Bachmann Latest Republican to Downplay Birthers

Michele Bachmann today distanced herself from the birther camp, reports CNN, which sees it as a clear trend among GOP politicians and strategists. When ABC's George Stephanopoulos showed Bachmann the president's Certification of Live Birth from Hawaii, she responded: "Well, then that should settle it," and added, "I take the president at his word." Asked if the controversy were over, she said, "I guess it's over" and suggested the debt and deficit should be the nation's focus instead.

Other Republicans including Eric Cantor, Karl Rove, and Tim Pawlenty have recently said similar things, notes CNN, generally in response to a question about Donald Trump. Still expect more fireworks soon. The Drudge Report says Jerome Corsi (he of the John Kerry Swift Boat controversy) has a book out in a month titled Where's the Obama Birth Certificate? (More Michele Bachmann stories.)