Show of Hands

Your place of birth should never be a qualifying factor for anything, imo.

I see the Presidency as a job. We the people who elect the President are the employers.

Birth origin is not a differentiating factor in any job I've applied for...

...and should not be one here.

Country of origin does not affect how qualified someone is for the Presidency.

Why should anyone be denied the opportunity to be the President simply because they moved to America after they were born?

I'm a bit torn on this, but I think they should be allowed to as long as they've been a citizen for a certain number of years.

A natural born "citizen" *can* be born outside US: children born to military & diplomatic corps are "natural born citizens." Children born to American citizens not on USA soil are citizen. If that's kind of thing you are asking: yes. Otherwise: no.

Before you ask: I was born and raised in Germany, moved to America, love it, am meanwhile a legal resident but not yet citizen, and even if I were, I'd disqualify myself, and this comes from an immigrant.

If they're a legal citizen and aren't incompetent than I'll allow it.

He is considered a natural born citizen, smarty pants.

The constitution uses the term "natural born citizen", not "born on US soil" or similar, so it seems clear that anyone who is a US citizen from birth would qualify.

Maybe we could get Putin in 2016!

Mother was US citizen, therefore making him an American.

If it is not that, there is some other weird circumstance that makes him a US citizen.

Why would I want a foreign national running my country?

The world's wealthy will then try to buy the US predidency

A citizen born in the US to American parents, who moved with them overseas as a baby and didn't return until he was fully adult would qualify without question, yet might feel the same conflict.

He was born on a military base or something like that. He is perfectly fine in that regards. Now, his politics is screwed up.

Yup. My main argument is that a state governor doesn't have the conflict of interest I mentioned, because he usually doesn't deal in international affairs. The potus has to.

John McCain was born in Panama, DERPITY DERP DERP

Maybe. Not someone who was born a foreign citizen then naturalized, but one who was a full US citizen at birth regardless of their place of birth, yes. Born to a US citizen serving in the military or as a diplomat overseas, for example.

I don't see how it makes any difference where they were raised, as long as they are a natural-born citizen.

If your mother goes on vacation, or on a business trip while pregnant, and births you in another country, you are still a full fledged, natural born citizen fully qualified (at least for in this respect) to run for President.

Of course assuming that your mother is a U.S. citizen when you are born.

Agreed. All political posts okay save POTUS.

That's not what the question asked. Let's get our reading comprehension down, mmmmay?

No, as much as they may love America, since they were born, and probably spent part of their life, elsewhere, there is a conflict of interest. I definitely know what I'm talking about here ;)

Exactly! If your birth certificate doesn't read USA then get out of my Oval Office.

That's different, I think the question aims at people born and raised in a foreign country then moved to the US.

No! He or she has to be born in the U.S!

Lol

Huh? Who owns it?

Let's take, for example, somebody like my husband. Born in Germany. Came here at 5 years old. Became a citizen with his parents, as a young child. Raise as an American and never knew anything else. No living relatives abroad. Although ...

... he never had any *desire* to be President, it does strike me as odd that the Constitution would not have allowed it.

My answer is yes!

To me it doesn't matter where birth takes place as long as 1 or both parents are citizens, just the way it is now.

No. Friggen. Way.

I believe they are born a citizen anyways in this scenarios.

I answered poll question elsewhere. Calm down.

I think he's being sarcastic.

Nope

The founders specifically limited that post to a person with no foreign family entanglements. That still makes sense to me.

Correct which is why I am changing my answer!

Only if they were a citizen at birth

The question specified that they're a citizen.

That's precisely the reason for that requirement.

I know, I know... reading comprehension is hard. Good luck in the future. Little fella!

"That's why we need Ted Cruz in 2016, because he'll straighten these kind of things out!" - The Tea Party

wait, what?! OOOOOPS! :-D

Usually know but with few exceptions. Like if the mother was outside the country serving the country (Like an ambassador, military...)

@commonsense: I mostly agree, but do you think foreign born Arnold Schwarzenegger did a good job running California? I'd say yes, so political posts below potus ok, just not the whole nine yards.

Who's wealthier than the American wealthy already buying our elections?

I think the question mostly aims at the possible conflict of interest if you grew up in a different culture, no matter your legal status.

I agree.

Okay. That's nice.