Posted on 12/12/2004 4:48:27 PM PST by Jim Robinson
WASHINGTON - Mario Diaz-Balart can be president, but his older brother Lincoln cannot. The U.S. Constitution says so.
That's because there's an important difference in where the two Miami congressmen were born: Lincoln Diaz-Balart in Havana, Cuba; his brother in Fort Lauderdale, after the family fled the Castro revolution.
The Constitution bars foreign-born citizens from becoming president, which also rules out two governors of large states: Democrat Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, born in Canada, and Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger, a California Republican.
Now, because of Schwarzenegger's political rock-star status, a campaign to amend the Constitution to make naturalized citizens eligible for the presidency is gaining attention, though not necessarily support.
The prohibition was included in the Constitution because the framers worried that European powers would meddle in the young republic and even try to restore a monarchy.
~snip~
That sort of political speculation continues today. On the conservative freerepublic.com Web site, several contributors warned that the constitutional amendment could clear the way for "President George Soros," the Hungarian-born billionaire who spent much of his fortune hoping to defeat President Bush.
But on dailykos.com, a leading liberal site, one writer had a certain Australian-born media magnate in mind: "Imagine President Rupert Murdoch!"
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Not the usual "far right wing extremist web site???
We must be slipping. LOL
I'll wager the Constitution won't get amended for Arnold.
We're looking forward to your visit to FL.
5.56mm
I pray it doesn't.
Great! See you in Florida!
Amen.
We're looking forward to your visit to FL.
Where and when?
The Caribbean born Alexander Hamilton opposed this requirement, but he lost in the constitutional convention. Most of the recent arguments go something like this:
I don't see why will still need the requirement so we should get rid of it. To which I reply: I don't no why Einstein's Theory of Relativity is true but that doesn't make it false.
"I'll wager the Constitution won't get amended for Arnold."
www.amendforarnold.com
"the framers worried that European powers would meddle in the young republic and even try to restore a monarchy."
The framers knew what they were doing. I worry that mideast powers will meddle and try to govern by sharia. Sorry Arnold, but you don't need to be setting precedent.
I, too, pray the Constitution is not amended to allow foreign born people to run for President. But, I recall reading that many Republican Senators are in favor of doing this and this concerns me. I hope 'the people' will make sure their representatives know if they are against this change.
I'm in the Tampa Bay area, will Jim be in this vicinity?
bump
We hope to arrive at Tarpon Springs, FL around the 11th of January. Will spend a couple two or three days there before heading up to Charleston, SC and then from there up to Washington, DC for the Inauguration.
Jim, if you think that Arnie is Presidential Timber after banning the .50, just go ahead and ZOT! me now. I'll not complain.
I will, however, continue to vote.
Soros? Never heard of him. /sarcasm
Hey, I oppose this amendment proposal.
For such a people a second-generation, or a third-generation, and on down the line, know that there is no home but America.
President is the only job in this nation reserved for a person with no other state and no other loyalty to look back on.
It's probably a wise idea to keep it that way. More recent immigrants are free to pursue all other ambitions.
Garland Arnold with laurel. Drape him with silks and ermine. Chant his praises and kneel before him. Perform Gran Jetes' across sun drenched flower strewn fields while scattering daisies from wicker baskets. But it is still no to any alien's presidential aspirations.
Tarpon Springs has the *best* Greek food in FL. Wish we were closer - we'd have to meet for some moussaka! :-)
I can't believe people are wasting energy, time and capital on an amendment that should never be...
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