In a move certain to fuel the debate over Obama’s qualifications for the presidency, the group "Americans for Freedom of Information" has released copies of President Obama’s college transcripts from Occidental College. Released today, the transcript indicates that Obama, under the name Barry Soetoro, received financial aid as a foreign student from Indonesia as an undergraduate at the school. The transcript was released by Occidental College in compliance with a court order in a suit brought by the group in the Superior Court of California. The transcript shows that Obama (Soetoro) applied for financial aid and was awarded a fellowship for foreign students from the Fulbright Foundation Scholarship program. To qualify, for the scholarship, a student must claim foreign citizenship. This document would seem to provide the smoking gun that many of Obama’s detractors have been seeking.
The news has created a firestorm at the White House as the release casts increasing doubt about Obama’s legitimacy and qualification to serve as president. When reached for comment in London, where he has been in meetings with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Obama smiled but refused comment on the issue. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs scoffed at the report stating that this was obviously another attempt by a right-wing conservative group to discredit the president and undermine the administration’s efforts to move the country in a new direction.
Britain's Daily Mail has also carried the story in a front-page article titled, "Obama Eligibility Questioned", leading some to speculate that the story may overshadow economic issues on Obama’s first official visit to the U.K.
In a related matter, under growing pressure from several groups, Justice Antonin Scalia announced that the Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to hear arguments concerning Obama’s legal eligibility to serve as President in a case brought by Leo Donofrio of New Jersey. This lawsuit claims Obama's dual citizenship disqualified him from serving as president. Donofrio’s case is just one of 18 suits brought by citizens demanding proof of Obama’s citizenship or qualification to serve as president.
Gary Kreep of the United States Justice Foundation has released the results of their investigation of Obama’s campaign spending. This study estimates that Obama has spent upwards of $950,000 in campaign funds in the past year with eleven law firms in 12 states for legal resources to block disclosure of any of his personal records. Mr. Kreep indicated that the investigation is still ongoing but that the final report will be provided to the U.S. attorney general, Eric Holder. Mr. Holder has refused to comment on the matter.
Analysis: Hoax. The April 1 posting date suggests it may have been intended as an April Fools prank, but given that it does little more than parrot some of the actual tenets of the so-called "Birther" movement (folks who claim Barack Obama is ineligible for the presidency due to alleged citizenship issues), it barely qualifies as satire.
Is it really an AP news story?
No. The Associated Press ("AP") never published such a story. It didn't run in any real newspaper, nor on any real wire service. It can, however, be found reposted on a plethora of anti-Obama blogs and websites.
Did a group called "Americans for Freedom of Information" release Obama's transcripts?
No. The organization doesn't exist — or it didn't at the time this message first began circulating, at any rate. A similarly-named website went up after the fact, but there's no evident connection between the website and this fake news story.
Have Obama's Occidental College transcripts been released at all?
No, nor has any court of law "ordered" them released, according to Occidental College administrators.
Did Obama attend Occidental under the name "Barry Soetoro"?
No. Soetoro was the name of Obama's stepfather, but there's no evidence he attended college under that name. Fellow alumni quoted in the press remember him as "Barry Obama." An Occidental College spokesperson told FactCheck.org there are no records showing that Obama used his stepfather's last name.
Did Obama attend Occidental under a Fulbright Scholarship for Foreign Students?
No. According to various news sources, Obama did attend Occidental on a scholarship, but it wasn't a Fulbright, let alone a Fulbright Scholarship designated for foreign students. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is for Master's Degree and Ph.D. candidates. Obama was an undergraduate.
Did the Daily Mail mention these revelations in a news story entitled "Obama Eligibility Questioned"?
No. No such story turns up in a search of the British newspaper's archive.
Did the Supreme Court agree to hear arguments on Obama's eligibility?
No. The Supreme Court refused to consider the Donofrio case.
Did Gary Kreep of the United States Justice Foundation release a study showing Obama has spent $950,000 in campaign funds to fight litigation over his legitimacy?
I could find no record of such a study being published. The Foundation does exist and its Executive Director is a man named Gary Kreep, but he is on record as saying this story is a hoax.
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