Boehner: 'Not my job' to correct the birthers

Many Americans believe that President Barack Obama is a Muslim who is also not a US citizen, and House Speaker John Boehner isn't about to correct them.

The Speaker told NBC's David Gregory Sunday that people have a right to their beliefs and it wasn't his job to tell them what to think.

Last week, 40 percent of Republicans on a Fox News panel insisted that Obama was a Muslim.

"As the Speaker of the House, as the leader, do you not think it's your responsibility to stand up to that kind of ignorance?" Gregory asked.

"David, it's not my job to tell the American people what to think," Boehner replied. "Our job in Washington is to listen to the American people."

"Having said that, the state of Hawaii has said that he was born there -- that's good enough for me. The president says he's a Christian -- I accept him at his word," he added.

"But isn't that a little bit fast and loose?" Gregory pressed. "You are the leader in Congress and you're not standing up to obvious facts and saying these are facts and saying, 'If you don't believe that, it's nonsense.'"

"I just outlined the facts as I understand them. I believe that the president is a citizen. I believe the president is a Christian. I'll take him at his word," Boehner repeated.

"The American people have a right to think what they want to think. I can't -- it's not my job to tell them," he said.

This video is from NBC's Meet the Press, broadcast Feb. 13, 2011.

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