Anyone born in US territories is a US citizen.
The Panama Canal Zone was US territory until 1999.
This would also have been George Romney’s problem, if he’d every gotten beyond the very first primary state.
Look, I don’t like McCain, but “dweebing” around with this silly arcane crap is ridiculous. He was born in Panama because that’s where his mother was at the time while his father was serving the U.S. as a naval officer. Trying that crap just makes you look small, even to me, and I don’t even like the guy.
Stop teasing Huckabee.
It’s an open question, and we won’t know the answer until one of these candidates wins. Be assured: if McCain wins, the Democrats will go to court on this issue.
Sheese My nephew was born in germany when his father who was in the army at that time was stationed there *L* he is a us citizen and has made army his career. Mccains Dad was an admiral in us navy *L* his family goes all the way back to revolutionary war, You really think the rights of our military ‘s children should be taken away ?
The Panama Canal Zone was unquestionably U.S. territory when John McCain was born there. This dull question will hopefully never come up again.
McCain wasn’t foreign-born. He was born in a US territory, same as Goldwater.
Not really an issue as McAmnesty is going to lose big in November because he is closer to the Democrats than his base.
Anybody who thinks otherwise is fooling himself/herself.
No amount of cajoling, arguing, fear-mongering, or Name-calling (which seems to be the favorite approach of mcAmnesty supporters) is going to change his record or his approach. He will not convince enough of the base to follow him to make a difference in November.
The GOP and RNC would have had a cake-walk both in 2006 and 2008 if they would have dropped the Illegal Alien Amnesty and shown fiscal restraint.
They shot themselves in the foot and now are yelling and screaming at conservatives because they are too principled and will not follow them over the cliff in political suicide.
This is one of the STUPIDEST urban legends I have seen on this site.
1). The Panama Canal Zone was a US Territory until 1979.
2). Plenty of jobs require US citizenship. Untold thousands of military children have gotten these jobs without an issue as to their citizenship. Voting, as well as other benefits require US citizenship as well. Could you show me a single case in all of the years that the US has been a nation where any child of any military personnel born on foreign soil to US parents has been permanently denied citizenship or even just the rights of citizenship?
(and)
2b). If, as you imply, all of these people are not citizens, would you recommend suing them for fraud or simply suing them for the benefits they received, but were in no way entitled to?
3). This line of questioning, which has been answered before in spades can only serve to upset and anger members of the military in an election year. What would you tell those military members who risk their lives daily for our nation, but whose children you do not consider citizens?
My husband was born on a military base, so I eagerly await your reply. I'd just hate like anything to be married to an illegal alien
/s
There are lots of reasons to vote against McCain but this isn’t one of them. The Panama Canal Zone was U.S. territory when McCain was born there. It isn’t now, because Jimmy Carter and a traitorous Senate gave it away. Using this as an issue against McCain just distracts from the real reasons to oppose his candidacy.
McCain is a scumbag, but this is ridiculous criticism.
Title 8 of the U.S. Code Section 1401 defines the following as people who are "citizens of the United States at birth:"
Anyone born inside the United States
Any Indian or Eskimo born in the United States, provided being a citizen of the U.S. does not impair the person's status as a citizen of the tribe
Any one born outside the United States, both of whose parents are citizens of the U.S., as long as one parent has lived in the U.S.
Any one born outside the United States, if one parent is a citizen and lived in the U.S. for at least one year and the other parent is a U.S. national
Any one born in a U.S. possession, if one parent is a citizen and lived in the U.S. for at least one year
Any one found in the U.S. under the age of five, whose parentage cannot be determined, as long as proof of non-citizenship is not provided by age 21
Any one born outside the United States, if one parent is an alien and as long as the other parent is a citizen of the U.S. who lived in the U.S. for at least five years (with military and diplomatic service included in this time)
A final, historical condition: a person born before 5/24/1934 of an alien father and a U.S. citizen mother who has lived in the U.S.
Anyone falling into these categories is considered natural-born, and is eligible to run for President or Vice President.
The 14th Amendment defines two classes of citizenship those born in the United States, which would include its territories, or naturalized.
Would the problem go up in smoke for the Paulies if he said he’d legalize pot?
The way I understand it is as follows: First there is no question about John McCains citizenship; he is and was a citizen of the United States at birth by “blood” because his parents were US Citizens. What he is not is a Citizen by “soil” because he was not born on US soil. Being a citizen by “soil” is the only form of citizenship that can not be regulated by congress, it is unquestionable and irrevocable. All other citizenship “classes” can be and are regulated by congress, including the citizenship rights of children to US military personnel born on foreign soil. For example one limitation congress has put on Citizens that have their citizenship by their bloodline is: If a US Citizen by blood does not become a United States resident throughout their life time and does not remain a resident for at least 5 years(i.e. grows up and remains abroad), his or her Children again (grand children of the US citizen by soil) does not become United States Citizens if they also are born abroad. Children born to US citizen on foreign soil may also have citizenship rights in the country where they were born, however, that is typically not the case when the parents were there in a diplomatic capacity or as part of a military occupation and not all countries recognize citizenship by soil like the US does anyways but have citizenship laws based fully on citizenship by blood.
While the exact meaning of the requirement for becoming president; “a natural born citizen”, has never been tried in a court of law - the issue of Citizenship by birth on US soil versus Citizenship by blood line and congress’ right to regulate only the latter, was and has since been well settled law tried all the way to the supreme court.
He was born on a US military base in a US territory. The author may have wanted to do a little research. Plus did they actually believe McCain could have been on Presidential ballots if he was not eligible?
My husband’s brother in law was born in Cuba, just a year two after McCain. His father worked for the state dept, his mother was a friend of John Kerry’s mother, both from Groton. My husband’s brother in law is not legally a citizen because his parents never filed the proper paper work. He didn’t have to serve in Vietnam because he was not legally a citizen, but he has voted in every election.