Posted on 08/13/2004 7:40:00 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday called for a national debate on changing the U.S. Constitution in a way that would allow him to run for president.
"I think that it is, you know, a debate that ought to go on, just to see where everyone stands in this country," Schwarzenegger said in a nationally broadcast radio interview with syndicated talk show host Tony Snow.
The Austrian-born Republican taped the interview hours before heading to a private fund-raiser in Santa Monica for President Bush, who lags behind Democrat John Kerry in California and is locked in a tight national race. Snow had asked Schwarzenegger, 57, whether the Constitution, which requires that presidents be American-born, should be amended to allow longtime citizens who are foreign-born to run. GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, a Schwarzenegger ally, has been promoting such an amendment since before the movie star's rise to governor last year in the recall election.
Schwarzenegger has been asked about the subject repeatedly since taking office last year and, while avoiding direct answers about his own ambitions, has been on record as supporting a constitutional change.
Earlier this year, he told Tim Russert, host of NBC's "Meet the Press," that "times have changed" and that there are many foreign-born Americans "who have worked within the government and have done an extraordinary job."
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I saw that movie... No thanks. ;-)
Sorry Arnold, try running for President of Austria.
Arnold should do his job as Governor. Californians don't look favorably on sitting Governors harboring presidential aspirations.
How about a big, fat NO ?
Arnie should stick to acting and running the lunatic asylum called California.
We're NOT outsourcing the Presidency of the United States.
dear ahnold,
having a foreign-born person as president is a BAD, BAD idea.
you have enough to do straightening out crazyfornia.
besides, having teddo kennedy as an in-law should disqualify
anyone.
sorry...and hasta la vista baby
---"I think that it is, you know, a debate that ought to go on, just to see where everyone stands in this country," Schwarzenegger said ---
There was a Gallup poll taken a few months ago and it showed an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose making such a change to allow the foreign-born to run for President.
Of course when it comes to all things related to immigration, the elites of the nation simply ignore the majority opinon of the country and do as they please via imm policy. So I'm sure they'll try to make the change sooner or later.
I don't know what the big deal is all about, we already have Vincente Fox running our Immagration Policy.
Very funny, and sadly, very true.
Sheesh! Give the guy and inch and he wants to take a mile. Sorry, Ahnold. You were born not only in the wrong country, but in the wrong century. You would have succeeded when the Republic was young. But today, your political genes are not rooted in the right soil. You still don't know what 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' really means.
We are having enough trouble trying to explain it to too many born in this country working for government who still don't know after all these years.
Much as I like and admire Arnold, this would be a TERRIBLE idea. In today's world, its asking for a Manchurian candidate--if not now, then in 20 years.
No thanks, Ahnahld. I wish we had changed the Michigan constitution before we ended up with our (long string of expletives) Canadian cheerleader.
"Of course when it comes to all things related to immigration, the elites of the nation simply ignore the majority opinon of the country and do as they please via imm policy."
Right.
The only "debate" Ahnold should be concerned about is whether we should allow him to continue as Governor of California...hmmmmmmmmm
* Also an Austrian citizen .... today in 2004 ... as we speak.

If Schwarzenegger desires to be President of the United States he's got to decide if he is an Austrian or a US citizen. He can't be both and be my president, even if elected to the office.
I don't think he will be able to decide. He hasn't been able, thus far, to condemn Democrats by name. He's called them everything from "girly men" to obstructionists but has yet to call them "liberals" or "Democrats". My guess is that Maria has threatened him with forced celibacy if he does.
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