Posted on 12/04/2004 11:31:33 PM PST by Sensei Ern
I simply think someone should be raised an American to be eligible to be president of the United States. I suppose I could see an argument for someone who moved here at, say, two years old, but if you have to select an arbitrary distinction place of birth works best.
In fact, I would tighten the amendment so that not only must one be born a U.S. citizen, but that both parents must also be U.S. citizens at the time of birth.
Every time this question comes up I think of the little Corsican and the little Austrian. I dont know why.
erm.. Tighten the requirement, that is. (It's not in an amendment).
This is true of people born here too and not a valid argument. There are plenty of people born here, then move away for 20-30 years and then return.
My preference would be that you needed to live in the US for 35 years, and not just be born here. It is not where you were born, but where you have lived that counts.
I would never want to see it changed for the same reason. I am put off by people like Rep. Lantos of CA too.
Would a mexican imigrant close the border? (SmartAss Comeback: Would a Texan?)...
This provision has served us well, and ought not be abandoned just at that point in history when it will come to be important. The world has a very mobile population.
I am not promoting the loyalty argument. I am simply stating that I believe that the president should be raised as an American. In short, I think the president should be American on a visceral level, rather than an acclimated level.
That's just how I feel about the matter. As far as I'm concerned 35 years isn't enough if the person was 25 when he or she moved here. Let 'em be Secretary of State, or whatever. LOL
That would take a constitutional amendment. Here's what the Constitution says about qualifications to be President.
No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
John Kerry Is a Prime example of even an American born can be a traitor and almost be president.
The problem you have underlined is concrete. Remember that if Rats will support this measure it is not for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm (a Rat), but especially for set on foot a Bill Clinton nomination in '08, bargaining their support of this Amendament with another one on a par! We must stop these subtle games with US Constitution.
I absolutely support deporting illegal immigrants en masse without exceptions. I would let them retain the right to pursue legal entry, and that's my only concession.
I have not the slightest problem with legal immigration.
"I am simply stating that I believe that the president should be raised as an American."
That makes all Democrats ineligible. They may be raised IN the US, but they surely aren't imbued with patriotism.
There are many immigrants who volunteer for the military and give the ultimate sacrifice.
You can find dedicated loyal Americans among those who immigrated here, because they want to live here and appreciate the US, rather than just being born here by accident, and spend their time and life bashing America.
I am not in favor of changing the Constitution, because it's just more trouble, than it's worth, to make it possible for those not born here to become president.
Well, my only hope is that the voters will exercise the wisdom not to elect the unworthy but otherwise qualified. As I said, they can be Secretary of State and their children can be President. That seems good enough to me. The line must be drawn somewhere and I think where it's at now is just fine.
This is not an immigration thread. Please stay on topic. Further, at one time in US history, all healthy, mexican, and south american immigrants were "legal". Besides, there is way to stop illegal immigration completely, that is have open borders. That way, everyone is "legal". What is legal and what is illegal immigration is mostly a matter of arbitrary definition.
Uh huh. Me too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.