Trump to Cruz: Settle eligibility question or 'get out' of the race

Politico ^ | 01/25/2016 | Nick Gass

[SeekAndFind]

Donald Trump stepped up his attack on Ted Cruz on Monday, tweeting that the Texas senator needs to "either settle his problem" of having been born in Canada or leave the race.

"It's time for Ted Cruz to either settle his problem with the FACT that he was born in Canada and was a citizen of Canada, or get out of race," Trump tweeted Monday morning, on the heels of Fox News polls released over the weekend that showed him with double-digit leads over Cruz in both Iowa and New Hampshire.

Trump has insisted over the course of the last month that Cruz needs to tackle the issue of his eligibility because he was born in Calgary, Canada, despite Cruz's assertions that he is eligible based on the fact that his mother was born in the United States. Cruz renounced his dual Canadian citizenship in 2014, a fact that Trump has frequently pointed out as cause for concern.

[XenaLee]

Yes, creating doubt and dissention. How nice of Trump to do the work the Democrats haven’t been able to do. A clear sign of how he would govern as president, eh?

[Bryan24]

Cruz was never naturalized. He was elected as a US Senator in Texas. Can noncitizens be elected? No.

So, if he was NOT naturalized, and he is a citizen now, then he must a natural born citizen, correct? There is no other alternative.

[chris37]

So, Ted lets it fester.

That’s really all he can do about it anyway.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Why can't Cruz man up and take it to the courts? The burden of proof is his.

Um, no. Not how the American judicial system works. Try again.

[pgyanke]

That’s the way I read it. Someone pointed out to him that he had dual citizenship with Canada at some point (due to the location of his birth) so he renounced his Canadian citizenship. I can find no reference to any naturalization.

[Cboldt]

-- Least that's how I read it. It doesn't say anything about elections or nominations or primaries. --

There are laws against swearing a Certification of Eligibility that contains materially false statements, and the states have an interest in putting only eligible candidates on the ballot. Can you imagine the chaos in elections, otherwise?

All that lies outside the constitution, which operates in matters of succession and seating.

[mrsmith]

WOW!

It sure seems they would all have standing (IANAL).
Would get them publicity to do it too.

[dragnet2]

This eligibility issue is hanging over Cruz's head. Creating doubt. Doubt is not good.

And that's the whole enchilada whether folks like it or not. Too bad for Cruz he should have been pro-active and had it legally resolved.

[mlizzy]

We're all about to be Trumped and apparently a lot of people here are happy as clams about it.

Obama fooled many people too. And now, Trump is doing the same. For Christians, hopefully this will be a productive Lent [to pray for our country].

[RasterMaster]

Trump is salivating... The only person who stands in the way of himself and absolute corruptible power is Ted Cruz.

Trump the magic Windsock needs to put up or shut up. Isn't there a Bill and Hill rubber chicken dinner he could be hosting?

[Suz in AZ]

A Nicaraguan non citizen was on some states’ presidential ballots last election.

[Cboldt]

I know you reject this, but the law is settled against Cruz. There is no way a persistent din would exist, if there was not at least a serious, substantiated doubt about his eligibility. When he defends himself, he cites no legal authority, he just claims it exists. Cite a SCOTUS case, fer cryin' out loud.

[Theophilus]

To Trump: or what?

[chris37]

Well as far as I know there is at least one state case going now in Illinois, so maybe that will serve to get the ball rolling.

[dragnet2]

Trump plays hardball with opponents. He publicly told folks this. Few listened. And that is *exactly* what America desperately needs right now. Another lawyer turned politician is exactly what we do not want.

[Aquamarine]

It is the only weapon The Don has apparently. Unless Moses comes down from the mountain with a scroll saying Ted Cruz is a natural born citizen, I don’t know what you expect him to do. This is another example of the Trump mentality. He has a commanding lead in the polls. He’s already agreed that he could shoot someone in broad daylight and his followers would still tag along. But he is just a mean, vindictive man.

Its time to ignore this bully.

[CA Conservative]

Cruz can never run for president unltil this is resolved.

Ted IS running for president - or haven't you noticed?

[ConservativeDude]

yikes.

Trump is going to win this rhetorical war.

Remember, it was Trump getting on obama’s case which caused them to cough up the phony birth cert.

I feel really sorry for Cruz. But I think he could have seen this coming.....

[McGruff]

Don’t be too disappointed. Cruz can still run for Prime Minister of Canada. No really he can.

[chris37]

Trump ain’t playin’ to lose.