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Jay, I want to get back to the very serious issue of the debate over health care in a few days, but I want to interrupt that flow with a point of personal privilege.

You see, I have been attacked by Ann Coulter...again. This one deserves an immediate response.

She has now claimed that I'm not a real minister -- and not a real Christian -- and has told readers that she would send a free copy of her newest book (sure to become another New York Times bestseller) to the first person who can send her a "copy of my bar mitzvah photos or birth announcement." 

I wonder why my lineage would matter. After all, there are some of Jewish converts to Christianity, including yourself, Jay. Maybe she is convinced that I am the Antichrist.  Many fundamentalists concerned about this matter (including the late Jerry Falwell) believe he is already among us and claim the said figure must be Jewish. Hence, to Ann, I must have been born Jewish.

Obviously, Jay, I believe all of this is just nonsense, but I want to put this claim of Ms. Coulter's to rest--and I'd like to win one of those great New York Times best sellers.  I would also like to ensure that she does not repeat this error that could discredit her scholarship, which has already taken a few hits over her recent works, Treason and Godless. 

So, in the interests of the truth as Ann Coulter would want to know it, please note the following:

Here is my birth certificate from Cameroon -- as anyone can see, this "authentic" document makes no reference to Jewish origins. (Note, this birth certificate is courtesy of lead "birther" Orly Taitz.)

And here is one of the earliest known photos of my parents and me.

Frankly, alien lineage is incompatible with any known Jewish tradition. (I verified this with several rabbis and Madonna, for the more mystical possibilities.)

Look, I don't even have Ann's e-mail, so you might want to help get me get this vital material to her.

As noted, I'll get back to "socialist medicine," "death panels" and other non-existent features of the Obama health care plan in a few days.

Jay, I like the principles of freedom in the Declaration of Independence (and the Constitution) as much as the next guy (that would be you.)  But when I hear conservatives like Glenn Beck, Michael Savage, Mark Levin, and a host of others try to flesh out the meaning of "freedom," I have to admit that I believe they are reading documents from some other astral plane.

Here are my "Top Ten Things That Would Prove America Really Cares About Freedom":

10.  When we spend as much time teaching our kids how to defend unpopular ideas and their peers who are not like them as we do teaching them how to play soccer.

9.  When we insist that war truly is a last resort and never again allow a President to trick us into conflict with lies or false information, like the Gulf of Tonkin incident or the presence of WMDs.

8. When we acknowledge that we still have a long way to go to even claim that Americans of all races are treated equally, even when we have an African-American President.

Barry, you and I often disagree on a variety of issues that focus on the interpretation of our constitutional rights.  But, I am sure you'll agree that as we once again celebrate our nation's independence, this is the perfect time to reflect on the underpinnings of our freedom - the Declaration of Independence and the other foundational documents that make up the framework of our republic.  

It seems more and more people are taking a moment during their July 4th holiday to pause and focus on the Declaration of Independence - even an increase, according to the Associated Press, in the number of people who are reciting the historic document at holiday celebrations.