jfJnrtlanò (Observer Page 8 May 4, 2011 Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views o f the Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com. New Prices Effective May 1 ,2 0 1 0 Martin Cleaning Service Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Residential & Commercial Services Minimum Service CHG $45.00 A small distance/travel charge may be applied CARPET CLEANING 2 Cleaning Areas or more $30.00 Each Area Pre-Spray Traffic Areas (Includes: ! sm all H allw ay) 1 Cleaning Area (only) $40.00 Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area (Hallway Extra) Stairs (12-16 stairs - With Other Services): $25.00 Area/Oriental Rugs. $25.00Minimum Area/Oriental Rugs (Wooly. $40.00Minimum Heavily Soiled Area: Additional $10.00 each area (Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying) UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Sofa: $69.00 Loveseat: $49.00 Sectional: $ 109 - $ 139 Chair or Recliner: $25 - $49 Throw Pillows (With Other Services): $5.00 % ADDITIONAL SERVICES • Area & Oriental Rug Cleaning • Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning • Deodorizing & Pet Odor Treatment • Spot & Stain Removal Service • Scotchguard Protection • Minor Water Damage Services SEE CURRENT FLYER FOR ADDITIONAL PRICES & SERVICES Call for Appointment (503) 281-3949 A Big Media Circus of his Own Making Donald gets trumped by J udge G reg M athis After weeks of allega tions, led by Donald Trump, that he was not bom in the U.S. and, as a result, not legally able to serve in the n ation’s highest office. President Obama released his long term birth certificate to the public. According to the official docu ment, the President was bom in the U.S., Hawaii to be exact, and not in Kenya or Indonesia, as his critics would have you believe. Fringe groups have been alleg ing that Obama w asn’t born in the U.S. since he announced his run for the presidency three years ago. At the time, he subm itted an o ffic ia l re c o rd o f b irth , a d o cu m en t most states give to a n y o n e se e k in g a copy o f their birth certificate, as proof o f his citize n sh ip . B ut th e b i r th e r s - those who m aintain Obam a was not born in the U.S. - d id n ’t accept that docum ent; they wanted to see his original birth certificate. The President, who chose to rise above the foolishness, said it was finally time to dispel the ru mors because the media was giv ing more attention to this non controversy than it was to im por tant national issues, such as the ^.lortlatlb (ObBerUcr Established 1970 USPS 959-680 _______ ____________________________ 47 47 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 Charles H. Washington E nnoR :M ichael L e ig h to n D is t r ib u t io n M a n a g e r : M a rk W a s h in g to n C r e a t iv e D ir e c t o r : P a u l N e u fe ld t E d it o r - in -C h ie f , P u b lis h e r : econom y and public safety. When Obama released the docu ment, he pointedly compared those who were making an issue out of where he was bom to side shows and carnival barkers...and he was right; that is exactly what Trump has become. No one outside of the fringe is taking Trump seriously as a presi dential candidate. Instead, people tune in to see what shocking thing h e ’ll say next. Am ericans aren ’t looking to Trump to leadership - they are looking to him for laughs. Now, Trump wants to see the President’s school transcripts, say ing he doesn’t know how the Presi dent, who admitted to not being the most studious youngster, was ac cepted into Harvard Law. Trump maintains the President got into The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope. All created design display ads become the sole property of the newspaper and cannot be used in other publications or personal usage without the written consent of the general manager, unless the client has purchased the composition of such ad. © 2008 THE PORTLAND OBSERVER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. The Portland Observer -Oregon’s Oldest Multicultural Publication-is a member of the National Newspaper Association-Founded in 1885, and The National Advertis ing Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers Association CALL 503-288-0033 P ostmaster : Send address changes to Portland Observer, PO Box3 1 3 7 , Portland, OR9 7 2 0 8 Harvard because of affirmative ac tion. We d o n 't know how Obama got into Harvard L aw ...b u t he did. And he went on to edit the Harvard Law Review at the end of his first year and becam e president o f the journal in his second year. Even if affirm ativ e action opened the doors o f Harvard to Obam a, he made the m ost o f the opportunity given to him and excelled. And that is all that matters. The President should nqt bow to these latest dem ands...he should treat Trump like the clown he is: trapped in a big media circus of his own making. Greg Mathis is a form er M ichi gan District Court judge and a current syndicated television show judge. FAX 503-288-0015 news@portlandobserver.com ads @portlandobserver, com subscription@portlandobserver.com