Second class Citizens

[luckytxn 2,263]

Look at it the other way round where we are not the aggressor and not making the decisions. It might help the Chinese not to nuke us if we had a President who was born in China and came here at age 12 months. Rather than continuing to discriminate against worthy and loyal people on grounds of ethnic origins, we could be an example.

Any American could be Prime Minister of Britain and so could a Russian (born) or an Iranian (born).

Only a suspicion and a distrust of foreigners is behind this and that is small minded and does not fit with the modern world. I say vote on merit alone and let the people be the judge - not the law framers.

Americans should not be scared of the result of the American population expressing their preferences freely.

If Sarah was standing, I could understand why the candidate list should be restricted by law using arbitrary disqualifiers.

For the vjers who have a foreign spouse, pay them the compliment of saying that when they become citizens, they are equal to any American without any reservations.

We are definitely used to people come here and let us know how our constitution that has served us so well for so long and survived the test of time is outmoded and needs to change because where they are from is so much better. There is a huge reason that this is enshrined in our constitution and is the law of the land. Foreign born can't comprehend this though and that is the main reason that we should never ever consider them to lead this great nation.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

The problem is, this "Great Nation", which I love dearly, is sliding slowly down the drain in about everything (health care, education, infrastructure, etc.) because of a continuous dummification of the electorate. I think a foreign-born President would be the least of this Great Nation's problems.

What sets this nation apart from any other in the world in a positive way is also a hindrance when it comes to meaningful reform: the Constitution. There is simply no 2/3^rd support in the Congress to amend the Constitution, whether it comes to the 2^nd Article, or the 2^nd., the 14^th Amendment.

[chri'stina 190]

I haven't read all the posts in between the first page and right here, but I do think naturalized citizens should be allowed to be President. There could be a certain amount of years they should live here first. It's ridiculous to me that someone born in another country(who has no US Citizen parent) who moves here at a very young age, if they become a US Citizen eventually, can't become President one day.

Edited November 19, 2010 by chri'stina

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

What sets this nation apart from any other in the world in a positive way is also a hindrance when it comes to meaningful reform: the Constitution. There is simply no 2/3^rd support in the Congress to amend the Constitution, whether it comes to the 2^nd Article, or the 2^nd., the 14^th Amendment.

Wrong

Congress can only propose an amendment, but it always takes three fourths of the state legislatures to approve any change to the Constitution. The states can amend the Constitution, without Congress, or the President, or the Supreme Court getting involved at all.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Wrong

Congress can only propose an amendment, but it always takes three fourths of the state legislatures to approve any change to the Constitution. The states can amend the Constitution, without Congress, or the President, or the Supreme Court getting involved at all.

Good catch. I was careless in phrasing it, indeed.

What I should have said is that there's not even a 2/3^rd majority in Congress (more specific: in any of the two Houses) to even propose an amendment. By its very nature, a 3/4^th majority for ratification of the state legislature is completely out of the question at this time.

[pervez 4]

We are definitely used to people come here and let us know how our constitution that has served us so well for so long and survived the test of time is outmoded and needs to change because where they are from is so much better. There is a huge reason that this is enshrined in our constitution and is the law of the land. Foreign born can't comprehend this though and that is the main reason that we should never ever consider them to lead this great nation.

So do you think all "real americans" think the same way? Would you like to limit this perhaps even more to "real americans like me"?

We´ve got a saying back home that basically means that its a true friend that warns you about your flaws but doesn´t just tell you how great you are. So perhaps some of those "people come here and let us know how our constitution that has served us so well for so long and survived the test of time is outmoded and needs to change because where they are from is so much better" do have some grain of truth to some of their comments?

Unless you believe James Madison received the constitution complete from a burning bush somewhere on the top of a Virginia mountain you must realize that it can only be as perfect and flawed as we other mortal humans. 27 amendments since it was originally ratified show that it wasn´t perfect then, it very likely isn´t yet, and probably never will be.

Edited November 21, 2010 by pervez

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Naturalized Citizens of the USA can never become President.

Some say that only a person born and raised in the US can have the strength of allegiance required.

So:

Which has the strongest sense of being raised in the US and being 100% American....

A A child who was born in Vietnam, came to the country as a 4 month old adoption and who was raised in Washington DC by his Senator adopted father.

B A Child who as born in Hawaii and raised partly in Indonesia ?

Is it worth changing the Constitution to make millions of Naturalized Citizens feel equal ?

If a majority of the population wanted and VOTED for a Naturalized Citizen, say Kissinger or Schwarzenegger, should their wishes be overridden ?

Should a majority of the population be denied their choice ?

My wife says it is too humid in Washington and she has barred from running anyway - but what of the others ?

There is a procedure for changing the constitution. It is the "amendment". The constitution CAN be amended. It has not been in this regard. That would indicate there is no large amount of people who want to change the qualifications for President.

The President Represents the country not the "people" The US House of Representatives represents PEOPLE, the Senate represents STATES at least in theory, but since we AMENDED the constitution to allow for elected Senators instead of appointed Senators, it is arguable if they represent anyone but the contributors of large sums of money.

Naturalized citizens CAN be Senators or Representatives.

I am a native born citizen and I do not feel "more equal" because I can run for President.

Edited November 22, 2010 by Gary and Alla

[Danno 1,228]

The old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" has a lot of merit in my opinion.

And one has to think long-term as well, who knows in another 50-100 years what things will be like.

With so much of the world and even Government going Global..... this one provision in the Constitution might turn out to be another "nugget of wisdom" from the Founders.