Shelby comments drawing attention

Mon, February 23, 2009 - 5:06 PM

A report in an Alabama paper on comments made by Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., is drawing some notice among the chattering classes on cable news outlets.

According to the Cullman Times, a local resident asked Shelby during a town meeting if there was any truth to a rumor that Obama is not a U.S. citizen.

Shelby’s response, according to the paper:

“Well his father was Kenyan and they said he was born in Hawaii, but I haven’t seen any birth certificate,” Shelby said. “You have to be born in America to be president.”

Questions surrounding Obama’s citizenship came up during the campaign, but have debunked.

Shelby’s response to the question appeared about mid-way through the story, but it’s being picked up by news outlets in Washington.

Politico is now reporting that Shelby’s office has called the article “a distortion.” The Cullman Times is standing by the story and is asking anyone with a video or audio recording of the event to contact them.

-- Amy Dominello