VANITY - Is John McCain foreign-born??

2/3/05 | RockinRight

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

If he was born in the Canal Zone

WOULD THAT BE THE BIRTH, OR THE AILIMENTARY CANAL?

Here's a clue, he's a R.I.N.O. P.O.S.

[TheOtherOne]

I have pinged CBB. He will know the answer.

Bob is not an authority for me, but the Supreme Court cases I cited are. It can be interpreted both ways, but is it fairly settled law.

Billy Bob's opinion notwithstanding

[NorCalRepub]

I never understand why if you disagree with McCain that you have to lower your standards to those of someone from Daily Kos or the DUmmies and throw invectives and name calling like POS out.....or moron......you may disagree with the man but that is hardly the way to talk about someone who gave years of his life as a POW

[quietolong]

LOL I just read this is a mag.

Scientists on the stump
http://www.thebulletin.org/article.php?art_ofn=nd04kuznick


>>>> Actually, why not take DNA from Goldwater and Reagan <<<
That would set there heads to explode! LOL

[HenryLeeII]

"Natural born U.S. citizen" does not mean only those born in the United States. One could be born on the Space Shuttle of U.S. citizen parents and still be qualified to serve as president.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Sincerely, a good point on the cheap shot, thanks. Now the other point--McCain's reputation as a POW war hero conveniently ignores the special treatment he got from the VC...in exchange for his collaboration far beyond "name, rank and serial number." Absolutely not somebody we can trust in the Oval Office.

[NorCalRepub]

noted and he still tried to commit suicide etc and didn't get much special treatment until after 19??....can't remember the year. I am not a McCain supporter but I guess it kind of sets me off when some here at FR call any Repub a RINO (not you necessarily) if they disagree on one point. Now I know McCain really straddles the line but I think we can civilly disagree......we of course can insult and show how idiotic the Dems are cause they are like this to a fault.......LOL

[HenryLeeII]

I dunno, I heard that maybe he was born in Ireland. Owl, doesn't this disqualify him for other privilidges as well?

Well, I think that would mean that he's probably not white, but I don't know if that's enough to disqualify him from being president. However, his history of electroshock and lobotomies may turn off some voters, outside of the Howard Dean faction that is.

[Martin Tell]

Good catch. But I am unsure whether the regulation you cite is a definitive answer.

I recall a recent discussion on NPR (at the time there was an Arnold driven consideration of changing the Constitution) about this issue.

According to the "legal scholars" interviewed by NPR, the US Supreme Court has never specifically ruled as to whether natural born means born on US soil and whether, if so, there is an exception for children of military personnel or of two US citizens living abroad.

Apparently it's an open question, and since the Supreme Court does not rule on hypothetical cases, we may never know unless someone in McCain's position is elected.

[HairOfTheDog]

It can get complicated, but if the parents are citizens, their children are automatically citizens, no matter where they are born.

[expatpat]

Yes, indeed. My wife was born in the Panama Canal Zone, which counts as US Territory.

[Yaelle]

An easy way to look at it too is if the baby born outside the USA qualifies at birth for an American passport. My baby did and he could be President one day, though there would need to be more video gaming in the WH before he would take the job (he is 13 now).

[Rockingham]

The phrase in the Constitution is "natural born" and it has never been definitively construed. An expansive interpretation would almost certainly be adhered to these days. McCain would thus be eligible since his citizenship rests on both parentage and on birth in the Panama Canal Zone, which was sovereign US territory when he was born there.

[RockinRight]

Let's hope.

[oldbill]

Your comment is out of line. Say what you want about McCain's political behavior, but do not calumnize his POW experience.

If you knew what you were talking about, you would be aware that John McCain was proffered special consideration and early release because he was the son of the Admiral who was CINCPAC at the time. McCain turned down the offer and thus subjected himself to more torture from his captors.

Ignorance like your comments casts a cloud over the other intelligent Freeper contributors.

The Moderator should pull your comments.

[shrinkermd]

If my memory serves me right, Senator McCain's father and paternal grandfather were both Admirals in the United States Navy. That he was born in Panama does not mean he is not a native born citizen.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Please point me to some authoritative sources. I used to be a BIG McCain fan until I learned otherwise (apparently) from several sources. I would appreciate it greatly and definitely do not wish to maintain--or share--incorrect information. Thanks

[ops33]

The Constitution doesn't say "native" born American, it says "natural" born American. I believe there is a significant difference between the two words. Both of my children were born outside the US when I was overseas stationed in Germany. Both have birth certificates issued by the US State Department that read "Record of the Birth of a US Citizen born Abroad". Both were US citizens at birth based not on the location of their birth but by their parents. I think that this meets the constitutional qualification of being a "natural" born American.