The majority of opinion, even in Conservative circles, believes that “natural born citizen” means CITIZEN AT BIRTH and nothing else.
“It is an established maxim, received by all political writers that every person owes a natural allegiance to the government of that country in which he is born. Allegiance is defined to be a tie, that binds the subject to the state, and in consequence of his obedience, he is entitled to protection… The children of aliens, born in this state, are considered as natural born subjects, and have the same rights with the rest of the citizens.”
Zephaniah Swift, A system of the laws of the state of Connecticut: in six books, Volumes 1-2 of A System of the Laws of the State of Connecticut: pg. 163,167 (1795)
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a1_2_2s6.html
The following is an enormous list of legal citations, from Obama operatives, but you need to know what you are up against:
http://nativeborncitizen.wordpress.com/natural-born-quotes/
James Madison, The Founders’ Constitution Volume 2, Article 1, Section 2, Clause 2,
Madison:
It is an established maxim that birth is a criterion of allegiance. Birth however derives its force sometimes from place and sometimes from parentage, but in general place is the most certain criterion; it is what applies in the United States; it will therefore be unnecessary to investigate any other.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/79655719/James-Madison-on-Contested-Election-Citizenship-And-Birthright-22-May-1789-House-of-Representatives
First of all, when you politely order me to “not conflate” my “personal, narrow opinion”, you entirely miss the philosophy of this wonderful website. I would never even think about ordering the same of you or anyone else who voices his or her opinion here or anywhere else.
Secondly, I could care less about the majority of opinion in “Conservative circles.” That opinion and those cowardly circles are the problem. The fact is that Madison and the other contributors to the Constitution stipulated that the president be “natural born.” They did not require the same of senators, representatives, cabinet members, or Supreme Court justices.
Is this merely an accident? I think not. I retain my opinion, supported by Minor v. Happersett, that a natural born citizen of the U.S.A. must be born of two citizens of the U.S.A.