Natural born citizen

[Judy G. Russell]

I got an email last night that just infuriated me. It claimed that Barack Obama wasn't qualified to be President because his father was not a US citizen and his mother hadn't lived in the United States long enough before Obama was born for him to qualify as a natural born citizen.

WRONG.

Here are the facts:

Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution provides that anyone who is a "natural born citizen... of the United States" is eligible to be President of the United States.

Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961.

Hawaii was admitted to the Union as a state in 1959, under President Eisenhower. It was, therefore, part of the United States in 1961.

The 14th amendment to the Constitution of the United States provides, in part, that "All persons born ... in the United States... are citizens of the United States..." And Section 1401 of Title 8 of the United States Code provides: "The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth: (a) a person born in the United States..."

Doesn't matter what citizenship your parents have; if you are born in the United States, you are a natural born citizen and eligible to be President.

So yes, in fact, Barack Obama IS eligible to be President of the United States.

You know, if folks don't want to vote for Obama, they're certainly free to vote for the other guy or to choose not to vote at all. But this kind of stupid (and clearly deliberate) misinformation is just plain, well, unAmerican.

[davidh]

But this kind of stupid (and clearly deliberate) misinformation is just plain, well, unAmerican.Since you did not specify, I'll assume that lying on the other hand is American.

DH

[Judy G. Russell]

Since you did not specify, I'll assume that lying on the other hand is American.And "deliberate misinformation" differs from "lying" just how (other than in the number of letters or syllables)?

[sidney]

Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution provides that anyone who is a "natural born citizen... of the United States" is eligible to be President of the United States

Well, you know that sword cuts both ways. McCain doesn't qualify as a natural born citizen because he was delivered with a Caesarian section. (Actually, I just made that up :) ) And Cheney should not have been eligible to be Vice President, because the VP has to be eligible to be President, i.e., natural born, and he is the result of a summoning of a spirit to animate a clay statue in a Satanic ritual (and I didn't make that up, except I can't locate the reference to the proof of that fact at the moment).

[Judy G. Russell]

...Cheney ... is the result of a summoning of a spirit to animate a clay statue in a Satanic ritual.I do believe it, I do, I do!

[Mike]

McCain doesn't qualify as a natural born citizen because ...
Surprisingly, no one is making issue that he was born in the Panama Canal Zone, which was under American control, but is not American soil.

clay statue
Not to mention the clay was dredged from a landfill.

[sidney]

no one is making issue that he was born in the Panama Canal Zone

It's been mentioned (http://www.google.com/search?q=mccain+panama+canal+natural+born+citizen) . That link is a Google search that as of right now when I tried it returned as top hits NY Times, MSNBC, and Snopes articles.

I thought after I entered my post that I remembered something funny to bring up about McCain, but I got lazy and stayed with the Caesarian story. These things are better the less truth they have in them anyway. Except for the Cheney thing, which is 100% true, including your bit about the landfill.

[ktinkel]

Surprisingly, no one is making issue that he was born in the Panama Canal Zone, which was under American control, but is not American soil.It has certainly been mentioned recently, and I think I read in a NYTimes article that several years ago (maybe before McCain’s first presidential run) someone — Congress, a court — vetted his eligibility and found it legit. “Dithering” evidently does not disqualify him either.

[Judy G. Russell]

Surprisingly, no one is making issue that he was born in the Panama Canal Zone, which was under American control, but is not American soil.It's been mentioned. It's even the subject of a bill in the Senate -- supported, I might add, by Obama -- declaring that this is a non-issue given that McCain's father was serving in the military at the time,

[Mike]

It's been mentioned. It's even the subject of a bill in the Senate -- supported, I might add, by Obama -- declaring that this is a non-issue given that McCain's father was serving in the military at the time,
And I missed all the discussion? Fer shame. <g>

I know my Italian birth would be the biggest controversy should I decide to run for president. (My father also was in the military when I was born.) Maybe the bill will become law and people will focus on other things.

[ktinkel]

I know my Italian birth would be the biggest controversy should I decide to run for president.Oh, of course! :)

[Judy G. Russell]

I know my Italian birth would be the biggest controversy should I decide to run for president.Well, maybe not the biggest controversy...

[Mike]

Well, maybe not the biggest controversy...
Oh? Something else could be more controversial?

[Judy G. Russell]

Oh? Something else could be more controversial?Yes. This country is NOT prepared to vote for a man with a goatee.

[sidney]

Yes. This country is NOT prepared to vote for a man with a goatee.

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/3/P/bush_unclesam.jpg

[Judy G. Russell]

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/3/P/bush_unclesam.jpgNow if HE were a candidate...!

[sidney]

Now if HE were a candidate...!

What, did you also fall for his "mission accomplished" padded jumpsuit? Or did you not notice the face on that body in the picture? :)

[Judy G. Russell]

Or did you not notice the face on that body in the picture? :)EEEEEEK!!! No, I didn't notice. EEEEEEK!

[Mike]

Yes. This country is NOT prepared to vote for a man with a goatee.
No problem! Until two weeks ago, I had a full beard. I only switched to the goatee at that time because our weather was warmer. I'm sure that by October, I'll be regrowing the beard.

[Judy G. Russell]

No problem! Until two weeks ago, I had a full beard. I only switched to the goatee at that time because our weather was warmer. I'm sure that by October, I'll be regrowing the beard.Well, then, that's okay!

[Jeff]

What, did you also fall for his "mission accomplished" padded jumpsuit? Or did you not notice the face on that body in the picture? :)

I noticed the face, and the lamb's wool tutu, but even at 400% magnification I cannot make out the tattoos.

- Jeff

[sidney]

I cannot make out the tattoos

It's nothing special. USA and the air force symbol. Here it is blown up and enhanced a bit. I think it will show up as a thumbnail that you have to click to see the full size.

[poakes]

No problem! Until two weeks ago, I had a full beard. I only switched to the goatee at that time because our weather was warmer. I'm sure that by October, I'll be regrowing the beard.

Need one of these? http://www.likecool.com/GoateeSaver--Grooming--Body.html

-poakes

[Mike]

I think it will show up as a thumbnail that you have to click to see the full size.
And it's easier to discern it in the thumbnail than in the full-size image!

[Mike]

Need one of these?
Jay Leno demonstrated one on The Tonight Show about six weeks ago.

I think that's a good argument that it's now time to go back to the beard!

[Judy G. Russell]

I think that's a good argument that it's now time to go back to the beard!ROFL! I was thinking the same thing! Especially given the description (invoking Hannibal Lechter????).

[Mike]

Especially given the description (invoking Hannibal Lechter????).
Not to mention that using it requires one to chomp down on a bit, while shaving.