[ckilmer]

Originally posted: December 3, 2008

Another thought about the `Where was Obama born?' dispute

In today's story, Tax activist's ad challenges Obama's eligibility for office The Tribune examines allegations about president-elect's 'natural born citizen' status , my colleagues Sara Olkon and James Janega methodically take apart the arguments presented by Robert L. Schulz, chairman of We The People Foundation, in Tribune ads this week.

Here's one passage

• Schulz says that "U.S. law in effect in 1961 [the year of Obama's birth] denied citizenship to any child born in Kenya if the father was Kenyan and the mother was not yet 19 years of age."

If a child is born ... to an American parent outside the U.S., the law at the time would require the U.S. citizen parent to be at least 19, which Obama's mother was not. The provisions of this law were subsequently loosened and made retroactive for government employees serving abroad and their families. It appears that this would not apply to Obama's mother.

Olkon and Janega point out that "the matter would seem to be academic: Hawaiian officials vouch for Obama's birth certificate," but even if it were to turn out that Obama's mother was actually in Kenya when she gave birth to him, the age requirement was and is absurd and unjustifiable; easily remedied, if necessary, with the passage of a retroactive law smilar to the law that applied to "government employees serving abroad and their families."

Schultz is deluded if he thinks the Congress -- even those in Congress who opposed Obama -- or the courts would stand by and allow to unfold the crisis that would ensue if Obama were denied the presidency on a technicality.

COMMENTS

[RC2]

“Obama were denied the presidency on a technicality”???? Is this how we view our Constitution? Just a “Technicality”? Our Constitution is our life blood and those that violate it.....know it. Just a “Technicality”??? I don’t think so.

[lilylangtree]

osama is illegimate and illegal. he does not deserve a free pass because he is black and a RAT.

[toldyou]

Ping!

[TheThinker]

but even if it were to turn out that Obama's mother was actually in Kenya when she gave birth to him, the age requirement was and is absurd and unjustifiable; easily remedied, if necessary, with the passage of a retroactive law smilar to the law that applied to "government employees serving abroad and their families."

Seems to me they're trying to cover for him because they know something's amiss. They also are trying to confuse people into equating citizenship with natural born citizenship.

[Jessica2677]

Weren’t Obama’s mama and Obama,sr married at the time Obama was born...so wouldn’t that make Obama’s Mama a Kenyan Citizen too???

[cvq3842]

The author’s dismissal of the law regarding citizenship is glib and unsatisfying. if that’s all they have to cling to, then maybe Obama is in more trouble than most pople realize.

I think paying 45%+ of my income in taxes is “absurd and unjustifiable;” maybe Congress can pass a “retroactive law” about that too and give me back my money. I could retire on it, and I’m a relatively young man!

[Sacajaweau]

IMHO, The Constitution says that the president must be "loyal in lineage" as well as himself. Allegiance to this country and this country alone is necessary.

Raised as a Muslim by a Muslim in a foreign country disqualifies him.

[sodpoodle]

One reason the media, Congress and even conservative journalists would like this to “go away” is the fear that 52% of the American public do not know we even have a CONSTITUTION - much less that there is a “natural born citizen” requirement for POTUS eligibility.

The 150million numbchucks who voted for Obama - would storm Washington DC if the truth ever surfaced on NBC,CBS,ABC or Fox and they would blame George Bush!

[Yo-Yo]

Don’t you think that Zero already planted the appropriate papers during his late October “visit to his sick grandmother” that lasted for all of 2 hours?

[Rutles4Ever]

Eric Zorn is a flaming liberal. This doesn’t surprise me.

[FreeAtlanta]

A retroactive law!!!! Why bother having any laws for the Rich, Powerful and Famous?

We really are not equal under the law. Sad. It has all been a big illusion.

[cpdiii]

Is the start of explaining why he should be president even if under the constitution he can not be, if he were born in Kenya. I can not fathom any other reason for this article.

Something is afoot. I think the truth is catching up with Obama.

[Waco]

The SCOTUS meets Fri. to go out and look at the side of the barn, it used to say natural born, but if the pigs have been out there again, there’s no telling what it says now.

[MortMan]

“Technicality” is a strange word to describe one of the few constitutional REQUIREMENTS for the position.

To the author: Take a long walk off a short pier!