obama case final
TRANSCRIPT
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OBAMAS CITIZENSHIPDeb Bhattacherjee, Katherine Dinges,
Carolyn Harvey & Mrinal Khullar
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RecoveryResponse
PrimaryResponse
Initial
Response
June 2004DNC Speech
Feb 2007AnnouncesPresidentialCampaign
June 2008 EstablishesFightthesmears.com &Releases Short FormBirth Certificate
April 2011 HawaiiReleases LongFormBirth Certificate
Right WingRepublican &Tea PartyAttention
August 2008 BergFiles Lawsuits
Timeline
November 2008 ObamaElected President
Warning Acute Chronic Resolution
April 2011Obama CriticsReject the LongForm
September 2011Rick PerryAttention
April 2008Clinton SupporterSuggests Obama
was born in Kenya
November 2012Re-electioncampaignintensifies
...
MuslimCampaign
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Audiences
Independents
AmericanPublic
Republican Base
Conservative
Republicans/Tea Party
Democrat Base
Is this a legitimate issue?
Will this affect Obamas candidacy??
Will this affect Obamas leadership?
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Warning PhasePrevious Citizenship Speculation
Since 1787, has been confusion as to the precise meaning
of natural-born citizen.
Other Presidential Candidates Questioned
McCain Born on a military base in Panama
Muslim Whisper Campaign June 2004 - Obamas DNC speech
Andy Martin in a press release Obama is a Muslim who has
concealed his religion.
December 2006 - Obama Considering Presidential Run
Ted Sampley posted a column suggesting Obama is a Muslim
Kenya Born Email Clinton Supporter circulates an email suggesting Obama was
born in Kenya
Trouble is brewing...
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Initial Response
Obama launches fightthesmears.com June, 2008 launched an aggressive and innovative campaign
Trigger was alleged Michelle Obama racial slur video
Interactive tool allowed supporters to fight back
Published birth certificate on website born in Hawaii in 1961
American Sentiment
Mixed response
Rumors about fake certificate
Tell your side of the story...
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Acute Phase
2008 Phillip Berg sued the DNC and Obama,stating
Obama is not a natural-born citizen
Lost his citizenship when he was adopted in Indonesia;
and/or
Has dual loyalties because of his citizenship with Kenya
and Indonesia
Filed injunction to suspend the election
White House Response Filed a motion to dismiss Bergs lawsuit.
As his lawsuit remainsoutstanding, the public
will talk...want Obama to
quickly prove me wrongor the court to quickly
prove me right.
- P. Berg
Crisis is most intense...
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Hawaii Reprints Birth Announcement August 2008
In response to persistent rumors, theAdvertiserposted a screenshot on its website
Rumors spread was planted to intend to clearthe way for the baby to someday be electedPresident of the United States. Star-Bulletin
Obama Elected President November 2008
Increased the coverage of the issue...
Political Media/Celebrity Media WorldNetDaily Published more than 200
articles by July 2009
Charlie Sheen to Chuck Norris
Acute Phase
Crisis is most intense...
"Refusing to post your original birth certificate is an
unwise political and leadership decision that is
enabling the 'birther' controversy.
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Acute PhaseRepublican Split Views
Tea Party & Right-Wing Republican Attention Sarah Palin December 2009
Fair question to ask. Rush Humphries Radio
Likened it to questions about her maternity to her son, Trig.
Donald Trump March 2011
Would not let go of the issue, because he was not satisfied that
Obama had proved his citizenship
Moderate Republics Michael Castle July 2009
Booed at town hall"if youre referring to the president there,he is a of the United States.
RNC Chairman Michael Steele
Believes that this is an unnecessary distraction and believes
that the president is a U.S. citizen.
Crisis is most intense...
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Primary Response
White House Secretary Robert Gibbs stateshis distaste for the citizenship buzz
Primary Spokesman for Obama citizenship debacle
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Primary Response
Long form birth certificate released April 27 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agXtTQyehRE
Critique
Length of time to release the long form Addressed long-term issues
Addressed a wider audience
American Sentiment
April 20-23, 2011 -24% of Americans Obama "definitely" born
in another country(2011 USA Today/Gallup poll)
May 5, 201170% of Americans Obama was born in Hawaiiup from 48% a year
ago (Washington Post Poll) Reach a wider audience...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agXtTQyehREhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agXtTQyehRE -
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Chronic PhaseMixed Reactions
Many assume the crisis is over...
Phil Berg Good first step
He is naturalized citizen, and a naturalized citizen cannot be president."
Trump
I am really honored and I am really proud, that I was able to do somethingthat nobody else could do.
But, is also getting ready to file a new suit that asserts Obama is an illegal
alien.
WorldNetDaily The Presidents place of birth isnt the issue the issue is where the
Presidents father was born.
Other Birthers Certificate of live birth and not birth certificate
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Chronic PhaseObama Reply
April 20, 2011
"I know there is going to be a segment of people for which nomatter what we put out this issue will not be put to rest....Wedo not have time for this kind of silliness. Weve got betterstuff to do.
White House Correspondents Dinner April 30, 2011
Obama, who said he would "go a step further" in proving hewas born a U.S. citizen, revealed his "official birth video.
2011 Re-election Campaign October 25, 2011
Rick Perry Attention Stated the birtherissue is fun and agood issue to keep alive.
Many assume the crisis is over...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8TwRmX6zs4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8TwRmX6zs4 -
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Centers of Gravity
Receives more attention than the event itself...
