Poll: Half of Kentuckians believe Obama was born in U.S.
President-elect Barack Obama
FRANKFORT — Despite evidence that President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, only a slight majority of Kentuckians believe the Democratic president was born in the United States, according to a new poll.
The survey, conducted by Research 2000 and released by the liberal publication Daily Kos, showed that 51 percent of Kentuckians said they believe Obama was born in this country. Twenty percent said they believe he was born elsewhere, and 29 percent said they weren’t sure.
“Sadly, that means 49 percent of Kentuckians are fully ill-informed,” said Rep. Jim Glenn, an Owensboro Democrat and one of six African-Americans in the state House.
Although a liberal publication paid for the poll of 600 likely Kentucky voters, Research 2000 of Olney, Md., is an independent pollster routinely used by dozens of newspapers, including the Lexington Herald-Leader. The survey, conducted Aug. 31-Sept. 1, has a margin of error of four percentage points.
Respondents were asked: “Do you believe that Barack Obama was born in the United States of American or not?”
Beliefs about Obama’s birth place are divided along racial and political lines.
While 94 percent of black respondents said they believe Obama was born in the U.S., only 45 percent of white respondents were certain that he was born in the country.
Among Democrats, 72 percent said Obama was born in America. Nine percent answered no and 19 percent weren’t sure.
Among Republicans, 30 percent said they believe the president was born in the U.S., 36 percent said they believe he was born elsewhere and 34 percent were not sure.
Investigations by numerous media outlets, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning PolitiFact service of the St. Petersburg Times, have determined that Obama was born in Hawaii.
“I guess some people believe what they want to believe regardless of the facts,” Glenn said.
State Rep. Reginald Meeks, a Louisville Democrat and an African-American in the state House, said the poll “shows at least half of Kentuckians are paying attention and realize the president was born in America.
“It shows the relationship between the media and an educated electorate.”
Still, there is a flourishing culture of advocates — known as birthers — who are devoted to proving that Obama was born in Kenya and is not eligible to be president of the United States.
The conservative Web site WorldNetDaily claims that about 300,000 people have signed a petition demanding more information on Obama’s birth.
Courts across the country have rejected the theory and Hawaii officials, citing Obama’s “certification of live birth” and newspaper birth announcements, affirm that Obama was born in Honolulu in 1961.
The White House has said the issue is irrelevant.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele agrees.
The RNC released this statement last month: “Chairman Steele believes that this is an unnecessary distraction and believes that the president is a U.S. citizen.
“Chairman Steele wants to move beyond this conversation and continue discussing the real and immediate concerns that face American families like the economy and health care.”
PolitiFact has also published Obama’s birth certificate. Here it is:
- Jack Brammer
About the Author: John Stamper is the government and education editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Monticello, Ky., he has been with the Herald-Leader in a variety of roles since graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2000. Reach him at jstamper@herald-leader.com
Drew | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I think 49% of Kentuckians believing Obama was born elsewhere is reason enough to move out of state and raise my children somewhere less backward. This poll is the most frightening thing I’ve seen in years.
Getting Old | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
This debate is really getting old. If you are still talking about this issue then it is only because you want to be able to remove him from office…if that is even possible. He is now our President so move on and lets talk about the real issues and how he is handling them.
Marvin | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Oh, for God’s sake! It is times like this when I say, “I love Kentucky, except for all the people.”
GinaL | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Our citizens just keep confirming the national opinion of at least half of us being ignorant!
Ted Innes | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I think it is also true that 1/2 of Kentuckians believe they were abducted by aliens at one point in their lives. As a former Kentuckian who was luckly enough to rear my children in a more intelligent part of the country, I will never understand why KY wants to be laughing stock of the USA. Thank goodness for the college towns in KY…at least some of the people actually know how to think.
katchi-k | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
If I still had children at home I would definitely agree with Drew. Come on, Kentucky, let’s move on. get over it! The only logical conclusion I can come to is the people surveyed does not realize Hawaii is a state, consequently, part of the United States. SO SAD…
Eddie1170 | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I do not think people believe it, I think they are looking for ways to get him out of there before he spends us to death, then taxes the crap out of us to pay for his obamacare and all the other socialist programs he has on tap. This is just wishful thinking on thinking. Nothing more. It is like U of L fans saying that Rick Pitino was not a womanizer before all of this Karen Sypher drama unfolded. It is just people not wanting to deal with the terrible reality.
