McCain's birthplace prompts queries about whether that rules him out (NY Slimes)

International Tribune ^ | 28 Feb 08 | Carl Hulse Published

[SkyPilot]

WASHINGTON: The question has nagged at the parents of Americans born outside the continental United States for generations: Dare their children aspire to grow up and become president? In the case of Senator John McCain of Arizona, the issue is becoming more than a matter of parental daydreaming.

McCain's likely nomination as the Republican candidate for president and the happenstance of his birth in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936 are reviving a musty debate that has surfaced periodically since the founders first set quill to parchment and declared that only a "natural-born citizen" can hold the nation's highest office.

[dangus]

>> I thought this was common knowledge, are it was when I went to school. <<

You need to get a tuition refund. Panama WAS part of the United States, just like Barry Goldwater’s birthplace, the territory which would later become Arizona. And you didn’t actually need to be born in the United States to be born a natural citizen of the United States. Ask George Romney, 1968 presidential candidate, who was born in Mexico.

>> The people who wrote the constitution did not believe in having military spread across the world. <<

Tell that to Thomas Jefferson, who spent much of the era of the Articles of Confederation in France! They sure as hell did believe that the United States should have a diplomatic presence throughout the world, and take the fight to whoever would attack us.

The actual text of the U.S. Constitution, as amended: “the children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond sea, or outside the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born citizens.”

[GraniteStateConservative]

I think so, but this was on FR a few weeks ago. As I read, several Freepers were defending the position that McCain isn't a natural born citizen.

Those FReepers would like McCain sent to Gitmo because he's a liberal, too. They aren't particularly solid sources of useful thought.

[usmcobra]

The Panama Canal zone was never US soil or territory, John McCain’s parents would have had to recorded his birth at the nearest US consulate in order for him to be considered a US citizen natural born or otherwise.

It is possible however unlikely that they did not, and because of it he would be ineligible for the Presidency, remember also that the laws of today are not retroactive, his parents would have had to follow the letter of the law as it existed in 1936 in order that he be considered a US citizen.

I also believe that no one so far has questioned weather the Admiral’s son was in deed a US Citizen, after all why would they need to, he was Admiral McCain’s son?

Besides the fact that he was born in Panama.....

[sitetest]

Anyone who seriously pursues this loses big.

Whether it would be any remnant of opposition in the Republican Party, or some very stupid Democrats, those opposing Mr. McCain on this basis would be in a position of saying that someone:

- born of a US military officer
- on a US military base
- in a territory leased in perpetuity by the US
- of a US mother
- who grew up to join the US military
- serve in war for the United States
- who was taken prisoner and tortured by enemies of the United States

is not a natural-born American.

It would be tantamount to questioning the Americanism and patriotism of Mr. McCain.

And that would be a foolhardy thing for any opponent.

[padre35]

Short Short Short...there is money to be made betting against the NYT.

And they have insulated themselves from their own actions in handling the business, they have ignored even the most basic of profit motives and tried to suspend the law of the market, and laws are not suspended, only ignored to the business’s peril.

[JasonC]

True it is outrageous, not so true that only flaming liberals would make it. The hissyfitters on this site had a brief infatuation with the notion about 2 weeks ago. It was shot down though. The NYT clearly reads FR. And has no standards whatever, once it decides to smear. They are just fit to be tied that their bestest slime came right off everything but their own face before the evening news.

[padre35]

The Canal Zone being purely a Federal Zone, I can think of no better term for John McCain then US Citizen as at birth he had no connection to any of the Several States.

[Terrence DoGood]

This story is assinine. Members of the military and their spouses stationed around the world give birth to AMERICAN citizens. Period. TD - USAF

[dangus]

>> Panama does consider McCain a Panamanian citizen. <<

And Italy probably considers Giuliani an Italian citizen, even though he’s never been there.

OOPS: Giuliani was 2nd generation (meaning the GRANDchild of immigrants). IIRC, Italy regards the children of Italian immigrants born to be Italian citizens, even if they’ve never set foot in Italy.

[fightinJAG]

Yep, that’s my point.

McCain did nothing to become an American except be born. Therefore, he is a “natural born” citizen.

[fightinJAG]

And Kenya considers Obama a Kenyan citizen.

[Fundamentally Fair]

Only butt wipes post about people behind their backs.

Behind you back? You read it didn't you?

Who says "butt wipe" anyway? Are you 8 years old?

[fightinJAG]

# 91.

[KingLudd]

I think Alexander Hamilton wasn’t born in the U.S. Too late for a recount?

[palmer]

3. 8 USC 1403(a)

Fatal flaw, that section is not applicable to McCain, 1401 is.

[Tigercap]

The NYT is reaching so obviously, I wonder if they are actually intending to HELP McCain.

Otherwise, if they think this kind of stuff will stick, they’re idiots.

[PapaBear3625]

3. 8 USC 1403(a) declares naturalized citizenship in 1952 on persons born in the Canal Zone to citizen parents.

No, 8 USC 1403 says:

Any person born in the Canal Zone on or after February 26, 1904, and whether before or after the effective date of this chapter, whose father or mother or both at the time of the birth of such person was or is a citizen of the United States, is declared to be a citizen of the United States.

NATURALIZED CITIZEN - One who, being born an alien, has lawfully become a citizen of the United States Under the constitution and laws.

McCain was born being a US citizen, as opposed to being "naturalized" (applying for citizenship and jumping through the hoops)

[Philly Nomad]

You didn’t read the article.

To put it in simple terms that you can understand:
Headline: Person found around crime scene did he commit the crime?
Story: No. He’s innocent of all charges.

[Philly Nomad]

But does(did) the US ever consider Military Brats a member of the host country?

[org.whodat]

they weren’t citizens of the host country

Panama does consider McCain a Panamanian citizen.

True, when I was active duty, I several friends with kids born in Spain, they had dual citizen ship until their twenty first birthday there then. Don't know what the case is now. It should also be noted that active duty military were told before and were required to sign off on the citizenship problem before they were allowed to take their wives to foreign countries.