[zeestephen]

Gina,

I asked your exact question multiple times during the 2008 Obama eligibility debates.

One guy wrote back that it just means that Representatives and Senators can be “naturalized” citizens, but a President can't.

That tosses the argument right back on what it means to be a “natural born” citizen.

When I grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s, I can tell you that EVERYONE thought natural born citizen meant two citizen parents AND born on soil controlled by the US government.

I remember watching my high school debate team argue whether or not a child born on the high seas or in an airplane was a “natural born” citizen.

I think if we went back and examined every public school civics book from the 1960’s, it's likely that 100% of them endorse the “old fashion” definition of natural born.

[Jeff Winston]

I think if we went back and examined every public school civics book from the 1960’s, it's likely that 100% of them endorse the “old fashion” definition of natural born.

I have examined hundreds of quotes from civics books and legal sources, from throughout American history.

Whatever your memory (mine is of hearing that any kid born in America could grow up to be President), as far as I am aware, there does not seem to be one single historical public school civics book, from the 1960s or any other decade, that claims birth on US soil plus two US citizen parents are required.

They universally say things like, "born in the United States" and "born a citizen."

[Jeff Winston]

I’m sure I can produce a few hundred such quotes if you like.

[WXRGina]

Yes, Stephen, natural born citizen was plainly understood even before the founding of our nation. It was probably when the communists really got deeply embedded in our system that they started to muddy the waters about the presidential requirements, so one of “their” people could be installed.

With Obama, they had to fully throw a fast wrench in the natural born citizen discussion—not that they allowed any discussion.

We’ve been had by a nearly bloodless, communist coup.

[DiogenesLamp]

I think if we went back and examined every public school civics book from the 1960’s, it's likely that 100% of them endorse the “old fashion” definition of natural born.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that. I've studied this issue quite a lot, and there are plenty of books which say that only birth inside our borders is all it takes. The Damage that Rawle and other British Lawyers did has been reflected by subsequent books.