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Dear Free Republic: What is a Natural Born Citizen?

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armyowalgreens Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:38 PM
Original message
Dear Free Republic: What is a Natural Born Citizen?
Edited on Sun Aug-02-09 10:49 PM by armyowalgreens
It pains me to have to do this. But I know you guys are checking DU just like we check FR for the laughs.


If you are going to make the claim that the President of the United States of America is not eligible to be President, you should at least know what the constitution and US code mandates.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2306755/replies?c=24

To: Jim Robinson
All the BC stuff put out by both sides, or maybe I should say all sides, is just a collective distraction.

Obama’s fathers was not a U. S. citizen, therefore Barack Obama II cannot be a natural born U. S. citizen. It doesn’t really matter where the birth took place.


24 posted on 08/02/2009 5:08:49 PM PDT by savedbygrace (You are only leading if someone follows. Otherwise, you just wandered off... )


The response...

To: savedbygrace
"Obama’s fathers was not a U. S. citizen, therefore Barack Obama II cannot be a natural born U. S. citizen. It doesn’t really matter where the birth took place."
That's the camp I fall into. Everything else is just useless noise. People should have stipulated from the very beginning that Barry was born in HI. He still doesn't meet the eligibility requirements of the POTUS for the very reason you cite.

So long as people are searching for the "magic birth certificate", or lack there of, they won't be addressing the legitimate claim of illegitimacy - just the way Obama wants it.

104 posted on 08/02/2009 5:42:06 PM PDT by OldDeckHand (No Socialized Medicine, No Way, No How, No Time)





Dear OldDeckHand and savedbygrace and all the other Freepers currently trolling DU,

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articleii.html

United States Constitution
Article. II.

Section. 1.

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.

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; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Section. 2.

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section. 3.

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Section. 4.

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.



But what is a "natural born" citizen?

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode08/usc_sec_08_00001401----000-.html
United States Code, Title 8, Section 1401

§ 1401. Nationals and citizens of United States at birth


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;
(b) a person born in the United States to a member of an Indian, Eskimo, Aleutian, or other aboriginal tribe: Provided, That the granting of citizenship under this subsection shall not in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of such person to tribal or other property;
(c) a person born outside of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents both of whom are citizens of the United States and one of whom has had a residence in the United States or one of its outlying possessions, prior to the birth of such person;
(d) a person born outside of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents one of whom is a citizen of the United States who has been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for a continuous period of one year prior to the birth of such person, and the other of whom is a national, but not a citizen of the United States;
(e) a person born in an outlying possession of the United States of parents one of whom is a citizen of the United States who has been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for a continuous period of one year at any time prior to the birth of such person;
(f) a person of unknown parentage found in the United States while under the age of five years, until shown, prior to his attaining the age of twenty-one years, not to have been born in the United States;
(g) 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: Provided, That any periods of honorable service in the Armed Forces of the United States, or periods of employment with the United States Government or with an international organization as that term is defined in section 288 of title 22 by such citizen parent, or any periods during which such citizen parent is physically present abroad as the dependent unmarried son or daughter and a member of the household of a person
(A) honorably serving with the Armed Forces of the United States, or
(B) employed by the United States Government or an international organization as defined in section 288 of title 22, may be included in order to satisfy the physical-presence requirement of this paragraph. This proviso shall be applicable to persons born on or after December 24, 1952, to the same extent as if it had become effective in its present form on that date; and
(h) a person born before noon (Eastern Standard Time) May 24, 1934, outside the limits and jurisdiction of the United States of an alien father and a mother who is a citizen of the United States who, prior to the birth of such person, had resided in the United States.


But lets just assume for a second that Obama really was born in Kenya and one of the least plausible conspiracies in the history of mankind was true. Would Obama qualify for president?

The answer is yes. Even if Obama was born in Kenya, and not in Hawaii, he would still qualify for President. Why?


United States Code, Title 8, Section 1401 (d)

The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth:

(d) a person born outside of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents one of whom is a citizen of the United States who has been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for a continuous period of one year prior to the birth of such person, and the other of whom is a national, but not a citizen of the United States;



The mother of Barack Obama, Stanley Ann Dunham Obama Soetoro, was born in Witchita, Kansas. She resided within the United States for a continuous period of no less than 18 years up to the birth of Barack Obama. So even if by chance she was visiting Kenya and gave birth to her son, the son would still be a natural born citizen of the United States of America.

