I thought about this before I made my previous comment. The founding fathers made the provision for amending the Constitution for good reason. Things change. They realized that they were treading new waters and that, in the future, people would live under different circumstances than those they themselves were living under. Just as they were living under different circumstances from their own forefathers. If you speak with many immigrants to this country, you'll see that many of them seem to have a better grasp, and appreciation, for the ideal of America than most of the people who are born here. Why not tap this well of inspiration and strengthen the Nations foundation?

Many will speak of sinister outside forces trying to infiltrate our govt. and influence the outcomes of outside agendas that are not in Americas best interests. I say to them, "Look around!" Bill Clinton spent much of his youth in foreign countries being influenced by what could only be called the enemy at the time. The USSR and China. When he became President, he advanced the technical abilities of China some 50 years into the future. This was truly not in the best interests of this nation... Or the world, if you get right down to it. Many others, in power now, either do not understand what America is to the rest of the world, or do not care so long as they can advance their arrogant little personal agendas. New blood is needed. Arnold Schwarzenegger may, or may not, be that infusion this country needs, George Soros definitely isn't; but, under the current circumstances, I can't see any reason, that makes sense to me, not to begin allowing foreign born Americans to become President. Currently, it's the only elected Govt. position not open the them. Should the American Dream extend only to the door outside the Oval Office?

 

I'm working on it!

I'll be back when I'm finished.

 

Alright, I originally wrote a long winded post that would've put Burt to shame, but then I scrapped it because I didn't want to torture everyone with my long winded diatribe.

In short, my answer is this:

I can't think of one reasonable argument why a foreign born individual who meets all the other criteria for becoming President, can't run for office.
I think Odin wrote an excellent post, and I don't believe I can articulate my thoughts as well as he did, but I honestly can't see one reasonable reason why the constitution should not be changed.

Keep in mind that even if the constitution does get changed, Americans would be looking very closely at any non US born candidate anyways, and unless he possessed some extraordinary character and qualities, he/she very likely would not get elected in the first place.

The only thing the amendment would allow is that some rare, exceptional person who might posses all the right ingredients to make an outstanding leader, might otherwise be turned away for what some may call a frivolous rule.

Another point to consider...
The physical location of where you were born (or hatched) in some cases, does not make you who you are, and does not give you the values and morals that you live your life by.

How many "non-American" born people joined the American military, and died serving and protecting a country where they were not born on the soil they were protecting.
Does this make them any less American than someone who was born "here".?

It's alright to let a non-American born person die in battle serving his country, but if the same person wants to serve in the highest capacity, he/she is denied?

I'm not trying to start a brawl here folks, just an honest to goodness debate on the subject at hand.

Habibi

 

I don't buy the whole "1,000's of non-us born folks are serving our country in the military, why can't they run for prez?"

Minors can be in our military too, but we don't allow them to drink. Same difference.

Why do we let kids and foreigners in the armed forces?! Because they are expendable!! Not trying to be cruel, but honest. They go a great service for our country, but the standards to join the military are much lower than to serve in public office. We need bodies for the military, that's it. People to train, strap a weapon to and send out to kill the folks we don't like.

Until we run out of us-born folks to run for office, things should stay the same. Hell, we haven't even gotten a women or AA in office yet... baby steps.. .

 

Its plain and simple. the Constitution is not a living document to be changed everytime it please those seeking to change it. Our forefathers were brilliant and very insightful men who created a governing document that has served our country mostly unchanged for more than 200 years. Many of the amendments that have been made have had amendments add to them to change things that where not well thought out or given such foresight as the original was. Proabition is just one, there are several more.
As far as being born on American soil to be Pres, this the way our forefathers wanted it to be, as they had the insight to see even remote possiblities of a foriegn born person carring different agendas to that post. Remember, there foresight has surved us well for 200 years.
I also believe that as people speak of how America is the great melting pot, that a foriegn President would only futher open our borders to become a great place for opportunity for all. Thus creating less opportunity for the natives of this great land.
It was stated that many imagrants have a better idea of what America is about than those that where born here. Unfortunatly I would have to agree, but I do not think that we need a foriegn President that could, knowing this, open our borders for the world to come here and prosper.
So if Arnold wants to be Pres, he can go back to his homeland and run for office. We have plenty of qualified people that have been born here and that will hopefully continue to live by and defend the Costitution as our brilliant and insightful forefatheres had intended.

Sled...

 

Any Constitutional amendment would have to be ratified by every State in the Union. That's a pretty tall order. That's why there have been so few of them in the last 200+ years.

At the time of the drafting of the Constitution, there was a strong, and understandable, distrust of other nations and foreigners. That the top position of govt. is the only one unattainable for foreign born citizens is amazing to me. I would have expected every top position to have the same restriction. Think about it, many of the advisors to the President are not required to be natural born citizens. Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of State, etc... None have the same requirements as even a Senator. How about Judiciary appointments?

Having stated that I cannot reasonably argue for not allowing the amendment, I'll now say, "I don't have to." I don't have to be reasonable in my desire to have the President of the USA be a natural born citizen. It's a personal prejudice I may not be able to defend reasonably; but, I will not be swayed from it nonetheless.

 

It takes 2/3rd of both House’s to propose an amendment and then 3/4th of the states (38) of them to ratify and accept the amendment.

That is from Article V. of the Constitution…

 

Whoooops>:o The mind is slipping.


It's still not an easy thing to accomplish.

 

Why would a Canadian even care how/why we elect people in this country? All you guys are good at is bit**ing about how we do things down here. If you can't figure out why we do not allow a non-American born candidate, I'm not going to waste bandwidth explaining it.

 

Bravo Frank, that was a literary masterpiece.
You are absolutely right, save your bandwidth for someone smarter because obviously I'm not even close to your level of sophisticated intellect to figure it out.

 

Shame on you frank get over it bro. You offered nothing but a slam on our fellow canadians so i won't waste any more bandwidth on you. get it A.
I am about 200 yards away from canada right now and i don't hear any bitching.
canada

 

im like 50 miles if that and dont hear it either

 

Go figure. I just got back from the local Tim hortons and yummy they are good. I stopped,listened and looked across the mighty niagara river not a canadian was stirring. i think they all have to get up early and go to work.

 

about that whats the unenployment rate in Canada

 

According to Stats Canada, the unemployment rate for May was 7.2%.