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John McCain--is he eligible?
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:15 am
by NellyLunatic1980
I never realized it until this morning, but Sen. McCain was not born in the United States. He was born on an American Air Force base in the Panama Canal Zone.
Can he legally be president?
It's a very interesting constitutional debate.
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:17 am
by TheCalvinator24
Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
I think that mean clones can't be President.

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:26 am
by Rexer25
TheCalvinator24 wrote:Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
I think that mean clones can't be President.

So in-vitro babies are out of the question?
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:35 am
by ClonedKitty
TheCalvinator24 wrote:Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
I think that mean clones can't be President.

This is outrageous, and no laughing matter! We clones have you humans outnumbered, you know....
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:38 am
by TheCalvinator24
Rexer25 wrote:TheCalvinator24 wrote:Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
I think that mean clones can't be President.

So in-vitro babies are out of the question?
Aren't in-vitro babies natural born? They just aren't "natural conceived," right?
I'm pretty sure the USSCT would hold that the phrase "Natural Born Citizen" means "citizen by birth" as opposed to "naturalized citizen" so in-vitro fertilization would not pose a serious Constitutional Crisis.
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:41 am
by Rexer25
TheCalvinator24 wrote:Rexer25 wrote:TheCalvinator24 wrote:Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
I think that mean clones can't be President.

So in-vitro babies are out of the question?
Aren't in-vitro babies natural born? They just aren't "natural conceived," right?
If the in-vitro process results in a multiple pregnancy, they are usually delivered by C-section. Is that natural born?
Honestly, I don't think it's an issue in any way. It's just too early to be a real good smart-alec.
I'm pretty sure the USSCT would hold that the phrase "Natural Born Citizen" means "citizen by birth" as opposed to "naturalized citizen" so in-vitro fertilization would not pose a serious Constitutional Crisis.[/quote]
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:47 am
by themanintheseersuckersuit
Sort of like "No man of woman born"
Macduff for President
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:48 am
by Bob Juch
This will be the first Presidential contest between two people who were not born in the continental U.S.
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:50 am
by earendel
Bob Juch wrote:This will be the first Presidential contest between two people who were not born in the continental U.S.
Hillary wasn't born in the continental U.S.?

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:31 am
by NellyLunatic1980
earendel wrote:Hillary wasn't born in the continental U.S.?

There's an obvious joke there, but I won't say it.

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:35 am
by Appa23
TheCalvinator24 wrote:Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
It is about time that we find that portion of the Constitution as archaic and amend it.

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:38 am
by AnnieCamaro
Appa23 wrote:TheCalvinator24 wrote:Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
It is about time that we find that portion of the Constitution as archaic and amend it.

Let's go ahead and get those "Princess Peanut for President" signs printed, too.
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:41 am
by Appa23
AnnieCamaro wrote:Appa23 wrote:TheCalvinator24 wrote:Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
It is about time that we find that portion of the Constitution as archaic and amend it.

Let's go ahead and get those "Princess Peanut for President" signs printed, too.
How about "Let's Hear it for The Boy"?

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:42 am
by Ahnuld Schwartzwhatever
Appa23 wrote:TheCalvinator24 wrote:Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
It is about time that we find that portion of the Constitution as archaic and amend it.

Ya, ve must make thees great countri a playce where a rich steroid freak can buy his way into positions of great political powur.
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:44 am
by earendel
Appa23 wrote:AnnieCamaro wrote:Appa23 wrote:
It is about time that we find that portion of the Constitution as archaic and amend it.

Let's go ahead and get those "Princess Peanut for President" signs printed, too.
How about "Let's Hear it for The Boy"?

