Obama Releases His Animated Birth Video

By
on

Tonight at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, President Barack Obama released his birth video, which turned out to be an animation-related joke. He then followed it by saying, “I want to make clear to the Fox News table — that was a joke. That was not my real birth video. That was a children’s cartoon. Call Disney if you don’t believe me. They have the original long-form version.”

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  • http://kambodiahotel.blogspot.com Moro Rogers

    Now, see? If he had released that earlier, I might have voted for him!

  • Andrew Kieswetter

    Its sad about the xenophobia in the section of the U.S. constitution that says that only US-born citizens can become President. I wouldn’t be shocked if Obama wasn’t born in the US.

    • David Breneman

      At the time the Constitution was written, there was a real threat that a popular foreign-born President might be a stalking horse for an imperial power looking to conquer the United States. Xenophobia had nothing to do with it; it was simple power politics of the day. To understand history, you have to understand history.

      • Hugo

        Many other countries have the same requirement.

  • Fraser Ntukula

    Brilliant…

  • Marc Baker

    If that’s his idea of A joke, then I’m not laughing, and with the way things are going with the economy, he really shouldn’t be making petty jokes right now. Plus, this is another slap in the face animation being perceived as A ‘kids’ medium.

    • Oliver

      Perhaps if America’s crazy neo-Birchers hadn’t devoted so much time to peddling far-right conspiracy theories against Obama in the first place, he wouldn’t feel the need to address them!

      All that ‘Birthers’ deserve, other than pure contempt, is the same response as Holocaust deniers, moon-landing conspiracists and 9/11 ‘truthers’ — You’re entitled to your own opinion, however unpleasant it may be, but NOT your own reality.

      As for Disney, it’d be nice if they could release the original, ‘long-form’, untinkered version of ‘The Lion King’ on DVD, complete with ugly alligators and “SFX” in the clouds.

      Incidentally, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there was considerable overlap between those who insist Obama is really a secret Muslim demagogue, and those who claim that children are being “indoctrinated” by “sex” in ‘The Lion King’ and the “homoerotic rainbows’ of ‘Day and Night’.

      • Chris Sobieniak

        I’m glad some people still remember that version of the film!

      • Oliver

        Hey, I’m glad I held on to my laserdisc box set, that’s all.

      • http://www.patnlewis.com Pat Lewis

        Not to get off-topic, but: I know about the “SFX” controversy, but what’s this about ugly alligators?

      • Crazy

        When you take someone like Obama, who pretty much did the opposite of almost every campaign promise he made and spent quite a bit of money covering up his past, why would it “crazy” to not believe him when he claimed to have been born here, or anything else he claims about himself for that matter? He has already proven himself to be a liar and he obviously has something to hide, so why would it be irrational to think that maybe he wasn’t born in the US when he wouldn’t even for three years provide any real proof that he was? If you ask me, it would be almost as rational to believe that Pixar is trying to turn every child in America into homosexual mind-slaves with magic rainbows made from computer-generated witchcraft as to take Obama at his word, and documents can be forged so I say any suspicion of Obama not being born in the US is not completely unfounded.

      • Oliver

        The alligators in the ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King’ sequence were all redrawn/reanimated to look cuter.

      • Oliver

        Very appropriate choice of username there, Crazy!

      • Claudia

        “I say any suspicion of Obama not being born in the US is not completely unfounded.”

        Except it is Crazy, it is.

      • Rick R.

        If Obama hadn’t spent millions of dollars in court and had just released the long form cert on day one, this “issue” would have been long forgotten by now.

        And I dunno… unless he was born at the zoo, that particular footage looked more like Kenya than Hawaii to me… :p

        [note: I am not an actual birther. Most colleges would have checked out residency, etc. circa the late 70s when the President when he applied back for college back then.]

      • Dave

        Why do people who want to lay all this birther crap (which it is) at the feet of the “right wing Birchers” conveniently forget that the whole birther controversy originated on the left, as a smear tactic against Obama from within the Hillary Clinton campaign ?

        http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-02-08/the-secret-history-of-the-birthers/

        The history of the controversy is covered by author John Avlon who has a new book called “Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America” . The cover of the book has Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin , and Keith Olbermann as representative “winguts” . (and I agree all three of those clowns are equally nutty , in their own way. Olbermann and his smug liberal followers like to think it’s only the Becks and the Palins that are the nuts … but they’re all bad. A pox on both their houses.)

      • http://www.youtube.com/Mesterius1 Mesterius

        Haha! Never heard of these “ugly alligators” before, but I think I found them:

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXs8OS6EdAE&feature=related – in cut VHS format, but still… I definitely like these better than the current alligators:)

        Now then… Could you specify where in the film the “SFX” in the clouds appeared?

      • James Mason

        Actually, I think “Crazy” was referring to the redesigned alligators as ugly. Very minimal work was put in re disigning those alligators, just painting them is a single bright green color and erasing all the textures.

      • Funkybat

        I hadn’t heard about the redo of the gators (or are they crocs?) Guess I’ll be hanging onto my VHS copy.

