Proposal would change native-born requirement for presidency

www.globe.com ^ | 06/13/03 | Associated Press

[bedolido]

LITTLE ROCK (AP) U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder and Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., two other House members are proposing a constitutional amendment that allows a person born in another country to become president or vice president of the United States.

The proposal, introduced Wednesday, would allow individuals to hold the executive positions, regardless of where they were born, if they have been a U.S. citizen for at least 35 years.

Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., is also sponsoring the measure.

The Constitution now limits the presidency and vice presidency to native-born Americans.

''This is a real issue for some people who are politically active and successful, but the American people cannot consider them to be president even though they have been U.S. citizens for 35 years,'' said Snyder, D-Ark.

Snyder pointed to people like former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, born in the former Czechoslovakia, and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez, born in Cuba.

''The great dream of American children is 'someday, when I grow up, I can be president,''' Snyder said.

He said the natural-born citizen requirement precludes children like his Korean-born niece, who was adopted by his sister at age 6 months, from aspiring to the presidency.

Current qualifications for the presidency also include that they be 35 years old or older and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. The 12th Amendment requires the vice president to meet the same requirements.

[OldFriend]

Might as well allow illegals to run too. That would suit the dems just fine!

[rintense]

No way. That opens the door for communists like Gov. Jennifer Granholm from Michigan.

[RJCogburn]

Seems quite reasonable, but I think I'll be unreasonable and say no.

[Iowa Granny]

Using Maddy as an example of the deprived is a sure way of tanking this idea.

[rintense]

Many sheeples would fall for it though.

[Loyalist]

Opens the door for an Islamic dictator too. Or a foreign-born United Nations quisling.

[Izzy Dunne]

I think I'll be unreasonable and say no.

I think you're mistaking Barney Frank for someone who gives a damn about what you think.

It's nice that things are going so well that BF can spend time on this.
You KNOW that they're not doing this without someone in particular in mind... What who THAT is?
Chirac? Blair? Hussein? Chretien?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I suppose they'd include this with motor-voter and anybody from anywhere could go to the polls.

[Hodar]

Great, take an 'absolute' and amend that to legal resident for 35 years. Then the 35 sounds harsh, so we lower it to 5, then we say that they just have to be 'legal'; and for what purpose?? Do they want to have Arnold Swartzenegar run for president, and are just clearing the way?? Personally, I see no need to change the Counstitution.

[dfwgator]

It will never happen.

[wimpycat]

Let's all hold our breath until this happens....

[Blood of Tyrants]

While this may be popular in the liberal northeast and Californication, it will be about as well received as a turd in a punchbowl in 'flyover country'.

[TomGuy]

Just another attempt to make it much easier for the UN to eventually take over the world.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Hell, the Rats would vote for Mao or Stalin if he were the Rat on the ticket.

[Walkingfeather]

Do you know what it takes for a constitutional amendment? Not only passing the senate and house but radification by 2/3 's of the states.... that is why we have so many "proposed" amendments to the constitution and so few actual. Don't lose sleep on this one.

[bedolido]

To change an amendment to the constitution it take 2/3's of the senate, plus to be radified, 2/3's of the state. It'll never happen.

[Fraulein]

Opens the door for Arnold Schwarzenegger?

[shrinkermd]

This is the Granholm amendment. The Rats need a big celebrity or lovable type to win since they have nothing else to offer. Granholm was born in Canuckistan.

[FreePaul]

OK. Lets attach to that a requirement that any child born of non-citizens is not automatically a citizen when they are born in the US. In addition require that parents and child immediately leave the country or forever be barred from citizenship.