Posted on Dec 10, 2015
No, a college ID does not show Barack Obama was a foreign student at Columbia University
27.7K
287
152
62
60
2
Before this inevitably makes its way here through some individuals who will believe it I figured I'd pre-empt it.
No, a college ID does not show Barack Obama was a foreign student at Columbia University
Other Internet debunkers have looked at this before (Snopes, for one), but we wanted to take our own look.
It may not surprise you that it’s a sham.
Sorting out Soetoro
There was a time when Obama used the last name "Soetoro." Obama used Soetoro, the last name of his stepfather, while he was growing up in Indonesia. At age 10, Obama moved back to Hawaii, his birthplace, and stopped using that last name.
After two years at Occidental College in California, 20-year-old Barack Obama transferred to Columbia University in New York in 1981.
There are no records that suggest Obama ever went by his childhood alias while attending Columbia. In 1983, the university’s weekly magazine published an essay written by Obama. The byline reads "Barack Obama."
ID issues
Whoever took the time to make this image apparently didn’t take the extra time to change the number on the card. After the card made the initial rounds, Snopes revealed the card number belonged to another student, who appears to be caught up in this simply because he posted his card to the web in 1998.
The picture of Obama on the fake ID is definitely not of the president as a young college student. It looks like the photo was taken in 1999, when Obama was in his late 30s and a state senator in Illinois.
What’s more convincing is Columbia University didn’t even start using digital ID cards until 1996 — 13 years after Obama graduated.
"This is a fake," said Roger Hornsby, a spokesman for the university, to PolitiFact. "We didn't even have such IDs then."
Finally, Obama’s ID would not have said "foreign student," and not just because Obama was born in Hawaii. Hornsby said Columbia doesn’t even label student IDs like that.
Our ruling
A Facebook post makes ridiculous claims about a Columbia University ID that shows Obama was a foreign student who went by the alias "Barry Soetoro."
The post wants you to believe Obama isn’t really an American citizen. But the ID, and the birther narrative behind it, is not valid.
Obama stopped using his stepfather’s last name when he was 10. Columbia University didn’t even start using these types of IDs until the mid 1990s, long after Obama graduated.
The ID is a pretty bad Photoshop job. We rate the claim Pants on Fire!
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/dec/09/facebook-posts/facebook-posts-still-claim-obama-wasnt-born-us/
No, a college ID does not show Barack Obama was a foreign student at Columbia University
Other Internet debunkers have looked at this before (Snopes, for one), but we wanted to take our own look.
It may not surprise you that it’s a sham.
Sorting out Soetoro
There was a time when Obama used the last name "Soetoro." Obama used Soetoro, the last name of his stepfather, while he was growing up in Indonesia. At age 10, Obama moved back to Hawaii, his birthplace, and stopped using that last name.
After two years at Occidental College in California, 20-year-old Barack Obama transferred to Columbia University in New York in 1981.
There are no records that suggest Obama ever went by his childhood alias while attending Columbia. In 1983, the university’s weekly magazine published an essay written by Obama. The byline reads "Barack Obama."
ID issues
Whoever took the time to make this image apparently didn’t take the extra time to change the number on the card. After the card made the initial rounds, Snopes revealed the card number belonged to another student, who appears to be caught up in this simply because he posted his card to the web in 1998.
The picture of Obama on the fake ID is definitely not of the president as a young college student. It looks like the photo was taken in 1999, when Obama was in his late 30s and a state senator in Illinois.
What’s more convincing is Columbia University didn’t even start using digital ID cards until 1996 — 13 years after Obama graduated.
"This is a fake," said Roger Hornsby, a spokesman for the university, to PolitiFact. "We didn't even have such IDs then."
Finally, Obama’s ID would not have said "foreign student," and not just because Obama was born in Hawaii. Hornsby said Columbia doesn’t even label student IDs like that.
Our ruling
A Facebook post makes ridiculous claims about a Columbia University ID that shows Obama was a foreign student who went by the alias "Barry Soetoro."
The post wants you to believe Obama isn’t really an American citizen. But the ID, and the birther narrative behind it, is not valid.
Obama stopped using his stepfather’s last name when he was 10. Columbia University didn’t even start using these types of IDs until the mid 1990s, long after Obama graduated.
The ID is a pretty bad Photoshop job. We rate the claim Pants on Fire!
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/dec/09/facebook-posts/facebook-posts-still-claim-obama-wasnt-born-us/
Barack Obama
Conspiracy Theories
Columbia University
Republicans
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 30
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
There aren’t any showable birth records or they woukd have been immediately shown
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Well, his “Certificate of Live Birth” looks like it was photoshopped too. In 1961, it would have said “Negro” for Race, instead of “African American”. The published form was not an original, which casts doubt in my mind. Then there is the fact that his own grandmother said she witnessed his birth in Kenya. I may have believed that the original was lost or, that grandma’s memory was starting to fade but, not both. Call me a skeptic is you wish. I don’t really care. Either way, I think he was a lousy President.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Why is this garbage allowed on this site? Is it because American voted for a corrupt convicted criminal? How is this helping us veterans that served our country honorably.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
WHO CARES!!!!!! This is 2024. Since Obama, we have had two idiots as President and now one of the idiots returns.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
There's a lot worse on Barry that most Americans don't know. Just check out what his victims say or his ex-boyfriends... oh, wait... They're all dead now - except for Michael who changed his name to Michelle. Don't believe me? Listen closely and there's multiple times he calls her "Michael" in public and doesn't even catch himself. Barry was the most deceptive President I'd ever studied. He was groomed to destroy America from the inside out while appearing like he cared. I understand the truth will be too inconvenient for most of you, but it's time you wake up and stop believing the propaganda that's been thrown in our faces our whole lives. As soon as you do, we might be able to save our country. If you don't, then don't be surprised when your freedoms are gone.
(0)
(0)
SPC Hadassah D.
Not sure I can share links here, but for those of you ready to learn past to current US History, you can start here: https://towarwithlove.wordpress.com/
For Truth, Liberty, and Justice for All
(0)
(0)
SPC Hadassah D.
SPC Hadassah D. - Maybe check out my dissertation on Russia vs. Ukraine, as there's a lot more in there than on just those topics. Then pray for discernment. The Holy Spirit will show you in due time.
(0)
(0)
SPC Hadassah D.
SPC Hadassah D. - This is the post I'm specifically talking about:
https://towarwithlove.wordpress.com/2022/03/29/the-real-truth-about-russia-vs-ukraine-and-why-i-as-an-american-stand-with-russia/
https://towarwithlove.wordpress.com/2022/03/29/the-real-truth-about-russia-vs-ukraine-and-why-i-as-an-american-stand-with-russia/
The REAL TRUTH About Russia vs. Ukraine! And Why I as an American Stand with RUSSIA
(Video version of this blog post now available here for those that prefer to watch/listen over read – just make sure to come back here and go through the reference links! :)) As the lies per…
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Everyone knows Snopes is the real fraud - paid to push propaganda on Americans who question the truth. Hawaiians themselves remember the always-lying Barry and will tell you themselves. He is not American. Seek out their interviews if you want to know the truth. I have met some that remember.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
CPT Ahmed Faried I don't like Obama, but even I don't believe this. I've never been a proponent of the birther theories.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google