Posted on 01/17/2016 4:37:25 PM PST by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
In recent weeks, much time and effort has been devoted to debating whether Ted Cruz is a "natural born citizen" eligible for the presidency. Whichever way you come down on this question of constitutional interpretation, the real lesson of this debate should be the absurdity of excluding naturalized citizens from the presidency in the first place. Categorically excluding immigrants from the presidency is a form of arbitrary discrimination based on place of birth (or, in a few cases, parentage), which is ultimately little different from discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity. Both ethnicity and place of birth are morally arbitrary characteristics which do not, in themselves, determine a person's competence or moral fitness for high political office.
The "natural born" citizen requirement was originally inserted into the Constitution because some of the Founders feared that European royalty or nobles might move to the United States, get elected to the presidency, and then use the office to advance the interests of their houses. Whatever the merits of this concern back in the 1780s, it is hardly a plausible scenario today.
One can argue that immigrants have less knowledge of the country and its customs, and might make worse presidents for that reason. But that problem is surely addressed by the constitutional requirement that a candidate for president must have been resident in the United States for at least fourteen years. As a practical matter, anyone who attains the political connections and public recognition needed to make a serious run for the presidency is likely to have at least as much knowledge of the US and American politics as most serious native-born candidates do.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
However it works out, so long as it clarifies the requirements so that we don’t have to waste so much time and effort over something like this.
Ironic isn’t it ?
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I think your mom just called...
So, should the eligibility for president of Earth be that they were born here and are human?
What if it’s a Borg?
Can't render a decision before the election because it isn't an issue/ripe yet.
Can't render a decision after the election because it would upset the political process.
Catch-22
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There are only two candidates in this election whose loyalty is questionable:
Trump and Bush.
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BOTH of McCaine’s parents were Americans. That is not true of Cruz.
Still has the same meaning. Unfortunate typo, and spell check is hunky-dory with it. Probably better to be neutered, although the thought of that sends a chill up my spine too.
I don’t know where Princess Talita Natasha and Prince Tassilo Egon Maximilian von Fürstenberg were born but it doesn’t matter. Mom was an American citizen...so they both can run for POTUS thanks to Cruz.
I don’t know where Princess Talita Natasha and Prince Tassilo Egon Maximilian von Fürstenberg were born but it doesn’t matter. Mom was an American citizen...so they both can run for POTUS thanks to Cruz.
Oh, at least a mile away. If he's a smart as his supporters believe, he did too. Speaks volumes.
Puhleeze. Someone who naturalizes has displayed a whole hell of a lot more loyalty to this country than some native-born whose loyalty has never been put to the test.
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Yeah, like Cruz’s father who played musical chairs? First he swore allegience to Canada then decades later swore allegience to the US. Yeah un huh! BULL!
What’s that old saying about the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?
He is not a natural citizen, he is a citizen by statute,
He knew, and he knows. And yes, it does say something. But who is the wiser? It’s a really well-oiled con.
If you really loved this country, you’d realize that he figured out which was the better country and moved accordingly.
I guess you just don’t love this country that much.
No, I see you as a progressive who wants to change the constitution to suit your whims.....and now you want to change the subject because you got caught by me and others on this thread.
He wasn’t first. Chester A Arthur was.
So...those against it should try to change it. The process for that is laid out right there in the constitution.
He's allowed to do it because he helps a lot with the FReepathons.
Somehow that seems counter-productive.
Beats me. I'll just say the insults with no repercussions was a factor in me no longer contributing to the site.
by Wissa (Gone Galt)
Just to set the record straight, humblegunner has received suspensions, and while he regularly BUMPS our FReepathon threads, he is not a member of Jim's FReepathon Team.
I am guessing that his off-color remark to BFAC didn't get an abuse report until I filed one just NOW.
It's really a simple thing to do.
Rather surprising to withhold donations over another FReeper .... yet still post here ...
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