reply to post by IAttackPeople
The real problem is that some people seem to think that "natural born" means "born on U.S. soil". It doesn't.
My sine qua non on John McCain
US Constitution, Article 2, Section 1, Clause 4. “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.”
It speaks for itself that the Founders KNEW the difference between a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN and a CITIZEN. Otherwise using both in the same sentence
would be nonsensical. The Founders differentiated citizens in a clear way as to which class of citizen was eligible to be president. They understood
what NATURAL BORN meant.
The Founders set forth 3 requirements for anyone seeking the high office of president. 1) Nature of citizenship, 2) attained age and 3) years in
residence. The first,
nature of citizenship, is qualified. One is to be not just a citizen, but must ALSO be a
natural born citizen. Had
the Founders cared not a whit about the birth origin of the president, they would have left that out. But they did care and inserted the NATURAL BORN
phrase. AS to number 3, No one would argue 14 years living in Panama would meet this qualification. See below.
I assert that all the Founders knew full well that NATURAL BORN meant born on the soil. I offer this as evidence: Historians say the
exception
clause - or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution - was inserted at the request of George Washington to
make his close friend Alexander Hamilton eligible to the presidency. Hamilton was the senior aide-de-camp and confidant to General George Washington
and led three battalions at the decisive Siege of Yorktown. Hamilton was born on the British West Indian island of Nevis.
en.wikipedia.org... Resume.
The writers of the Article Two clearly meant to differentiate between NATURAL BORN citizens and NATURALIZED citizens of the United States.
The First Article endowed Congress with the power to make uniform rules for naturalization [of immigrants]. See Article 1, Section 8. The Congress
shall have power . . . Clause 4. To establish a uniform rule of naturalization . . “ Couple this provision with the “necessary and proper”
clause in Clause 18. To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers
vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.”
Say Hello Citizen John McCain. But note the Constitution does not give Congress the power to suspend NATURE. Congress cannot make John McCain NATURAL
BORN. Only his mother could do that and she choose not to. Aside: I suspect that John is eligible for dual citizenship in Panama, if he ever needs
that.
Point of Interest: Signatories to the United States Constitution - -
“Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and eighty seven and of the independence of the United States of America the twelfth.
In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,
G. Washington-Presidt. and deputy from Virginia . . . [for others see link]
www.law.cornell.edu...
HISTORY. Twelve states sent delegates to the Philadelphia Convention. Rhode Island refused to send delegates The US Con was ratified by the
requisite 9 states on June 21, 1788. Rhode Island did not ratify the US Con for nearly 2 years, on May 29, 1790.
The FIRST presidential election was held on January 7, 1789, but not all electors were chosen that day. Some states held popular elections, some held
conventions and still other electors were appointed by the legislature. Only ten states voted in that election. NY could not agree on electors and NC
and RI signed on too late.
Thirteen men were considered for our FIRST president but when George Washington consented to serve, the electors voted to a man for Washington. The
first inauguration was held on April 30, 1789, just 57 days behind the Constitutional provision of March 4.
gwpapers.virginia.edu...
[edit on 7/14/2008 by donwhite]
