Why the Founding Fathers Were “Birthers” (old article but sets facts out well)

Canada Free Press ^ | 1 August 2009 | JB Williams

[K-oneTexas]

If millions of American “birthers” are “right-wing nuts,” they are in good company with men like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams and Ben Franklin.

A foreign born immigrant, who has successfully navigated the naturalization process, is a legal US citizen with all of the Constitutional rights afforded a US Citizen with the exception of one, the right to be President of the United States. As a matter of Constitutional case law, - 94 ”Whatever the term ‘‘natural born’’ means, it no doubt does not include a person who is ‘‘naturalized.’‘

NOTE: One can be a US citizen without being a “native citizen” or a “natural born citizen.” It must also be stated that Hawaii issued Certifications of Live Birth to foreign born non-citizens of the US as a regular practice.

However, one can be both a “US citizen” and a “Native Born citizen” and still NOT be a “Natural Born Citizen.”

It was the Founding Fathers who wrote and ratified, “No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President;”

They based this clause on the following; “Congress, in which a number of Framers sat, provided in the Naturalization act of 1790 that ’‘the children of citizens of the United States, that may be born beyond the sea, . . . shall be considered as natural born citizens. . . .’’ 96 This phrasing followed the literal terms of British statutes, beginning in 1350, under which persons born abroad, whose parents were both British subjects, would enjoy the same rights of inheritance as those born in England; beginning with laws in 1709 and 1731, these statutes expressly provided that such persons were natural-born subjects of the crown.”

[RWGinger]

OH Canada
leave it to our neighbors to the north the get to the heart of this.
Great article with great questions that 0dumbo won’t answer unless forced

[abigail2]

Hi, thanks for posting this...they talked about it on the Jesse Lee Peterson Radio Show thread this morning.

Here it is../a>

[abigail2]

I forgot to mention that the author was on Jesse’s program this morning...too.

[ASA Vet]

NBC Ping

[BuckeyeTexan]

If millions of American “birthers” are “right-wing nuts,” they are in good company with men like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams and Ben Franklin.

I'm confident that the Founding Fathers would never have perpetuated demonstrably false rumors or butchered the law with wildly delusional interpretations. The Founding Fathers would never embarrass themselves or their fellow Americans to such an extent.

Birthers? Not so much.

[Las Vegas Ron]

There will be some along here soon that will say it doesn’t matter, Osama himself could be bammie’s father and he would still be eligible.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Trolls suck!

[ASA Vet]

Sure didn’t have to wait long for the first after-birther to show up.

[BuckeyeTexan]

So do the birthers who perpetuate Internet rumors and misrepresent the law.

[Las Vegas Ron]

I, gotta learn to type faster!

[Las Vegas Ron]

Denying the clear intent of the Founders meaning in the Contution is what trolls do, not those seeking the truth of the taitor in office.

Who's side are you on?

[BuckeyeTexan]

I’m on YOUR side. I don’t deny the clear intent of the Founding Fathers with regard to who is and is not a natural born citizen. IMHO, Barack Hussein Obama is clearly not.

But that won’t matter to you. You’ll still call me a troll. I’m used to it.

[Las Vegas Ron]

The Founding Fathers would never embarrass themselves or their fellow Americans to such an extent.
Birthers? Not so much.

You posted that, how else could that be perceived but to be ridiculing the article being discussed here?

Then you say you don't think bammie is eligible?

Which one is it?

[Mr Rogers]

Here is an example of why the article is hog-wash:

“In this regard, the issue of Obama’s adoption by Indonesian citizen Lolo Soetoro is also of consequence, as Obama could only be a US citizen by way of “naturalization.” There is no record of Obama naturalizing as a U.S. citizen upon returning from Indonesia.”

Actually, the Supreme Court has been VERY clear - a child cannot lose his citizenship based on living as a minor in Indonesia for 4 years. There have been multiple cases, and unless the person very forcibly renounces his US citizenship as an adult, then he cannot lose what he gained at birth.

[BuckeyeTexan]

I’m saying that it’s ridiculous for birthers to equate themselves with the Founding Fathers. The Founding Fathers respected and honored the law. They would never want the law to be manipulated for a political agenda. Do you really think that James Madison or Ben Franklin would support the likes of Orly Taitz?

I spend a significant amount of time trying to convince birthers to stop perpetuating demonstrably false rumors that make the rest of us look like idiots. (e.g. Barack Obama’s first Executive Order, 13489; 1981 Pakistan Travel Ban; etc.)

I also make a concerted effort to convince birthers that Dr. Orly Taitz is not their friend. She has manipulated and used her clients, some military personnel, for her political agenda. And despite passing the CA bar exam, she demonstrates all the competence of a dentist/real estate agent posing as a legal scholar.

For that, I’m labeled a troll. So be it. I know where I stand on Obama’s eligibility and I’ve never waivered on that position.

[Las Vegas Ron]

I spend a significant amount of time trying to convince birthers to stop perpetuating demonstrably false rumors that make the rest of us look like idiots. (e.g. Barack Obama’s first Executive Order, 13489; 1981 Pakistan Travel Ban; etc.)

Funny, I didn't read any of that stuff posted on this thread.

Now you're changing the subject and deflecting...you ridiculed the article then say you agree with it, then you wonder why some think you're a troll.

[allmendream]

You should know by now that, as a movement, the birthers seem far too busy attacking any and all dissent, attacking every conservative icon who doesn't tow the line; to actually police themselves over ludicrous definitions of what it takes to be a natural born citizen (child of two natural born citizens, for example), talking about a non existent “travel ban”, etc, etc.

And yes, pointing out that there was not a “travel ban” on Pakistan or that Oreally Taintz wasn't the best lawyer, would (and probably still will) get you labeled a troll. They simply don't seem to want to hear it.

[BuckeyeTexan]

I’m not changing the subject. You asked which side I’m on and asked me to explain my position. I did that.

I didn’t ridicule the article. I ridiculed the assertion that birthers are in any way equal to the Founding Fathers. And I stipulated the reasons why I believe the two are not the same.

[reasonisfaith]

The troll’s strategy is to echo conservative ideas on every topic except one, maybe two. These one or two topics seem to be the targets. Apparently some trolls work as part of a group and are assigned these target issues by some sort of activist leader.

This explains why certain posters seem to be conservative and then come out with complete nonsense on a single issue. The pattern is clear.

I believe certain talk radio hosts play the same role. They sound absolutely convincing until they comment on one or two issues which appear to be their target. Todd Schnitt, whose show is based in Florida, fits this sort of profile.