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Obama wants his college records off the table [W:254/301]

When did Obama admit that he had poor grades?

And incidentally, George W. Bush got into Harvard B School with poor grades.
 
why do people do this. here is the answer your looking for

FULL ANSWER

This is an example of mostly old baloney in a new casing. It mainly recycles years-old falsehoods and insinuations, most of which we covered long ago, in connection with an earlier viral email.

But with President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign heating up, this new graphic has appeared on countless anti-Obama websites and in viral emails like the one we’ve reprinted here. Very little that it contains is new, and the old falsehoods have not improved with age.

Nothing ‘Sealed’

The idea that any Obama record is “sealed” is a falsehood, to start. The word “sealed” when applied to documents ordinarily refers to records that would normally be public, but that a judge has ruled cannot be released without the court’s permission. Common examples of truly “sealed” documents include records of crimes committed as a juvenile or records of adoptions. None of the claims in this message refers to records actually “sealed” in that usual sense.

In some cases, the records this screed claims are “sealed” are actually public, and open for anyone to see. Other supposedly “sealed” records are normally private documents that Obama hasn’t released — and that other presidential candidates haven’t released either.

So as with earlier versions, this is little more than an attempt to raise suspicions by asking for records that aren’t ordinarily made public, without any evidence that those records contain anything derogatory. We’ll take the claims and questions in the order they appear.

Claims #1, 2 and 4, college records. Obama’s college records are not “sealed” by a court order, as this graphic would have you believe. It would be illegal under federal law (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974) for Occidental, Columbia or Harvard Law School to give any former student’s records to reporters or members of the public without that person’s specific, written permission. Obama hasn’t released them, but neither have other presidential candidates released their college records. George W. Bush’s grades at Yale eventually became public, but only because somebody leaked them to the New Yorker magazine. Bush himself refused to release them, according to a 1999 profile in the Washington Post.


Claim #3, thesis paper. Obama did write a paper on nuclear disarmament for an honors course in American foreign policy during his senior year, but it wasn’t the sort of “thesis” that some colleges require for graduation and keep on file in their libraries, like those that Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama released. During the 2008 campaign, reporters were told that Columbia had not retained a copy of Obama’s 1983 paper, and that Obama didn’t have a copy, either. NBC News contacted his former professor, Michael Baron, who said he looked for his copy but couldn’t find it, and thought he probably tossed it out eight years earlier in a move.
NBC quoted Baron as saying the paper likely would have disappointed Obama’s critics. “The course was not a polemical course, it was a course in decision making and how decisions got made,” Baron told NBC. “None of the papers in the class were controversial.”

Claim #5, Selective Service registration. Obama’s Selective Service registration is public. A copy has been posted publicly, and the Selective Service confirmed that Obama registered for the draft on Sept. 4, 1980, and was given registration number 61-1125539-1.
Worth noting is that nobody in the U.S. has been drafted for military service since 1972, the year Obama turned 11. Obama, like other young men turning age 18 since then, was required to register on a standby basis, in case Congress ever resumes an active military draft. Failure to register is technically a crime, and disqualifies a man for federal student aid or from holding certain federal jobs.

Claim #6, medical records. During the 2008 campaign, Obama released summary medical information from his personal physician, who pronounced him to be in “excellent health” with routine test results for such things as cholesterol all within normal levels. (McCain, who is a cancer survivor and was 71 at the time, let reporters see his records for three hours to show he was cancer-free.)
Since taking office, Obama has followed the practice of earlier presidents. He released results of his first “periodic” physical exam on Feb. 28, 2010. Results of his second “periodic” exam were released Oct. 31, 2011. His physician described him as being “in excellent health and ‘fit for duty.’”

Claims #7 and 8, Illinois state Senate records. Obama’s voting record in the Illinois state Senate is a matter of public record, and about as far from being “sealed” as one can imagine. Reporters extensively went over his votes in 2008. Transcripts of Senate debates in which Obama took part while in office (1997 – 2004) can even be found online, at the website of the Illinois General Assembly.
Obama’s personal appointment calendar as a state senator may still be private — if it still exists — but we’ve seen nothing to suggest that would add much to what is already public. As president, Obama has released records of visitors to the White House (2.4 million so far). There are some exceptions. Personal information about visitors, such as Social Security numbers are not released. And there’s an exemption for “particularly sensitive” information, which might include a visit by a potential Supreme Court nominee, for example. But that’s still more disclosure than any previous president has made, by far.

Claim #9, law firm clients. It’s true that Obama has not released a list of the 30 or so clients for whom he worked personally while he was a lawyer with the firm of Davis, Miner, Barnhill and Gallard in Illinois. He did routinely disclose the law firm’s entire client list while he was in the state Senate, however. And his campaign confirmed in 2008 several specific clients that Obama represented personally, when reporters asked about them. For example, he once represented the liberal group ACORN in a 1995 lawsuit against the state of Illinois, to make voter registration easier.