Muslim &
ConcealingReligion
Born inKenya
Fake BirthCertificate
Adopted inIndonesia
DualCitizenship
White Houses
Lack of
Communication
Shifting Center of
Gravity
Over time became
the White Houses
Lack of
Communication with
the media/public
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Analysis & Evaluation
Overall Grade B
Initial Response - Effective
Used online media
Addressed multiple issues
Primary Response - Ineffective
Poorly Timed
Lost track of center of gravity
Was there a choice?
Would it all be settled if Obama released his "long form" birth certificate?
Would it be disadvantageous?
1. Speculation about why it took so long
2. Embolden adversaries demands
3. Open the door for more demands
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Key Takeaways
Time lapse added additional speculationCenter ofGravity
Democrat Base, Independents &Republican BaseMonitor KeyStakeholders
Be susceptible to questions
Keep communication open withfightthesmears.com
Transparency/
Quick Actions
Credible Sourceof Information
Make the White House the primary source
of valid information
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45% of Republicans surveyed said
Obama born outside the U.S.
57% said Obama was born in the
U.S.
19% believed that Obama born
outside the U.S. or were unsure wherehe was bornDemocratBase
48% of the independents believedthat Obama born outside the U.S. orwere unsure where he was born
Independents
AmericanPublic
Recovery Response
Keep Key Audiences in Mind -
Keep Key Issue in Mind - To maintain transparency in order to decrease media attention and rumors
about Obamas place of birth.
Republican
Base
Utilize Effective Media Online engagement
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Appendix
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PhasesWarning
Trouble is brewing.Acute
Crisis is most intense.Chronic
Many assume the
crisis is over.
ResolutionSupport your
organization's recovery.June 2004Obama delivers DNCSpeech
June 2008Fightthesmears.comestablished & ReleasesShort Form BirthCertificate
April 2011Long Form BirthCertificate is released
CurrentNon-believers still notconvinced seek moredocumentation
June 2004
Andy Martin Obamais a Muslim.
August 2008
Phillip Berg sues DNC
Post April 2011
Critics reject therelease
2004/2006Muslim WhisperCampaign
August 2008Hawaii reprints birthAnnouncement
Post April 2011News outlets notcovering necessaryissues, focus on birthcertificate
February 2007Obama Announcesrunning for USPresident
November 2008Obama ElectedPresident
April 2008Clinton SupporterSuggests Obama wasborn in Kenya
2008Tea Party & Right WingRepublicans Attention
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Ethical ConcernsNot presented b/c of time constraints, but wanted to address the
ethical issues
Ethnical Concerns of spreading rumors
The rumors spread against President Obama were many times unsubstantiated
and based on false facts.
The birth certificate issue is often brought up by celebrities or political candidateslooking to seek media attention.
Ethical Response
The White House had to respond in an ethical manner and not participate in rumor
spreading. TheFactCheck.org was an effective way to respond to the rumors without
participating in unethical actions.
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Sources
Roember, Bob. When the Balloon Goes Up: A Communicators Guide to Crisis
Response.
Obama Presidential Eligibility An Introductory Primer.
http://people.mags.net/tonchen/birthers.htm
A Hint of New Life to a McCain Birth Issue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/us/politics/11mccain.html
Washington Post Poll. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
srv/politics/polls/postpoll_05052011.html
Half of Birthers Call it Suspicion;A Third Approve of Obama Anyway.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/us/politics/13martin.html?pagewanted=all
Obama Hits Back at Internet Slanders
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5juMJpMhCS5TDzEF2Ds-frHSuHQLQ After-Birthers: How Conspiracy Theorists Reacted to Obamas Long-Form Birth
Certificate http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/after-
birthers_how_conspiracy_theorists_reacted_to_obamas_birth_certificate.php
One in four Americans think Obama was not born in the U.S.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056061-503544.html
http://people.mags.net/tonchen/birthers.htmhttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/us/politics/11mccain.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_05052011.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_05052011.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/us/politics/13martin.html?pagewanted=allhttp://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5juMJpMhCS5TDzEF2Ds-frHSuHQLQhttp://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/after-birthers_how_conspiracy_theorists_reacted_to_obamas_birth_certificate.phphttp://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/after-birthers_how_conspiracy_theorists_reacted_to_obamas_birth_certificate.phphttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056061-503544.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056061-503544.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056061-503544.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056061-503544.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056061-503544.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056061-503544.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056061-503544.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056061-503544.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056061-503544.htmlhttp://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/after-birthers_how_conspiracy_theorists_reacted_to_obamas_birth_certificate.phphttp://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/after-birthers_how_conspiracy_theorists_reacted_to_obamas_birth_certificate.phphttp://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/after-birthers_how_conspiracy_theorists_reacted_to_obamas_birth_certificate.phphttp://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/after-birthers_how_conspiracy_theorists_reacted_to_obamas_birth_certificate.phphttp://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/after-birthers_how_conspiracy_theorists_reacted_to_obamas_birth_certificate.phphttp://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5juMJpMhCS5TDzEF2Ds-frHSuHQLQhttp://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5juMJpMhCS5TDzEF2Ds-frHSuHQLQhttp://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5juMJpMhCS5TDzEF2Ds-frHSuHQLQhttp://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5juMJpMhCS5TDzEF2Ds-frHSuHQLQhttp://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5juMJpMhCS5TDzEF2Ds-frHSuHQLQhttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/us/politics/13martin.html?pagewanted=allhttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/us/politics/13martin.html?pagewanted=allhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_05052011.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_05052011.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_05052011.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/us/politics/11mccain.htmlhttp://people.mags.net/tonchen/birthers.htm