After having won the “tawdry journalism of the year award” last week for their outing–sans proof– of John McCain’s supposed affair with a lobbyist, the newspaper of record now raises the issue of whether the Arizona senator is qualified to run for President at all because he was born to an American military family in the Canal Zone. Never mind that his father and grandfather were US Navy admirals, the Grey Lady tut-tuts the rules “may be” the rules.
Of course everybody knows this is a non-starter. So why are they raising it now? Well, we all know, don’t we? And they claim to be the “newspaper of record.” Frankly, I prefer The Onion.
The really fascinating part is there are, I don’t know, a dozen examples and authorities quoted. Not one of them thought it was even a realistic question. (A couple of academics mentioned no explicit precedent.)
On the other hand, I can certainly see Hillary challenging a McCain election on this basis.
There are two statuses of citizen: Natural Born and Naturalized. If McCain is not Natural Born, than I beleive he must be Naturalized…and has a Certificate of Naturalization. If he does not have this Certificate, than he is an illegal alien. I think this should be pushed. And McCain should be (along with all the military brats born in Europe since the 1950s) deported forthwith. Let’s see them and raise. Let’s reopen the immigration debate on this issue. I think the Democrats will rue the day it was brought up. As the Instapundit might say: “Heh”.
This is ridiculous. McCain was in the US Military and the US Senate and no one has ever challenged his legal status.
Where was Obama born? His father was Kenyan, his mother is from Kansas. Obama was a child in a foreign country, went to private school in Hawaii, which is at least a state. But has anyone seriously questioned his status?
No, this is a nonstarter. It would be sheer lunacy to pursue it.
WTF KIND OF DUMBA** HIT PIECE IS THIS??
When you are born on a military base with at least one American parent, you are AMERICAN. This is not in question. It’s an issue that used to come up all the damn time in the Philippines!
No, foreign bases are actually not considered US territory – why do we all think terrorist prisoners are kept at Guantanomo? – but the Canal Zone specifically was. So that’s a second strike against this story!
The only way there’s any doubt about the situation is if McCain was born off base. Otherwise, there is no doubt!
Bloody stupid idiot reporters… can no one with the NYTimes/IHT get any damn thing straight???
Ok, deep breath… calmed down now…
The question is, what level of documentation was required when McCain was born. Again, it’s true that military bases are not automatically considered US Territory, and again, it does take at least one US citizen parent, but I already made that argument above. The questions is, how was his birth declared? I do not know what documentation requirements were in force when he was born, but currently, if you’re born under the conditions in question (at least 1 US parent, on military base, etc. etc.) you must declare the birth to the nearest US Consulate. Why the Consulate instead of some military authority? Beats the hell out of me; all I know is that this is the rule. Anyway, after requisite paperwork, you can then get your birth certificate.
Bottom line: By today’s rules, the proper documentation must be on file for the child to be truly considered a US citizen, otherwise the status is a sort of limbo. But again, what were the documentation requirements when McCain was born? That I admit I don’t know.
I guess we will have to disqualify any candidate for President who was born by C-section.
I knew they’d turn on McCain. I just never thought that they’d do it so … incompetently.
Talk about grasping at straws.
If you consider the amendment original intent I don’t think there is any question as to what country the senator has pledged his allegiance to, and even if you do, Mac is not a Panamanian!
First McCain was an unethical womanizer, when that didn’t work, he’s a foreigner.
What’s next?…. I know… by golly McCain won’t be able to raise his arm to take the oath. He can’t take the oath
You think the Times could sink any lower?
In terms of qualifications alone ? if Mac is not qualified then no one is.
I wonder how the veterans are going to look at this?
The only explenation I can muster is that of Craig Karpel.
The NYT wants to be the story.
You got them all wrong Roger. It is not that they are being disingenuous. It is simply that the NY Times has always believed in strict constructionalism.
Richard Nieporent: They say that none of woman born shall defeat Obama. So maybe we need a nominee who was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.
I agree with Charlie, if Clinton somehow wins the nomination she’d sue on this total non-issue. She’d sink to any depth to win. She’d be much easier to beat than Obama, but something about her just cooks my liver.