Another thought about the `Where was Obama born?' dispute

http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/12/a-final-point-about-the-where-was-obama-born-dispute.html ^ | December 3, 2008 | Eric Zorn

[ckilmer]

Originally posted: December 3, 2008 Another thought about the `Where was Obama born?' dispute In today's story, Tax activist's ad challenges Obama's eligibility for office The Tribune examines allegations about president-elect's 'natural born citizen' status , my colleagues Sara Olkon and James Janega methodically take apart the arguments presented by Robert L. Schulz, chairman of We The People Foundation, in Tribune ads this week. Here's one passage • Schulz says that "U.S. law in effect in 1961 [the year of Obama's birth] denied citizenship to any child born in Kenya if the father was Kenyan and the mother was not yet 19 years of age." If a child is born ... to an American parent outside the U.S., the law at the time would require the U.S. citizen parent to be at least 19, which Obama's mother was not. The provisions of this law were subsequently loosened and made retroactive for government employees serving abroad and their families. It appears that this would not apply to Obama's mother. Olkon and Janega point out that "the matter would seem to be academic: Hawaiian officials vouch for Obama's birth certificate," but even if it were to turn out that Obama's mother was actually in Kenya when she gave birth to him, the age requirement was and is absurd and unjustifiable; easily remedied, if necessary, with the passage of a retroactive law smilar to the law that applied to "government employees serving abroad and their families." Schultz is deluded if he thinks the Congress -- even those in Congress who opposed Obama -- or the courts would stand by and allow to unfold the crisis that would ensue if Obama were denied the presidency on a technicality.

[ckilmer]

Originally posted: December 3, 2008

Another thought about the `Where was Obama born?' dispute

In today's story, Tax activist's ad challenges Obama's eligibility for office The Tribune examines allegations about president-elect's 'natural born citizen' status , my colleagues Sara Olkon and James Janega methodically take apart the arguments presented by Robert L. Schulz, chairman of We The People Foundation, in Tribune ads this week.

Here's one passage

• Schulz says that "U.S. law in effect in 1961 [the year of Obama's birth] denied citizenship to any child born in Kenya if the father was Kenyan and the mother was not yet 19 years of age."

If a child is born ... to an American parent outside the U.S., the law at the time would require the U.S. citizen parent to be at least 19, which Obama's mother was not. The provisions of this law were subsequently loosened and made retroactive for government employees serving abroad and their families. It appears that this would not apply to Obama's mother.

Olkon and Janega point out that "the matter would seem to be academic: Hawaiian officials vouch for Obama's birth certificate," but even if it were to turn out that Obama's mother was actually in Kenya when she gave birth to him, the age requirement was and is absurd and unjustifiable; easily remedied, if necessary, with the passage of a retroactive law smilar to the law that applied to "government employees serving abroad and their families."

Schultz is deluded if he thinks the Congress -- even those in Congress who opposed Obama -- or the courts would stand by and allow to unfold the crisis that would ensue if Obama were denied the presidency on a technicality.

COMMENTS

[RC2]

“Obama were denied the presidency on a technicality”???? Is this how we view our Constitution? Just a “Technicality”? Our Constitution is our life blood and those that violate it.....know it. Just a “Technicality”??? I don’t think so.

[lilylangtree]

osama is illegimate and illegal. he does not deserve a free pass because he is black and a RAT.

[toldyou]

Ping!

[jackofhearts]

Be patient. The press is on a learning curve. The fact that they are making the “even if...” arguments reveals internal doubt as to Obama’s birthplace. Any modicum of respect for truth will lead them to discredit the Annenberg/Factcheck sources soon enough. Us freepers have been on to this for months. It takes time for a lib media to acknowledge it’s been duped. They need a face-saving exit strategy. And here it is: “Okay, he wasn’t born, but we can retroactively fix this little problem in Congress.”
No doubt this line was fed to them from Obama campaign. Get ready for the admission.

[Enterprise]

I don’t see what is so technical here. If you are a natural born citizen you are eligible to be the President. If you are NOT a natural born citizen you are NOT eligible to be the President. Thus far Obama has not proved that he is a natural born citizen.

