This thread is among several threads with the theme of defining a Natural Born Citizen.
That is all well and good and interesting but I pose a slightly different question. The slightly different question assumes that Ted Cruz is a legal natural born citizen.
With that in mind the question is:
Why did the founders specify No Person except a natural born Citizen to the requirements for a presidential candidate but did not specify No Person except a natural born Citizen to the requirements for congressional candidates?
That question solicits very few opinions and even fewer answers in response.
Do any of you have an opinion regarding my question?
Related, but not directly addressing your question:
The Founding Fathers, in considering a religious qualification for holding office, pointed out that successful political candidates, even ‘Papists, Jews or Mahometans’, would have either proven themselves trustworthy by their fellow citizens, or the nation would have changed so much that it wouldn’t make a difference.
http://www.increasinglearning.com/the-religious-test-clause.html
...Those who are Mahometans, or any others who are not professors of the Christian religion, can never be elected to the office of President, or other high office, but in one of two cases.
First, if the people of America lay aside the Christian religion altogether, it may happen. Should this unfortunately take place, the people will choose such men as think as they do themselves.
Another case is, if any persons of such descriptions should notwithstanding their religion, acquire the confidence and esteem of the people of America by their good conduct and practice of virtue, they may be chosen.
I leave to gentlemen’s candor to judge what probability there is of the people’s choosing men of different sentiments from themselves...
Answer:
"Permit me to hint, whether it would be wise and seasonable to provide a strong check to the admission of Foreigners into the administration of our national Government; and to declare expressly that the Commander in Chief of the American army shall not be given to nor devolve on, any but a natural born Citizen. " .....John Jay letter to George Washington dated 25 July 1787