What do you all think about allowing foreign born people to run for pres

[JohnKleeb]

Since we got some here, I am just curious. I like the Conyers bill which says basically if you live in this country for 20 years and are a citizen, you can run for president. Feel free to disagree, I think many on here oppose the idea because of Arnold, well that doesnt mean we should say screw you to people like Granholm of Michigan or people that we know and count as friends, coworkers, etc from running should they choose. I understand some of the concerns people have.

[JI7]

1. i support it and i agree it shouldn't be based on Arnold

and as you mention of the conyers bill there should be certain requirements like having lived in america and been a citizen for a certain number of years. no dual citizenship allowed. they have to totally renounce whatever citizenship they were before.

[JohnKleeb]

2. I thought you'd agree knowing that I know you're foreign born

Yes, no dual citizenship allowed, I agree.

[JI7]

3. for a while i actually was kind of against it

just because i thought it wasn't really needed or that big an issue.

but when you look at the history of the country it's a history of immigrants. and of course there are a lot of immigrants in the military. one of the objections was when you think a foreign born can run for president you kind of think someone coming to america and running just a few years after being a citizen and never having lived here that long. but the amendment would require certain years .and of course many foreign born have been in america most of their lives. i have been here since i was a year old and Jennifer Granholm has been here since she was 3.

what i would love is for the republican idiots to pass it thinking it would help Arnold, but we run Granholm the same year and she kicks his ass.

[LittleClarkie]

4. As with Delay

It should be amusing when someone the Repubs don't like tries to run for Prez. Gotta love it when they put a rule in place under Dems, then try to reverse themselves when it's one of their guys in the spotlight.

[Blaukraut]

5. I like Conyers' idea

Being foreign born myself, I always supported the idea - with stipulations, of course such as mentioned above - 20 year citizenship, renouncing any other citizenship that might still be held.
If a foreign born person can join the US military and put his life at risk to earn his citizenship (this just as an example), why should he or she be any less of a citizen than those born on US soil?

[GRLMGC]

6. I opposed it at first because I was thinking of Arnold

but how ridiculous is that considering I'm foreign born? Not to mention the xenophobic arguments against it that I've read. It's not something that I'm actively hoping for but if it does pass, I'm not going to be opposed to either. I don't have strong feelings about it, basically.

[elshiva]

7. I guess I opposed it just because of Arnold, too.

I think it should be a law that you have to lived here for at least 20 years, so you know the country. I agree that if you've lived here since you were a kid, you know the place probably as much as a person that is born here.
Good point about foreign people serving in the military. But, remember that immigrants hold almost every other job in this country from dishwasher to governor. I'm sure they can do a good job as prez.
I also agree about no dual citizenship, their loyalty as president must be primarily to the USA.

[Siyahamba]

8. I agree, but why the 20 year rule?

Once you're a citizen, you're a citizen - there should be no second-class citizens. Does anyone in 2005 seriously believe a foreign national is going to sneak into the presidency and sign the US over to their birth country?

[JI7]

9. it's just better and more acceptable that way

i think that is the reason many oppose it in the first place. another thing is some rich person could just come here and get on the ballots through their use of money. like rupert murdoch.

the 20 years rule makes people more willing to accept the idea and i just don't see anything wrong with that rule anyways.

[Siyahamba]

10. But why?

How is it "just better and more acceptable?" People never explain why there should be some clause in there. As for some rich person coming here and getting on the ballots through money, they could just as easily do it after 20 years. I think the voting public would see through anyone just trying to buy their way into office. Let the voters decide. If people don't like that someone hasn't been here x number of years, they just won't vote for them. You'd think we'd know better than to put discrimination into the Constitution.

[JI7]

12. because with the 20 or more years rule

people know for sure that whoever is running has been here that long. i'm saying it's better even for the foreign born who run since people would know they can only do it if they have been here for a long time.

[Siyahamba]

14. It's not hard to find out how long someone has been a US citizen.

Certainly not someone running for president, with all the scrutiny they're put through. If a voter is not happy with how long someone has been a US citizen, he or she can simply decide to not vote for them.

[ginnyinWI]

11. I'd rather see a 30 year minimum

That would make it a period of most peoples' adult lives, if for example they run when they are about 50 years old. But even then I don't know if the majority would accept it, and a party would probably run an American born first, if he/she was similarly qualified. Just my take on things.

[JI7]

13. i'm thinking 30 is better also

i assume most foreign born who do take advantage of such things would probably be those who are pretty well known or have developed a certain positive view in most american's eyes.

people wouldn't just find out the were foreign born at the time they decide to run. arnold is a good example although i would never support him.

we haven't even moved away from having someone other than a white male christian be president so i think even with the amendment a foreign born will not actually be president until much later.even a white catholic guy like Kerry has a certain prejudice against him just for being from Massachusettes. but it's a good first step to get it in the constitution. and of course get future generations to learn about immigration in america.

[Pirate Smile]

15. It would make sense to make it 35 years since you have to be 35 years

old to run for President in the first place.