Claims #10 and 11, birth certificates. The claim that Obama’s birth certificate is “sealed” is pure nonsense. Copies of both the so-called “short” and “long” certificates have been released, and state officials in Hawaii have said repeatedly that Obama was born there in 1961 and is a “natural born American citizen.”
Claim #12, baptism record. If a paper record exists (and we’ve seen no evidence that it does), it would most likely show only what numerous, undisputed news accounts have stated: Obama was baptized in 1988 in Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Obama was often seen in attendance at Wright’s church in the 20 years that followed. He was married there, and his two daughters were baptized there.

He remained a member even after some of Wright’s controversial sermons were given national attention in early 2008. When Obama reluctantly severed ties with Wright after weeks of controversy, it was a major news event. Obama and his family now attend St. John’s Episcopal Church, near the White House, though not on a regular basis.

Claim #13: Michelle Obama’s law license. It’s simply not true that the first lady “can no longer practice law as an attorney.” She could resume the practice of law any time she chooses. Both the president and his wife have voluntarily inactivated their Illinois law licenses, thereby avoiding a requirement to take continuing education classes and pay hundreds of dollars in annual fees, which is common for lawyers no longer actively practicing.
Claim #14, first ladies’ assistants. It’s true that the first lady has more than 20 on her staff, but that’s roughly the same as other recent first ladies. The claim that “other first ladies had only one” might conceivably be true of Martha Washington or Dolley Madison, but it’s certainly not true of Laura Bush or Hillary Clinton. Bush had at least 18 that we could count, and probably more with job titles that didn’t make the link clear. The White House has said Michelle Obama’s staff is the same size as Laura Bush’s was.

Claim #15, foreign student aid. The claim that Obama got “foreign student aid” is untrue. That wild falsehood began as an absurd April Fools’ Day hoax in 2009, which we quickly exposed.

Claim #16, Obama’s passport. There’s no reason to think Obama used anything but the then-current version of his U.S. passport when he traveled to Pakistan as a student in 1981. Some who questioned Obama’s birthplace made baseless claims that Pakistan had banned U.S. citizens from visiting in 1981, and speculated that he must have used an Indonesian passport. But they were quite wrong. There was no such travel ban. In fact, the New York Times published a travel piece that year describing the author’s own visit to Lahore, and the U.S. consul later wrote a letter to the Times saying he would “welcome an influx of Americans” and giving advice on how to make the journey.

Other Claims

Besides the numbered claims, the graphic also states that Obama has been endorsed by the Communist Party USA (CPUSA). It’s true that the Communist Party USA supports Obama. It claims to have about 2,000 members. Obama didn’t seek the CPUSA endorsement, nor has he endorsed that group.

The graphic also attributes three quotes to Obama, all of which are commonly offered on conservative websites. All the quotes are accurate. Here’s the background:

Obama appeared at the Service Employees International Union Sept. 17, 2007, to seek the union’s endorsement for the Democratic nomination, and he said, “your agenda has been my agenda in the United States Senate.” (The words appear at about 3 minutes and 15 seconds into this video.) And the SEIU eventually endorsed Obama, but not until February 2008, helping him wrap up the nomination battle against Hillary Clinton. The union has endorsed him again for reelection.
At the 2008 National Council of La Raza annual meeting in San Diego, Calif., on July 13, 2008, Obama concluded his remarks by saying, “And together, we won’t just win an election – we will transform this nation. Thank you, and God bless you.”
And speaking to the editorial board of the San Francisco Chronicle on Jan. 17, 2008, Obama said electricity costs would “necessarily skyrocket” as a result of capping carbon emissions. However, the cap-and-trade legislation he endorsed provided allowances intended to protect consumers from higher bills.

In summary, there are bits here that are true. But most is wrong or misleading, and overall the graphic falls far short of getting our seal of approval for accuracy. Call it “unsealed.”

– Brooks Jackson
Sources

Jackson, Brooks. “Clueless ‘Columbo.’ ” FactCheck.org. 18 Jan 2010.

Higbee, Matthew K. “Legal Terminology in Criminal Record Clearing.” Law Firm of Higbee & Associates. Undated web page, accessed 31 Jul 2012.


Its call factcheck.org
 
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vallista-----we have seen that before. its a left wing attempt at claiming that obama has been transparent about his past. It is simply not true.

But, since you claim that all of the information is available, please post obama's admission application to Columbia. Prove that he did not apply as a foreign exchange student.

do that, and the issue is closed.
 
vallista-----we have seen that before. its a left wing attempt at claiming that obama has been transparent about his past. It is simply not true.

