Fame Begets Wisdom (Not)

Fame in one field does not beget skill in another.

 -- Pug Mahoney

   Celebrities often fall victim to their own self-importance. They come to believe the hype that surrounds them, perpetrated by those whose task is to market the product -- in this case a person and whatever "talent" that person may have.
   Result: Snooki's words of wisdom are sought (and devoured) on topics ranging from Jersey Shore tanning beaches to politics and government to child rearing and foreign affairs.
   Another result: Donald Trump uses his fame to celebrate his opinions on things unrelated to his success in commercial real estate. He is especially single-minded on the topic of Barack Obama's citizenship. The Donald refuses to hear any information contrary to his pre-formed belief, and uses his notoriety to disseminate his propaganda.
   A more important issue is that the media play into his hand and spread his beliefs without checking the veracity thereof.

   Consider: There are three kinds of U.S. citizenship; Native Born, Natural Born and Naturalized.
   -- Native born citizens are those born in America regardless of parental status.
   -- Natural born citizens are those born to one or both American citizens, regardless of location (place of birth).
   -- Naturalized citizens are those born elsewhere to non-citizens, but come to America and apply for U.S. citizenship.

   Donald Trump enjoys U.S. citizenship under Rule One.
   John McCain (born in Panama), George Romney (born in Mexico), and all children of Americans traveling or serving in the U.S. military in foreign countries are Natural Born citizens under Rule Two.
   Barack Obama is a U.S. citizen based on Rule One -- he was born in Hawaii. Or, if you do not accept that, Rule Two applies: His mother was a Native Born citizen, from Kansas.
   Only those holding citizenship under Rules One or Two may serve as President or Vice President. It's in the Constitution. Look it up. The Donald either refuses to do so or ignores those who do and continues his rant. It therefore falls to the media to either ignore his rant or provide the relevant constitutional facts.
   Journalists too often parrot the rantings of the famous and notorious as if celebrity begets wisdom.
   It doesn't.

   It may attract readers and viewers, and make good copy and great headlines, but wisdom it ain't.

   Journalists have a responsibility to expose those who try to spread "wisdom" through the guise of their notoriety.
   Otherwise, they participate in a fraud on the American public.