A Constitutional Anachronism: Immigrants should be eligible for the Presidency

nytimes.com ^ | September 6, 2003 | nytimes.com

[El Gato]

The language in question, "or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution," was needed to make George Washting, Jefferson, Madison, and others eligile. I guess they could have made it as of July 4th 1776, or maybe April 19th, 1775. Anyone born prior to July of 1776 could not possibly be a Native Born Citizen, since people born before that were British Citizens.

[Destro]

Hey POS, next time quote me in full Ok, it is highly unlikely that the USA would go to war with my country and thus it is safe for me to say so but we have been at war against many lands and the concern of our founding fathers in dual loalties was well founded.

I have found that only a Southerner would understand my comment even if I said in half jest.

[Destro]

All of those men were native to their states. Please don't bother me with your pedestrian knowledge of history. There is alot of scholarship behind the motivations of those words which makes whay you wrote garbage.

[edchambers]

Forgive me, but I like my presidents leaning on the Christian side. I hope to outgrow this failing as I grow older.

OK I was kidding but in reality Jews have a sort of natural "talent" for killing arabs.If we did try something like this could you think of anyone better to carry out this War on terror?Imagine Netinyahu or even Sharon with the firepower of the US.And besides the Jews are Gods chosen people are they not?

[norton]

And there is a lot of thought and some good reasoning behind your comments,
please don't degrade it by trashing the other guy.

You are right in stating that it's easier to see the distinctions through Southern eyes.

[Destro]

I was kidding too.

[Destro]

He tried to use my words against me. It is ok to use my words to say I am not a 100% loyal American. Anyone is welcome to try but please USE ALL MY WORDS and don't take them out of context.

[Devil_Anse]

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: BORN IN 1947 IN AUSTRIA.

And now you know the rest of the story!

[Devil_Anse]

Foreign-born persons eligible for U.S. President? Hmm, what's really behind this?

I see your tag-line relates to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who coincidentally was born in 1947... in Graz, Austria.

[goldstategop]

Its unnecessary. There's a good reason for having the President be native born and such a qualification doesn't reflect on the fact we're a nation of immigrants. It doesn't bother any one outside the New York Times and the ACLU. Fortunately the Constitution, is for good reason, hard to change. This is one amendment that will ultimately go nowhere.

[Drango]

When the make this change to the Constitution, I hope they also make it OK to punch out any idiot who works for the NY Times. That's what we need...

[Drango]

Congress shall make no law abridging the right of the public to smack idiot editors along side o' the head with a 2x4.

[Craig Nelsen]

Yeah, some Japanese-Americans served patriotically in WWII. But then again, some served as torturers of American POWs for the Japanese Army.

[muawiyah]

Do you have the names of the Japanese-Americans who served as torturers?

If so, pass them along since it's really not too late to get satisfaction.

If you do not have the names, keep your mouth shut.

Then, consider this ` General Eisenhower, who carried a German name, bore none of the guilt for the misdeeds of his cousins in Deutschland during the same war. You, on the other hand, seem to be the sort who can't see past your most prejudicial misconceptions to appreciate bravery and loyalty on the part of others, even when done on your behalf.

[Celtman]

Some historians are puzzled about what the Founding Fathers had in mind.

      Boy, ain't that the truth! 

[maxwellp]

Destro - What an excellent point! Yes, my husband has some bitter memories about Castro. He was nineteen when he left Cuba shortly before Castro's Iron Curtain came down. His father told him to leave and come back when Castro was gone. He never saw his parents again. Again, what an excellent point!

[Destro]

General Eisenhower was not born in Germany either.......

[muawiyah]

Japanese-Americans weren't born in Japan either.

The accusation was made that Japanese-Americans worked for Japan as torturers.

BTW, there is some question about whether or not Eisenhower was all that German too. My GGrandfather was the trailboss who took his family West. Dwight's his spitting image!

[Destro]

That Japanese part is not my concern. Whatever Eisenhower was he was born in the USA. Not making a big deal of this. Just a statement in fact.