Coast 2 Coast Aug 22-23 08

Aug 22

Berg vs. Obama Lawsuit

Filling in for George, Ian Punnett welcomed Philip J. Berg, an attorney and self-professed Hillary Clinton supporter who has filed a lawsuit against Barack Obama, the Democratic National Committee, and several other parties. Berg contends that Sen. Obama is not a natural born U.S. citizen and, therefore, is not constitutionally eligible to run for the office of president.

According to Berg, Obama was born in Kenya and then a week later flown back to Hawaii where a certificate of live birth was filed (view certificate). Berg claims the birth record initially posted on the Obama campaign website is a forgery based on his half-sister's certificate. Berg also noted that Obama would have lost any American citizenship status he had when he moved to Indonesia with his mother and was adopted by his step-father.

Berg presented other arguments to support his case, but believes the Republican party has even more evidence and will use it to discredit Obama after he receives the Democratic nomination. Berg said journalist Wayne Madsen published an article about a GOP research team that was sent to Kenya and has located a certificate registering the birth of a boy named "Barack Obama, Jr." to his father, a Kenyan citizen and his mother, a U.S. citizen.

During Open Lines, several callers commented on the Berg vs. Obama lawsuit, many of them questioning Berg's motives and research.

Aug 23

Environmental Health Threats

Nena Baker, author of The Body Toxic, discussed how chemicals in the environment and the foods we eat threaten our health and well-being.

Researchers have found a link between obesity and perfluorinated compounds found in Teflon surfaces and microwavable popcorn bags, Baker said. These chemicals once released into the environment never breakdown, she added, noting that banned substances DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) and PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) are still detectable.

Baker said 38 world experts have written a consensus statement regarding the adverse affects of Bisphenol A, a compound found in baby and sports bottles. According to her research, exposure to Bisphenol A and similar chemicals may have led to an increase in breast and prostate cancers, urogenital abnormalities in male babies, a decline of semen quality in men, and early puberty in young girls.

Children and pets may be at risk from polybrominated flame retardants used in television sets and other electronics. A preliminary study by the EPA shows a correlation between hyperthyroidism in household cats and polybrominated flame retardants, Baker explained. She also spoke about Phthalate Syndrome and the cumulative effect environmental chemicals may be having on us, as well as fielded questions from callers for the last 90 minutes of the program.