Summer News Slump: Obama ‘Birthers’ Get Their Day in Cable Sun

Health Care reform, which is seemingly the only story coming out of Washington at the moment, just doesn’t inspire the sort of controversy that makes up cable’s bread and butter. What’s an anchor to do? Fortunately one doesn’t have to look too far to find the kind of nutjob story that drives ratings. Enter the Birthers.

You may remember these folks from last year’s campaign trail. They are the ones who don’t believe the President of the United States in an American citizen and keep demanding to see his birth certificate. And they are back! Courtesy of cable who in the name of debunking has given them a slew of attention this past 24 hours, along with Lou Dobbs who apparently feels that being the spokesperson for these people may be exactly the sort of thing, which will make his career relevant again.

First off is Rick Sanchez, who read Obama’s birth certificate on air yesterday for the edification of all the doubters.

Then, later on last night Chris Matthews took aim at Congressman John Campbell, who is supporting a bill that says every elected official has to produce a birth certificate. Actually it is fairly satisfying to watch Matthews here, so arguably TV well spent! In the end Campbell comes close to admitting that it’s possible Obama is an actual American.

Finally, there is Lou Dobbs, who (once again?) manages to make the wackjobs look normal. CNN, the place for “doing journalism!”