We’ve seen an evolutionary process in the document from Lucas Smith that purports to be a certified copy of a birth certificate (affectionately known by anti-birthers as the POSFKBC), that he says he obtained in Kenya, showing Barack Obama born at the Coast Province General Hospital in Mombasa. First, all we had was a shaky image in a video, purportedly made in Kenya. Then we got a wrinkled still version submitted in the Keyes v. Obama lawsuit by Orly Taitz. In 2012 we were treated to a photograph showing the raised seal more clearly. More recently, Smith claims to have obtained scans of details from the original from which the certified copy was made, and finally he has released the entire document that follows (click to enlarge):
Since this purports to be a copy of the original (not of the certified copy), it would lack the certifying elements of the earlier copy, elements that were troublesome due to internal contradictions. Some internal faults remain, such as the reversed date order (American style mm/dd/yyyy instead of Kenyan style dd/mm/yyyy), and the missing full date of birth of Obama’s father (which was not known at the time the certificate was published). And of course, no other birth certificate of this form has ever been put forward.
I did a cursory forensic analysis of the new document and about the only thing that stood out was the remarkably low quality of the JPG file (44%). In the earlier version of the certificate, it appeared that there is kerning in the word “Kenya” that one would not expect from 1961 typesetting equipment. The kerning is not evident in this document and this one is consistent with blotchy copying on the former. In that one instance, the new document helps the old.
Just for fun, I tried to identify the font used in the preprinted sections of the form (excluding the title) and the top result was Simoncini Garamond, a font designed in 1961. 😯 That’s not the right font because of a difference in the uppercase “B”. [When the quoted material consists of a single character, the period appears outside the quotation marks.] (Some anonymous person calling himself “the pressman” said that the font was Adobe Caslon, but it obviously isn’t.]
Anyway, I get to open the year with a shiny birther object to object to.
As with nearly all the fakes, this gives Daddy Obama no more of a date of birth than the year, 1936, without month or day – even though supposedly he was there, in his native country, and could be asked directly. This occurs because on the real, Hawaiian, b/c, Mama Obama provided only his year. The precise date is findable, with some effort, on the internet. But the Kenyan fakes cannot be bothered with that detail.
It is also my opinion that the date given as “4th of August, 1961” betrays an American background. This British style of date, which would presumably be used in Kenya, would not have had a comma.
Additionally, most of the fakes put the President’s birth in Mombasa. I have had trouble verifying whether, on the date of his birth, Mombasa was part of Kenya or still part of Zanzibar.
In any case, Mombasa is about as far as you can get, in the current Kenya boundaries, from the Obama family ancestral village of Nyangoma Kogelo. A distance of about 940 km (584 miles). In 1961 that would have taken more than day to drive, only part of it on anything resembling roads. It would also have required passing by, without stopping, real hospitals and substantial midwife clinics considerably closer, such as in Nairobi.
It’s very tough to imagine that Mama Obama went to Kenya in an advanced state of pregnancy to have her baby there, in the conditions of a tropical Third World country, for no particular reason, especially considering the sort of airplane flight available in 1961, and endure more than a day bouncing in a jeep from the Obama family village all the way to Mombasa to deliver the baby (and then flying back with a newborn in 1961 aircraft).
Any guesses as to why the typewriter font is red?
My guess is that because this was going to be a color copy, someone thought why not add some pizzaz .
In times past I spent quite a bit of time trying to find this detail to see if the Wikipedia article on Obama Sr. could be sourced, and was unable to do so. Not until FOIA documents from the Department of State came to light was I able to source it, and then there remained the problem of different dates on different documents.
Disregarding for a moment the obvious phoniness of the birth certificate, the overriding question is why anyone would give credence to a document submitted by a convicted forger and con artist.
Speaking of Smith, whatever happened to his lawsuit against Mark Halperin and John Heilemann? Did he ever file it?
I don’t know why he would.
Identifont does declare it to be Garamond. I realize that’s actually a typeface, and not specifically a font.
http://www.identifont.com
I have to tell you. Having spent some time making copies of copies while researching the “20 Shades of Vogt,” what strikes me is the inexplicable difference in quality between the two versions of the complete certificate that Smith has released. To go from the nearly pristine image he offered us most recently to the distorted, degraded and smudged image he originally released would take (in my estimate) about ten or twelve generations of replication… fewer if a fax was used… none of which explain the bizarre nature of the actual differences. No matter what Smith tries to claim about his sources, his original story of having gone to the Coast Province General Hospital to obtain the first version has now lost its last breath of credibility. There are no scenarios under which the hospital’s copy can possibly have been bad enough to produce the stamped and sealed copy he claims they handed him.
