Amendment: The President Elect will provide records of eligibility prior to taking office.

[Danno 1,228]

I wouldn't consider myself a "Birther" because I think in all likelihood, Obama was born on US soil.... but due to the distraction it has cause I wonder....

Is it time to pass an amendment which requires future Presidents elect as well as other member of the house or Senate to provide proof of the documents, required by the Constitution?

I would imagine all other Federal Employees are required to provide documents which show they are eligible for the position they have sought.... why do Politicians get a pass.

Or perhaps, the Elected-Class are above all this?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Ok so that requirement is made. Hasn't Obama done this? They interviewed the clerk who retrieved his birth certificate. I think conspiracy theorists want a law that the original copy be paraded around Washington or something. And even then they would claim its a fake.

[jundp 191]

He's an American citizen. He provided the documentation necessary. Hmm...did anyone ask for Bush's "long form birth certificate"? Or Reagan's? Or Clinton's? etc?

Is it because our president has a name that people are suspicious of? Because he's black? Because his father is from Africa?

I think this whole thing is absolutely ridonkulous.

[mawilson 2,133]

Is it because our president has a name that people are suspicious of? Because he's black? Because his father is from Africa?

Well duh, of course because his father is from Africa.

If both his parents were Americans, this wouldn't be an issue, regardless of where he was born.

John McCain was born in Panama, yet he's a natural-born US citizen because *both* his parents were US citizens.

[Danno 1,228]

Ok so that requirement is made. Hasn't Obama done this? They interviewed the clerk who retrieved his birth certificate. I think conspiracy theorists want a law that the original copy be paraded around Washington or something. And even then they would claim its a fake.

You might very well be right, politics what it is would actually demand that real verification of documents be made as a rule... not as a tradition (as it releasing tax records).

THis amendment would have no effect on any sitting member but on future ones and it is intended to eliminate or minimize the very thing you mentioned.

BY the way, I hardly see the media interviewing a "clerk" as a method any other job position would accept as proof.

[Peikko 1,575]

You might very well be right, politics what it is would actually demand that real verification of documents be made as a rule... not as a tradition (as it releasing tax records).

THis amendment would have no effect on any sitting member but on future ones and it is intended to eliminate or minimize the very thing you mentioned.

BY the way, I hardly see the media interviewing a "clerk" as a method any other job position would accept as proof.

You really are odd with the things you choose to believe. My son's birth certificate is exactly the same. Neither I, nor anyone other than the records department can access the 'original' birth certificate. However, the short form birth certificate is absolute proof of his birth and place of birth and that is what is issued and from that he can get a passport (he did), he gains his nationality status and was able to immigrate to the US. Do you think my son's immigration status is suspect because I can't produce a 'long form' birth certificate for him and only a 'clerk' can certify that the birth record I have matches the information on the original?

Edited April 20, 2011 by The Truth™

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I wouldn't consider myself a "Birther" because I think in all likelihood, Obama was born on US soil....

You might not consider yourself a birther but you clearly expose yourself as one.

[jundp 191]

Well duh, of course because his father is from Africa.

If both his parents were Americans, this wouldn't be an issue, regardless of where he was born.

John McCain was born in Panama, yet he's a natural-born US citizen because *both* his parents were US citizens.

Oh, duh...

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Why wait until after we've gone through the election cycle before expecting proof? They need to produce substantial proof to qualify to run, IMO.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

You might very well be right, politics what it is would actually demand that real verification of documents be made as a rule... not as a tradition (as it releasing tax records).

THis amendment would have no effect on any sitting member but on future ones and it is intended to eliminate or minimize the very thing you mentioned.

BY the way, I hardly see the media interviewing a "clerk" as a method any other job position would accept as proof.

That was more for birther consumption.

Why wait until after we've gone through the election cycle before expecting proof? They need to produce substantial proof to qualify to run, IMO.

Do you trust the records of the state of Hawaii and the officials working there?

Edited April 20, 2011 by Sousuke

[Peikko 1,575]

Perhaps a whole new VJ birther movement will spring up to demand my son be deported for being in the US illegally?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Do you trust the records of the state of Hawaii and the officials working there?

No.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

No.

Once government records are no longer trusted there can be no proof

[Peikko 1,575]

No.

That's loony.

[The Dude 206]

I wouldn't consider myself a "Birther" because I think in all likelihood, Obama was born on US soil.... but due to the distraction it has cause I wonder....

Is it time to pass an amendment which requires future Presidents elect as well as other member of the house or Senate to provide proof of the documents, required by the Constitution?

I would imagine all other Federal Employees are required to provide documents which show they are eligible for the position they have sought.... why do Politicians get a pass.

Or perhaps, the Elected-Class are above all this?

Danno, there is no need for a constitutional amendment to legitimize the histrionics of birthers like you.Fact of the matter is, eligibility requirements are already in the constitution (Article 2, Section 1, Clause 5). Federal election commission enforce federal election laws that state that only a natural born citizen can run for president. Birthers don't seem to even realize the insanity of the logistics needed to support their suggestion that he was born in Kenya, not to mention the massive government coverup and forged documents to illegally get him into the country. Here is the text, since you clearly haven't read the constitution in a while:

Article. II.

Section. 1.

Clause 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

Clause 2: 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.

Clause 3: 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. (See Note 8)

Clause 4: 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.

Clause 5: 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.

Clause 6: 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, (See Note 9) the Same shall devolve on the VicePresident, 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.

Clause 7: The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased 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.

Clause 8: 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."

Well duh, of course because his father is from Africa.

If both his parents were Americans, this wouldn't be an issue, regardless of where he was born.

John McCain was born in Panama, yet he's a natural-born US citizen because *both* his parents were US citizens.

Not entirely true. He was born in the Panama Canal Zone, a military zone that is considered U.S. soil. So even if one of his parents was not American, he would still be a natural born American.