        I really dislike revisions to films after their theatrical release, unless both versions are widely available and the new one is called “director’s cut” or otherwise distinguished from the first one.

    • http://tresswygert.blogspot.com Tres Swygert

      Seriously Marc, The Lion King was aimed at children. He didn’t bash animation as a “kids’ medium”, he just said that it was a children’s cartoon. Which it was – how can you dismiss the merchandising for that movie?

      And true, the economy is not great, and many things are happening that are not well with the country. Sometimes, though, we all need a laugh to perk us up through the tough times, and regain our strength and focus for those challenges. If you watch the last part of his speech for that dinner, that’s what he ended it on with the storms that happened in the South (which I had to experience). So I appreciate that he took time to mention that the country needs to rally together and focus on the devastation that happened to the lives in Alabama and Georgia.

    • Roland Denby

      Oh please. You obviously have no idea what the White House Correspondence Dinner is all about. It’s supposed to be full of jokes.

    • Mac

      Inability to laugh,no matter how grim things may be,is sad. Really,when things get so bad,if you don’t laugh,you’re gonna cry and if you do neither,that energy,that catharsis is locked up.When a person has not cleansed themselves from a tragedy,it is difficult to move forward.This president knows to take a breather,look at the big picture,and make a decision.I lean far too left of Obama so he wasn’t my first,nor my second choice and eventually,I didn’t vote for him.(I have never voted for the winning candidate in a presidential election since my first opportunity in 1972.)But he took on near unsurmountable odds not only of winning the election fairly but accepting the quagmire left at his feet.Slowly,things are turning around.Even in weeks when hundreds die by natural disasters and there is a sense of one foot forward,one back,he can take a moment away from the grief,take a pot shot at his deranged detractors and prepare do what he perceives as the right thing for the country.The joke may not have reached Craig Ferguson standards,but it was more important for Obama to tell it than the audience to hear it.

    • http://Juanmanimation.blogspot.com J.m

      It is what is is you animation geek you.

      Lion King IS indeed a Children’s Cartoon call Disney If you don’t believe me.

      George W wouldnt have been able to pull that joke off, nor the straight face.

  • yoni

    so he WAS born in Africa?

    • derpderp

      that’s the joke, slickster.

      • http://justforspite.blogspot.com GeneRasputinHole

        hmm, another joke waiting to happen in there is Obama as the Lyin’ King…

      • The Gee

        That would be a hilariously funny joke if it hadn’t already been making the rounds in political circles back during the early 90s.

        Back then, the phrase of the “Lyin’ King” as I heard it was originally applied to Rush LImbaugh.

        Ohhhhhhh. Snap!

        My, how we laughed because it was a relevant joke back then.

        It’s still funny because Limbaugh is still the King of Lyin’….

        Sorry, what was your quip again? Oh yeah. It was recycled, ribald humor, wasn’t it?

        Believe me, Obama was aware enough back then to know of the possible twist you are pointing out. The guy’s not stupid enough to not know it has been bandied about before. People’s political memories should last longer than an election cycle. The only excuse for a short term one is being too young to know better.

        So, when and if Limbaugh or some other Common-Tater-Head starts trying to push that quip, know full-well it landed on Limbaugh’s head first, back when he was not only on radio but also had a TV show. And back when the dang movie was in theaters.

  • Gobo

    Brilliant.

  • http://www.classicparamountcartoons.blogspot.com ParamountCartoons

    You kind of read my mind, mr. president. even though I know you were born in Hawaii. Nothing speaks the likes of Barack Obama’s father from Kenya than a Lion King opening clip.

    Anyways, about the Lion King, censorship that Oliver addressed aside, allthough I have the 2002 special edition somewhere, I have the original theatrical version on VHS with the correct Walt Disney Pictures logo and the 1994 “scrolling” credits (it was the first release and it was part of the “Masterpiece Collection”). Allthough many have it (it once broke a record for best-selling video according to an old edition of Guiness World Records).

  • FleischerFan

    The correspondents’ dinner in Washington is akin to celebrity roasts in show business. It’s all about humor. The idea that because there are serious problems in the world, the POTUS needs to always appear grim and serious is nonsense.

    There has never been a time in U.S. history when we weren’t faced with serious issues and crises. Humor is an excellent way of coping with such stress.

    But then I guess there are those who will always find something about which they can be offended.

    I thought it was quite funny. And the notion that Disney’s animated features are aimed first at children is hardly a news flash.

  • http://e-9.deviantart.com edelillus

    well played… saw it coming from a mile away. but nevertheless, had a nice chuckle. poor donald got beat up from all sides all night.

  • Matt (other 95%) G

    For most of us outside the USA,(you know, the other 95% of humanity), much of what we see happening in U.S. politics is quite concerning. The political diatribes, the overblown 24hour media analysis and the insane cost of your political campaigns.
    These people are meant to be ‘public servants’, not celebrities, business moguls or ethnic icons. Whoever you elect, base it solely on “THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE THEIR NATIONS PEOPLE”, starting with the middle and lower classes. It’s these people who are your country’s foundation, not the wealthy minority.
    Not voting is NOT being impartial; it’s letting the system walk right over you. For the love of God, VOTE! Those who don’t seem to have little idea of how much the ability to vote actually means.