There is also the problem of the length of the baby compared to the width between the shoulders. These measurements would make sense if the baby was Gary Coleman.
Lucas D. Smith CLAIMS that he got the “Kenyan birth certificate” in Mombasa, Kenya, but Lucas D. Smith has never shown any proof that he has ever gone to Kenya. All it would take would be for Lucas D. Smith to scan the page of his passport showing a Kenya stamp on it, but Lucas D. Smith has constantly refused to do that. I wonder why? Could it be that Lucas D. Smith has never gone to Kenya and only claims that he did? All it would take to prove that he had gone to Kenya is that scan of his passport, but Smith hasn’t provided that and constantly refuses to do so. Why do you suppose he refuses???
When the birthers were confronted with this, they said that the father wouldn’t have been in the delivery room in such a “backwoods area” and therefore he couldn’t give his DOB. They neglect the fact that passport records, along with immigration records, repeatedly prove that Barack Obama, Sr. never left the U.S. while he was here studying until he returned to Kenya upon completion of his degree. Their comeback, of course, was that Ann Dunham Obama traveled halfway around the world to meet her husband’s family, despite knowing her father-in-law disapproved of him marrying a white woman and her husband’s first wife lived with the family and despite being 8 months pregnant. Never mind the fact that she would not have been able to receive the necessary immunizations to travel to Africa due to her pregnancy. Birthers overlook all of this without any possible explanation. They NEED to believe it’s true, so in their shallow little minds, it is true.
I don’t know . . . how hard would it be for someone like Lucas to forge an entry/exit stamp from Kenya? Even if it was proven false, birthers would still believe it was legitimate.
Fake and you know it. Anything with the ‘Obama’ name is fake. I’m not saying he wasn’t born in Kenya. America more than likely.
The so-called Lucas Smith’s alleged Obama’s Kenya birth certificate will never be introduced as evidence in any trial because the manner of the way Lucas Smith obtained the birth certificate did not comply with the Federal Rules of Evidence, particularly regarding foreign public documents as set forth in Rule 902 (3) of the Federal Rules of Evidence, as provided:
(3) Foreign public documents.–A document purporting to be executed or attested in an official capacity by a person authorized by the laws of a foreign country to make the execution or attestation, and accompanied by a final certification as to the genuineness of the signature and official position (A) of the executing or attesting person, or (B) of any foreign official whose certificate of genuineness of signature and official position relates to the execution or attestation or is in a chain of certificates of genuineness of signature and official position relating to the execution or attestation. A final certification may be made by a secretary of an embassy or legation, consul general, consul, vice consul, or consular agent of the United States, or a diplomatic or consular official of the foreign country assigned or accredited to the United States. If reasonable opportunity has been given to all parties to investigate the authenticity and accuracy of official documents, the court may, for good cause shown, order that they be treated as presumptively authentic without final certification or permit them to be evidenced by an attested summary with or without final certification.
Federal courts have ruled that unless the foreign birth certificate complies with FRE 902 then the it is inadmissible . “Although the trial court was correct in finding that neither Rule 901 nor 902(3) was complied with, the court did abuse its discretion in holding the evidence authentic and admissible. This circuit requires strict compliance with the authenticity rules. United States v. Perlmuter, 693 F. 2d 1290, 1292 (9th Cir. 1982 (internal citations omitted)
That is why Lucas Smith’s purported birth certificate is worthless
smith addresses just that in a long winded rant over at birtherreport ( under the alias b. steadman )
http://www.birtherreport.com/2013/12/revealed-pristine-image-of-footprint-on.html
here’s a highlight:
“The extensive, ruthless, unprincipled, ‘Obama Subterranean Support Team’ (obots) would LOVE to have Lucas publicly release these documents so they could start employing their customary ‘gotcha’ tactics, or worse. That is why, of course, they incessantly keep demanding to view these documents.”
