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Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)
66. There's one complication you're missing.
Mon Dec 30, 2013, 07:49 PM
Dec 2013

I agree with you that the obvious meaning of "natural born citizen" is someone who is a citizen at birth, regardless of any subsequent events (such as a naturalization proceeding or a change in the law).

You write, "You're a US citizen if either of your parents are a US citizen when you are born." That states the current law, but the law when Cruz and Obama were born was different. A child born outside the U.S. to one citizen parent and one noncitizen parent acquired citizenship at birth only if the citizen parent had lived in the United States for at least five years after attaining the age of 14.

This is why the born-in-Kenya foolishness arose. Obama's mother was only 18 when he was born, so she couldn't have met the five-year residency requirement. His father wasn't a citizen. Therefore, if he'd been born in Kenya, he would not have acquired citizenship at birth.

Cruz's mother was older. There's no real doubt that she had lived in the U.S. for at least five years after turning 14.

As a practical matter, though, can Cruz now prove that? I think that there was available, at the time of his birth, a procedure for obtaining a certificate of citizenship, but that his parents didn't bother to do it. The certificate isn't a prerequisite of citizenship. Obtaining it at that time, however, might have been easier.

For my part, I don't think I have any documents (lease, utility bills, etc.) to prove where I was living decades ago. I could certainly see somebody bringing a court challenge to Cruz's eligibility and demanding to see proof of his mother's residence before his birth in 1970. Supposedly she was working for Shell Oil in Houston. Would her sworn affidavit be sufficient? She's still alive but roughly 80 years old -- what if she dies before he runs? Does Shell still have employment records from the 1960s, and if so would that be sufficient, on the assumption that nobody would commute from Canada to Houston every day?

I'm sure he's eligible. Nevertheless, there's at least some opportunity for harassing him on this point, by supporters of other Republicans or by Democrats ticked at the whole birther thing.

Teabaggery to the end liberal N proud Dec 2013 #1
Cruze kardonb Dec 2013 #18
the funny part is, he hasn't even told it all the long. Javaman Dec 2013 #46
Self-Deception Waitsman Dec 2013 #53
Thanks, and welcome to DU! Jim Lane Dec 2013 #65
Teabuggery is more like it. calimary Dec 2013 #19
he lies without conscience....he's a dangerous man. spanone Dec 2013 #2
He would be an extra-constitutional candidate for President hootinholler Dec 2013 #4
can you explain? Voice for Peace Dec 2013 #20
His father preaches that Ted is basically the chosen one. arcane1 Dec 2013 #28
Well the 7 pillars / 7 Mountains are really intechangeable metaphors hootinholler Dec 2013 #29
I got as far as 2:36 and had to leave..to go puke. pangaia Dec 2013 #54
Yeah, I should have posted a warning hootinholler Dec 2013 #55
Nope, he's in the clear on that. jeff47 Dec 2013 #31
It's not quite that simple . . . aggiesal Dec 2013 #37
And it will quite possibly open the door for Schwarzenegger to run..... marble falls Dec 2013 #43
Ahnuld is a naturalized citizen treestar Dec 2013 #44
I think that the door could open wider than you think. We have conservatives who have no compunction marble falls Dec 2013 #45
Actually, it is quite that simple. jeff47 Dec 2013 #50
No it's not. Here is the actual constitutional language . . . aggiesal Dec 2013 #58
Yes, it still is that easy. jeff47 Dec 2013 #59
What is a `Natural Born Citizen`? n/t aggiesal Dec 2013 #60
Already addressed. Read the 2nd part of the post. (nt) jeff47 Dec 2013 #62
The second part . . . aggiesal Dec 2013 #63
Good thing you cut off the definition! Go back one more sentence. (nt) jeff47 Dec 2013 #64
There's one complication you're missing. Jim Lane Dec 2013 #66
What you say applies to Obama. Cruz was born after the law was changed. (nt) jeff47 Dec 2013 #68
Cruz was born in 1970. My understanding is that the law wasn't changed until 1986. Jim Lane Dec 2013 #69
A man without a conscience, or heart, or soul, but hungry for power and fame is dangerous indeed. indepat Dec 2013 #6
I would have asked him if it was his evil twin up there reading Dr. Suess in hopes of default... freshwest Dec 2013 #14
Yes, he is dangerous, but then joshdawg Dec 2013 #40
Conservatives believe it's okay to lie to the infidels. Kingofalldems Dec 2013 #3
King of one of them hootinholler Dec 2013 #5
Cruz is king of the dunghill meow2u3 Dec 2013 #10
Yup! He's on a crusade! One of his followers, no doubt: freshwest Dec 2013 #17
As John Stewart would say "BULLSHIT MOUNTAIN" !!!!! Theyletmeeatcake2 Dec 2013 #27
Along with "I know what's good for you even though you don't" mind set. L0oniX Dec 2013 #33
From the movie "With Honors" . . . aggiesal Dec 2013 #39
Pure snake oil salesman tactics. Barnum would be proud. Kablooie Dec 2013 #7
And, it's self-harvesting.. so all profits go to the snake. nm Cha Dec 2013 #41
"Focus on fixing the problems?"... Blanks Dec 2013 #8
Maybe I missed the time he has fixed any problems. I read his emails, he claims to be helping our Thinkingabout Dec 2013 #9
Great find,,,and thanks for posting. Stuart G Dec 2013 #11
The RW corporate-owned M$M has always accepted his spew BumRushDaShow Dec 2013 #12
and they say Obama gets a free pass, and blames everybody else ... zbdent Dec 2013 #13
"hard to believe"? There's a reason for that, Ted. n/t Beartracks Dec 2013 #15
It's this way Wash. state Desk Jet Dec 2013 #16
This is a time for people to step up and do the right thing? Yeah get rid of this prick! Lint Head Dec 2013 #21
I think his term goes up to 2016. He'll leach off the blood of Texas until then. freshwest Dec 2013 #23
Cruzing to the bottom of the FAIL barrel. He really should read the Bible some time. Berlum Dec 2013 #22
Oh he'll probably be running for President .. won't that be a hoot? YOHABLO Dec 2013 #24
fuck you cruz!!! alato Dec 2013 #25
Cruz is despicable. rustbeltvoice Dec 2013 #26
Did Karl actually say those words.. "‘Come on!’ The shutdown was your fault!"? Cha Dec 2013 #30
Carnival Cruz at it again n/t Flatpicker Dec 2013 #32
Cruz WAS instrumental, albeit just one of the many Republicans to try to "Shut 'er down!" blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #34
Well, Jon has never met a B.F.E.E. he doesn't slather over, so he can have this/one point. n/t UTUSN Dec 2013 #35
One creepy guy. 3Stones Dec 2013 #36
Just further proof the that GOP is the scum of the earth. Rex Dec 2013 #38
Calgary Thespian2 Dec 2013 #42
Spoke to a DC insider -- he says Cruz has few friends on the Hill mainer Dec 2013 #47
GOP Caused Shut Down not Just Cruz mitty14u2 Dec 2013 #48
No, it wasn't Cruz' fault. Orsino Dec 2013 #49
A coloring book KansDem Dec 2013 #51
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2013 #52
praise Karl for insisting on reality. Few in M$M will talk back to their GOP bosses. As for Cruz, Bill USA Dec 2013 #56
Juanita Jean had fun mocking Carnival Cruz's comments Gothmog Dec 2013 #57
Unlike Rmoney, Ted Cruz can lie with a straight face. Dawson Leery Dec 2013 #61
To me, Cruz behavior is understandable. I have debated rightwing people before and observed bluestate10 Dec 2013 #67
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