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Trump: Ted Cruz was an “anchor baby” in Canada and may not even be a U.S. citizen
Hot Air ^ | January 29, 2016 | Allahpundit

Posted on 01/30/2016 5:34:51 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Via the Free Beacon, we've reached the stage of Trumpmania where the same media that used to routinely predict that every new Trump "gaffe" would finish him off now heralds everything Trump does as carefully calculated Machiavellian genius. Trump has convinced them to their bones, not without reason, that everything they thought they knew about presidential politics is wrong and every move he makes is right. Case in point: Skipping the debate four days before Iowans caucus is genius. Why? Because Trump's a genius and he thinks it's a good idea, even though there are lots of really obvious perils in a move like that. Same goes for this attack on Cruz, I assume. Suggesting that Cruz isn't a U.S. citizen at all because he wasn't born here is genius. Why? Well, Trump thinks it's genius, and he has had success in driving Cruz's favorable numbers down in Iowa this month by questioning his eligibility. Case closed, right?

Let's think strategically. Assume you're Trump and you've just won Iowa. Who are you worried about now? Answer: Whoever looks to be the strongest center-right contender in New Hampshire. That's probably Marco Rubio, especially if he finishes strong in Iowa, which he may well do. The special danger that Rubio poses, not just to Trump but to everyone, is that he can pull from both sides of the field as others drop out. Some conservatives will never support him because of amnesty, but some will. And plenty of moderates will. If Trump is headed for a two-man race with Rubio then he should be thinking already about how to lure Cruz's voters, some of whom are open to Trump because he's a populist but some of whom are open to Rubio because he's more conservative than Trump is. Trump should want to do everything he can to tear down Cruz at this point by attacking his record without doing something that angers persuadable Cruz fans so much that they opt for Rubio over Trump out of spite if forced to choose. (Cruz doesn't have the same problem with Trump fans. None of them are going to Rubio if the race comes down to Rubio and Cruz, so even if Cruz alienates them, the worst thing they'll do to him is stay home.)

Accusing Cruz of being an "anchor baby" in Canada and of possibly not even being a U.S. citizen is, I think, the sort of attack that'll alienate Cruz voters more than garden-variety stuff like "Cruz doesn't play well with others." It's dirty pool in a way that attacks on his record in the Senate aren't. What Trump's doing here is suggesting that the "natural-born" clause in Article II isn't just a qualification for the presidency but a bright-line rule for citizenship generally. If you were born on U.S. soil, Trump's hinting, you're a citizen. If you weren't, and weren't later naturalized, you aren't. That's not true, though: Congress sets the rules for citizenship, and there's no question that Cruz qualified per the statute that was in effect when he was born in 1970. The only question is whether he can lawfully run for this office under the Constitution. By conflating those two ideas, citizenship and Article II eligibility, Trump's basically accusing Cruz of being -- ta da -- an illegal immigrant. And not just an illegal immigrant, but an illegal immigrant in two different countries. That's what the "anchor baby" business is all about: I've never read anything suggesting that Cruz's parents were in Canada illegally when he was born and used his birth as a way to establish legal residency, but that's what most people think of when they think of "anchor babies." (An "anchor baby" could also be used by legal residents to extend their legal residency in a country.) "Anchor baby" is doubly stupid as applied to Cruz since his parents didn't actually use him as a long-term anchor in Canada. They moved to the U.S., of which his mother is a citizen, when he was a toddler. Trump's essentially down to arguing that not only is Cruz weak on amnesty, he is amnesty. If he ends up losing the caucuses and fades from the race, I wonder how it'll sit with Cruz to think that Trump outmaneuvered him by questioning his loyalty to America and even his right to be here. Once upon a time, I thought he'd endorse Trump if he dropped out as part of a broad populist offensive against "the establishment." Now I wonder. Accusing Cruz of being an "anchor baby" in Canada and of possibly not even being a U.S. citizen is, I think, the sort of attack that'll alienate Cruz voters more than garden-variety stuff like "Cruz doesn't play well with others." It's dirty pool in a way that attacks on his record in the Senate aren't. What Trump's doing here is suggesting that the "natural-born" clause in Article II isn't just a qualification for the presidency but a bright-line rule for citizenship generally. If you were born on U.S. soil, Trump's hinting, you're a citizen. If you weren't, and weren't later naturalized, you aren't. That's not true, though: Congress sets the rules for citizenship, and there's no question that Cruz qualified per the statute that was in effect when he was born in 1970. The only question is whether he can lawfully run for this office under the Constitution. By conflating those two ideas, citizenship and Article II eligibility, Trump's basically accusing Cruz of being -- ta da -- an illegal immigrant. And not just an illegal immigrant, but an illegal immigrant in two different countries. That's what the "anchor baby" business is all about: I've never read anything suggesting that Cruz's parents were in Canada illegally when he was born and used his birth as a way to establish legal residency, but that's what most people think of when they think of "anchor babies." (An "anchor baby" could also be used by legal residents to extend their legal residency in a country.) "Anchor baby" is doubly stupid as applied to Cruz since his parents didn't actually use him as a long-term anchor in Canada. They moved to the U.S., of which his mother is a citizen, when he was a toddler. Trump's essentially down to arguing that not only is Cruz weak on amnesty, he is amnesty. If he ends up losing the caucuses and fades from the race, I wonder how it'll sit with Cruz to think that Trump outmaneuvered him by questioning his loyalty to America and even his right to be here. Once upon a time, I thought he'd endorse Trump if he dropped out as part of a broad populist offensive against "the establishment." Now I wonder.