Drake | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
The headline should be “Twenty Percent of Kentuckians Are Just Plain Stupid, and Another Twenty-Nine Are Pretty Darned Close”
Pat Hale | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
The 49% of Kentuckians who said “no” or “unsure” would probably respond the same way when asked if Hawaii and Alaska were part of the United States. But since this question wasn’t a problem for Sarah Palin, it appears race is still the issue for 49% of Kentuckians. They don’t call us toothless idiots for nothing!
Paul | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
And that explains why Kentucky is such an impoverished state. Dumb people very rarely better themselves.
tafugate | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
i have to agree, some of the comments i\’ve seen the last few days do prove peeps can be very scary ignorant. but having lived everywhere from between new hampshire to colorado (never lived west of aurora), people are exactly the same everywhere. on every newspaper website all across the united states, people are typing the same wild stuff everywhere. but that\’s america. you have the freedom, as long as you\’re not harming anyone, to type the craziest stuff imaginable. and then we wonder why our kids are zombies.
Robert Murphy | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I don’t think any of us can be sure. I can’t. I wasn’t there. However, this would be a non-issue if people had voted right.
The thing that scares me is the mindset that all non-Obama, non-same sex, non-ACORN nuts, non-tax and spend people are stupid or non-American, or wrong. We gotta a problem folks!
Roland | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I will tell you what is frightening, is the fact that we live in the United States of America, the greatest nation to ever be, but yet we still allow racism and bigotry to dominate our society. You know I could probably respect those who are displeased with Obama, more if they had a real reason to be displeased or if they just came straight out and said you know what I don’t like him cause he is black. Let me go on the record right now and say that I am 31 y/o white male from Eastern Kentucky and that I voted for Obama and will again. It also scares me that we have elected officials who are stoking the fires of extremist in this nation, and basically inviting them to try stuff just to show up Obama or heaven forbid do something to him. People need to realize we owe each other and we need to protect each other, and the real threat to this country isn’t from Obama or his ideas it is from Right-Wing Religious Nuts and Racist.
Chrhis | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
My,my,my……if all of you above who are soooooo ashamed of living in this backward, hick State hate it so much then why in the name of Obama don’t you leave? Move to one of the big cities like Chicago, Los Angeles New York or Atlanta. You surely won’t be embaressed by your brethren there. I love this State, we are unique and think for ourselves and will continue to do so. I don’t want to be like ANY other State in the Union.
Go on now, leave. I don’t want you to have to spend another day with all of backwards, Hillbilly, toothless bunch. We will some how make it once you have left.
BF Jackson | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
This wouldn’t be an issue of BHO was a white guy with “normal” sounding name.
The belief that Obama isn’t American is a belief rooted in racism and fear of “the other.” It’s sad. Very sad. And it distracts from REAL issues–I cannot believe the media (see Lou Dobbs, for starters) has reported it as if it were a real issue.
I’m a proud Kentuckian, but these numbers don’t surprise me in the least.
LexGuy | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
This isn’t surprising, half of Kentucky doesn’t know Hawaii is a state.
Skidtrek | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Well, Bush wasn’t born in the U.S either. He was born in Texas. Mauhahaha
Electric Bill | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I don’t think the fact that the debate is getting old is nearly as important as the fact that there are so many woefully ignorant people in this state. I think Drew has made an excellent point. This is no place for intelligent people to live.
Roland | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I would have been interesting had they asked these same callers, “Do you currently have healthcare coverage?” Because what I cannot figure out is why these people who do not have coverage are the same ones that are fighting universal healthcare. I am so tired of hearing we don’t want socialized medicine or I don’t want my grandma to have the plug pulled on her. Wake up people and realize the later already is happening. I bet right now you could name at least two or three people that insurance companies have said no to a treatment that might have cured them or given them better quality of life. Hmm or better yet basically we have socialized insurance already just that, insurance companies run the show and make the decision based on profit not what is best.
