The case for getting rid of the requirement that the president must be a “natural born citizen”

The Washington Post ^ | 1/14/2016 | Ilya Somin

[BlackFemaleArmyColonel]

In recent weeks, much time and effort has been devoted to debating whether Ted Cruz is a "natural born citizen" eligible for the presidency. Whichever way you come down on this question of constitutional interpretation, the real lesson of this debate should be the absurdity of excluding naturalized citizens from the presidency in the first place. Categorically excluding immigrants from the presidency is a form of arbitrary discrimination based on place of birth (or, in a few cases, parentage), which is ultimately little different from discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity. Both ethnicity and place of birth are morally arbitrary characteristics which do not, in themselves, determine a person's competence or moral fitness for high political office.

The "natural born" citizen requirement was originally inserted into the Constitution because some of the Founders feared that European royalty or nobles might move to the United States, get elected to the presidency, and then use the office to advance the interests of their houses. Whatever the merits of this concern back in the 1780s, it is hardly a plausible scenario today.

One can argue that immigrants have less knowledge of the country and its customs, and might make worse presidents for that reason. But that problem is surely addressed by the constitutional requirement that a candidate for president must have been resident in the United States for at least fourteen years. As a practical matter, anyone who attains the political connections and public recognition needed to make a serious run for the presidency is likely to have at least as much knowledge of the US and American politics as most serious native-born candidates do.

[Canedawg]

I should have pinged you. You’re right about that.

I don’t understand why you post so many derogatory posts towards people if, as onyx says, you are a nice guy and even a little shy.

We even agreed over the weekend that latino baseball players should be required to take basic Engish, rather than being supplied mandatory interpreters.

So, why all the snarkiness when you are on FR??

I don’t get it, and prefer to think you are “a nice guy, a little shy.”

[humblegunner]

I'm not all that shy except when Miss Onyx pushes me into public speaking. ;-)

I don't understand why you post so many derogatory posts towards people

I see stuff I don't like, I say something.
Makes perfect sense to me.

We even agreed over the weekend that latino baseball players should be required to take basic Engish, rather than being supplied mandatory interpreters.

I know, right? At least if you are going to have a
ball player do a commercial, pick one that speaks English.

So, why all the snarkiness when you are on FR??

I'm pretty snarky everywhere, you wouldn't prefer a fake persona I don't think.

[Canedawg]

Okay. Carry on.

:)

[wagglebee]

You need to add Buck v. Bell to your list of SCOTUS cases.

[The Cajun]

A pathetic little crackpot defending his pathetic crackpottery.

A drunken Internet barfly who day after day stalks other FReepers in order to put them down and elevate himself.

You seem to be intent on stalking several women Freepers and female conservative leaders in the past, day after day, plus your well know history of misogyny, it just ain't hard to connect those dots.

Real men don't have security and self esteem issues in dealing with women, you sure do Li'l Buckaroo.

[humblegunner]

You’re racist.

[terycarl]

So eligibility is decided on a case by case basis rather than by rule. Nah, no opportunity for corruption there.

Of course....there's ALWAYS an opportunity for corruption as there is when dealing with persons born here. An illegal, crossing the border from Mexico has a child in a Texas hospital....is he/she eligible to be elected????BORN IN THE USA is a great song, but meaningless in this instance.

[terycarl]

unless you wish to be taken for a Democrat. You are saying what THEY are saying, that the constitution doesn’t matter anymore. m

Nope, I believe the Constitution rules....however, that particular requirement to be elected president has become antiquated and could easily be amended out.

[Canedawg]

“You’re racist.”

That’s it?? Oy vey.

Btw, you went way overboard when you called the BlackWomanSoldier a “slut”. Not nice.

[The Cajun]

That's his twisted idea of humor.

He does what he does everyday, lives in a deep OCD rut, management cleans up his most disgusting stuff and the next day he starts over again, repeating pattern.

I think I'm not the only one who has gotten damn tired of it.

With the on going Trump/Cruz wars on most threads, him floating in with his crap ain't helping matters.

[UCANSEE2]

Thank you for using the direct response approach, and the honest answers.

It has cleared up some things , at least for me.

I understood your attacks on blog pimps, but, as you say, I thought you might be going too far in calling certain posters SLUT, among other things.

This political situation is bringing out the freaks, and you risk being lumped in with the rest. But... it is your risk.

Again, thanks for doing the courtesy of listening to my complaints/questions.

[Oceander]

Wow! You really need to find a hobby. Rare is it that someone can put together so many false strawmen at one sitting.

[PIF]

Recognizing satire is not your strong point I see ...

[Oceander]

Sometimes no. I have my moments, and I have my not-moments.