There’s been talk recently whether John McCain is a “natural born citizen” as required by the U.S. Constitution to be president. Jim Lindgren at The Volokh Conspiracy writes about the phrase’s meaning.
Looks like even I might qualify; 2012, here I come. ;-)
3 responses to “Is John McCain a “Natural Born Citizen””
Ok first he is a citizen by bloodline but the question is jursi soli and us miliatry bases,embassies, and consul are not us soil soverigen but not soil. Military duty pow or hero is not reason for a pass. He can be congressman, governer us senator but not president or vp. That the law as it is now. African-Americans soilder in WW2 who came back after fighting in Europe and Italy were still subject to jim crow law when then returned. Many other great Americans like Henry Kissinger who by the Paris Peace Talks got Sen McCain out of Vietnam POW camp could not be Vp or President so service is no qualification. I to thought that military bases were us soil not true. So this over sight by all of us is regertable sad but it is a matter of what difines Natural Born citizen not Natrualized which he is in that group. Now had Sen Obama been born in say 1957 in Hawaii he would have the same problem because it was a territory and not a state. He’s mother was a American but not his father so he would have been naturalized able to be in Congress but not VP or President.
Since he was born before 1776, it could be up for debate.
I think you meant September 17, 1787, but your point is still valid.