[Free America52]

Man that blog is on fire. There are some good patriots over there, obviously some FReepers on board. Go over and join the fight. The Obots are just cursing, calling people racists and their normal crap - no logical response to the legitimate question of why doesn’t BHO show his birth certificate?

[TheThinker]

but even if it were to turn out that Obama's mother was actually in Kenya when she gave birth to him, the age requirement was and is absurd and unjustifiable; easily remedied, if necessary, with the passage of a retroactive law smilar to the law that applied to "government employees serving abroad and their families."

Seems to me they're trying to cover for him because they know something's amiss. They also are trying to confuse people into equating citizenship with natural born citizenship.

[Dixie Yooper]

Joe Biden, President of the United States because of a little technicality...

[seekthetruth]

I am trying to spread the word about a fellow Freeper’s web site and the Freedom March Organization. Joe Thunder started the organization and the link is below. Perhaps you have heard the Joe Thunder program on Plains Radio Network. Please visit and read about the mission of the Freedom March Organization. Perhaps you might want to join and help in any way you can. I am helping by spreading the word about events that will take place. Right now we are focusing on showing support for Leo Donofrio, Cort Wrotnowski, and Alan Keyes in their efforts to bring the truth to light.

Joe Thunder has organized a Freedom March for this coming Friday in Washington D.C. to bring attention to the important decision to by made by our honorable Supreme Court Justices. Please read about the details at the Freedom March link below. Perhaps you know folks who live in the D.C. area who would want to join other Freepers and Patriots to show support for Leo Donofrio and Cort Wrotnowski in hopes there cases will be heard.

Please spread the word to Freepers you know and anyone on your email list you know would want to help.
Thanks so much! seekthetruth

http://freedommarch.org/Home_Page.html

[tomnbeverly]

Obama would be illegitimate President. A constitutional crisis would ensue. But maybe thats exactly what these Rats want so they can Rewrite the entire constitution.

[aruanan]

Joe Biden, President of the United States because of a little technicality...

It wouldn't be Biden if done before the electoral college votes. They would choose from the next three with the highest number of votes.

[PORD]

I couldn’t agree more but I have heard a number of people say they would be concerned that America would burn if BO would be disqualified, that is why I think the fix is in and nothing will be done.

[hsrazorback1]

Bingo.

Now the question becomes the legal wrangling of ex post facto remedies.

[aruanan]

The courts prevented Eldridge Cleaver from running for president and removed his name from the ballot because of the technicality that he was 34 and not 35 years of age. This is far more important than that.

[CMAC51]

If Barrack Obama does not have valid proof that he is a natural born citizen, a constitutional crisis cannot be avoided. It will be messy and nasty. Sole responsibility for that crisis will fall upon the media for failure to conduct themselves responsibly during the campaign when the issue first surfaced. It was the media’s responsibility to call on Barrack to resolve the issue before a constitutional crisis arose.

The supreme court can kick the can down the road, but the issue will not fade. It would then be brought out by the defense in a criminal case questioning the validity of a law signed by President Obama. Suppresion of the rights of a defendent to valid evidence in their defense would be a symptom of the crisis. Prevention could only be practiced prior to the election. If Barrack has valid evidence, there is no constitutional crisis. If he lacks that evidence there is already a crisis, the public just doesn’t see it yet.

[Jessica2677]

Weren’t Obama’s mama and Obama,sr married at the time Obama was born...so wouldn’t that make Obama’s Mama a Kenyan Citizen too???

[cvq3842]

The author’s dismissal of the law regarding citizenship is glib and unsatisfying. if that’s all they have to cling to, then maybe Obama is in more trouble than most pople realize.

I think paying 45%+ of my income in taxes is “absurd and unjustifiable;” maybe Congress can pass a “retroactive law” about that too and give me back my money. I could retire on it, and I’m a relatively young man!

[RummyChick]

I am beginning to this is true. But it doesn’t change the fact that the self-proclaimed constitutional law professor KNEW he was not eligible....

I am afraid there is going to be some retroactive law to let him in...and I dont think that is what our Founding fathers had in mind.