    Not that many of you would care what the rest of us are thinking anyway. You’re American after all. But you really do look like a bunch of squabbling Red & Blue cartoons from over here.

    • derpderp

      It looks like that from the inside, too. ;(

  • x

    He missed the “i didn’t remember it that way” line. Who are his writers?

  • Toonio

    About the Trump in the audience: Awkwaaard!!!

  • uncle wayne

    I am amazed that they went thru THAT much trouble to “cover up” something. Funny, actually, until he said “children’s cartoon!”

    • diego

      It IS a children’s cartoon. It’s aimed at children. You don’t have to feel guilty if you like it though, at least I don’t.

      • Luke

        Why does it have to be adult or children? It doesn’t say it in the title.? It’s just a cartoon.

      • uncle wayne

        Well, no…..that woulda made me a “child” …..at 40. That’s insulting. Thank God nowadays they say the word “animated” instead of “children,” haha.

    • Keegan

      All animated films these days are aimed towards children, including the Lion King.

    • Oliver

      A film can be aimed (primarily) at children and still be a great, classic movie — from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ to ‘Spirited Away’ and who knows how many more.

      • Keegan

        I don’t think those were aimed at children, they were just aimed at people.

  • http://rodtejada.wordpress.com Rod Tejada

    I think this was classy, considering why he had to do it. (The Fox News line was great!)

  • http://www.taberanimation.com Taber Dunipace

    Good to know he’s got a sense of humor. :D

  • http://artbinningersbonusfeatures.blogspot.com/ Art Binninger

    I understand that Donald Trump is now looking for Casper the Friendly Ghost’s death certificate.

  • Bud

    It’s obvious the only reason this conspiracy theory has gained traction is the lack of education in the United States, except for those who can afford it and use the ignorance of the masses to their misguided advantage. Teabaggers and gNOp-ers will do ANYTHING to erase the sad legacy of gw bush, including the fact that government grew larger under him than any president in history, and that he was asleep at the wheel when terrorists attacked u.s on 9/11.

  • 2011 Adult

    How…

    … am I supposed to react to this? Should I be appalled that Obama calls The Lion King a kid’s cartoon, and that he has to inform the party that Disney has the long-form version, or that he wanted to do this in the first place, and why?

    • Keegan

      Someone hasn’t been paying attention to the news.

      Also, The Lion King is geared towards children, you’re insane to believe otherwise.

    • ZigZag

      How to react?

      Lighten up.

  • Iritscen

    A good joke, although Obama needs to work on his punchline delivery. I hadn’t noticed when I watched it that Obama said “children’s cartoon”, but to those who take offense at that, here’s a quote I was reminded of:

    “Critics who treat “adult” as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adults themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence….When I was ten, I read fairytales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man, I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”” –C. S. Lewis

  • Jeff Simonetta

    That was awesome.

  • derpderp

    Are we honestly going to pretend to be offended that somebody called a 1990s Disney feature a children’s movie?

  • http://woweh.com Kelly

    I wish the Canadian government was this funny!
    ALL HAIL PRESIDENT TROLLBAMA! :D

  • Chillrobski

    Reading some of the comments I forget there are angry Republican animators too. Not that I paint all Republicans with the same brush but it is sad to read some of the ignorant partisan post. The same goes for the far left too! Trump deserved it. His racist rants were cruel and idiotic. I am very proud of my president and cannot wait to vote for him again! I can understand how he feels being that there are so few African Americans in animation. I too have face some of this ignorance in my career. Perhaps Cartoon Brew can do a story about prejudice in our industry. Might be educational for the animating Obama haters!

  • Casey

    It was funny until he had to explain the joke. The writers were bad.

    • The Gee

      The explanation of the joke? You mean the rest of the joke? The part where he refers to FOX News?

      Or are you, like others, miffed that he called The Lion King a “children’s cartoon”?

      If it is specifically the latter then it would have irritated you even worse if he had referred to it as a “just a cartoon. You know, a movie for kids.”

      But, he didn’t. Yet some of you folks are coming across as if the guy personally insulted you. If that’s your takeaway from it, Bravo! Way to make a mountain out of a molehill that is no where near you.

  • http://www.twitter.com/SquidyUK Jonathan Sloman

    The Hawaiian King.

  • http://mrscriblam.tumblr.com mrscriblam

    oh, ‘bama.

  • Mister Twister

    You will never be too old to ROFLCOPTER

  • Oliver

    Obama’s birth certificate and Osama’s death certificate in the space of a week. Not bad.

  • http://trentanimation.blogspot.com Trent

    Nice to see the President has a sense of humour; and he sure did trump the Trump.

  • wgan

    first the joke night then the bin laden announcement, looks like he gears up for his next