I think you give Paine too much credit. I believe he was just a rebel rouser. He immigrated here in 1773 because he failed to make a living in England. He fell out of favor here, went to England finding disfavor. Then off to France to stir things up; got thrown into prison there then he writes “Age of Reason” attacking the principles of Christianity - the bedrock of beliefs in this country. He gets out of prison and sails off to America again only to be scorned by the populace. That scorn continued into the 20th century when Teddy Roosevelt called him a “filthy little atheist.”
As a writer he was clear in his writing as were the framers of the Constitution. If they meant natural born citizens of citizen parents, why the heck didn’t they say it in those exact words? Why would you have to clarify the meaning pages or even chapters later? If I wrote out a formula on how to make something, left off a vital part, then in the next chapter said, “oh, by the way, this is what I meant by....” Get my point?
I see a PERIOD after this statement accredited to Paine, “He cannot be elected under thirty-five years of age; and he must be a native of the country.”
I also see the word “he” so shouldn’t we start a campaign against women running for president also?
Other than a handful of people everyone understands “foreigner” as someone not born here. Senators and congressmen can be of foreign birth once they become citizens here. The distinction clearly written down is that the president cannot be foreign (born outside the country) making him a natural born citizen at birth. Over 95% of the country understand the rules that way, the judicial system rule that way, and congress has legislated that way.
By just applying a little common sense one has to realize that they cannot normally PROVE that their parents are citizens of this country. I know I never received a copy of my mother or father’s birth certificate. Hence the 14th amendment wherein it matters NOT who your parents are, if you are born here you are a NBC.
John Adams said, "Without the pen of the author of Common Sense, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain."
Without Paine, Jefferson would never have written the Declaration of Independence.
He fell out of favor here...
Alexander Hamilton also had his difficulties, and was killed for it. Jefferson died broke. Washington married his wealth, just like John Kerry. Even Benedict Arnold is still the Hero of Saratoga. You can impugn the character of anyone, but their deeds still stand on their own.
I see a PERIOD after this statement accredited to Paine, “He cannot be elected under thirty-five years of age; and he must be a native of the country.” I also see the word “he” so shouldn’t we start a campaign against women running for president also?
I'll let your debate over articles, prepositions, punctuation, and pronouns, stand against my debate of the substance and significance of Paine's plain-meaning words.
-PJ