More words doesn’t make your attempt at parsing any more convincing. There are only two categories of American citizenship: born citizens and naturalized citizens.
The first President who qualified as a natural born citizen was Martin Van Buren, elected in 1837. All previous presidents were elected under the provision of being “citizens at the time of the adoption of this constitution.”
The requirements for born citizenship that are applicable to Obama and Senator Cruz fall under 8 U.S.C. § 1401.
“For Obama, the applicable section of the law is:
The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth:
(a) a person born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof;”
For Senator Cruz the applicable section of the law is:
The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth:
“a person born outside the geographical limits of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents one of whom is an alien, and the other a citizen of the United States who, prior to the birth of such person, was physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than five years, at least two of which were after attaining the age of fourteen years...”
I’m open to having my mind changed on this subject however. If you can find any judge in America who believes that native born and natural born are not synonymous, I’d love to read their opinion.
A bit more Supreme Court back up for my position.
Elk v Wilkins, 112 U. S. 94 (1884):
“The distinction between citizenship by birth and citizenship by naturalization is clearly marked in the provisions of the constitution, by which ‘no person, except a natural-born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this constitution, shall be eligible to the office of president;’ and ‘the congress shall have power to establish an uniform rule of naturalization.’ Const. art. 2, § 1; art. 1, § 8.”
“This section [of the 14th Amendment] contemplates two sources of citizenship, and two sources only: birth and naturalization. The persons declared to be citizens are “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”
Minor v. Happersett (1874): “Additions might always be made to the citizenship of the United States in two ways: first, by birth, and second, by naturalization. This is apparent from the Constitution itself, for it provides that ‘no person except a natural-born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President,’ and that Congress shall have power ‘to establish a uniform rule of naturalization.’ Thus new citizens may be born or they may be created by naturalization.”
I've a better idea. Since we know that three different types of citizens exist (according to the framers) [Article II; Section I] (not including Naturalized citizens) why don't you find me a quote by a Federal Judge which states there is no difference.
“This section [of the 14th Amendment] contemplates two sources of citizenship, and two sources only: birth and naturalization. The persons declared to be citizens are “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”
The 14th amendment did not deal with Presidential requirements. It dealt with the status of freed slaves.
To the board:
Folks...........consider. Why did the framers want only presidential candidates to be born of two citizen parents? Let's look at Bobby Jindal of Louisiana:
He was born in the United States (Baton Rouge) in 1971 to parents who were citizens of the nation of India. Thus, Bobby.....constitutionally is a "Native Born Citizen" but not a "Natural Born Citizen". Now think..........
It's sometime in the future and President Jindal is considering our nation's stance in the ongoing "Nuclear threats" between Pakistan and India. It is bringing the world closer to catastrophe every day.
Do you see the wisdom of our founders when they stipulated that only "Natural Born Citizens" should be the Commanders in Chief?