[Sterco]

Excuse me? Are you saying the child of someone who has crossed our border illegally as in the manner of invasion should automatically be a US citizen. To me that is the most absurd notion that I can think of. The founding fathers were thinking of this issue when the issue was addressed. They always rewarded those breaking our laws in the Constitution didn't you know that?

[middie]

Absolutely. For a group of intelligent folks who consistently clamor for a plain reading of the organic document to ascertain its meaning, there seems to a contrary movement here to read a meaning into the Constitution that is directly contradictory to the exact language in the text.....And, by the way, it would be exciting to learn how Congress can amend the Constitution by an act alone without the amendatory process of ratification.

First, the plain language says anyone born in the US is a citizen. Second, the 5th and 14th Amendments prohibit government to deny any "person" (not "citizen") equal protection of the laws.