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OK, but why shouldn't this person be eligible to run for U.S. President?
Also, in regards to your argument in regards to natural-born U.S. citizens living abroad for decades, couldn't one make the same argument in regards to the American people not electing such a naturalized U.S. citizen (but saying that this naturalized U.S. citizen should still be able to run for U.S. President in the first place)?
ok again, the second person CAN NOT prove they are a natural born citizen because of the adoption. and in fact they are NOT natural born US citizens since you made the claim that they were born in another country to parents that were NOT US citizens.
and again regarding the first person, chances are good that they wont survive the primary challenges because of their choice to live outside the US for years as an adult. obama got a pass for two reasons, the first was that he was a youth when he lived overseas and thus had no choice as to where he wanted to live, and second he was the democrats rock star golden boy and as sush the media and the democrat party protected him from attacks like where his loyalties lie.
I don't think it should be abolished. There may be some people that would be good that are ruled out as a result but you have to consider who you "rule in" without standards. No system is perfect.
ok again, the second person CAN NOT prove they are a natural born citizen because of the adoption. and in fact they are NOT natural born US citizens since you made the claim that they were born in another country to parents that were NOT US citizens.
OK, but why shouldn't the law be CHANGED to allow the second person in my scenario to run for U.S. President?
Yes. To think that a person owes some sort of extra fealty to their nation by virtue of who their parents were or what land they were born on is incredibly asinine.
I've met immigrants whose fervent nationalism for the US would put Jesse Helms to shame, and I've met natural-born Americans who pretty much hate the US.
As much as I dislike him, Henry Kissinger is a prime example of someone who was never eligible to run for President even though he'd performed more civil service for this country than 99% of Americans.
All citizens should be equal in terms of rights - including eligibility for President. Let the lobbyists, the 1%, and voters decide if they support a hypothetical Kenyan Muslim as President.
I voted yes, but I'd add qualifications to that yes vote.
I'd require that to be president, one would need to be a citizen of the United States, either natural-born or naturalized, that one would need to be a citizen of the U.S. for at least 30 years and that one would have to be a permanent resident of the U.S. for at least 25 years prior to election to the office of President.
I'd keep the requirement for the office that the President be at least 35 years of age.
This way a person who becomes a naturalized citizen at 20 years of age and resides continuously within the United States for at least 25 years as a citizen, could at 50 years of age be eligible for the Presidency.
Likewise, a person who is born in the United States and who spends at least 25 years as a permanent resident of the U.S. can become eligible for the Presidency at 35 years of age.
I know that the original intent for the 'natural born' clause was to preclude European aristocracy from using wealth, charm and power to obtain the Presidency, but IMO that is no longer an issue as the United States is now a world super power instead of a fledgling republic.
You can't "abolish" an Article in the US Constitution. An article can be amended.
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