But, since you claim that all of the information is available, please post obama's admission application to Columbia. Prove that he did not apply as a foreign exchange student.

do that, and the issue is closed.

Do you have any evidence that he did? If not, how is this any different from Harry Reid's wild proofless claims about Romney?
 
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vallista-----we have seen that before. its a left wing attempt at claiming that obama has been transparent about his past.

Factcheck.org is a nonpartisan site actually started by a conservative couple.


It is simply not true.

You can't just say that without going point by point PROVING Factcheck.org has missed something or has faulty information.

But, since you claim that all of the information is available, please post obama's admission application to Columbia. Prove that he did not apply as a foreign exchange student.

Conspiracy theories. The rebirth of Birtherism. Great.:roll:
 
One of his classmates has researched it, check it out. there are lots of unanswered questions.

The Wayne Allen Root piece? Where he says that it is his "gut instinct" that Obama has something fishy in his records? I'm not sure that counts as researching it, especially considering his political motivations for doing so. I'm not sure that counts as evidence.

Personally I think both this and the Romney tax returns nonsense is just partisan drivel intending to distract voters from actual policy during this election cycle.
 
The Wayne Allen Root piece? Where he says that it is his "gut instinct" that Obama has something fishy in his records? I'm not sure that counts as researching it, especially considering his political motivations for doing so. I'm not sure that counts as evidence.

Personally I think both this and the Romney tax returns nonsense is just partisan drivel intending to distract voters from actual policy during this election cycle.

Can't disagree on your broader point. Problem is that the Romney tax return issue seems to be dominating the major news media cycles. And the topic of Obama's school records get zero mention.

Seems sorta weird, eh...?
 
His records at occidental, columbia, and harvard remain hidden by his lawyers.

How exactly did he pay the expensive tuition at those schools? how did he get admitted? what did he write about? What did he put on his admission applications?

No one knows, Whats in there that is so damaging? exchange student? radical views? anyone know?

You are on to him. Yes, he is the Manchurian Candidate. I mean, how can a black man go to Harvard or be elected to POTUS? Clearly there are foreign subversives behind this. Keep up the good work, Bobcat, you are protecting our kind..... and keep your eye on the rear view mirror.
 
His records at occidental, columbia, and harvard remain hidden by his lawyers.

How exactly did he pay the expensive tuition at those schools? how did he get admitted? what did he write about? What did he put on his admission applications?

No one knows, Whats in there that is so damaging? exchange student? radical views? anyone know?

His records indicate he is the anti Christ...
 
When did Obama admit that he had poor grades?

well he was not on the Columbia list of those who graduated with Honors, High Honors, Highest honors or distinction
 
And incidentally, George W. Bush got into Harvard B School with poor grades.
what was the average at yale Circa 1968

what was the average acceptance for Harvard Business school at the time he applied

do you know that business schools put far less stock on GPA than what someone does after college


how did a guy with less than a 3.3 at Columbia get into harvard law at a time when more than 75% of the successful applicants had GPA's over 3.7
 
His records at occidental, columbia, and harvard remain hidden by his lawyers.

How exactly did he pay the expensive tuition at those schools? how did he get admitted? what did he write about? What did he put on his admission applications?

No one knows, Whats in there that is so damaging? exchange student? radical views? anyone know?

I think it's a combination of several things: how he got admitted; what he said on his application; the classes he concentrated on. The most important thing to me, personally, would be the classes he took as that list would give us insight into what drives him. I'm convinced he is an American citizen. I am not at all convinced he embraces the values that have made our nation the most powerful and successful nation in the world. He is driven by a belief system that is much more socialistic than capitalistic.
 
The tuition element along with exactly how he qualified for acceptance do seem to be sort of valid questions. Don't doubt Obama's US citizenship, but students (including me) can get creative/clever when filling out college application forms. The possibilty of getting accepted as an "Indonesian student" does not seem that far fetched.

Suspect there will be an outcry of "Birther" every time the issue is raised. But it would be funny if Romney countered with the challenge "I'll show my tax returns when you release your college records". :cool:

But then Romney might actually have to show his tax returns...

I doubt Obama would make such a challenge, because he isn't having trouble in the polls nor is Romney attacking him in ads about this issue. If Romney were doing ad attacks on this issue, and it were hurting Obama then he would be dumb to not address it. Obama shouldn't bring it up and make it an issue, if it is not hurting him in anyway.

If anybody should make that challenge, it should be Romney. Cause NOBODY has challenged Obama to release the info, not quite like Obama has been attacking Romney on releasing his tax returns.

Obama has the upper hand, so don't expect him to put his ass on the table to mock Romney that much more. It could possibly back fire. He is smarter to not put a negative spotlight on himself.
 
