Tom Morrissey, Arizona Republican Party Chairman, Won't Seek Reelection After Birther Questions

WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Arizona Republican Party has announced plans to step down, days after he publicly questioned whether President Barack Obama has a "legitimate" birth certificate.

State GOP Chairman Tom Morrissey told azfamily.com on Wednesday that he would not seek a second term in January due to health issues. Morrissey said he is preparing to have knee surgery and wanted to be able to rest after the surgery. Morrissey, who had previously indicated he planned to run again, did not mention the birther claim when he announced he would step down.

“During a recovery you want your stress level to be as low as possible and this job is loaded with stress,” Morrissey told Newsmax.

Morrissey publicly joined the birther movement at Monday's meeting of the Electoral College, when he and two other Arizona electors, Gila County Republican Party Chairman Don Ascoli and former Graham County Republican Chairman John D. Rhodes, questioned Obama's birth certificate. At the time, Morrissey said that he was not questioning whether Obama was born in the United States, but rather if the Hawaiian birth certificate the president produced was "legitimate."

more . . . http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/20/arizona-republican-party_n_2339755.html?1356033055&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009