WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana says he supports conservative organizations challenging President Barack Obama’s citizenship in court.
Vitter, running for re-election, made the comments at an event in Metairie, La., on Sunday when a constituent asked what he would do about what the questioner said was Obama’s “refusal to produce a valid birth certificate.”
Vitter responded that although he doesn’t personally have legal standing to bring litigation, he supports “conservative legal organizations and others who would bring that to court,” according to a video.
“I think that is the valid and most possibly effective grounds to do it,” Vitter said, although he later cautioned that the matter could distract from policy issues.
So-called birthers have challenged Obama’s standing as president by arguing that he was not born in the United States. Hawaii officials have repeatedly confirmed the president’s citizenship.
