Posted on 03/13/2013 6:54:15 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Let's close down the silly season on presidential eligibility early. Our colleague, Ken Klukowski, is a constitutional lawyer who argues here that newly-sworn-in Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) is likely eligible to run for president in 2016. The only question that could arise is the fact the fiery young conservative leader was born in Calgary, Alberta, on Dec. 22, 1970. Let's see: 1970 makes him thirty-five in 2005. He's in!
Is the Canadian birthplace a hurdle? Not really. Since at least 1793, such children of American citizens born abroad have been recognized to be American citizens.
Ted's mother, the former Eleanor Darragh, was an American citizen from Delaware. To argue that his actual place of birth to an American citizen disqualifies Ted Cruz is to argue that millions of undoubted Americans are disqualified. What about military "brats" born in civilian hospitals to parents stationed in West Germany? Or sons and daughters of American business people temporarily working abroad? Or children of U.S. citizens who are missionaries called to foreign lands?
Can conservatives seriously believe that any of these otherwise qualified American citizens should be barred from running for president? We thought as conservatives we are opposed to assisted suicide. But reading the Constitution in such a strained and absurd way would render us politically dead.
Some people, unfortunately, are maintaining that anyone whose parents were not yet fully naturalized U.S. citizens are ineligible. That's because, they say, only the children of U.S. citizens can be "natural-born citizens of the United States" under the Constitution's requirements for being elected president (Art. II, Sec. 1). They say that because of this iron-clad condition, Florida's Sen. Marco Rubio, and possibly even South Carolina 's Gov. Nikki Haley and Louisiana 's Gov. Bobby Jindal may all be ineligible to serve as president.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
None of the above...
THE BASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE APPARENTLY HAVE HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS TO THIS “Presidential Kerfuffle”...
From the article:
Consider this historical question: Could it have been the original intent of the Founders to disqualify themselves from serving as president? It was not until Martin Van Buren, eighth president, that we elected a man who had been born an American citizen. There was actually some silly maneuvering around the accession of Chester Alan Arthur in 1881. Some misguided folks then tried to argue that young Chet had been born in Canada and smuggled across the border into Vermont as an infant.
Jindal is the only one on that list that I am even remotely interested in as POTUS at this point. Rubio is a follower and Cruz needs experience while Haley I am just not that impressed with.
RE: None of the above...
Is your objection about competence, leadership and ability, or about the issue of being “natural born”?
John C. Frémont’s father was a French citizen and never sought US Citizenship.
Hispanic, woman, Indian, hispanic...
So it's all about having a "novelty" president these days, huh?
No gringo men need apply.
I haven’t read up on it, but I would thinks the intent of the clause in the Constitution is such that someone born outside of the US to American parents, and moved back to the US soon therafter and raised here is preferable to someone born within the US that moved to and was raised in a foreign country, hence the 10-year requirement. Just my 2 cents.
Let’s say I appoint Cruz as Attorney General - would this be an issue with succession?
RE: John C. Fremont
For those who don’t know...
John Charles Frémont or Fremont (January 21, 1813 July 13, 1890) was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States.
Frémont’s mother, Anne Beverley Whiting, was the youngest daughter of socially prominent Virginia planter Col. Thomas Whiting. And as you said -— his father was a French citizen and never sought US Citizenship
In 1860 the Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln for president, who won the presidency and then ran for reelection in 1864. The Radical Republicans, a group of hard-line abolitionists, were upset with Lincoln’s positions on the issues of slavery and post-war reconciliation with the southern states. On May 31, 1864, they nominated Frémont for president. This fissure in the Republican Party divided the party into two factions: the anti-Lincoln Radical Republicans, who nominated Frémont, and the pro-Lincoln Republicans.
Frémont abandoned his political campaign in September 1864, after he brokered a political deal in which Lincoln removed Postmaster General Montgomery Blair from office.
The interesting point to note is this -— HIS ELIGIBILITY TO RUN AS PRESIDENT BECAUSE OF THE “NATURAL BORN” CLAUSE NEVER WAS AN ISSUE.
RE: Lets say I appoint Cruz as Attorney General - would this be an issue with succession?
You can if you are elected President. In fact I wish you would... :)
Since at least 1793, such children of American citizens born abroad have been recognized to be American citizens.
_____________________________________________
Yeah thats what I say...
My 3rd great grandfather was born in Canada in 1797...
His parents and grandparents were all born in the US ...
so he was born abroad of of American parents..
he married a woman who was born in Vermont of American parents...she died in Gowanda, NY...
Two American citizens...
Their son, my 2nd gg, was also born in Canada, another child born abroad of American parents...
My great great grandfather therefore was an American citizen...
and his daughter, my great grandmother was an American citizen because although she was born abroad in New Zealand, she was after all the child of an American citizen...
so did that staus reach on down to my grandmother, Dad and then to me ???
Yeppers OK...
Nana, candidate for POTUS...
:)
RE: Hispanic, woman, Indian, hispanic...
So it’s all about having a “novelty” president these days, huh?
No gringo men need apply.
_______________________
Let’s not be too hung up on race. The issue of this article is whether or not these folks meet the “natural born” requirement.
Since they are ethnic minorities and they happen to be occupying high positions in this country, of course their ethnicity will be part of the discussion.
Counting down to the explosion of Jindal/Rubio are not eligible to be President posts.
any of the above
Cruz obviously.
My point is that the list put forth contains only “minorities”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.