Title 8, section 1401 is the justification behind the fact that John McCain is a natural born citizen. He was not born on US soil and, in fact, was born in a hospital in Panama. However, he still qualifies as a natural born citizen under Title 8, section 1401 (g).




Now please, take this information back to your friends and share it. Gain freedom from your ignorance. Go, flourish and be marry. But for the love of god, let this go already.


Love

Armyowalgreens

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CaliforniaPeggy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:41 PM
Response to Original message
1. If they don't get this...
Then they will never get anything.

K&R

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Chulanowa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:06 PM
Response to Reply #1
32. They'll never get anything
I've explained this to several of them. They quiet down for a few minutes, then start up again. I think those quiet moments is their cognitive dissonance fighting the facts and emerging victorious.
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madamesilverspurs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 05:57 PM
Response to Reply #1
47. It's not that they can't get it,
it's that they WON'T.
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Tangerine LaBamba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:42 PM
Response to Original message
2. Nicely done -
very properly laid out, even an idiot can understand this.

That, of course, guarantees that freepers will not.

You're dealing with people who STILL can't quite comprehend that Hawaii is a state. Cokie Roberts, no less, when Obama went to Hawaii on holiday for Christmas last year, referred to it as "an exotic place."

Roberts is a twit, but if she's screwed up on the matter of Hawaii, pity the poor old freepers................................
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Diclotican Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-05-09 05:43 AM
Response to Reply #2
69. Tangerine LaBamba
Tangerine LaBamba

Well, in my view Hawaii IS an exotic place, but then we have 9 month of winter where I live.. So I guess it is somewhat where I look at thing... But even I know that Hawaii is a State in the US... And I know it when I var 7 too, when I started to learn how to read.. And I am not even an american...

When it came to this thing with where president Obama is born.. It is just because they are angry their own type doesn't won the presidency in 2008.. It is a waste of time and resources to let them got what they want, attention for a case who was dead when it arrived... And I for one believe that it too have something with the fact that he is black and not white.. Face it, many are still playing the "fear card" when it came to black people in place of power...

Diclotican
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NYC_SKP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:42 PM
Response to Original message
3. Yep. But they are crazy, this will not matter, true as it may be.
"No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States"...

If it's not this it will be something else.

:shrug:
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blondeatlast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:43 PM
Response to Original message
4. Psst--you should have cited from "The Constitution for Dummies."
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513YmA1Ad0L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

Don't make them read, they are already in enough shame, pain, and humiliation. Besides, their moms are in bed already.
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JoeFrisbee Donating Member (1 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-04-09 04:15 AM
Response to Reply #4
61. More books for idiots...
Why not also read these books: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the US Constitution and The Complete Idiot's Guide To American Government?
That will make'em understand...
GHR1000
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orleans Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:46 PM
Response to Original message
5. i think you're a bit over the top with this "dear" and "love" business. n/t
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the blues Donating Member (210 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 11:07 PM
Response to Reply #5
14. lol n/t
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armyowalgreens Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 11:09 PM
Response to Reply #5
15. They probably think I'm coming on to them.
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orleans Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 01:48 AM
Response to Reply #15
21. yes, i'm sure they do. n/t
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pepperbear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:47 PM
Response to Original message
6. but that fake Kenyan birth certificate is so shiny. Your way requires turning off FOX. n/t
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Odin2005 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:48 PM
Response to Original message
7. They know that, what they are REALLY saying is that Obama isn't a REAL American because he is black.
It's all about race, the birth certificate BS is just code for what they really mean, that black people aren't "real" Americans.
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armyowalgreens Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:52 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. I should have added something stating that black people are still citizens.
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Lex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:55 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. probably so
their racism is glaring

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armyowalgreens Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:56 PM
Response to Original message
10. Dear Freeper who unrec'd this...
Kiss my ass. You shall not stop the truth from being shown.


Viva La Revolucion!!!!


