Cruz: Trump may not be eligible under the birther theories he espouses

Hot Air ^ | January 15, 2016 | Ed Morrissey

[Isara]

Time Magazine called this the “your mama” response in presidential political debates. Since the entire eligibility issue for Ted Cruz hinges on his mother’s status as a natural-born citizen of the US (thereby making him one despite his birth in Canada), Cruz’ pushback against Trump seems appropriate — if a bit of a reach. Cruz obviously prepared for this moment, and delivered his attack with considerable flair and relish:

Donald Trump Vs. Ted Cruz over Natural Born Citizen Issue - 6th GOP Debate (Video)

Trump, the bombastic billionaire, remains atop the polls nationally but locked in a tight race with Cruz in Iowa. That's why Trump has been shivving Cruz on his constitutional eligibility, even though most legal scholars consider this another sideshow. Cruz was ready with a rejoinder questioning Trump's own qualifications.

"At the end of the day, the legal issue is quite straightforward," Cruz said calmly. He had prepared for this moment. After all, he didn't win national debating championships by happenstance. "But I would note that the birther theories that Donald has been relying on, some of the more extreme ones insist that you must not only be born on U.S. soil, but have two parents born on U.S. soil. Under that theory, not only would I be disqualified, Marco Rubio would be disqualified, Bobby Jindal would be disqualified and, interestingly enough, Donald J. Trump would be disqualified."

The moment caught Trump by surprise. "Not me!"

Oh, yes, you. A woman born in 1912, in some voters' minds, might be the thing that finally disqualifies frontrunner Trump from the most powerful office in the land

"Donald's mother was born in Scotland. She was naturalized," Cruz continued with the calm of a former Supreme Court lawyer, which he is.

"But I was born here. Big difference," Trump said, trying to set this attack back on track and stretching out the adjective as long as he could. "Big" became a very big word. He knew the clip was going to be a cable news favorite.

"On the issue of citizenship, Donald, I'm not going to use the issue of your mother's birth against you," Cruz said. It was a fantastic reminder that no white paper, no policy address can compete in the modern era of political campaigns with the snide dagger stabbed just below a rival's rib cage.

Watch the clip all the way through to see Cruz’ level of preparation. Trump tries to respond to Cruz’ ridicule of Trump and this issue by bringing up Laurence Tribe as his expert, a move which is known as a fallacy of authority: Trump isn’t making his own legal argument, but simply citing Tribe as an authority. Cruz springs the trap by explaining Tribe’s political affiliation and his support for Hillary Clinton. Cruz practically licked his chops waiting for Trump to slip on that banana peel.

Will this make any difference at all? Eh … doubtful. According to observers who might normally not want to credit Trump, he had a very good night otherwise. Cruz and Marco Rubio reportedly had excellent nights, too. At this stage, the candidates are probably too well adapted to the format — and voters too familiar with the candidates — to expect any real game-changers from the debates. But those who want to see strategy, preparation, and delivery might find themselves more impressed with Cruz.

[Toughluck_freeper]

Ted Cruz is wrong.

The Vattel test for a’natural born citizen’ in the ‘Law of Nations’ (arguably the strictest test considered) is to be born in the US and of citizen parents.

The parents do not need to be ‘natural born citizens’ just citizens.

His mom was a citizen as she was naturalized and acquired US citizenship 4 or 5 year before Trumps birth.

Ted Cruz was just making stuff up.

[728b]

‘Trump cultists on this forum have advanced the preposterous idea that both parents must be both citizens and born on US soil.

Of course it’s absurd and Cruz was using absurdity to illustrate how the whole birther cabal was ridiculous.”

This!

[sauropod]

Did you forget about the War of 1812? We engaged with Britain *twice*.

[Jane Austen]

I agree. I like Cruz and wish he would make such stupid statements. It only makes himself look ridiculous. However, he might have a problem. Rubio for sure has a problem and already Dems have filed a lawsuit in Florida.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Agree 1000%, you nail it as usual.

[SmokingJoe]

Trump's mother was a natural born British citizen. Anchor baby anyone?
Chortle!
Just loved how Ted Cruz destroyed Trump last night over his moronic birtherism.

[Catsrus]

Your attempt to be snarky falls short. Trump’s dad was a NBC as was Trump - he was born on American soil. We can’t say that about Cruz, now can we? Your are full of sh** and you know it.

[dynoman]

Ted should leave that alone. Trump’s mother and father were both US citizens when he was born in the US.

Cruz’s mother was a US citizen, his father not a US citizen, when Ted was born - in Canada.

[dynoman]

“Not surprisingly, the plaintiff is a Bernie Sanders supporter? Hmmmmm.”

EXACTLY WHAT TRUMP SAID WOULD HAPPEN!

[Jane Austen]

Somebody is coaching him. It’s not only the speed but the glib, at times robotic and scripted answers. He just is not credible.

[728b]

Demonstrating absurdity by being absurd, and the "brains" we see here are too ignorant to understand that.

"Under that theory, not only would I be disqualified, Marco Rubio would be disqualified, Bobby Jindal would be disqualified and, interestingly enough, Donald J. Trump would be disqualified."

Come on guys Cruz was not claiming his statement had any validity. I would hope that intelligent people could see that, but hopes can be dashed.

[SmokingJoe]

No less an anti Cruz outfit than the New York Times thought Cruz blew Trump out of the water.
Chuckle!

Ted Cruz, Once Dismissed, Emerges as a Slashing Debater
freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3384117/posts

[House Atreides]

Trump’s dad was a NBC
**************************************************
BUT Trump’s mother was NOT. So, the question is...did TRUMP’S mother have dual citizenship (with its potential for divided loyalties) at the time of Donald Trump’s birth? THAT needs to be settled...as does the possible effect of his mother’s citizenship status on the question of whether Donald Trump is a natural born citizen.

Trump should have his mother’s status thoroughly investigated and his status firmly decided by the US Supreme Court before we get much further. TRUMP NEEDS TO BE PROACTIVE ON THIS ISSUE!

[SmokingJoe]

How did that challenge to Cruz d eligibility go down in New Hampshire?
Talking about good ole Bernie, wasn’t his eligibility challenged in New Hampshire too same time as Cruz’s eligibility was being challenged?

[Jane Austen]

Overall Cruz did well. Everybody has moments when they make stupid comments.

[House Atreides]

Trump’s mother was a natural born British citizen.
*******************************************************************

My God!!! Is this true? Trump needs to quickly determine, through the Supreme Court, the effect of this fact (if it’s true upon thorough investigation) on his eligibility to run for President.

We need our candidates to be true, blue Americans.

[sunrise_sunset]

Cruz is doing well with a bad hand, muddying the waters. But a lot of people don’t want a foreign born to be president. He would best stop talking about this issue. No one is filing lawsuits over Trump.

[Catsrus]

You are so far off base - go to hades.

[PA Engineer]

Non-issue, however cynical on there part of Senator Cruz.



She was naturalized four years before Mr. Trump was born. Mr. Trump was born of two US Citizens.

Thanks Isara for being you. This makes Senator Cruz's remarks in the debate even the more questionable.

"Donald Trump is a natural born American citizen, above the age of 35 and a resident of the United States of America longer than 14 years," declares Birthers.org. "He has provided sufficient documentation attesting to his place of birth, and upon research of his parents it is determined that they were both American citizens at the time of his birth. ... There is no doubt that at his birth his natural allegiance for the United States of America was and still is unalienable. ... Congratulations Donald, you are the first prospective presidential candidate to qualify as a natural born citizen."

[patq]

Rafael is getting a little nervous and making a lot of unforced errors. Not good under pressure.