Many Americans complain of immigrants, and many members of the Republican Party insist that some of their Democratic foes do not meet the Constitutional rule that says a presidential candidate must be a "native born" citizen.
(Not so. It says "natural born." More later.)
But GOP partisans don't complain if a Republican does not meet that rule. For example, many Republicans urge Arnold Schwarzenegger to run for President. But he rejected that proposal, knowing that he was born and raised in Austria and became a U.S. citizen after coming to America and succeeding in Hollywood roles.
In contrast, GOP partisans insist that Democrat Kamala Harris, the current vice president, is not eligible for that office because she is the daughter of two immigrants. But her parents became U.S. citizens and she was born in California, thus meeting the qualification "natural born" citizen for two reasons -- parental citizenship and place of birth.
But partisans said nothing about candidate Ted Cruz, currently a senator from Texas, who was born in Canada to a Cuban father. His mother, however, was an American citizen, so he qualified for "natural born" citizenship for that reason.
Now to explain the difference between "natural born" and "native born."
"Native born" means born in the United States or one of its territories, regardless of parental citizenship.
"Natural born" means at least one parent was an American citizen, so place of birth was not relevant. That's why children born in another country to an American parent inherit American citizenship. Example: Children of American military personnel or some other kind of visitor.
Also, many Japanese women come to California late in their pregnancies so their new child will be born in America, and thus hold U.S. citizenship.
Many prominent business and political leaders are themselves immigrants, such as Andrew Carnegie, who was born and raised in Scotland, and came to America as an adult, where he made his fortune.
Or consider Donald Trump, whose grandfather came to America from Germany. And the former vice president married an immigrant -- twice.
Or consider former President John F. Kennedy and current President Joe Biden, both of whose ancestors came from Ireland.
As for former President Barack Obama, he was born in Hawaii and his mother was a native of Kansas. You don't get more American than that.
And consider this: Every President was descended from immigrants, beginning with George Washington.
So what's to stop an American citizen born of Iroquois or Mohawk ancestry from becoming President?
Nothing. Such a candidate would qualify on both counts. Natural born and native born.
Conclusion: The only ones who complain about ancestry as a qualification for the highest office in America are typically members of the Republican Party.
What does that tell you about bigotry?
By the way, the people of Puerto Rico hold American citizenship for the same two reasons as those born in Kansas, Guam or the Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico is part of the United States of America, and has been since the end of the Spanish-American War more than a hundred years ago.
(Not so. It says "natural born." More later.)
But GOP partisans don't complain if a Republican does not meet that rule. For example, many Republicans urge Arnold Schwarzenegger to run for President. But he rejected that proposal, knowing that he was born and raised in Austria and became a U.S. citizen after coming to America and succeeding in Hollywood roles.
In contrast, GOP partisans insist that Democrat Kamala Harris, the current vice president, is not eligible for that office because she is the daughter of two immigrants. But her parents became U.S. citizens and she was born in California, thus meeting the qualification "natural born" citizen for two reasons -- parental citizenship and place of birth.
But partisans said nothing about candidate Ted Cruz, currently a senator from Texas, who was born in Canada to a Cuban father. His mother, however, was an American citizen, so he qualified for "natural born" citizenship for that reason.
Now to explain the difference between "natural born" and "native born."
"Native born" means born in the United States or one of its territories, regardless of parental citizenship.
"Natural born" means at least one parent was an American citizen, so place of birth was not relevant. That's why children born in another country to an American parent inherit American citizenship. Example: Children of American military personnel or some other kind of visitor.
Also, many Japanese women come to California late in their pregnancies so their new child will be born in America, and thus hold U.S. citizenship.
Many prominent business and political leaders are themselves immigrants, such as Andrew Carnegie, who was born and raised in Scotland, and came to America as an adult, where he made his fortune.
Or consider Donald Trump, whose grandfather came to America from Germany. And the former vice president married an immigrant -- twice.
Or consider former President John F. Kennedy and current President Joe Biden, both of whose ancestors came from Ireland.
As for former President Barack Obama, he was born in Hawaii and his mother was a native of Kansas. You don't get more American than that.
And consider this: Every President was descended from immigrants, beginning with George Washington.
So what's to stop an American citizen born of Iroquois or Mohawk ancestry from becoming President?
Nothing. Such a candidate would qualify on both counts. Natural born and native born.
Conclusion: The only ones who complain about ancestry as a qualification for the highest office in America are typically members of the Republican Party.
What does that tell you about bigotry?
By the way, the people of Puerto Rico hold American citizenship for the same two reasons as those born in Kansas, Guam or the Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico is part of the United States of America, and has been since the end of the Spanish-American War more than a hundred years ago.
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