Jason | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Quick correction, Drew, the report does not say that 49% of Kentuckians believe Obama was born elsewhere. Only 20% believe that. 29% are not sure; you can’t count them with the 20%.
Also, everyone else, since we don’t have data concerning the opinions of people from other states, shouldn’t we reserve our judgement about KY’s comparable competency?
Buck Feshear | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Nearly without exception, all of the commenters above are the true ignorant folks instead of the people they are putting down. If B. Hussein Obama wants to put this to bed, he will produce his true birth certificate, not that “Certification of Live Birth” that I could go out to Hawaii and obtain. I don’t like Obama because he’s black, I would gladly have voted for Condi Rice for president. I don’t like Obama because he’s a liberal socialist Democrat. He’s no different than Greg Stumbo or Nancy Pelosi in my book, they all rank lower than the stuff I flush down the toilet.
Buck Feshear | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
And a followup. I hate to see the H-L legitimizing that propaganda hate site Kos. Liberals put down conservative talk radio for “promoting hate.” Talk radio is tame compared to Kos. It’s not worth the electrons it’s printed on.
Wilson | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I got a little poll. How many people believe anything the Daily Kos has to say.
ChrisMiller | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
God doesn’t have a birth certificate either (or medical records, college papers, college transcripts, etc…)
David Gess | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Let’s see…. Hawaii became a state in 1959 and Obama was born in Hawaii (then a state)in 1961. So, what is the problem? He was born in the United States! End of question!
Josh | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
This story said only 600 people were polled. Kentucky has about 3 million registered voters. This poll dealt with less than 1% of Kentucky voters. I don’t think it is very believeable.
phyre | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Welcome to Kentucky, put on your tinfoil hats & set your watches back fifty-years.
yellowdog | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I can’t beleive that 50% of our citizens believe that right wing drivel. Its just another example of a lie being told long enough and loud enough eventually becomes the truth! Wonder what percentage in Mississippi think he isn’t a citizen? Willing to bet they beat us on this one.
Davis | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
While these results don’t reflect well on us, I hope that the national media does not think we are the only state like this. Give the poll to Oklahoma or Mississippi and see how they do.
Pat | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
This is a terribly poor poll question because it leaves ambiguity in the mind of the respondent. The question says,”Do you believe that Barack Obama was born in the United States of America or not?” with the only choices being “yes”, “no”, and “not sure”.
Think about what a answer of “yes” or “no” to this question means. Because the question says, “on not,” at the end, either answer could mean three things: you believe he is born in the US, you believe he is not, or you believe both. See what I mean? This question only truly asks if a person believes something, not what that specific something is. Data from this poll does not support any opinion due to this ambiguity.
I believe my point is supported in the large number of people (29%), who marked “not sure”. Frankly, I would have marked “not sure”, too. Poll questions must have mutually exclusive options. This one fails to provide any.
(copied from a Facebook comment I saw)
Erik | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Pat’s absolutely right. If you read the question, it’s easy to see how someone could answer “not sure” because of the question’s ambiguity and not because they are unsure of Obama’s place of birth. An answer of yes is just saying, “Yes, I believe he is born in the US or not.” What does that mean? Nothing. I’m surprised the author used this poll as a source. It makes him look bad.
Philip | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Based on the conflicting information available to us about the place of Obama\’s birth, a reasonable person could have doubt whether he was born in Hawaii or Kenya. Never before in American history has there been a comparable doubt about where a president was born. That makes this situation unique. To deny that because you don’t want it to be true, and to then blame it on racism or ignorance is…well…ignorant!
All of you close-minded liberals who are ashamed of those of us with more common sense, feel free to leave Kentucky. That should elevate our collective IQ.
Jonathan | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
A Certificate of Live Birth is not the same as a birth certificate. Take the birth issue away and you have his time in Indonesia. There is no documentation of him applying to be a citizen again. In order to go to school there you have to be a citizen. Say we did get him out of office then we have Nancy Pelosi! Does anything really change? No. It is an important issue because its a requirement and him not providing a “real” birth certificate is odd. We need to just focus on the policies he is trying to push and not worry about this. Fight that because its unlikely that this will ever come to light.
