Reality Intrudes

Just when I was beginning to think that no amount of data could shake people from their partisan convictions comes a new poll showing that the publication of Obama's long-form birth certificate has cut birtherism in half. I think the right analysis is the one offered by Allahpundit, that there were birthers and birthers:

I argued a few weeks ago that, contrary to big media’s received wisdom, Birthers aren’t a homogeneous group but rather a mix of hardcore and softcore believers, the latter of which were simply misinformed because they weren’t following the issue closely.

So when forced to confront the evidence, the soft-core peeled away, leaving the unpersuadables. And this poll was taken before we got bin Laden, which may convince even a few lunatics to admit that Obama is American enough for them.