Fact-Checkers: Trump Is Lying, Hillary Didn’t Start Birther Conspiracies
Fact checker websites PolitiFact, FactChecker.org, and the Washington Post fact-checkers all took Donald Trump to task over his latest stunt claiming Hilary Clinton started the Obama “Birther Movement.” PolitiFact used their worst “Pants On Fire” rating to qualify the Donald’s claim that he “he finished” the controversy about where President Barack Obama was born, condemning his other remarks as completely false and a “full flop.”
For the last five years, Trump has perpetuated this racist conspiracy theory. He has openly questioned the validity of Obama’s birth certificate and gleefully perpetuated the myth that Obama was not born in the country, using it to his political advantage. Now, the campaign is desperately trying to backtrack on their racist opportunism and are blaming Clinton for starting the birther movement.
“Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy,” Trump said earlier today in a press conference that was largely nothing but an elaborate excuse to show off his new hotel. “I finished it.” He’s obviously done nothing of the sort, and this ridiculous attempt to flip the narrative and blame Secretary Clinton for the conspiracy that he’s been perpetuating for the past half decade is one of the most shameless ploys ever seen in American politics. We can’t allow him to succeed.
Today’s Trump presser shows that he really is just gaslighting the entire nation. He’s the abuser who claims he didn’t beat you for 5 years.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) September 16, 2016
For her part, Hillary Clinton pulled no punches in firing back.
Trump’s birtherism stems from the same innate beliefs that led to discriminating against black tenants early in his career. Can’t be undone.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016
Trump has spent years peddling a racist conspiracy aimed at undermining the first African American president. He can’t just take it back.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016
Trump has spent years peddling a racist conspiracy aimed at undermining the first African American president. He can’t just take it back.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016
This shouldn’t have to be said: You don’t just get to say someone else did the worst things you’ve done. It doesn’t work. No one buys it.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016