The frantic obsession over the origin of President Barack Obama’s birth is a non-issue so unbelieveable and ridiculous, that it undermines the intelligence and credibility of those politicians who would even give it pause.

The possibility that voters would even consider this subject as they choose their leaders is both ludicrous and frightening. Obama’s birthplace question is a rumor whipped-up by Donald Trump and others to further disparage the president and to divert attention away from the real problems facing our country and challenging our leaders.

Trump is a wealthy showman comparable to the side-show carnival barkers and snake oil salesmen of old, eager for a receptive—and generous—audience to lure away from the main attraction inside the tent. Fame, wealth and deception do not indicate education, wisdom, or virtue. Those of his ilk belong on midnight television, not in the White House.

The Republicans are focused on such trivia because they lack a united platform and a clear frontrunner to lead; yet they assure us of their attention to struggling Americans and they promise to unravel all the snarls and tangles left as a legacy to President Obama. They want to make us believe that the foreign and domestic chaos generated by corrupt and shortsighted predecessors was caused by his attempts to clean up after a tornado of lies, greed and ignorance. And he should perform foreign and domestic miracles in a single term as president, making no changes, keeping everyone happy, and all for free. If a president could accomplish all this, I wouldn’t care if he had been born on another planet!

A family who has lost everything in a tornado does not waste time wondering where the storm came from or blaming the builder of their house. Their concern is dealing with the aftermath, while going to jobs, struggling with paperwork and finances, and caring for children. But they are grateful to be alive and working together. And they know all too well that it will take hard work, sacrifice, planning for the future, time, and money to get back to normal.

Shirley T. White

Vicksburg