Birther changes his mind

It was as if I was reading about James Branum’s latest victim being hauled off to the gallows, but it was on the other side of the political spectrum and it was a courtroom full of starry-eyed imbeciles who reminded me of the Manson Family. (Stars & Stripes link)

The two-day hearing became a rallying event for the birther movement, with their most prolific and vocal members traveling across the country to support Lakin.

They cornered reporters at every break in the trial, bashing mainstream media coverage of their beliefs and reciting their unique interpretation of constitutional law. They snickered as potential jury members were quizzed about “rumors that the president doesn’t have a birth certificate.”

Orly Taitz, an attorney who has filed numerous lawsuits challenging Obama’s legitimacy, used the hearing to update supporters and press about her upcoming round of legal maneuvers. She called Lakin’s trial a sham and a travesty, saying the restrictions placed on him “are worse than anything I ever saw under the communists in Russia.”

In the end, Lakin pleaded guilty to disobeying orders and offered only token opposition to a charge of skipping deployment. His attorneys called no witnesses on his behalf during the criminal phase, and declined to present any defense before closing arguments. On Wednesday afternoon, he was found guilty on the charge, too.

No witnesses, no mitigation, just some remorse under testimony in an Associated Press link from Tman;

Under questioning by his defense attorney, Neal Puckett, Lakin expressed remorse for disobeying orders. He said he now understands that the Army cannot answer his question about Obama’s eligibility to be president and that it was not the appropriate place to raise the issue.

“I was wrong for trying to push this issue within the Army,” he said.

In videos posted on YouTube earlier this year, Lakin aligned himself with the so-called “birther” movement, which questions whether Obama is a natural-born citizen as the U.S. Constitution requires for presidents. Lakin had said he would “gladly deploy” if Obama’s original birth certificate were released and proved authentic.

On Wednesday, however, Lakin reversed course, saying he would now deploy even with his question unanswered. Puckett asked him why.

“That’s my duty. It’s what I’ve trained for. I’m in the Army,” he replied.

“Are we done disobeying orders, Lt. Col. Lakin?” his attorney asked him.

“Yes,” Lakin replied.

But only because he didn’t get the resolution he wanted. The judge was right…it has nothing to do with Obama, it has to do with legal obligation Lakin has to deploy when he’s ordered to deploy.

Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Military issues