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jimlup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:57 PM
Response to Original message
11. Now is probably not the time but
This actually seems an ancient and discrimatory statute in our constitution. Why don't we get it repelled. I mean what the hell? What is the point of limiting democracy to only "natural born citizens". If this is actually a democracy then if I want a none natural born citizen to be my president then why the hell not??
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armyowalgreens Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 11:00 PM
Response to Reply #11
13. It's a provision that needs to be revised.
We need a citizen of the US who has lived in the US for no less than a certain period of time. All other provisions should stay.
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wizstars Donating Member (792 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:33 PM
Response to Reply #11
38. If it was repealed, AHH-nold would become eligible.....
Reason enough for me to leave it the he11 alone.
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BobTheSubgenius Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 07:47 PM
Response to Reply #38
56. Exactly what I was going to say.
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jimlup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 08:01 PM
Response to Reply #38
57. RIght but the governator has other problems...
I know, I know and I thought of this but honestly - can you really pooh pooh this for that reason. Our side would get Jennifer Granholm (Governor of Michigan) and probably some others. Democracy is always better than ancient artifacts in our constitution.

Wasn't the original point to keep someone who had been born in Briton from running for president and then giving the country back to Britain?
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katkat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-04-09 11:54 AM
Response to Reply #38
63. Arnold
Actually, we could do worse. It would be nice to return to the times when it wasn't Democrats against frothing morons, but there was actually a glimmer of intelligence/rational thought in the other party.

I think that's what Obama was thinking in terms of when he talked about bipartisanship. It's hard to compromise with nutcases, however. (I always remember the friendship between Barry Goldwater and JFK when I think about this.)
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hugo_from_TN Donating Member (895 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-04-09 03:03 PM
Response to Reply #38
66. He should be eligible.
He became a US citizen decades ago and has lived in the US ever since immigrating. In a nation built upon immigration, he should certainly be qualified to be President.
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creeksneakers2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 10:59 PM
Response to Original message
12. What is operative here is what the framers intended those words
to mean. .

Under 300 years of English law preceding the Declaration of Independence and following the D of I in America, the law was any child born on the soil was a natural born citizen. (with a couple minor exceptions) Lawyers craft legal documents like the Constitution using precise words that have well established legal definitions. The legal definition of natural born citizen allowed the any child born in the country test.

The birthers base their entire theory, that the child must be born of two citizen parents, on a book by a guy named de Vattel that many of the founders read and used when creating this country. Vattel's book was not about American or common law. It was about the philosophical basis for international law. The birthers take a line from the book that says the citizens or "indegines" are those born to two citizen parents.

The book was written in French. A mistranslated edition that came out after the Constitution was ratified used the term "natural born citizens." But the exact words weren't in the translations the founders had at the time. So its impossible that the founders took the phrase from Vattel.

Its pretty far fetched to believe that the founders used a definition from international law rather than the domestic legal definition in place for 100s of years. On top of that, while the birthers have some evidence the founders read Vattel, they have zero evidence that the founders used Vattel's work to define "natural born citizen."

Of course, nothing can convince the birthers they are wrong. They are being widely ridiculed, even by leaders of their own fringe kook wingnut movement, for saying Obama wasn't born in Hawaii. So the fall back, that he's not a natural born citizen because his father wasn't a citizen, is now the last stand. Their faith in their conclusions is unshakable.
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 11:21 PM
Response to Reply #12
16. Very informative, thanks
You know, for YEARS they've been screaming about rejecting "international law", denigrating "the French" and sneering at "ivory-tower intellectuals"

Yet who do they turn to, to prove their case?

Yup, it's a French intellectual writing about international law. The disconnect is staggering.

As usual.

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Faryn Balyncd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 11:23 PM
Response to Reply #12
17. So the birthers are basing their arguments on a French lawbook?

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snagglepuss Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 11:25 PM
Response to Reply #12
18. Very informative. Thanks for posting. nt
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Yupster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 02:05 AM
Response to Reply #12
22. I've actually heard three different theories
or more

1. He was born in Kenya
2. Since his dad wasn't a citizen and his mom wasn't old enough, he's not a citizen
3. He gave up his citizenship when he was living (adopted?) in Indonesia
4. He went to school on a foreign student scholarship

I haven't paid attention to any of these arguments. It was moderately interesting to me until someone found the birth announcement in a Hawaiian newspaper. That ended the story to me.

What I would say though is that for the future there should be some process by which each candidate proves they are 35 years old and a citizen of the country. My suggestion would be that when a candidate is nominated at the convention, the proof is presented and in some fancy language is ruled by some accredidating committee of the convention to be a legal candidate for the office. The committee would then forward the affadafit to the Federal Elections Committee.

