White House releases Obama birth records

photo This handout image provided by the White House shows a copy of President Barack Obama's birth certificate from Hawaii. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says he is releasing his long-form birth certificate because the country does not have time for the 'distraction' and 'silliness' of the issue.

The president spoke at the White House Wednesday after taking the unexpected step of releasing the document, which supplements the state of Hawaii's official certification of the president's birth there. Obama had released that during the 2008 political campaign.

Polls show large numbers of Republicans continued to doubt Obama is a natural born citizen constitutionally v eligible to be president and real estate mogul Donald Trump had seized on the issue as he weighs a Republican candidacy.

Obama said the nation will solve its problems only if it is not distracted.

photo This handout image provided by the White House shows a copy of the long form of President Barack Obama's birth certificate from Hawaii. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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