“Then again, if this subject were so clear and straightforward, there would not be ongoing discussions on Free Republic, with hundreds of replies, discussing what natural born citizenship means.”
Actually, it is clear and straightforward. If natural born citizenship means nothing, nothing at all, then why did the Founders put it as one of three requirements to be president. Only time is is mentioned in the Constitution.
People pretend not to understand, just like they pretend to not understand “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
You see, you see, there are commas in that clause and surely the commas mean that the right of the people to keep and bear arms must be infringed.
I don’t think people pretend not to understand.
As we can see by so many responses in the comments here, there are conflicting opinions as to what natural born citizenship means.
Some Freepers say that both of your parents must have been citizens at the time of your birth , for you to be a natural born citizen.
Other Freepers say , that being born in America makes you a natural born citizen regardless of the citizenship of your parents. Those Freepers believe that since a citizen by birth did not have to be naturalized to become a citizen, that this status makes one a natural born citizen .
I think people on both sides have sincerely held beliefs. I disagree that people are pretending not to understand.
Apparently the term natural born citizen is not defined anywhere in our laws. This adds to confusion. You can be genuinely confused or unsure without it being a situation of pretending not to understand.