Since his dad was “married” to an African woman concurrently, does US law even recognize his “marriage” to Stanley as valid?
Wouldn’t it be bigamy or polygamy?
Polygamy.
But polygamy is legal in Kenya. If she was married in Kenya, that would make it a valid marriage.
I’m given to understand that push come to shove, US courts will err on the side of recognizing such a marriage.
BUT a Kenyan marriage puts a pregnant Stanley Ann in KENYA.
Here’s the kicker, IF Obama was born in Kenya to an American mom, he would only be presumed to be a US citizen ONLY IF she WASN’T married to a Kenyan. Otherwise he would be a Kenyan by birth.
If she wasn’t married, he’d be a bastard, but he’d be an AMERICAN bastard, under current law.
BUT keep in mind that if he is a bastard, under the laws that were in force AT THE TIME OF BIRTH, he wouldn’t qualify as a citizen, due to his mom not satisfying the age and residency requirements.
But that’s OK, because under current law he would be an American by birth if Stanley Ann wasn’t married, and he was born in Kenya.
And if that’s not enough even if he is a citizen by birth, he may or may not meet the Constitutional requirement of being a natural born citizen. What exactly that turn of phrase means is the subject of a rather lively debate at the moment.
Now, imagine explaining that to a typical voter. Politically this is a non-starter.
Of course, if he can produce any valid documentation proving a Honolulu birth, it’s all moot...