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Hoekstra Says Agency Idea Is To Avert Future Birther Controversies

Former west Michigan Congressman Pete Hoekstra is defending his idea to have a federal agency check the qualifications of presidential candidates.

The candidate for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination has been slammed for re-igniting the debate over President Obama’s citizenship at a Tea Party meeting last month. Hoekstra says he was simply responding to a question about the president’s citizenship that he’s grown tired of answering.

"And the answer is, this is a crazy issue," Hoekstra says.  "Move forward and make sure it doesn't happen again."

Hoekstra was at a Senate candidate forum on Mackinac Island.

Hoekstra says a one or two-person team to check presidential candidates’ citizenship and residency would avert future controversies.

 

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
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