Conspiracy theorists come to the defense of Ehrlich’s position on Obama’s birth certificate.

In another sign that working as a right-wing radio talk show host for four years may not be the best preparation for the Maryland governorship, Bob Ehrlich embraced a conspiracy theory that claims that President Obama may not have been born in the United States, and thus is ineligible for the presidency.

Speaking on his radio show last year, Ehrlich called the question of Obama’s birthplace “a really good” question.  Asked by a caller if Obama “will finally be releasing his birth certificate so that we, the citizens of this country, can be fully satisfied that he is meeting Article 2, Section 5 [sic] of the Constitution,” Ehrlich responded that the caller’s “question is a really good one.”  Ehrlich then challenged Obama, “Let’s produce your birth certificate.”

Of course, as had been extremely well documented, Obama had already produced his birth certificate during the 2008 campaign, showing that he was indeed born in Hawaii.

No less a publication than the conservative National Review wrote that the continued questioning of the president’s birth certificate was an “embarrassing” effort at promulgating a “myth” indulged in by “a few misguided souls among the Right.”

So why would Ehrlich reject an opportunity to put to rest the most extreme theories of the conservative fringe, and instead promote them himself?  And are these the sort of issues Ehrlich would concern himself with if he were in office?

A transcript of Ehrlich’s comments from the April 25, 2009 “Kendel and Bob Ehrlich show” is provided below:

Caller : I have two questions, the first of which is, in the interest of full disclosure, which our president seems to be getting at, at the situation in Guantanamo: will he finally be releasing his birth certificate so that we, the citizens of this country, can be satisfied, fully satisfied, that he is meeting Article 2, Section 5 [sic] of the Constitution?  My second question is: will he also release the texts of all the sermons which he witnessed at Rev. Wright’s church over the 20 years of his attendance?

Ehrlich: Well I think your first question is more relevant than the second.  I think he got caught with Rev. Wright, I think he became more of a politician in trying to explain it.…  He just should have said, “You know, I should have quit the church, I didn’t, and that was wrong.”  I think that would have put it all to rest.  I think your first question is a really good one.  If we’re going to talk about transparency, let’s just go all the way here, and let’s produce your birth certificate.  (laughing)

Kendel: Very interesting.  If he were a Republican, he’d have to do that.