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Friday, January 08, 2016

Is Ted Cruz Eligible to Be President?

If you thought the end of Barack Obama’s presidency would (thankfully) mark the end of controversy of a politician’s birthplace, think again. Thanks to Donald Trump, the issue has returned, though this time with a bull’s eye on Ted Cruz — not coincidentally one of Trump’s most formidable primary opponents.

Cruz was born in 1970 in Canada to a U.S. citizen mother. The Constitution requires that the president be a “natural born” citizen of the United States, and Trump suggested Cruz’s Canadian birthplace might imperil his presidential eligibility — or at least he suggested that other people might suggest it. Perish the thought.

Trump claimed Cruz’s birthplace was a “very precarious” issue that could be detrimental to Cruz should he cinch the nomination. “Republicans are going to have to ask themselves the question: ‘Do we want a candidate who could be tied up in court for two years?’ That’d be a big problem,” said Trump. He added that “a lot of people are talking about it,” and that he’d “hate to see something like that get in his way.” Yes, we’re sure he would simply hate that.

But is there any validity to Trump’s “concern”? In a word, no.

The Congressional Research Service, the arm of the Library of Congress which for more than a century has been tasked with providing (allegedly) non-partisan research and legal analysis to members of Congress, has described a “natural born” citizen as one who is a citizen “at birth” or “by birth,” as opposed to a “naturalized” citizen. According to the U.S. Code, those who are citizens at birth include “a person born outside the geographical limits of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents one of whom is an alien, and the other a citizen of the United States who, prior to the birth of such person, was physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than five years, at least two of which were after attaining the age of fourteen years.” Cruz’s mother was born and raised in Delaware and attended college in Texas, more than fulfilling this requirement.

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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

We have had enough of one President that should never have been elected. Lets not have another one.

Anonymous said...

well, is he or isn't he?

Anonymous said...

At least Cruz acknowledged his physical birthplace.

Were his US parents on official US business in Canada when he was born? Did his birth in Canada result in a Canadian citizenship (even if he later gave it up)?

Considering that we 'allow' people to come here and give birth on vacation to 'produce' an American citizen - we might likely disallow those that weren't on official gov't business from keeping a home attachment.

Since we really don't know (to my satisfaction anyway) that the current POSOTUS birthplace is within the 50 states and territories - I would say Cruz is in a better spot...and significantly more qualified than the kenyan slime! Regardless - still much better than the HildaBeast, Bern, or O'Moron!

Anonymous said...

It don't matter if he is a Democrat, the citizens that drink the Kool-aid showed the world that.

Anonymous said...

I'd rather have a conservative Christian Canadian a President than have a Kenyan Muslim Communist as one any day.

Anonymous said...

1:36 - certainly more than the current POSPOTUS!

Anonymous said...

if obammy can be elected, TWICE, anyone or anyTHING can be elected

Anonymous said...

Why bother, obama had muslim parents why do you think his name is BHO.

Anonymous said...

His Mother was a citizen therefore he is a citizen.

Unknown said...

His father was a Cuban. Not an American. He is a citizen because of his Mother. Because of his choice to have American Citizenship at age 18. He is not "Natural Born". This is only a requirement for President. It means both BOTH parents must be citizens at your birth. You must have no other nationality other then US. Ted was a Canadian Citizen until 2014 and had to renounce it to run for President. He has a nationality other than US. He is a Cuban-Canadian-American. A citizen with the right to do almost anything. Just not to be President. For that you have to be just an American. Nothing else.

Anonymous said...

So why did the woman in Hawahi misterously die in a plane crash after threatning to release Barrack HUSSIEN obamas birth certificate ,Hmmmmmmmm google it.

Concerned Retiree said...

Obama's Mother was an American citizen, his Father was supposedly Indonesian and according to his Aunt he was born in Kenya because his mother was denied by the airplanes because of her pregnacy so according to you Obama was / is not a legal President. He is Kenyan. Also he was an Indonesian citizen when his Father had him in an Indonesian school, since Indonesia does not allow dual citizenship to attend their schools. Obama has yet denied that, since he wrote it in one of his books. So when did he denounce his Indonesian citizenship and become an American citizen. He attended College on Foreign Student grants and loans. That proves in his own words he was / is not an American citizen.

Anonymous said...

Cruz is eligible as only ONE parent, his mother, was a natural born citizen. Only ONE parent must be a natural born citizen. Did you know John McCain was born in Panama? Never the less he was eligible. Rand Paul is causing this controversy and as a "Constitutional Expert" he should no better. Quit listening and READ FOR YOUR SELVES!! Did you know the first 7 U.S, presidents weren't natural born citizens? READ & LEARN!