Arnie has dual Citizenship

SF Chronicle ^ | August 18, 2003 | Eric Geiger

[rightbanker]

Graz, Austria -- Should Arnold Schwarzenegger be elected governor of California, he may well be facing a conflict of interest of sorts. He owes allegiance not only to the United States but also to his native Austria.

Shortly before gaining U.S. citizenship in 1983, the bodybuilder-turned- actor made sure to retain his Austrian citizenship as well -- a status rarely granted in Austria, which in principle does not allow dual nationality.

[rightbanker]

What should one make of this? Is this a big deal?

Substantively, it may not matter. But it's sort of wierd that this is just becoming known. It makes one feel that there may be more to Arnie than meets the eye. That's never good for a politician, I think.

[DoughtyOne]

I'm not a big supporter of dual citizenship, but this is just another issue being raised to tarnish Schwarzenegger.

If dual citizenship were a topic raised in general in a negative light, I'd think it fair game here. The fact is that dual citizenship exists and it's never addressed.

In that light, it's a non-issue at this time.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

which in principle does not allow dual nationality.

I've known an Austrian fellow who had dual citizenship with the US. He was born in Austria and was in Austria at the time of the German invasion - his citizenship was revoked by the Germans.. long story ended up in China then the USA. Finally became a US citizen and Austria decided to reinstate his citizenship on the grounds that was illegally revoked.

I wonder if its all that uncommon as the story claims.

[lilylangtree]

This gets better and better. Termite never voted in the last two elections, ashamed of registering as a PUB, surrounded himself with tax-and-spend RAT Buffet, RAT jailbird Lowe, RAT Kennedy wife and now he holds dual citizenship. OOOOhhhh bring it on! Just like the movie, Termite the Terminator can be squashed.

[KellyAdmirer]

I know lots of folks with dual citizenship, usually with Israel. They face no discrimination here because of it, and neither should Arnold. But those with ideological differences will no doubt run this nothing fact up the flagpole to attack him.

[kellynla]

Since Aunold refuses to answer substantive questions it will be difficult to find out about his dual citizenship...Haven't heard a peep out of him since his appearance on Jay Leno. Tom McClintock is the only candidate who has a proposal to balance the budget and do so without raising taxes and/or fees. VOTE4MCCLINTOCK or pay the consequences! http://www.tommcclintock.com

[DoughtyOne]

If this were the Presidency, which is impossible under current laws, I'd agree with you. I don't see a real conflict of interest at the state level.

[Moonman62]

What if some Rat was running for governor and had dual citizenship with France?

[onedoug]

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God. In acknowledgement whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

[joesnuffy]

Arnie the RINO or Bustamante La Raza?

[Phsstpok]

But it's sort of wierd that this is just becoming known.

makes one wonder who it is that is pushing this particular bit of information. Arnie scares a lot of people. Most of those people I want to scare. I begin to question those that attack him, provide ammunition to those that attack him, or simply pass on that information. I want to know motivations. I have a feeling this came from the same fax machine that put out the "fact" about his father being a Nazi. Ask the question: who benefits? It probably ain't us.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

I know lots of folks with dual citizenship, usually with Israel. They face no discrimination here because of it, and neither should Arnold

Ireland is another easy one. The Irish Citizenship Act of 1956 allows for dual citizenship with countries like the US. All you have to prove is that you have a parent or a granparent that was born in Ireland and you're eligible.

If you are a dual citizen, the US doesn't want you traveling to the US on any other passport other than US.

My Dad is more rare than Arnold - he's legally entitled to citizen of 3 countries: Australia, Ireland, US.

[joesnuffy]

Arnie has dual citizenship...Austria and the US
Better than Bustamante's ....USA and AZTLAN

[MrsEmmaPeel]

There are rare cases when people do not have to renounce their citizenship to be a citizen of another country. You don't have to renounce US citizenship to be a dual citizen of Ireland, for example.

[DoughtyOne]

If California's state guidelines don't preclude a dual citizenship person from holding office, our objections are academic.

I have spoken out on this forum a number of times against dual citizenship. My comments were ignored or trashed.

We have citizens of Mexican heredity that are able to vote in Mexican elections and US elections. This presents an opportunity to vote against US best interests on both sides of the border. Still, nobody seemed to care.

We are not in close proximity to Austria. California's best interests are not going to be impacted on a significant level by that nation.

I do think it would be significant if California's governor were a citizen of both Mexico and the US. I doubt others would see much significance at all though. In fact I very much doubt this issue would be raised by the press at all if that were the case.

[Constitution Day]

Ditto that on Ireland.

My wife, a naturalized US citizen, still has an Irish passport... her paternal grandparents were born in Dublin, but emigrated to S. Africa.

[george wythe]

The whole article is an attack. . . Arnold is a Nazi or at least a Nazi sympathizer.

A better title: "Nazi by association."

Nazi by being photograghed with Haider and Waldheim.

Nazi by being the son of a Nazi. . .

In 1990, in fact, Schwarzenegger persuaded the Wiesenthal Center to uncover the facts behind allegations that his father, Gustav, had been a Nazi. The center's researchers confirmed that his father had joined the Nazi party in 1938 but found no indication that he had been involved in war crimes during World War II.

Last week, however, the Los Angeles Times turned up documents in the Austrian State Archives showing that Gustav Schwarzenegger was a member of the Sturmabteilungen, or SA, a brutal Nazi paramilitary group known informally as the "storm troopers" or "brownshirts."

Little is known of the father's duties with the SA, but he served with Wehrmacht units that were embroiled in savage combat, including the invasions of Poland and France, the atrocity-ridden initial German thrust into the Soviet Union and the harrowing siege of Leningrad.

[DoughtyOne]

I agree. Now, what to do about it? Do we deport everyone who won't renounce their other allegences? Frankly I'm all for that. Sadly it's never going to happen. In light of this, we have to deal with the situation as it presents itself.

As Republicans we have a real problem. Schwarzenegger has the capability to be elected. We are watching the press do their damndest to prevent it. And they may win out.

Would McClintock get all of the votes driven away from Schwarzenegger. Would Simon? The sad fact is, neither of them would garner all the votes Schwarzenegger would lose. As such we could very easily face a Bustamante victory.

Simon and McClintock's poling combined reach about 66% of Bustamante's figures. With Arnold's vote thrown in, they might make it.

Might make it isn't a very comforting proposition when confronted with a possible Bustamante Governorship.

Now, is this the time to drive home the section of the US constitution you lofted? Well perhaps it is. And perhaps a Bustamante Governorship wouldn't be as bad as I think it would be.

I see no real winning scenarios here. Frankly I'd rather have McClintock than anyone, and although I'm willing to help advance that reality, I do not think it is viable.

[TheDon]

No doubt it will pain you to vote for him in Oct. ;)