Sounds like a ready-made campaign theme song.
You asked for it....
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:48 am
by CharlesFoxSingers
My baby, he don't talk sweet
He ain't got much to say
But he loves me, loves me, loves me
I know that he loves me anyway
And maybe he don't dress fine
But I don't really mind
'Cuz every time he pulls me near
I just wanna cheer:
Let's hear it for the boy!
Oh, let's give the boy a hand
Let's hear it for my baby
You gotta understand
Maybe he's no Romeo
But he's my loving one-man show
Let's hear it for the boy!
My baby may not be rich
He's watching every dime
But every night he holds me
And we always have a real good time
And maybe he sings off-key
That's all right by me
But what he does, he does so well
Makes me wanna yell:
Let's hear it for the boy!
Oh, let's give the boy a hand
Let's hear it for my baby
You gotta understand
Maybe he's no Romeo
But he's my loving one-man show
Let's hear it for the boy!
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:55 am
by HelpBrainTumorPatients
Ahnuld Schwartzwhatever wrote:Appa23 wrote:TheCalvinator24 wrote:Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
It is about time that we find that portion of the Constitution as archaic and amend it.

Ya, ve must make thees great countri a playce where a rich steroid freak can buy his way into positions of great political powur.
There, there, Ahnuld, I'm here to help. I can't do much for you since most people on this Bored send their money to Oral B. Roberts instead of our organization, but you're a pretty hopeless case anyway....
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:58 am
by hermillion
My two brothers and I were all born on US military installations during the 50s - two in Japan, one in Germany. Instead of birth certificates, our parents were given Certificate(s) of Birth to American Parents Abroad. When oldest brother enlisted in the Navy in 1973, he was required to go through the naturalization process. The thinking at the time was that the Certificate stated that US citizens had a child, NOT that said child was a citizen. This nonsense went on for a while, until TPTB figured out that there were an awful lot of us with these certificates and that it was going to be a bureacratic nightmare if we all needed to be naturalized. The decision was made that we were, in fact, citizens. Just ones who had been born on foreign soil.
"Hermillion in '12" has a nice ring, don't you think?
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:58 am
by AnnieCamaro
Appa23 wrote:AnnieCamaro wrote:
How about "Let's Hear it for The Boy"?

I don't mind if The Boy becomes president, too, but I'm a girl, so sometimes I'm all about Girl Power. I don't get to vote, though, because I'm not old enough, even though I'm mature for my age.
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:11 am
by Barack_Obama
"Hermillion in '12" has a nice ring, don't you think?
Girl, don't even think about it!!
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:11 am
by PlacentiaSoccerMom
Appa23 wrote:TheCalvinator24 wrote:Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
It is about time that we find that portion of the Constitution as archaic and amend it.

I am fine with it being as it is.
I wouldn't want somebody like Arnold being my president.
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:12 am
by Rexer25
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Appa23 wrote:TheCalvinator24 wrote:Non-issue. He is a Natural Born Citizen, not a Naturalized Citizen. The Constitution does not say that to be eligible one must have been born within the Geographical Boundaries of the several states. It says that one must be a Natural Born Citizen.
It is about time that we find that portion of the Constitution as archaic and amend it.

I am fine with it being as it is.
I wouldn't want somebody like Arnold being my president.
So someone like George is OK with you?
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:12 am
by PlacentiaSoccerMom
I didn't even want him as governor.
He's totally messing with the schools and they are cutting the budgets again.
He doesn't care because his kids go to private school.
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:13 am
by PlacentiaSoccerMom
Rexer25 wrote:PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Appa23 wrote:
It is about time that we find that portion of the Constitution as archaic and amend it.

I am fine with it being as it is.
I wouldn't want somebody like Arnold being my president.
So someone like George is OK with you?
I didn't vote for George, so no.
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:24 am
by slam
There was an article in the NY Times this morning about McCain's eligibility. It said that his team had researched it before his previous presidential run and again before this one. They had come to the conclusion that he was very safe on this issue. He was born to American parents on a US military base.
The article also mentioned some other historical situations. Barry Goldwater was born in Arizona, but 3 years prior to it becoming a state. The consensus was that he was eligibile. Chester Arthur was born in VT, but there were a number of rumors around that he had actually been born just over the border in Canada. Obviously, he became president. There was one other person who ran unsuccessfully for president (memory fails me right now) who was born in Paris but to US citizen parents. It was generally agreed at the time that he was eligible also.