RE: Only natural born citizens, born on soil to two citizen parents, may serve as POTUS.
Is that the original understanding of the framers when they put the clause in?
If so, why was John McCain the nominee?
Because only he couldn't attack obama on his ineligibility.
McCain father was a NBC serving in the US Navy at the Panama canal zone (PCZ). McCain mother is a NBC also. The PCZ was at the time of McCain birth a US territory. However being born in the PCZ did not confer US citizenship until some time in the 1930s. So the argument can be made that McCains' US citizenship is via statute and therefore is not natural. I disagree. Two NBC parents in the service of their country born in a US territory is good enough for me.
The Naturalization Act of 1790 not only defined “natural born” citizenship but it also explained that “natural born” citizenship followed the father’s American natural born citizenship status, no matter where the child was born. McCain’s citizenship status was okay.
I still think that controversy with McCain was designed to muddy the waters, not to clear them up. McCain, not being born on U.S. soil, make a big production of it and slip in Obama and anyone else — emphasize citizenship and foreign born, not citizenship and natural born.
McCain was born in the ‘Panama Canal zone’ a US territory, of two citizen parents.
Thus he is a natural born citizen under Vattel’s definition (law of nations)
John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone (legal US Territory) on a US Navy base. Of two Citizen parents.
But it would be an interesting question if he had been born on a US Navy Base in Spain or Japan...of one citizen parent and one foreign parent...especially if born out in town at a civilian hospital, obtaining birthright citizenship in another country.
And, then keeping that citizenship for 40 years.