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More than two years after President Barack Obama released a copy of his long-form birth certificate, one Republican congressman still appeared to have trouble affirming that his election was a legitimate one.
In an interview on Friday's edition of MSNBC's "Hardball," Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) got into a heated discussion with host Chris Matthews about whether Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was eligible to be president.
Matthews explained how he has contended in the past that because Cruz has an American-born mother, he is eligible to run for president. When that question was put to Farenthold, his answer shifted back to Obama.
(Watch the exchange above, beginning at the 3:37 mark)
“Listen, we’ve had this discussion on President Obama," Farenthold said.
"Is this too complicated?" Matthews asked. "We're talking about Cruz. Stick to the point, congressman."
"He’s as eligible as Obama is," Farenthold said.
Perplexed by that answer, Matthews sparred with Farenthold for another two minutes on the Obama issue, leading to this request.
“Can you repeat after me: he was legitimately elected president," Matthews said.
“President Obama was elected president," Farenthold replied.
“Legitimately,” Matthews said.
“The people elected him! Yes!" Farenthold exclaimed.
So he was a natural born-citizen," Matthews pressed.
"I didn't make that judgment when he was brought in," Farenthold said.
"Well, everybody watching knows what you’re doing," Matthews concluded. "You’re dodge balling.”
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