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WaPo (Op-Ed): Ted Cruz Not Eligible
Washington Post ^ | January 12, 2016 | Mary Brigid McManamon

Posted on 01/12/2016 10:09:44 AM PST by Behind the Blue Wall

Donald Trump is actually right about something: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) is not a natural-born citizen and therefore is not eligible to be president or vice president of the United States.

The Constitution provides that "No person except a natural born citizen . . . shall be eligible to the office of President." The concept of "natural born" comes from the common law, and it is that law the Supreme Court has said we must turn to for the concept's definition. On this subject, the common law is clear and unambiguous. The 18th-century English jurist William Blackstone, the preeminent authority on it, declared natural-born citizens are "such as are born within the dominions of the crown of England," while aliens are "such as are born out of it."

. . .

Cruz is, of course, a U.S. citizen. As he was born in Canada, he is not natural born. His mother, however, is an American, and Congress has provided by statute for the naturalization of children born abroad to citizens. Because of the senator's parentage, he did not have to follow the lengthy naturalization process that aliens without American parents must undergo. Instead, Cruz was naturalized at birth.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cds; cruz; eligibility; naturalborncitizen; nonsense; presidential
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To: KC_Lion

Why is it so hard to understand that if one parent is an alien, you are simply a citizen by rights of your one citizen parent, but you are NOT a natural born citizen which requires that BOTH parents be citizens? Why was there a CLEAR DISTINCTION in the Constitution between Citizen and Natural Born Citizen? Why bother with the wording Natural Born Citizen if there was no difference?


201 posted on 01/12/2016 11:42:11 AM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
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To: rockrr

Two wrongs do make a right.


202 posted on 01/12/2016 11:43:02 AM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
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To: cloudmountain

You misread it. Start with CITIZEN OF US at the time of signing of this constitution.
No one is alive who qualifies for president under that phrase. They have all died which leaves just NATURAL BORN CITIZEN.


203 posted on 01/12/2016 11:43:22 AM PST by hoosiermama
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To: DannyTN
And eligibility is another area that needs clarification by the courts and election processes put in place to confirm eligibility of candidates before elections.

Why? I'm perfectly satisfied that Cruz is a natural-born citizen and so far as I'm concerned no clarification is needed. And I'd say the majority of the people in this country would agree if the facts were laid out in front of them. So why should the court take it up.

What's more, Trump even outlined a process whereby Cruz could get a Federal court to rule on the matter and settle it.

And who will initiate that lawsuit? Does Trump expect Cruz to sue himself?

204 posted on 01/12/2016 11:44:38 AM PST by DoodleDawg
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To: DannyTN

Not necessarily Treason has no statute of limitations.


205 posted on 01/12/2016 11:46:12 AM PST by hoosiermama
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To: SubMareener

BRAVO. Correct on all counts.


206 posted on 01/12/2016 11:46:57 AM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
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To: Behind the Blue Wall
Citizens, yes. Natural born citizens, no. Statutory citizenship = citizen. Common law citizen = natural born citizen.

And that is laid out in the Constitution where exactly?

207 posted on 01/12/2016 11:47:21 AM PST by DoodleDawg
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To: FirstFlaBn
Here's how SCOTUS would rule: Neither voters nor opposing candidates have standing to challenge any presidential candidate's eligibility in court.

I once supposed that anyone who donated to a questionable candidate should have standing to sue on the grounds of fraudulent solicitation. The rationale is that if a candidate knows he is ineligible and sets up a contribution structure anyway, how is that any different than someone setting up a fake charity to defraud donors and steal their money?

That is why a donor who is actually harmed by loss of money on fraudulent terms should have standing to sue the candidate to prove his eligibility, and therefore prove that campaign solicitations are not fraudulent.

What do you think of that angle? Does the donor have to wait for the Electoral College to deny qualification before they can sue for fraud, or can they sue while the fraud is still ongoing?

-PJ

208 posted on 01/12/2016 11:48:06 AM PST by Political Junkie Too (If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)
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To: Mollypitcher1

“Force that the Constitution be obeyed. “

Well, you had better find someone willing to do that.

“Give up one thing and you give up them all. “

Guess what? You already have given up at least one thing, so your comment is worthless. You have had every single item in the Bill of Rights given up.


209 posted on 01/12/2016 11:48:19 AM PST by CodeToad (Islam should be banned and treated as a criminal enterprise!)
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To: Mollypitcher1
We have constitutional law experts who say he is and we have you, a supporter of lifelong liberal Donald Trump who says he isn't. I believe them.


210 posted on 01/12/2016 11:50:05 AM PST by South40 (Ted Cruz = the only conservative in the race)
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To: Mollypitcher1

And three rights make a left,,,


211 posted on 01/12/2016 11:53:23 AM PST by fantail 1952 ( So long, America! It's was great while it lasted.)
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To: South40
Good afternoon.

Has Grayson quit beating his wife?

5.56mm

212 posted on 01/12/2016 11:53:32 AM PST by M Kehoe
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To: M Kehoe
Good afternoon. Has Grayson quit beating his wife?

I wouldn't know. Donald Trump and he share an ideology. Why don't you ask him?

213 posted on 01/12/2016 11:56:36 AM PST by South40 (Ted Cruz = the only conservative in the race)
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To: Bill Russell

Both of John McCains parents were American Citizens. Ted Cruz’s parents were NOT BOTH citizens of the US when he was born.


214 posted on 01/12/2016 11:57:15 AM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

Who or what is Vettal? Lol. I am talking about a law passed by the First Congress. You’re talking about some Vettal thing. Is that liberalism for Vattel, a Swiss dude who never stepped foot in the US?


215 posted on 01/12/2016 12:00:06 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: jwalsh07
Lol. I am talking about a law passed by the First Congress. You’re talking about some Vettal thing. Is that liberalism for Vattel

Are you stupid? You must be stupid to have written this to me. So when you were claiming that what I was referencing "only had to do with residents," you didn't even have any clue what the hell I was referencing? Yes, you are stupid. Very stupid.

216 posted on 01/12/2016 12:01:38 PM PST by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: jwalsh07

Who or what is Vettal? Lol. I am talking about a law passed by the First Congress. You’re talking about some Vettal thing. Is that liberalism for Vattel, a Swiss dude who never stepped foot in the US?

“Dave isn’t here, man”..


217 posted on 01/12/2016 12:03:06 PM PST by AFret.
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To: nomad

The Constitution clearly states Natural Born Citizen. Cruz is Not a Natural Born Citizen because BOTH his parents were not citizens of the US when he was born. Trump IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for Ted Cruz’s birth. He has only pointed out that the constitution is at risk of ANOTHER infraction unless this is settled. Either we have a Constitution or we DON’T. It cannot be changed for political expediency. If it CAN, we do not have a Constitution. Take your pick.


218 posted on 01/12/2016 12:03:10 PM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
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To: Mollypitcher1

They already know it and plan to use it. Trump foresees the problem others wish to ignore at their own peril.


That is what I am saying.


219 posted on 01/12/2016 12:04:13 PM PST by samtheman (Elect Trump, Build Wall. End Censorship.)
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To: BarbM

From what I understand, the correct process would have been for his mother to file a Consular Report of Birth Abroad to a U.S. Citizen. It’d be interesting to know whether or not said document actually exists.


220 posted on 01/12/2016 12:04:37 PM PST by Behind the Blue Wall
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