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To: OldDeckHand
If Barack Obama was born in HI, and we have no credible evidence that he wasn't, then he's a citizen at birth - a "natural-born citizen". That is the law as it exists today in this country.

Incorrect - all people born in this country are citizens at birth. It just means that they have been a citizen from their moment of birth. However, there are two kinds of citizens at birth: 1. US Nationals and 2. Natural Born Citizens. Check out the United States Code, if you do not believe me.

Now, the Founding Fathers left an ambiguous phrase in the Constitution: "natural born citizen". Absent a constitutional amendment or a Supreme Court ruling stating EXACTLY what a "natural born citizen" is, when a Constitutional question arises - the answer must be looked for in the Founding Fathers' intent. NO MODERN DAY INTERPRETATION TAKES PRECEDENCE ...

As far as their intent, the Founding Fathers were EXPRESSLY worried that a foreign influence might gain the Presidency and be a detriment to our country. There are many writings to this effect, including John Jay's letter to George Washington. That is why they inserted the "natural born citizen" Clause into Article II, Section I.

Now, what did they mean by that phrase ? We had just fought a war with England and they DID NOT want a foreign entity to be the Executive. They ALSO knew that, through the British Nationality Act of 1730 [clarified by the British Nationality Act of 1772], England considered children born on foreign soil to fathers who were natural born subjects to be natural born themselves.

The Founding Fathers WERE NOT stupid. They wanted LOYALTY in the Executive Office - and KNEW that the possibility for DISLOYALTY existed if such a child gained the Presidency. Ergo, such a child WAS NOT a natural born citizen.

304 posted on 04/02/2010 12:50:08 PM PDT by Lmo56
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To: Lmo56
"It just means that they have been a citizen from their moment of birth. However, there are two kinds of citizens at birth: 1. US Nationals and 2. Natural Born Citizens. Check out the United States Code, if you do not believe me."

You're going to have to do a little better than "check out the US Code". 8 USC § 1401, is the relevant citizenship statute in the US Code. Do you see "natural-born" anywhere in there?

The two words "natural born" appear only once together in the US Code (16 USC § 159g - Acquisition of Lands), and it's used in the context of distinguishing a natural child from a step-child. But, as the crack constitutional scholar you purport to be, I guess you already knew that, right?

By they way, if you new ANYTHING about the US Code, you might be aware that just because you're a US National doesn't mean you're even a US citizen. (8 USC § 1408). People born in outlaying US possessions are nationals, but aren't citizens. How about that?

307 posted on 04/02/2010 1:08:19 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
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