During a Monday evening interview on CNN (watch it here), Hayworth pointed to the case of fugitive Vietnam War protester Howard Mechanic, who in 2000 sought a seat on the Scottsdale City Council using the alias “Gary Tredway.” After he was exposed, Mechanic eventually received a pardon from President Bill Clinton.

“All I’m saying is, for every race across the country, especially with identity theft in the news, it would be great that people can confirm who they say they are,” Hayworth said.

“Identity theft? I mean, come on,” an incredulous CNN host Campbell Brown said, laughing. “Is that honestly what this is about?”…

“Barack Obama is the president of the United States. He is our 44th president,” Hayworth told Brown. “I have no qualms about who he is, or who he says he is.”