If someday a person runs for president and there is a question whether he/she is 34 or 35 years old, there really should be some formal process to show the candidate is eligible to run.
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troubledamerican Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 02:28 PM
Response to Reply #12
29. Republicans need never show THEIR birth certificates. As the Framers intended, of course.
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Mz Pip Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:53 PM
Response to Reply #12
42. conservatives would like to change the constitution
to keep babies born on US soil whose parents are illegal aliens from being citizens. You can't have it both ways. If you recognize that a child born on US soil whose mother is an illegal immigrant is a citizen then Obama is most certainly a citizen. Doesn't matter if both of his parents were from Mars. Born on US soil = citizen.

You can't pick and choose who you'd like to be a citizen. It doesn't work that way.
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crispini Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 07:35 PM
Response to Reply #12
55. Thank you! Finally, I have some insight into their line of thought.
They're clearly grasping at straws, but I guess from their point of view, any ol' port in a storm. :eyes:
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Bernardo de La Paz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-04-09 03:14 PM
Response to Reply #12
67. "Their faith in their conclusions is unshakable."
"Their faith in their conclusions is unshakable."

That's just it. They start at the conclusion and
look for (or make up) stuff to support it. It's
all faith and no reason.
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MidwestTransplant Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-02-09 11:35 PM
Response to Original message
19. Bull shit, if you repeat lies repeatedly they become true. Everybody knows that. Especially birthers
Edited on Sun Aug-02-09 11:51 PM by MidwestTransplant
and Oral Taint who actually may really be a total and complete idiot.
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armyowalgreens Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 08:02 AM
Response to Reply #19
28. I don't think I can take people calling her that name.
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AspenRose Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 12:18 AM
Response to Original message
20. But the black Kenyan cancels out the white American lady's citizenship!
:sarcasm: and *shaking head*
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armyowalgreens Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 03:29 AM
Response to Reply #20
23. I think freepers think the 3/5ths compromise is still in effect.
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armyowalgreens Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 06:16 AM
Response to Original message
24. Bump
The Freepers need to read this.
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Ganja Ninja Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 06:29 AM
Response to Original message
25. Please don't try to confuse the issue with facts.
They just bounce off the birthers like bullets off Superman.
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Vinca Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 06:36 AM
Response to Original message
26. I'm sure they consider the Constitution a mere technicality.
:rofl: After all, they're happy to give up rights at the drop of a hat.
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armyowalgreens Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 06:59 AM
Response to Reply #26
27. Yep. They reference the constitution when it helps them out.
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brendan120678 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 02:36 PM
Response to Original message
30. I think that most Freepers try to call out paragraph (g) of the Code.
Edited on Mon Aug-03-09 02:41 PM by brendan120678
Paragraph (d) says that one parent must be a citizen, and the other a "national, but not a citizen of the United States."
Was Barack Sr. a "national, but not a citizen of the United States"?

I don't even know if I know what that means.

(Edited a few times 'cause I'm too lazy to try Spell Check)
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Jim Lane Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 02:57 PM
Response to Original message
31. Sorry, but on at least one point, the Freepers are right and you're wrong
If Obama had been born in Kenya in 1961, he wouldn't be eligible.

You quote the current statute governing the citizenship of children born abroad with only one U.S. citizen parent. At the time of Obama's birth, however, the statute in effect was more restrictive. The foreign-born child would not be a U.S. citizen unless the sole U.S. citizen parent met certain conditions, including residing in the U.S. for at least five years after turning 14. Obama's mother resided continuously in the U.S. after turning 14 but was still only 18 when Obama was born, so she didn't meet the five-year requirement.

The consensus of legal scholars, as I understand it, is that the subsequent amendment of the statute is not retroactive. The citizenship of a child born in 1961 is determined according to the law in effect at that time.

Of course, Obama is a citizen because he was born in Hawaii. The point that really sticks in the Freepers' craw is that pesky Fourteenth Amendment. Even the child of two illegal aliens is a natural-born citizen if born on U.S. soil. This is called ("law of the soil"). Some European countries have moved away from this principle, perhaps because they don't like granting citizenship to the children of immigrants (especially Muslims), but it continues in full force in the United States.
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armyowalgreens Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:38 PM
Response to Reply #31
39. Yeah I just realized that Obama senior does not qualify as a national...
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librechik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:18 PM
Response to Original message
33. Jeopardy of Common Knowledge on "Natural Born"
That's too many words to read in the constitution. Everybody knows Natural Born means no anesthesia. Or Whereas, any woman who gave birth to a half black baby in 1961 was doing something "Un-natural."