Yes, I want people to know he was an affirmative action poster child and some deserving white or asian student some place got turned down at Columbia and Harvard Law so Obama could fill a quota slot

Only over privileged whites and under privileged minorities get to go to those universities, because of family legacy or the color of their skin... The smart white people in society actually have to work really hard at other universities, where they don't get through admissions anywhere just because their dad and grandpa did.

/ridiculouslibertarianrightwingrantend
 
Only over privileged whites and under privileged minorities get to go to those universities, because of family legacy or the color of their skin... The smart white people in society actually have to work really hard at other universities, where they don't get through admissions anywhere just because their dad and grandpa did.

/ridiculouslibertarianrightwingrantend

smart poor white kids attend places like Harvard because legacies' families put up the money to fund those who cannot pay.

legacies at Yale when I went there had higher entering numbers and graduated with higher GPAs than non legacies because really smart people tend to have smart children and those smart people want to send their kids to the same school they were successful at.

but the fact remans-obama has the sense of entitlement that comes from an affirmative action poster child and his wife is even worse

she claimed her less than stellar record in HS was no bar to her getting into PRINCETON because she was a LEGACY

(her brother apparently was an affirmative action recipient and she claimed she was not)

she then was an affirmative action recipient into Harvard Law and an affirmative action hire at the uber prestigious Sidley Austin Law firm where the affirmative action benefits finally ended when she demonstrated she couldn't perform up to SA standards
 
smart poor white kids attend places like Harvard because legacies' families put up the money to fund those who cannot pay.

legacies at Yale when I went there had higher entering numbers and graduated with higher GPAs than non legacies because really smart people tend to have smart children and those smart people want to send their kids to the same school they were successful at.

but the fact remans-obama has the sense of entitlement that comes from an affirmative action poster child and his wife is even worse

she claimed her less than stellar record in HS was no bar to her getting into PRINCETON because she was a LEGACY

(her brother apparently was an affirmative action recipient and she claimed she was not)

she then was an affirmative action recipient into Harvard Law and an affirmative action hire at the uber prestigious Sidley Austin Law firm where the affirmative action benefits finally ended when she demonstrated she couldn't perform up to SA standards

If you had access to other people's GPAs, then why don't you just look up Obama's yourself
 
well he was not on the Columbia list of those who graduated with Honors, High Honors, Highest honors or distinction

And do you happen to know if someone CAN be listed as an honor student if he transferred in after two years? My guess would be no.
 
smart poor white kids attend places like Harvard because legacies' families put up the money to fund those who cannot pay.

Spare us the bull****. Harvard has an endowment of over $32 billion -- mostly funded by alumni donations.
 
His records at occidental, columbia, and harvard remain hidden by his lawyers.

Why do you keep repeating something that has been proven a lie?

Also, do you understand what Magna Cum Laude is?
 
Sure, we can do that. As a Conservative I fully respect President Obama's privacy. If he wants to keep his records hidden, all he has to do is not run. I respect his right to return to being a private person.

Perhaps you weren't aware, he wrote not one, but two books with in depth autobiographical material.

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance: Barack Obama: 9781400082773: Amazon.com: Books


The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Vintage): Barack Obama: 9780307455871: Amazon.com: Books

Happy reading!!;)


This whole "we didn't vet him" notion is, IMO, frigging retarded. You really think the Clintons didn't turn over every stone?

Stop people. You still got one foot in birthirism and that just embarrasses all of us.
 
Every year, thousands of low income students - regardless of race - make into our top schools on scholarships, lines of credit, hard work etc. Obama does it and every white guy with a ****ty job, and every white guy pretending to be a black guy - come on the internet to complain that a black man made it into an university they could not.

They demand to know how it was that a black guy rose straight to the top and they ended up being one more citizen who didn't quite "make it" to prosperity.

I smell tons and tons of envy by the OP in this thread.

He'll probably deny it and tell us all about how he has black friends and is oh-so-successful in his day to day life. It'll be nothing more than a dodge to avoid the fact that no matter how succesful his internet persona is, he's still one more guy on the internet who is jealous of Obama's success.
 
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Perhaps you weren't aware, he wrote not one, but two books with in depth autobiographical material.

Should I care, one day, I'll get the boot-legged version so I don't contribute to his campaign.

This whole "we didn't vet him" notion is, IMO, frigging retarded.

That's nice, but I never said that, so whatever.

You really think the Clintons didn't turn over every stone?

Is Mrs Clinton running this time? No? Then I don't care, and neither should you.

Stop people.

Who?

You still got one foot in birthirism and that just embarrasses all of us.

The last thing I'm worried about is whether or not you're embarrassed.

***
If you don't your records to be public, don't run for public office.





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