Letting Foreign Born Citizens run for President: A Modest Proposal

[Sandpiper]

We all know that the sole motivation behind the GOP's rumblings to amend the Constitution to let naturalized citizens run for President is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Notwithstanding though, I think this is an idea that deserves consideration from thoughtful people.

It is something we need to be careful about though. There are legitimate concerns of national security, considering that the POTUS is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Hence, my proposal...

Part 1:

Naturalized citizens who attained their citizenship prior to their 18th birthday are eligible to run for President at 35 the same as natural born citizens.

Part 2:

Naturalized citizens who attained their citizenship after their 18th birthday must be citizens for at least half of their natural lives, or a maximum 35 years, whichever is shorter.

Or Possibly:

Naturalized citizens are eligible to run for President after 35 years of U.S. citizenship.


Your thoughts?

[The Zanti Regent]

1. NO!

I remember all too well what happened the last time an Austrian hijacked a world power!

[whistle]

2. Right, it would make more sense to allow a Canadian...

...to run for president then Arnold

[Melodybe]

4. It is not Arnold that they want to be President but Rupert Murdoch

Arnold is a sheild for Murdoch.

[whistle]

9. Murdoch is not Canadian, he's Australian, isn't that interesting...

...that Australian and Austrian are separated only by "al".

[oneold1-4u]

7. World leaders

I have to agree with no, although through the many years there have been a couple of brilliant foreign statesmen and women who have put our leaders into the class of ridiculous, ignorant, uninformed and unintelligent.

[bullimiami]

3. Arnold has DUAL citizenship.

I think this would make him ineligible because I suspect any amendment would prohibit this.

I would think they would need to have sole american citizenship for the full period, renouncing all other claims.

Probably once they realize der governator is a lost cause they will drop this.

[Sandpiper]

5. Good Call

I forgot about that!

Yeah, renouncing any dual citizenship would be an absolute must.

[LiberalFighter]

15. And there would have to be sufficient time requirement after

relinquishing dual citizenship.

[stubertmcfly]

6. personally...

...i don't see what the big deal is. i think that there should be some time constraints (as mentioned above) but other than that, what is the big deal with letting a foreign-born person who is a citizen and has been for a long time be president?

i really don't see arnold getting the nod and if you require citizenship time limits or "prior-to" dates, then he probably wouldn't even be eligible.

and i am not so sure that the repubs would be able to get him nominated anyway. he has some fairly large skeletons in his closet as well as being pretty liberal in many respects. not too sure the right wing would let that fly.

and... in response to Zanti's comment, not ALL austrians are hitler. jeez.

[wantedtohelp]

12. Fear

For some reasons americans believe anyone foreign is a potential threat to them. (which is why they are massacring Iraqis at this moment)

[Rob H.]

8. One thing that gets overlooked...

I was a Navy brat growing up and was born in Spain while my father was on active duty. Since the Navy was only leasing the base itself or possibly the land on which the base was built (at this point I don't remember which arrangement it was) from the Spanish government, I am considered to have been born on foreign soil, so I can't run for President, either. FWIW, I've spent most (okay, all) of my life since my dad's retirement from the military in the U.S.


Disclaimer: I don't want to run for President, so it really isn't that big a deal. I'm just sayin.'

[NoPasaran]

13. I've heard that there is some deal for us military brats

Born overseas that we actually are considered to have been born on US soil in case any of us is ever in the position of running for President. I don't have a source; could just be an urban legend for all I know.

[spooky3]

10. We should agree to this IF the Rethugs agree that

a President can run for a third and fourth term if there is at least a one term break after his/her second term.

Then we nominate Bill Clinton when the Rethugs nominate Arnold.

[seahawky]

11. The movement is for Arnold

The movement to change requirements for running for president are strictly motivated by the sudden rise and popularity of Governor Schwarzenegger (I can spell his name too). A Constitution amendment is highly unlikely, even with the efforts of Sen. Hatch.

[DebinTx]

14. No! Just think if this person were in the WH.

Kissinger.