reply to post by joesomebody
The Constitution isn't set in stone, as it has been modified via such amendments for ages. Learn how our government works. I suggest civics classes.
Good observations, Mr J/S. This is my 5th post on this thread so I'll let it be my last.
On the issue of what class of citizen can be president.
US Constitution,
Article 1, Section 2, Clause 2:
No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States,
and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.
Article 1, Section 3, Clause 2:
No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States and who shall
not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen.
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.
Argument.
I am embarrassed to have overlooked this self-contained explanation written by the Founders themselves. When read in this context, it is clear the
Founders knew there was a difference in being a naturalized citizen and a natural born citizen. As to whether Congress has power to make a person
"natural born" I say NO. See Article 1, Section 8, Clause 4: [The Congress shall have power] To establish a uniform rule of naturalization . .
I would ask anyone who thinks Congress can make persons born outside the United States a "natural born" citizen to answer this: Would you also say
living outside the US, in the Panama Canal Zone for example, for 14 years but otherwise not in the US, would satisfy the presidential residency
requirement? If "yes" then you have no problem with "natural born" but if "no" then you do.
Conclusion.
Not being a religious person I hesitate to say this, but it is so succinct that I'm going to say it anyway: Congress can make anyone a citizen but
only GOD can make a natural born citizen.
From Headline Captoin
On May 1, 1992, the third day of the L.A riots, Rodney King appeared in public before television news cameras to appeal for calm, asking:
“People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along? Can we get along? Can we stop making it, making it horrible for the older people and
the kids?...It’s just not right. It’s not right. It’s not, it’s not going to change anything. We’ll, we’ll get our justice....Please, we
can get along here. We all can get along. I mean, we’re all stuck here for a while. Let’s try to work it out. Let’s try to beat it. Let’s try
to beat it. Let’s try to work it out.” In October 2008, King will appear on the second season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.
en.wikipedia.org...
[edit on 7/15/2008 by donwhite]