TOPICS: Campaign News; Issues
KEYWORDS: canada; cruz; tedcruz; trump
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1 posted on 01/30/2016 5:34:51 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I think Trump has a point though. Cruz is qualified as a citizen because of his mom. But since he was born outside of the country, how does the government know that Cruz is a citizen if there wasn’t some kind of paperwork filed?

Anybody could show up and claim they are the child of someone who was a citizen and that they were born overseas. Without proof, how do we know?


2 posted on 01/30/2016 5:40:23 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
So he isn't satisfied with winning. He wants to destroy Cruz.

Classic narcissistic behavior toward someone who challenges the narc.

3 posted on 01/30/2016 5:40:23 PM PST by gov_bean_ counter (Trump to McCain - "Pass the strawberries".)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

” and of possibly not even being a U.S. citizen “

Need a direct quote for that.


4 posted on 01/30/2016 5:41:13 PM PST by dynoman (Objectivity is the essence of intelligence. - Marilyn vos Savant)
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To: gov_bean_ counter

He has his marching orders from the GOPe. He’s only worth $3billion. That’s nothing compared to the big dogs.


5 posted on 01/30/2016 5:41:39 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (TED CRUZ 2016)
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To: DannyTN

Ummmm....it’s called a Birth Certificate


6 posted on 01/30/2016 5:42:42 PM PST by SC_Republican (Has it really been THAT long??)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

How petty. If there is an issue of citizenship, it has been settled.

If you want me to vote for you Donald, tell what you believe in; I don’t need you to bash your opponents.
But then again, Donald, you have changed your mind on numerous issues, numerous times.

Donald, stop the childish whining.


7 posted on 01/30/2016 5:43:12 PM PST by txnativegop (Tired of liberals, even a few in my own family.)
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To: gov_bean_ counter

“So he isn’t satisfied with winning. He wants to destroy Cruz.
“Classic narcissistic behavior toward someone who challenges the narc.

And I hope he does exactly that to Hillary.


8 posted on 01/30/2016 5:45:15 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion (As a representative of Earth, I officially welcome Global Warming to our planet)
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To: SC_Republican

Does Cruz have one? Has he released it?

Are you considered a citizen before the government knows you exist? Or do you have to register before you are considered a citizen?


9 posted on 01/30/2016 5:46:39 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: txnativegop

Donald on is on your side of the issue. regardless of what side of the issue you are on.

He as pretty much taken all sides of the major issues, some more recently than others.


10 posted on 01/30/2016 5:48:03 PM PST by cableguymn (We need a redneck in the white house....)
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To: DannyTN

" But since he was born outside of the country, how does the government know that Cruz is a citizen if there wasn't some kind of paperwork filed? "

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is official evidence of United States citizenship, issued to a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents, who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)..

11 posted on 01/30/2016 5:52:00 PM PST by Souled_Out (Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people.)
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To: DannyTN; SC_Republican

It was released years ago.

12 posted on 01/30/2016 5:52:07 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (TED CRUZ 2016)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"Birth Abroad Out-of-Wedlock to a U.S. Citizen Mother" A person born abroad out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen mother may acquire U.S. citizenship under Section 309(c) of the INA if the mother was a U.S. citizen at the time of the person’s birth and if the mother was physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for a continuous period of one year prior to the person’s birth. The U.S. citizen mother must be the genetic or the gestational mother and the legal parent of the child under local law at the time and place of the child’s birth to transmit U.S. citizenship."

"may acquire" sounds to me like Cruz is eligible to acquire but has to go through the steps to obtain citizenship. Has he?

13 posted on 01/30/2016 5:52:32 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: DannyTN

He wasn’t born out of wedlock.


14 posted on 01/30/2016 5:53:21 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (TED CRUZ 2016)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Trump needs to knock that off. If I’d had my children in France, they would still be US citizens because I am a US citizen. I’m far from a Trumpbot, but this is dirty underwear level.


15 posted on 01/30/2016 5:53:40 PM PST by PistolPaknMama
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To: DannyTN
it's all over the place
16 posted on 01/30/2016 5:53:43 PM PST by SC_Republican (Has it really been THAT long??)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Rafael Edward = Ted?


17 posted on 01/30/2016 5:56:17 PM PST by Leo Carpathian (FReeeeepeesssssed)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

IRREFUTABLE AUTHORITY HAS SPOKEN
(Oct. 18, 2009) The Post & Email has in several articles mentioned that the Supreme Court of the United States has given the definition of what a “natural born citizen” is. Since being a natural born citizen is an objective qualification and requirement of office for the U.S. President (and VP), it is important for all U.S. Citizens to understand what this term means.

http://www.thepostemail.com/2009/10/18/4-supreme-court-cases-define-natural-born-citizen/


18 posted on 01/30/2016 5:57:30 PM PST by Leo Carpathian (FReeeeepeesssssed)
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To: txnativegop
If there is an issue of citizenship, it has been settled.

Ted got a judgment? SCOTUS ruled?

19 posted on 01/30/2016 5:57:33 PM PST by ripnbang ("An armed man is a citizen, an unarmed man a subject)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

so Trump is now implying that Cruz is a criminal.

Guess Trump doesn’t want Cruz supporters with that implication

Trump’s obama birthism went no where and made Trump look foolish. He needs to stop listening to hitlery’s advice on the birther thing


20 posted on 01/30/2016 5:57:59 PM PST by RginTN (Donald J Trump- why would the people of Ky want a rookie senator when they have Sen Mitch Mcconnell)
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