Obama's Faith, Birthplace Back In The Spotlight
SCIUTTO: You're looking at live pictures of Marco Rubio speaking at a conservative forum in South Carolina where most of the republican candidates are on tonight. Donald Trump, originally scheduled to join them, cancelling at the last minute as a politically charge though, repeatedly debunked myth about President Obama was revived at a Trump rally last night. Let's start with some facts. President Obama is an American born here in the United States and a Christian. But seven years into his presidency, a significant number of Americans, especially Republicans just don't believe it. That startling contrast came into focus last night when Donald Trump faced a supporter who questioned the President's faith and birthplace. And Donald stayed silent. Why won't the questions dot? Jim Acosta is OUTFRONT.</s>JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are lies President Obama has heard before. They hounded his first bid to the White House, not they're back just as his approaching the end of his second term. This time, it was a false smear about the President's religion at a Donald Trump rally.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a problem in this country. It's called Muslims. We now our current president is one.</s>TRUMP: Right.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know he's not even an American.</s>TRUMP: We need this question as the first question.</s>ACOSTA: Trump's failure to set the record straight was no shocker to White House aides who heard the GOP front-runner repeatedly deny the truth of the matter, that the President is a Christian who was born in Hawaii.</s>JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Is anybody really surprised that this happened at a Donald Trump rally?</s>ACOSTA: But the White House did note, unlike trump, Mr. Obama's one- time rival John McCain made it clear seven years ago when false rumors first swirled in the heat of that campaign.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is not Arab. He is not?</s>MCCAIN: No, ma'am.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No?</s>MCCAIN: No, ma'am. No, ma'am. He's -- he's a decent family man, citizens that I just happen to have disagreements with.</s>ACOSTA: Colin Powell did the same just days later.</s>COLIN POWELL, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, the correct answer is, he's not a Muslim. He's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is?</s>ACOSTA: Four years ago, it was Trump who led the birther movement, questioning the President's background.</s>TRUMP: Very simple. I have people looking into it.</s>ACOSTA: The President responded, posted his own birth certificate, dubbed Trump a carnival barker.</s>PRES. BARACK OBAMA (D), UNITED STATES: We do not have time for this kind of silliness.</s>ACOSTA: And then mocked him at the White House Correspondents' Dinner days later.</s>OBAMA: For the first time, I'm releasing my official birth video.</s>ACOSTA: Despite the President's numerous speeches about his Christian faith --</s>OBAMA: It led me to embrace Jesus Christ as my lord and savior.</s>ACOSTA: Twenty nine percent of Americans still believe the President is a Muslim. As to 43 percent of Republicans and more than half of Trump's supporters, the lies live on in social media. Every time the President tweets, the smears are tweeted right back at him. The White House insists it's up to Republicans to stop it.</s>JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: This is a cynical strategy that too many republican politicians have doubled in because for some of them, it's proved to be successful.</s>ACOSTA: The White House officials all but rolled their eyes after the Trump campaign claimed today that Trump did not hear his supporter calling the President a Muslim or doubting that he was born in the United States. Aides to the President are just not buying that. And Jim, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner did put out a statement lashing out at the White House saying that the White House crossed the line and tying Trump to Republicans. That's a sign that the speaker's office is not too pleased with all of this controversy that Donald Trump is causing, seemingly every day -- Jim.</s>SCIUTTO: Jim Acosta at the White House. OUTFRONT now, democratic Congressman Andre Carson of Indiana. He's the second Muslim ever to be elected to Congress. First Muslim to sit on the House Intelligence Committee. Congressman Carson, thank you for joining us tonight.</s>REP. ANDRE CARSON (D), HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: Thanks for having us.</s>SCIUTTO: So, it's been four years since the President has released his birth certificate. He's often spoke of his Christian faith, yet you still see these polls, 29 percent of Americans don't believe he's a Muslim. Forty three percent of Republicans. How do you explain these numbers?</s>CARSON: Well, I think it's clear that there's a deep level of anxiety in our country as it relates to race and even religion. President Obama has stated very explicitly that he is a Christian and what makes President Obama so great is that he, his life story, he has a global life story and he has a global vision. You know, the founding fathers, as imperfect as they were, as imperfect as we all are, they were at least visionary when they established in Article 6 of our constitution, that there should not be a religious test to hold a public office. And anyone seeking the presidency has to know that he or she will represent all of America, non-theists, Muslims, Christians, Sheiks, Jewish, brothers and sisters, this is a pluralistic society in a very diverse society and if he can't pass that test, Mr. Trump, then it's going to be a tough road for him.</s>SCIUTTO: I want to ask you, we noticed the silence today, not just of Donald Trump but of most of the GOP candidates on this. Only Chris Christie and Lindsey Graham coming out to slam Donald Trump for those remarks. Senator Santorum actually said, it was not Donald Trump's responsibility to respond. A lot of silence there. You heard David Axelrod's called or rather Josh Earnest call this a cynical strategy by Republicans. Is it intentional to let these doubts and fears sort of live and hang out there, to appeal to a certain part of their base? Is that an intentional political strategy?</s>CARSON: Not only is it intentional, it's insidious. I think that David Axelrod was correct in saying that Trump did not want to incite his base. Let's be very clear, Mr. Trump is not an unintelligent man. I've met him before. And having said that, I think that there's a tendency, when you're looking at poll numbers each and every day, and you're being a -- even being provocative helps to push you in numbers and helps to increase your popularity, I think that often becomes confronties and solidified in a way that is hurtful and harmful because when the debate is closer and closer and there were fewer of people on that stage, he's going to have to delve deeply into the serious policy issues that deal with education, job creation and our broken infrastructure.</s>SCIUTTO: I want to ask you this. Is there a positive responsibility from the candidates, such as in a situation last night, to knock this kind of speculation down, just as, you know, John McCain did in 2008? Did they have a responsibility not just to sit back and say, hey, the questioner can think what he wants to think but to knock it down?</s>CARSON: If they are seriously concern about keeping our republic, if I can quote Ben Franklin, then certainly they have a responsibility. There are nearly eight million Muslims in this country. Many of whom hold elective offices. I challenge anyone to go to any major hospital in this country and they'll find a Muslim position. There are Muslim attorneys, they're Muslim businessmen and women who were helping to put Americans back to work. There are Muslims who are in our intelligent services and law enforcement community who are helping to keep our country safe. Surely anyone seeking the highest office in the land must recognize that Muslims are not only here to stay but we are a critical and vital part of our society.</s>SCIUTTO: Congressman Carson, fair words. We appreciate you taking the time tonight.</s>CARSON: Thank you for having us.</s>SCIUTTO: And OUTFRONT next, we are standing by for Carly Fiorina in South Carolina. Her first public event since her strong debate performance. Will she take on Donald Trump again?