“Some might define the term “natural-born citizen” as one who was born on United States soil. But the First Congress, on March 26, 1790, approved an act that declared, “The children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond sea, or outside the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural-born citizens of the United States.” That would seem to include McCain, whose parents were both citizens and whose father was a Navy officer stationed at the U.S. naval base in Panama at the time of John’s birth in 1936.”
This is all true about the Act of 1790. However, the Naturalization act of 1795 takes precedence over the aforementioned, as it made significant amounts of change. Inside said Act, a “natural born citizen” is defined as one who is born in United States Territory. John McCain was NOT born in US Territory, as it was LEASED by Panama. McCain is a citizen, but not a “natural born citizen.”
Also, the following information was taken from the State Department website (http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/86755.pdf):
TL:CON-64; 11-30-95
a. A U.S.-registered or documented ship on the high seas or in the exclusive economic zone is not considered to be part of the United States. A child born on such a vessel does not acquire U.S. citizenship by reason of the place of birth (Lam Mow v. Nagle, 24 F.2d 316 (9th Cir., 1928)).
b. A U.S.-registered aircraft outside U.S. airspace is not considered to be part of U.S. territory. A child born on such an aircraft outside U.S. airspace does not acquire U.S. citizenship by reason of the place of birth.
c. Despite widespread popular belief, U.S. military installations abroad and U.S. diplomatic or consular facilities are not part of the United States within the meaning of the 14th Amendment. A child born on the premises of such a facility is not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and does not acquire U.S. citizenship by reason of birth.
Do not be so quick to dismiss the claim that he is ineligible...