James Gover | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I sounds like about one third of KY Repblicans need help selecting their shoe polish. My guess is that other states have similar views. The sad fact is that all of our spending on public education is not working.
James Gover | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Sounds like Republicans need help selecting their show polish.
Buck Feshear | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Dear President Obama:
Put the question to rest and present your authentic birth certificate from Hawaii, or a certified copy thereof. My grandmother certainly knew where I was born. I’m sure Obama’s did too. Myself, I tend to believe he was born in Hawaii but there is certainly reasonable doubt.
Josh | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I cant believe how many of Kentuckians and the Nation are completely inept at making critical sound decisions independently. It is really sad that our citizens have allowed our political debate to be sized by a fringe minority that clouds democracy with falsehoods and fear mongering. Reasonable people are the true majority that was proven by a landslide victory in all aspects of the election after the supreme failures of the last administration. This will not go away until people stop giving any credibility to the fringe wackos of both parties, and start using the power of reason and the faculties the were blessed with.
fred | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Pack up and get moving then, Drew. Good luck.
fd | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Republicans have common sense what a joke. you people are morons and lunatics get a live. Republicans vote for the dumbest people they can get in office and listen to lunatics,good examples bush a idiot,mcconnell a moron, rush a idiot, glen a drunk idiot.
Mike | Sep 5, 2009 | Reply
That is just a stupid statement. Otherwise Bush’s FBI, Bush’s CIA, and Bush’s Homeland Security are so inept as to cause the removal of all conservatives from government.
Mike | Sep 5, 2009 | Reply
No. There is NO REASONABLE doubt. There may be some unreasonable doubt; but that is unreasonable, though.
Find a real issue and argue that.
Buck Feshear | Sep 5, 2009 | Reply
Sorry Mike, but you are wrong. There is reasonable doubt. The statement of his own grandmother and his inability to present a true birth certificate and the substitution of that “Certification of Live Birth” that any of us could go to Hawaii and get is certainly enough to question where he was born. And the court case was decided on a technicality of who had standing to sue, not on the merits.
And Josh, I’d hardly call 6 or 7 percentage points a landslide victory. Nearly half of this country’s voters who went to the polls did NOT vote for Obama.
Anyway, I can hardly wait for 2012. We will have the one-termer out of there soon enough.
mutt | Sep 5, 2009 | Reply
The problem here is that the Obamanists want their puppet to address the kids directly.
We prefer it be done the way our Godly W did it.Its more American.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-y2QghS2gU
ClockWork | Sep 6, 2009 | Reply
So is he a luau bunny or a jungle bunny?
Jim Anderson Stivers | Sep 7, 2009 | Reply
It is the media and their surveys that keep this pot boiling.
This issue has been adressed in two differnt complaints by to Federal Judges.
Both times, during the DISCOVERY process the suit was thrown out for lack of substance.
Did anyone happen to notice that?
Jim Anderson Stivers | Sep 7, 2009 | Reply
What does the percentage points matter when the voters have decided?
No President has ever taken on so many sifnificant issue in the first six months of office.
What does that say . . . Is Obama stupid for a high energy charged President.?
Buck Feshear | Sep 7, 2009 | Reply
No, Jim Anderson Stivers, you’re wrong. The suits were thrown out because it was determined that the plaintiffs lacked standing to file the suit. Apparently the only people who could have properly filed suit, according to the courts, were Obama’s opponents. And McCain was so freaking clueless that he would have never done such a thing. He didn’t use Rev. Wright in his campaign and barely used Bill Ayers. He deserved to lose. If I’d been running against B. Hussein I’d have thrown everything possible at him, including his place of birth, Wright, Ayers, Rasheed Khalidi and everything else I could have gotten my hands on. There’s no such thing as a fair fight in politics, anything truthful should go.
Big Ben 4 liberty | Sep 8, 2009 | Reply
My guess from all the wanna be elitists who have commented calling us backward is that Kentucky is just not one of those “progressive” states that would elect the false messiah. Thus this poll only reminds these leftists why he is not trusted nor respected by the vast majority of voters in this state so they having their usual online hissy fits.