They know what they are talking about, these birthers. And it's got nothing to do with the Constitution. Which they don't like, because it protects people they don't like.
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Hugabear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:25 PM
Response to Original message
34. But what about Barrack's mother's birth certificate?
You know that's how they would respond.
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DFW Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:29 PM
Response to Original message
35. Lei it go? Do you realize what you are asking of them?
If they let it go, they might have nothing left to discuss but issues of substance. That's like asking
your cat to discuss quantum physics while translating Basque poetry into Sanskrit.

Don't hold your breath.
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FSogol Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:29 PM
Response to Original message
36. So if you Mom had a Cesarean, you can't be President? What about preemies?
:shrug:
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sledgehammer Donating Member (774 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:32 PM
Response to Original message
37. Great letter, but one correction
United States Code, Title 8, Section 1401 (d) does not apply to Obama as this requires the other parent to be a US "national" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_nationality_law#Nationals_who_are_not_citizens).

Obama's father was not a US "national", he was an "alien". So this clause does not apply to Obama's situation. If Obama were born outside the US, he would not be considered a natural born citizen because of this clause that was in effect at that time:

"(g) 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 ten years, at least five of which were after attaining the age of fourteen years"

This clause was amended in 1988 to its current version:

"(g) 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"

Love the tone of your letter though! Great stuff. I can't believe I'm enjoying reading freeper comments. But if we are pointing out inaccuracies to them, let's be as accurate as possible ourselves.
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paulkienitz Donating Member (313 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:40 PM
Response to Original message
40. wait, I don't think section (d) would apply...
That would require Barack Sr. to have been a "national". I'm pretty sure he wasn't. The status of being a national but not a citizen is kind of a rare special case.

Also I think John McCain qualifies not under (g), but under either (c) or (e) depending on whether the Panama base counts as a "possession".
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armyowalgreens Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:42 PM
Response to Reply #40
41. From what I understand, McCain was not born on the base...
I've heard that the hospital he was born in was not actually on the military base.


And I realized after editing limits that (d) would not apply because Obama senior is was not a national.
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paulkienitz Donating Member (313 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 08:45 PM
Response to Reply #41
58. all of Panama might have been a "possession" back then
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TexasProgresive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 08:47 PM
Response to Reply #58
59. Only the canal zone. n/t
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humbled_opinion Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:55 PM
Response to Original message
43. I believe their goal is to deteriorate Obama's credibility
So the goal of the Wackoo's on the right is to prove that he was not physically born in Hawaii as he has stated he was. To them it validates them and makes Obama out to be a liar.

Of course there is no legal recourse to remove him from being the President no matter where he was born as you succinctly point out.

From what I have read and understand they will never let this go until they see the long version of his Birth Certificate.

There are some sites promoting charitable donations in the name of the doctor that birth Obama, letters being written to the WH for the same information, some saying would Obama deny much needed charity keeping the name of his birth doctor a secret why would he do that and why is that doctors name not public information.

I have seen others stating they want to honor the birth doctor because Obama was the first President born in Hawaii.

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ms liberty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 04:58 PM
Response to Original message
44. K&R, and thanks for pointing out the obvious to the ignorant...n/t
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valerief Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 05:00 PM
Response to Original message
45. Don't confuse them with facts. Besides, they're not apt to read this at all.
Nice post, though.
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cascadiance Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 05:20 PM
Response to Original message
46. Why weren't California Republicans as demanding that an AMERICAN run their own party!
Edited on Mon Aug-03-09 05:23 PM by cascadiance
When they staff it with Canadian and Australian nationals, even with H-1B Visas! Oh wait, they're white guys! So that must make it OK!

http://www.nysun.com/national/two-top-california-republicans-are-aliens/57203/

Two Top California Republicans Are Aliens
By JOSH GERSTEIN, Staff Reporter of the Sun | June 25, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Republican Party is coming under criticism for its decision to hire political operatives who are not American citizens for two top jobs.

In March, the state party hired an Australian, Michael Kamburowski, to be its chief operating officer. He now lives in America on a so-called green card, but he was ordered deported in 2001. That order was eventually lifted, though he is now suing the Department of Homeland Security for $41 million over an episode in 2004 where he was jailed for 30 days by immigration authorities, according to court records.

