[Godebert]

The patrilineal thesis that Tribe is espousing was indeed the rule in 1789. It is no longer, but that is not because of any 'living constitution' bullcrap. It is because of the 14th Amendment.

In defining what an Article II natural born Citizen is, we do not seek to read into the Constitution that which was not intended and written there by the Framers. Despite popular belief, the Fourteenth Amendment does not convey the status of "natural born Citizen" in its text nor in its intent. Some add an implication to the actual wording of the Fourteenth Amendment by equating the amendment's "citizen" to Article II's "natural born Citizen." But nowhere does the 14th Amendment confer "natural born citizen" status. The words simply do not appear there, but some would have us believe they are implied. But the wording of the Amendment is clear in showing that it confers citizenship only and nothing more.

Neither the 14th Amendment nor Wong Kim Ark make one a Natural Born Citizen

[John Valentine]

You have totally misrepresented my views.

I never said that the 14th Amendment redefined the term natural born citizen in any way whatsoever. I also do not want to read into the Constitution that which is not there. There is altogether too much of that going on.

Your specific reference to the 14th Amendment is the furthest thing from my mind as it is probative of nothing, and I never made reference to it in the manner you suggest. Your post is talking right past me, as it has nothing to do with the fact that the 14th amendment extended or reaffirmed the equal protection of the law to both men and women, ending patrilineage as a matter of law.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Godebert seems to clear up the 14th Amendment counter-point handily.

Kind of funny ... but I shouldn’t laugh out of respect for Cruz supporters ... he clears up the 14th in Post 15.

Also out of respect for Cruz supporters, posting link list of what I like about Cruz. FRegards ....

[Carry_Okie]

Oh please, just because a lawyer wrote it in some blog doesn't make it law. This is just a hand-wave opinion. After the Fourteenth Amendment, it became sufficient to be a citizen if one were merely born on U.S. soil or naturalized and subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. That U.S. citizen would then procreate with another similarly created U.S citizen and produce a "natural born Citizen."

As we can see, becoming a U.S. citizen is only the first step in the process of creating a "natural born Citizen." The second step is the two U.S citizens procreating a child on U.S. soil. It is these "natural born Citizens" who can someday be President or Vice President of the United States.

I suspect we need more of a rationale and evidence than, "As we can see."