There was the one rumor about him being a secret Muslim (he is a practicing Christian). And there was the one allegation his wife, Michelle, was caught on videotape using the word "whitey" (no such clip has ever surfaced).
Most of the charges were, for the most part, put to rest by vigorous responses from the Obama team during the campaign.
But one conspiracy theory lives on -- despite overwhelming evidence debunking it.
Politico.com reports that the Birthers -- a persistent group of conservatives who believe Obama is ineligible to be president because of alleged questions surrounding his birth status -- continue to operate and thrive on the fringe.
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"Some individuals and groups who are opposed to Obama's presidency want an 'acceptable' reason to cite to convince other individuals and groups who might be on the fence to join in their way of thinking," said Patricia Turner, who studies rumors at the University of California, Davis.
For the record, officials in Hawaii declared last October that there was no doubt Obama was born in the state. Officials verified that the health department holds the commander in chief's original birth certificate.
But others are still undeterred.
A lawsuit filed in California by a group called the United States Justice Foundation seeks records from Occidental College, where Obama attended school for a period, in order to verify his nationality -- and thus his presidential eligibility, WorldNetDaily reports.
Get the full story about the Birthers at Politico.com to find out about the group's possible impact on the White House and weigh in, below, on the controversy.
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A Presidency Begins
As President Barack Obama nears the 100-days mark in his presidency, he has a 69 percent approval rating, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Here, he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base to play golf on Sunday. Click through the gallery to see more moments from the first months of Obama's presidency.
Jason Reed, Reuters
Jason Reed, Reuters
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Latest Obama Photos
At a press conference on Wednesday night, President Barack Obama tied health-care reform to economic recovery, and assailed critics of his plan. "This debate is not a game for these Americans, and they cannot afford to wait for reform any longer," he said.
AP
AP
