Why won't Barack Obama disclose his college transcripts?

Answer 1

Many presidents have chosen not to release their college transcripts; it does not necessarily mean they are hiding anything. For some, they simply believe the information should remain private. For others, they were not very good students. In President Obama's case, we only know his graduate school grades: he did very well at Harvard Law School, receiving academic honors and graduating in the top 10% of his class.

Answer 2

Because he is under no obligation to do so: such documents are protected by federal privacy laws, and many presidents have chosen not to release them. Just because a president keeps his college transcripts private does not mean he has anything to hide.

Answer 3

First, nearly every President of the United States has decided not to release certain documents. While opponents of Mr. Obama like to claim this means he is hiding something, that is doubtful. George W. Bush chose not to release certain documents, including college transcripts, and it was only because somebody leaked unauthorized information to a media source (which he later acknowledged was accurate) that we found out he was a "C" student at Yale. Mr. Obama is under no obligation to release college transcripts-- and most presidents have not released them, in fact. We do know he graduated with academic honors from Harvard, but unless he decides he wants to tell us his grades, that is his personal decision.

As for his passport, there are a number of internet myths about this topic. From what we have been able to verify, he has a very normal American passport and never traveled on a "foreign student" passport as the Birthers like to claim. The non-partisan website Factcheck.org did a very thorough debunking of some of the more common internet myths about President Obama's transcripts, law, license, and passport. I enclose the link.

Answer 4

He has not, but neither have many other presidents.

Answer 5

No; transcripts are confidential. Releasing them would serve no useful purpose.