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An immigrant president? Constitutional ban is an anachronism
Sac Bee ^
| 2/16/04
| Op/Ed
Posted on 02/16/2004 11:27:57 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Edited on 04/12/2004 6:06:04 PM PDT by Jim Robinson.
[history]
Among other things, the election of Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger as California's governor revived interest in a question too long ignored: Why should Americans born abroad be barred from this country's top job?
The U.S. Constitution (Article II, Section I) says: "No person except a natural born citizen ... shall be eligible to the office of president." Maybe that made sense in 1787, so soon after the American colonies had won their freedom and the fear of European meddling in the new country lingered. But 217 years later, in a country with more than 30 million foreign-born residents, a large percentage of them naturalized citizens, the ban is an anachronism that discriminates against far too many Americans.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; anachronism; ban; constitutional; hatch; immigrant; naturalborn; naturalization; orrinhatch; president; republicanturncoats; schwarzenegger
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To: NormsRevenge
Here we go again.....let's call The Constitution a living document so we can mold it into whatever we need it to be.
2
posted on
02/16/2004 11:31:09 AM PST
by
Puppage
(You may disagree with what I have to say, but I will defend to your death my right to say it)
To: NormsRevenge
We haven't elected a female or a minority to this position. Do you really think Americans would elect a foreign born person? Why even waste the money to try and pass this outrageous bill.
3
posted on
02/16/2004 11:31:44 AM PST
by
LibertarianatHeart
(More government is NOT the answer.)
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
One entry found for anachronism.
Main Entry: anach·ro·nism
Pronunciation: &-'na-kr&-"ni-z&m
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from Middle Greek anachronismos, from anachronizesthai to be an anachronism, from Late Greek anachronizein to be late, from Greek ana- + chronos time
1 : an error in chronology; especially : a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other
2 : a person or a thing that is chronologically out of place; especially : one from a former age that is incongruous in the present
- anach·ro·nis·tic /&-"na-kr&-'nis-tik/ also ana·chron·ic /"a-n&-'krä-nik/ adjective
- anach·ro·nis·ti·cal·ly /&-"na-kr&-'nis-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
- anach·ro·nous /&-'na-kr&-n&s/ adjective
- anach·ro·nous·ly adverb
4
posted on
02/16/2004 11:32:18 AM PST
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi Mac ... Support OurTroops! ... NO NO NO NO on Props 55-58)
To: Puppage
This guy's just advocating an amendment. Amending the Constitution is specifically provided for in that document--so how is this calling the Constitution a "living document?"
5
posted on
02/16/2004 11:32:58 AM PST
by
Poohbah
("Would you mind not shooting at the thermonuclear weapons?" -- Maj. Vic Deakins, USAF)
To: NormsRevenge
Fine idea...Lets let Castro or whoever run for president. Throw that cursed rag of paper away.
6
posted on
02/16/2004 11:32:59 AM PST
by
cynicom
To: NormsRevenge
One of every six Californians is ineligible...They're also ineligible to vote, being here illegally and all...
7
posted on
02/16/2004 11:33:37 AM PST
by
BeerSwillr
(Profanity free since 2003-12-17 20:41:45)
To: NormsRevenge
Why should Americans born abroad be barred from this country's top job?So we don't wind up like IRAN
8
posted on
02/16/2004 11:35:07 AM PST
by
Robe
(Rome did not create a great empire with meetings, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
To: NormsRevenge
Hey, I want to become US President! This is discrimination!
Why should a foreigner like me be barred from the supreme office of the United States? After all, it´s just my nationality and my place of birth which are different... that can´t be decisive. Let me be your President!! ;-)
At least, let me be the President of Hearts!
9
posted on
02/16/2004 11:35:19 AM PST
by
Michael81Dus
(In memory of Diana - Princess of Wales and Queen of Hearts.)
To: NormsRevenge
It's a slippery slope, I tell ya.
In ten years the POTUS job will be outsourced to India.
10
posted on
02/16/2004 11:35:43 AM PST
by
ZOOKER
To: NormsRevenge
bs. It should stay the way it is.
11
posted on
02/16/2004 11:36:34 AM PST
by
gedeon3
To: Puppage
Was Ronald Reagan more qualified for having been born in Illinois than hyphenated Americans born in England, India or Hong Kong? Yes.
12
posted on
02/16/2004 11:37:02 AM PST
by
Grit
(http://www.NRSC.org)
To: gedeon3
It should stay the way it is.You fear competition, don´t ya??
To: Michael81Dus
LOL. Maybe we should outsource the Executive Branch to India?
14
posted on
02/16/2004 11:39:22 AM PST
by
Grit
(http://www.NRSC.org)
To: Michael81Dus
No.
15
posted on
02/16/2004 11:40:00 AM PST
by
gedeon3
To: Poohbah
California liberal rag.
I don't trust ANYTHING that comes from those "editorials". Just my opinion.
16
posted on
02/16/2004 11:43:04 AM PST
by
Puppage
(You may disagree with what I have to say, but I will defend to your death my right to say it)
To: NormsRevenge
Was Ronald Reagan more qualified for having been born in Illinois than hyphenated Americans born in England, India or Hong Kong? Yes. Anyone that refers to themselves as a hyphenated-American should never be President.
17
posted on
02/16/2004 11:43:14 AM PST
by
spodefly
(February is Tagline History Month!)
To: NormsRevenge
Maybe that made sense in 1787, so soon after the American colonies had won their freedom and the fear of European meddling in the new country lingered. Actually, this fear is still quite valid.
18
posted on
02/16/2004 11:43:35 AM PST
by
DameAutour
(It's not Bush, it's the Congress.)
To: Grit
"Czech-born Madeleine Albright - could not have claimed their place (third) in the line of presidential succession"
= Proof that it works as written!
19
posted on
02/16/2004 11:43:38 AM PST
by
enraged
To: NormsRevenge
The President should be a natural-born citizen, and in my opinion so should Congressmen, Senators, Joint Chiefs, and Federal Judges.
The policies of this nation leave us wide open for subversion.
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