NYT: McCain’s Canal Zone Birth Prompts Queries About Whether That Rules Him Out

I think if he wears a flag lapel pin, and puts his hand over his heart during the national anthem, he is an American.

If not he should be disqualified, as he's obviously not loyal to this nation.

 

Panama Birth Canal Zone

 

Would virgin birth be considered 'unnatural'? I know at least one person who was born that way.

 

Looks to me like the intent of the Constitution is clear and McCain shouldn't have a problem. Of course, if it was a Zone-born Bill Clinton rolling towards victory and the current SC, I would not be surprised if another 5-4 decision came down.

 

I don't believe this is correct. I think a reading that fits is that people born in the US prior to independence or the consitution being enacted are defined as "natural born" us citizens, hence the Andrew Hamilton clause about "anybody who was a citizen of the US at the time of the adoption of the constitution" as he was born in the West Indies.

 

Why don't we just get rid of this law that creates a second class citizenship? I really want to see Arnold as our President one day

 

Too young to be President.

 

Obama Backs Law Helping McCain

Sen. Barack Obama's campaign announced he would co-sponsor legislation introduced yesterday by his political ally Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) to ensure that John McCain can become president, even though he was born in the Panama Canal Zone.

The issue of McCain's eligibility was raised in a New York Times article noting the constitutional requirement that a U.S. president be a "natural-born citizen" had never been fully defined.

The McCaskill bill, submitted immediately after she scrawled it onto a notepad on the Senate floor in response to the Times story, would establish the eligibility of anyone born to a U.S. citizen who is serving overseas as an active or reserve member of the U.S. armed forces. The Arizona senator's father was a Navy officer serving in the Canal Zone when McCain was born there in 1936.

"Senator McCain has earned the right to be his party's nominee, and no loophole should prevent him from competing in this campaign," Obama said.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/02/29/obama_backs_law_to_ensure_mcca.html

 

Very punny!