Thousands of American citizens born to US military personnel serving abroad have these. Thousands of missionary children born abroad hold these. Thousands of children born to American business people, aid workers, students and travelers abroad hold these.
Three of my own children hold these as their one and only necessary birth certificate (one born in China, one in Russia, and one in the Philippines), and they are accepted for any purpose that any state-issued birth certificate would be required.
The document is issued by the U.S. Department of State through an embassy abroad, and clearly states that the child is a United States Citizen FROM BIRTH. No naturalization process is required.
If I am not mistaken, Mr. McCain was born in a hospital on a United States Naval installation in Panama, which, I understand, would be considered the same as U.S. territory.
I am of the assumption that if there were ever to be ever a court challenge over Mr. McCain's status, any federal court in the US would declare him to be a natural born citizen.
“If I am not mistaken, Mr. McCain was born in a hospital on a United States Naval installation in Panama, which, I understand, would be considered the same as U.S. territory.”
You are mistaking.
McCain was born in el Hospital Colón, Ciudad de Colón, República de Panamá.