and his arguments for amending "Article II, Section 1, Clause 5" I have always respected the writings of John W. Dean. I feel that his view on the issue of a Constitutional Amendment may not be appropriate at this particular juncture in history. I would certainly hate to consider the possibility that the merits of Mr. Dean’s arguments would be politically motivated; and, I do not consider them to be so. However, I do believe that my respect for many of the previous commentaries of John Dean have been extremely enlightening to me. I am posting this “thread”, not as an endorsement, but, as notion which I would care to spend more time pondering upon. I definitely, at this time, in view of the current political climate, do not think that it would be the appropriate measure to seriously consider such an amendment. A sober focus upon Senator Hatch's
Senate Joint Resolution 15 would not be suggested; as it could be considered to resonate in extremely obvious political underpinnings. In all honesty, I was rather shocked upon my initial read of this writing.
United States Constitution Article II, Section 1, Clause 5
“No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.” The Pernicious "Natural Born" Clause of the Constitution: Why Immigrants Like Governors Schwarzenegger and Granholm Ought to be Able to Become Presidents
By John W. Dean, Find Law Friday, Oct. 08, 2004
With an eye on the 2008 presidential election, two enterprising Californians have launched an effort to propel Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger into the White House. To do so, however, they must remove the clause in the United States Constitution that currently precludes him from running for higher office. Thus, Operation Arnold seeks to encourage a public groundswell to amend the Constitution to allow foreign born persons to be eligible for the office of President.
Governor Schwarzenegger, who came to the United States when he was 21 years of age, is not the only sitting governor constitutionally ineligible for the presidency.
Michigan's Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm was born in British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and thus is also ineligible.
Governor Granholm has eloquently explained the unfairness of the situation she, Arnold, and countless other could-be/would-be presidents face: "You can't choose where you are born, but you can choose where you live and where you swear your allegiance."
Link:
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/scripts/printer_friendly.pl?page=/dean/20041008.html