Recently, the party gave the position of research and political technology director to a Canadian, Christopher Matthews. Mr. Matthews is presently in America on a special work visa for Mexican and Canadian nationals, but California GOP officials applied for and received a coveted "H1B" visa for him, a party spokesman said. The H1B program is the subject of intense lobbying by the technology industry, which has urged Congress to increase the annual allotment of 65,000 visas for skilled workers.

Last night, one of the men abruptly resigned. "The California Republican Party Operations Committee held a teleconference tonight with Mike Kamburowski where he offered his resignation, which has been accepted," the state party chairman, Ronald Nehring, said in a terse statement e-mailed to The New York Sun. "We thank him for his service."

...
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Cartoonist Donating Member (188 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 06:44 PM
Response to Original message
48. You're wasting your time.
At this point, there is only one thing that will stop the freepers' obsession with this birther nonsense, and that is for Queen Sarah to tell her subjects to knock it off.
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eomer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 07:01 PM
Response to Original message
49. 6 previous US Presidents had foreign born parents. Obama is the 7th.
Edited on Mon Aug-03-09 07:05 PM by eomer
6 previous US Presidents had foreign born parents. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) is the only president born of two immigrants, both Irish. Presidents with one immigrant parent are Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809), whose mother was born in England, James Buchanan (1857-1861) and Chester Arthur (1881-1885), both of whom had Irish fathers, and Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) and Herbert Hoover (1929-1933), whose mothers were born respectively in England and Canada.

Obama will be the 7th US President with at least one foreign born President, since his father was a Kenyan native. His mother was born in Kansas.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_you_allowed_to_run_for_president_if_your_parents_are_foreign_but_you_were_born_in_the_U.S.


Edit to add: President Herbert Hoover was a Republican; his mother was born in Canada.
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kirby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 07:22 PM
Response to Original message
50. Too many words for them to comprehend n/t
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bulloney Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 07:30 PM
Response to Original message
51. It's one thing to be so damned ignorant. It's another thing to put it out there like you're proud.
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subcomhd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 07:33 PM
Response to Original message
52. K&R bless your little heart aow
As usual it is in the right place. But alas, your naivete is showing again. Trying to use logic on freepers, tisk, tisk.
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POAS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 07:33 PM
Response to Original message
53. "Go, flourish and be marry." ???????
Don't encourage freeper reproduction, please!
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zbdent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 07:35 PM
Response to Original message
54. if you were born by c-section ... you can't be prez ...
that ain't nachurl ...
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SunDrop23 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-03-09 08:50 PM
Response to Original message
60. I say "now please take this information back to your friends.."
and shove it up your collective asses.
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sorrowspath Donating Member (56 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-04-09 06:14 AM
Response to Reply #60
62. I asked a freeper
Edited on Tue Aug-04-09 06:14 AM by sorrowspath
if he's a natural born citizen and he said "Of course i am.I ain't CESAREAN .
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SunDrop23 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-04-09 02:52 PM
Response to Reply #62
64. Sadly that could have been my brother you were talking to (nfm)
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beac Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-04-09 02:54 PM
Response to Original message
65. K (sadly too late to R!), but probably too well-explained and rational for the average freeper
brain to process. Their neurons only respond to rabid wingnuttery... and the smell of a freshly opened bag of Cheetos.
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Q3JR4 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-05-09 02:34 AM
Response to Original message
68. So if someone isn't a natural born
citizen because one of their parents wasn't a U.S. citizen at the time of that person's birth does that mean that everyone who ever came into the U.S. is not a natural born citizen (since, you know, "it doesn't matter where the birth took place")? That means that somewhere along the line your great grandfather's, mother's, father's, mother's, father's, father's, mother's, mother's, grandmother wasn't a U.S. citizen. If that's the case her granddaughter's, daughter's, son's, son's, daughter's, son's, daughter's, son's, grandchild isn't a U.S. citizen either (if I have to spell it out for you--which I'm sure I do--the grandmother's granddaughter's, daughter's, son's, son's, daughter's, son's, daughter's, son's, grandchild may be YOU...).

How far back are we gonna take this thing? Can you be a natural born citizen without being a Native American? Or do we have to go back to when humanity was all in Africa? What about the pre-humans? Are we going to count them?

You all need to quit being a bunch of idiots and use your heads for a change.*

Q3JR4.
*Steps for head use:
step 1, remove head from ass
step 2, use head for it's intended purpose
step 3, repeat should it become necessary

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