Tuesday, November 11, 2008

A piece of "original intent" to neutralize the mouthbreathers

Over the last several months, as the probability of Obama's election became greater, the right-wing screech machine started to look for ANY kind of dirt to use to derail his chances. My favorite though is this one, and it hasn't gone away - even as the countdown to the inauguration commences: Obama is NOT a natural-born citizen of the United States, and therefore is not constitutionally qualified to run for (or win) the presidency. They say that his Hawaiian birth certificate is forged or falsified or written in secret Islamic code, or made of rice paper, or something.... As absurd as this idea is, let's indulge the mouthbreathers for a moment and allow that Obama was born in some exotic foreign location (say, Indonesia or Kenya, or even Georgia). As long as there isn't any question that he was born the son of Ann Dunham, then Barack IS a natural born citizen, regardless of where the birth took place. The reason is simple: his mother was a citizen of the USA, and therefore he was entitled to USA citizenship AT BIRTH. The first US Congress made this clear in the Naturalization Act of 1790:

"And the children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond the sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born citizens."

Now, while it can be argued TODAY that the act could be interpreted to mean that BOTH parents needed to be USA citizens in order for the child to be "natural born" - there is absolutely no problem in looking deep in history to find that the MOTHER is key (you COULD prove who a mother was in 1790... not so easy to prove paternity back then). So clearly the original intent of the framers would be to say that any child of a WOMAN citizen is a natural born citizen regardless of WHERE the child was born...

9 comments:

L said...

You just can't trust those Dept of Health commies. Even when the Director says the cert is valid, and pictures of it are all over the internet. Conspiracy!! Where's Mel Gibson..

L said...

Wait, is Mel Gibson still alive? Crap.

Rousing Rabble said...

What is breathtaking is the idea that Obama's birth certificate is at issue 47 years after his birth - as if back in the early '60s someone said - hey this kid might grow up to be president someday - let's unnecessarily fake his birth certificate.... and Lula - you win the super-duper prize for being the first person this year to invoke the name of Mel Gibson in the blog

L said...

Ooo, what's my prize? Oh, please let it be a picture of a scantily dressed, mud covered William Wallace..

Rousing Rabble said...

Hmmm... with the funky grease paint too?

L said...

Definitely the grease paint, and the kilt. Must have the kilt. Everything else, optional.

Rousing Rabble said...

Being 1/2 Irish, I own a kilt - but I haven't worn it since 1999...

L said...

I think what I wore in 1999 is probably still at the thift store. What is it they say men get as they age and the hair turns gray, 'more distinguished.' Women just get old and fat.

Rousing Rabble said...

I would argue that the only reason that your point is valid rests with corporate greed and sexual objectification... Isn't it amazing how much more "distinguished" an older,balding, tubby guy becomes if he has a Platinum Card and membership at the club?