barack-obama-3_web.jpgTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ A judge has borrowed a famous line from the classic Christmas movie “A Miracle on 34th Street'' in dismissing a challenge to President Barack Obama's eligibility to hold the nation's highest office.

Circuit Judge Kevin Carroll noted that Obama lives in the White House, flies on Air Force One, has delivered State of the Union Addresses to Congress and was re-elected as president.

In the opinion signed Thursday, Carroll then said it therefore was appropriate during the holiday season to paraphrase the movie's fictional judge, who ruled the government had declared the film's leading character, Kris Kringle, to be Santa Claus by delivering Santa's mail to him.

Carroll wrote: “Since the United States government declares this man to be president, this court will not dispute it. Case dismissed.''