I thought you are his half-sister. Yet you’re not sure where he was born?
http://nesaranews.blogspot.com/2013/12/obamas-half-sister-nancy-ruth-owens.html
Nope. As I said in my YouTube videos, I was even aware of his existence until around age 12 or 13. It was summer, pool season and it’s when that picture with the Hawaiian leis was taken in Clewiston, Florida by the Delgados who were having a birthday pinata party. It was Allen’s which makes me inclined to believe that August 4th or 5th is his true birthdate. Ernesto Delgado is the Cuban Medellin cartel member who reportedly killed President Galan with a bomb which I do believe beyond a doubt. Note that my father was in TV electronics and that he unknowingly built the bomb for the 1980 Jimmy Hoffa murder so it’s more than likely that he, under duress, built other bombs Through a very mature 1980 spy grid, the Hendry County Sheriff’s Department and the Florida State’s Attorney’s office, among others, kept us on a tight lockdown which is why the truth is so hush hush. This morning’s posting now have a request for info into the Reagan spy grid and the typical “We are justified in what we did for X,Y, and Z reasons” propaganda already spewing out into the media which the stupid, gullible sheeple will lap up in pure ecstacy with words of adulation in worship of the false, cowardly gods we call politicians. You should also note that our father worked for NASA on Apollo 11 and so he would have had easy access into the launch areas of Cape Canaveral which makes me wonder about the explosion of Space Challenger in 1986. Do not underestimate what our selfish drug-dealing leaders are capable of doing to protect their precious cocaine trade. I’ve seen the bloody gore up close and personal and this includes the severing of Adam Walsh’s head in the back seat of a Mustang right in front of the mall from which he was taken. Our two families were kept separated and the only time I would hear of my half-brother Allen was once a year or so during his birthday when my father would go to my grandmother’s house. Other than that, not a peep. Did we go to school together? It’s possible. One thing I know beyond the shadow of a doubt, he DID NOT go to school in Hawaii because of the conversations Allen, Griselda and I had at the time that we forged his documents which was just after I took a course in Business Law at what was once known as Palm Beach Community College (Lake Worth Campus) under David Nixon. For the record, the Nixon name is nothing more than a coincidence. You should also note that it was not uncommon for Anthony Toulis’s assassins, whose business was inherited by Pablo Escobar when the Adam Walsh contract was refused, to be issued passports for out-of-country contract kills. http://www.iforgedobamasbirthcertificates.com
Nancy,
Have you ever considered the possibility that you are completely wrong about all of this?
I assume he’s referring to the “customary” tactic of applying flawless logic to indisputable facts in order to prove that the claimed being questioned is a steaming heap of horse manure?
No. I’m too busy wondering why Dr. Conspiracy is no longer deleting my posts.
Did you ever consider asking him?
“B.Steadman”‘s comment really makes no sense, since Lucas showed his passport as proof of his trip to Kenya. He showed an entry into the US stamp on a passport in the YouTube video asking for $30k.
Of course an entry stamp into America means a trip to Kenya
Oh, I watch him very closely as he may very well know. I’m trying to figure out how to incorporate him into my blog. But, with so many “It’s a real birth certificate” websites to fight against I just can’t quite get there. Same with Orly who’s all over the board on everything making it hard to find a focal point in her blog.
Dr. C’s a smart one with lots of extremely valuable insights into this issue. Most notably the Cold Case Posse’s tax status of educators only and not true investigators. Their recent drama over the past two days makes it look like it’s been staged to keep the con going.
Ok, I’ve got one. Is Mike Zullo really Mike Moore of Clewiston, Florida? Because, if he’s an “actor,” he’s the most convincing I’ve ever seen minus the abnormal eternally young aspect here. If he’s Mike Moore, know this, Mike Moore, the investigator of Hendry County, Florida ALMOST NEVER came out after dark because he was too afraid of the Medellin Cartel.
Pablo Escobar built his own personal jail cells just a mile from the Hendry County Sheriff’s subdivision office where he imprisoned Americans as a king. So, to ride onto the world stage as some sort of great national savior thirty-four years later as it’s collapsing from internal corruption and ignorance really pi**es me off!
South Florida has no need of cowards and cowards are not heroes. If that’s Mike Moore and the CCP is sincere, cut him off! He’s a pathetic joke who could have done something real three decades ago. But, now? No way.
The same birthers also believe that Frank Marshal Davis was really Obama’s father so how do they explain why Ann Dunham would travel to Kenya to be with the family that they claim isn’t really Obama’s family?
Every time Lucas has been asked when he posted here he quickly devolves into calling the one asking a homosexual.
