Currently only natural born US citizens can run for president. Should those who immigrate to the US be allowed to run for president? Or is it too much of a risk?
Serious answers only.
2006-11-04 07:13:19 · 18 answers · asked by dolphinluver22000 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
In other words, should be amend the Constitution to eliminate the "natural born" requirement?
Let's break it down. First, I think that anyone born of two US citizens should be allowed to run for president, even if they were born overseas. So, those whose citizen-parents were on vacation, or serving or traveling overseas, should not be precluded.
As to those who are born of non-citizens, if they are born in the US (regardless of where they are raised), then they are eligble, under the 14th Amendment. But if they are born overseas, regardless of where they are raised, they are not. Personally, I think that where someone is raised is more important than the first few minutes of their life. And the risk (if any) arises from their beliefs and personality, not the geography they happened to be in before they were able to speak or walk.
Then again, history has shown that simply being born in the US certainly doesn't make someone competent to be President, even if they happen to be legally qualified to run.
2006-11-04 07:20:15 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Your question doesn't make much sense on the face of it. US Citizens born outside the US were probably born on a military reservation, which is a US territory even if it's in Germany or Turkey or the Phillipines. These people are US Citizens.
If you're talking about someone like Arnold Schwartzenegger who was born in a different country, immigrated to the US and became a citizen ... then our laws clearly define him as unable to become President.
Should the law be changed? Probably not, but before everyone gets upset ... think about it. When our Consititution was drafted, we were a country of immigrants with very few natural-born citizens. There was no way to guarantee the immigrants loyalty to the US because a lot of the immigrants were immigrants against their will. They were debtors that were shipped over here to get them out of their home countries' hair and to keep themselves out of jail.
Nowdays, there is still no way to guarantee an immigrants loyalty to the US. Many people from other countries still call their old country "home". They fly the flag of their "home" country on their homes, businesses and vehicles. They refuse to learn our language, and expect everyone else to learn their language to communicate with them. Are they loyal to the US or to themselves? Do you want to risk the greatest country on the planet to someone who won't become a full citizen of the US? I don't.
2006-11-04 07:23:45 · answer #2 · answered by kc_warpaint 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
U are asking this question because Sen. Obama said that he might consider running for President. Although he was born in Kenya, I think that he should be given the right to run for President. He is old enough, he is a US citizen, and he is a senator.Yes, i think that citizens who were born outside the US and became citizens should be allowed to run for President.
Candidates who were not born in the US might have a smaller chance to win the Presidential elections.
2006-11-04 07:20:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Too much of a risk. That is in the constitution to insure that it will be a US citizen always at the helm and not someone who played the system and might have outside loyalties. Imigrant citizens can hold any other post but the Presidency should always be held by a natural citizen as the Constitution says.
2006-11-04 07:40:37 · answer #4 · answered by JFra472449 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You save me from asking a question! Cause your question answers my question. I now know I can't run for President for U.S. because I am Canadian and born in Canada. I think anyone should be allowed to run for President or Prime Minister regardless where they were born as long as they have become a citizen in the Country they choose to run in! Anyone in the U.S. if they become a Canadian Citizen they would be allowed to run for Prime Minister!
If a country don't allow that then it's prejudicism!
2006-11-04 07:24:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Too big of a security risk! Besides, there has never been a NON US Citizen as President. Meaning they where born on US Soil (Even before the US existed.)
Besides, it is against the constitution.
2006-11-04 07:15:36 · answer #6 · answered by lancelot682005 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Anybody not a natural born American should not be allowed to be President. I'd never vote for such a person.
2006-11-04 07:18:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that anyone should because there true loyalties will always be with the country they were born in regardless of any oath they take. And that can be a dangerous thing
2006-11-04 07:21:15 · answer #8 · answered by conundrum_dragon 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont really think so. Actually it doesnt matter. As long as that president will be able to rule the country with pride and respect. As long as that president wont act the way Bush is.
2006-11-04 07:23:12 · answer #9 · answered by DARIA. - JOINED MAY 2006 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Karl Rove intends Arnie to be president, but i think too many Americans already think world politics is a movie.
2006-11-04 07:17:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