was contesting Obama's citizenship in public forums as recently as this weekend.
Davis may be the most public and unapologetic birther in the Missouri bunch, but on this subject, her views line up pretty closely with quite a few of her colleagues.
Rep. Robert Cooper
Cooper was the sponsor of the birthers' proposed constitutional amendment in the General Assembly, later withdrawn. He was mentioned by name as a fellow believer at Orly's July 1 event in Jefferson City.
Cooper's co-sponsors included: Walt Bivins (R-St. Louis) Dan Brown (R-Rolla). Jason Brown (R-Platte City). Cynthia Davis (R-O'Fallon). Doug Ervin (R-Kearney). Barney Joe Fisher (R-Richards). Doug Funderbunk (R-St. Peters). Mike Lair (R-Chillicothe). Mike McGhee (R-Odessa). Bob Nance (R-Excelsior Springs). Brian Nieves (R-Washington). Dwight Scharnhorst (R-St. Louis). Shane Schoeller (R-Willard). Rick Stream (R-Kirkwood). Don Wells (R-Cabool).
Rep. Casey Guernsey
Guernsey agreed to participate in Orly Taitz' lawsuit earlier this year, and is listed in a number of court documents filed by Taitz, but is not an official plaintiff in the federal case with Jones and Davis at this point.
That said, it's more than a little disturbing that Guernsey reach out or agreed to sign on with Orly Taitz at any point. Her crazy beliefs and antics were well known when he attached his name to her suit.
Sen. Jim Lembke
Lembke sent an aide to Orly Taitz' July 1 meeting in St. Charles. Later that same day, Taitz said Lembke was "quite supportive" of her efforts to throw Obama out of office.
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Given this list of Republican leaders, it's not surprising that the Missouri Republican Party declined to comment on the KY3 story. It is, however, telling that the MO GOP feels unable to distance itself from this obvious fraud.
If reporters choose to start equating "the mainstream" of the Missouri GOP with what any reasonable person would consider "the fringe," you'll get no complaints from me.
