'I was born in Hawaii...I don't have horns': Obama finally addresses 'birther' issue directly during whirlwind day of Chicago fundraising



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While campaigning in Chicago yesterday President Obama startled audiences when he cracked wise about the ‘birther’ controversy, finally addressing the issue that is again sweeping across the media.



The President jabbed at claims made by celebrities and conservatives, making a joke of their challenges to where he was actually born.



‘Birthers,’ such as potential 2012 GOP candidates Sarah Palin and Donald Trump, have publicly questioned whether Obama was born in Hawaii or in Kenya.

Hometown hero: Obama wore a Chicago Bulls cap at a fundraising kickoff event for the Democratic National Convention and his 2012 re-election campaign at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois

‘I wasn't born here,’ Mr Obama said, before the crowd of 2300 that quickly fell into a pregnant pause.



‘Just want to be clear, I was born in Hawaii.’

His joke came as the Arizona legislature approved a final proposal requiring presidential candidates to prove they are U.S. citizens before their names can appear on the state's ballot.



It would become the first state to require such proof if Governor Jan Brewer signs the measure into law.

Chi-town: Obama talked up his old friend and colleague Rahm Emanuel at the Chicago event while the crowd went wild for their home town hero



Speaking with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos yesterday, Obama surprised again by at last directly addressing the issue that he has brushed off in the past.



‘Most people feel pretty confident the President was born where he says he was, in Hawaii. He doesn’t have horns ... we’re not really worrying about conspiracy theories or birth certificates,’ he said.



ON THE MENU AT N9NE Chefs Michael Kornick and Erick Williams whipped up a special meal for the event: Lobster

griddled maine lobster sandwiches

Perch

sweet water organics farm raised perch, Fish Bar tartar sauce

Maine salmon

black pepper & tarragon demi-cured maine salmon, asparagus, shaved fennel, preserved lemon emulsion

Scallops/short ribs

seared Maine diver sea scallops, rosemary braised short ribs, parsnip puree, roasted carrots



Yesterday Obama hit three fundraisers while in Chicago, the city where he launched his political career and where he is basing his 2012 re-election campaign.



The President’s first event was at N9NE Steakhouse, where 150 donors paid $5,000 and $10,000 a plate to join the president, Mayor Richard M. Daley and Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel at the event.

‘This is the first time in modern history that a sitting President has based their re-election campaign outside of Washington,’ he said yesterday. ‘I want our campaign to be here because you guys are the ones who got me started.



‘I see people in this audience who supported me when nobody could pronounce my name. I see folks who supported me when I ran for Congress and got a beat-down - and then helped to nurse me back to health,’ he told the fervent audience.

The President teased Emanuel while ultimately showering his former Chief of Staff with praise in the town that just elected him to office.

USO: Michelle Obama and Dr Jill Biden, wife of VP Joe Biden, wave to the crowd while standing with Sesame Street characters during a USO event honouring National Guard members

Hugs: Today's event highlighted how several businesses have made commitments to ensure transferability to military members and their spouses

‘Yes, he is foul-mouthed. Yes, that finger thing is a little creepy. But I love him anyway,’ Obama said to the crowd of Emanuel.



‘And Chicago, you did the right thing by electing him the next mayor of Chicago,’ he added.



Emanuel lost a finger to a slicer while working at a fast food restaurant while in high schoo

Fundraising: President Obama managed to rake in approximately $2million during his one day whilrwind trip, electrifying his base throughout Chicago

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After the event, Obama rushed off to greet donors at the swanky MK restaurant in Chicago’s downtown loop, where attendees shelled out a staggering $35,800-per-person to dine with the president.

FINAL APPROVAL: Arizona presidential citizenship bill Final approval has been given by the Arizona Legislature to a proposal making presidential candidates prove they are U.S. citizens before they can appear on the state's ballot.



It would become the first state to require such proof if Governor Jan Brewer signs the measure into law.

But the author, Republican Rep Carl Seel, said it is not about opposition to Mr Obama. ‘This bill is about the integrity of our elections,’ he stated.

Thirteen other states have considered similar proposals this year, but they were defeated in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maine and Montana.

The bill won final approval from the state House in a 40-16 vote.



The President spoke to the crowd for a rather curt 10 minutes.



When his time allotted to this high-end event came to a close, Obama headed off to greet a crowd of over 2300 at Chicago's Navy Pier, where he was joined by a dream team of Democrats, including Emanuel, Mayor Daley, Derrick Rose, Ernie Banks, B.J. Armstrong, Colbie Caillat, and Joakim Noa.



It was here that Obama made his ‘birther’ jab, and also resuscitated the phrase that inspired millions to usher him into the Oval Office: ‘yes We Can’.



‘Whenever you hear people say our problems are too big to solve, or we can't bring about the changes we seek, I want you to think about all the progress we've made," Obama said.



‘I want you to remind you, and I want you to remind everybody else of those simple words that summed up what we believe as a people: Yes We Can.’

Obama will jet out of O'Hare International airport around noon on Friday - having rounded up a cool $2million for his campaign.

Not too bad for a day's work.



Meanwhile, in Colombus, Ohio, First Lady Mcihelle Obama and Dr, Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, appeared before a crowd of local military and community families along with Sesame Street characters in a the fifth instalment of the Sesame Street and USO Experience.