Contrary to your singular belief Nancy, not every historical event happens in your tiny town of clewiston, fl (population:7000)
Regarding the lack of a precise date of birth for Papa Obama:
Birth certificate reports are not completed in the surgical room amid all the blood, even in the third world; especially if done on a typewriter. In the case of the Hawaiian birth certificate, it’s obvious that a couple of days went by before the form was completed and then signed by Mama Obama. If she gave birth in an African hospital, it makes sense that somebody African, presumably from her husband’s family, went with her and could have supplied the precise birthdate for Papa Obama. (Did anyone notice that Mama’s birthdate is given in American style — MM/dd/yyy, not British style — dd/MM/yyyy ?!)
If we are being asked to believe that Mama Obama went all the way to Kenya ALONE, while Papa stayed in the US, then we have a REALLY serious obstacle. One thing that even the birfers established was that Grandma Obama cannot speak English. So we are being asked to believe that Stanley Ann went by herself to stay with people (at least some of whom) she couldn’t communicate with, … and then took Mister Toad’s wild ride all the way to Mombasa when there must have been other hospitals much much closer (e.g. Nairobi). And then she and a newborn flew to the US in a 1961 (probably a bit older) style aircraft.
The story was tough enough to believe when we assumed that Papa was along for the ride, now it becomes a real challenge.
Nancy is trying to argue that a high school graduation picture of Barack Obama and his half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng . . .
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/12/maya-soetoro-ng-meet-bara_n_143197.html
. . . . is really a picture of her. In the picture, Obama is 18 and the Soetor-Ng is 11, and one can see the obvious difference in age. That age difference is important in debunking Nancy’s claim, because according to public records, she’s 51 years old (one year younger than Obama). Thus, she couldn’t possible be the little girl in the picture.
NRO:
“Ok, I’ve got one. Is Mike Zullo really Mike Moore of Clewiston, Florida? Because, if he’s an “actor,” he’s the most convincing I’ve ever seen minus the abnormal eternally young aspect here.”
Convincing actor? No, not really. Convincing used Edsel salesman? Yes, indeed.
One of the many, many problems with Ms. Owens’ story: Maya Soetoro actually exists. She spoke at the Democratic convention in 2008. She’s written a book. You can find in on Amazon. She has a husband, a job, and two children.
Does President Obama exists simultaneously in two dimensions? Because for her tales to have any validity, he would have to.
It seems far more likely that Ms. Owens is suffering from persistent delusions and is in need of help. I won’t mock her. She needs treatment.
before birfer evidence can be exposed to daylight, it must first be wrapped in sack cloth and buried exactly 1 cubit under wet limestone in a cave at precisely midnight during the winter solstice on a leap year. there it must stay until one honest judge is born.
then and only then will it be totally “gotcha” proof.
The funny thing is she tries to move the dates to 1985 which would mean according to her that little girl is 23 at the time. Same thing with the Lisa Jack photos of Obama in Time Magazine she tries to claim she took them in 1985. In fact every major event she claims happened in 1985. This makes me think there was some traumatic experience tied to that year.
Yes she does need treatment, as do most birthers and many fundamentalists. On the other hand, like even the most deluded birther or religious wacko, she’s competent enough to have a website, post on Facebook and Twitter, upload videos to YouTube, and pursue other avenues to advertise her illegitimate claims. She can feed and clothe herself, and appears to have a permanent home. She’s crazy, but she’s not stupid.
Because of her obsession with Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel, I’m guessing 1985 is when she first started using cocaine.
I think it’s something far more traumatic
She’s actually only about seven months younger than Obama. It must be sad to be her, because even the most gullible of birthers don’t believe her.
Is she the one who was claiming to have the DNA of Obama’s mother on the seat of her car, or was that some other wacko?
She’s on a posting binge lately including posting a link to her new youtube video on the youtube video itself repeatedly. She made several twitter posts on the same day about the video and posting it all over facebook in various groups, pages and sites.
And your uncle’s name is Hank, right?
No, that’s Linda Joy Adams.
you may need to recalibrate your birfer gullibility index:
there’s a birfer born every minute …
Also, wouldn’t Kenya have been using the British Imperial system of weights and measures in 1961?
Of course, it would be expected that Lucas has an entry stamp since he spends time in the Dominican Republic. Still waiting for proof that he was in Kenya, or anywhere in Africa for that matter. Unlike his intended audience/marks, we do not fall for videos from the Caribbean.
They even have their own anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_siQqiT48Tc
Unlike the Birthers, at least Barnum gave his suckers a show.
This article has been updated to say:
In 2012 we were treated to a photograph showing the raised seal more clearly.