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The NYT has become the Truthers of the MSM: “Hey, we’re just asking questions!1!!”
Dusty on February 27, 2008 at 11:34 PM
So let me get this argument straight. McCain, being born on an Army base in Panama, isn’t American enough to qualify for the presidency, but any Mexican that runs across the border is American enough to get all the rights of privileges of our society?
p0s3r on February 27, 2008 at 11:36 PM
I can’t follow the link, as I’ve not knowingly given the NYTs a fraction of a penny of income for years now, but I gather they’re now claiming he’s not a US Citizen, so doesn’t qualify to hold the office?
Sheesh, if so, they truly are lost in space.
ShoreMark on February 27, 2008 at 11:44 PM
as an american born to two U.S. citizens on a U.S. airbase in spain, i can tell you that THIS IS PATHETIC! not only because AIN’T NOBODY GONNA TELL ME THAT I AIN’T A “NATURAL BORN AMERICAN”, but also because this B.S. was addressed and owned 10 YEARS AGO!!! scroll down to “Some might define the term…”
end of rant…
homesickamerican on February 27, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Good thing McCain wasn’t born on February 29th, they’d be debating whether or not he is over 35.
29Victor on February 27, 2008 at 11:46 PM
Obviously the framers had Ah-nold, not McCain, in mind when they wrote that.
What choice does the Times have other than to keep Senator McCain out of the White House to avoid the penalties for publishing Top Secret information?
News2Use on February 27, 2008 at 11:54 PM
George Washington was born on British soil. Maybe we should revoke his presidency.
locke on February 27, 2008 at 11:11 PM
g1…and don’t forget, an illegal immigrant can cross the border an hour before giving birth, get free labor and delivery services at a US hospital, and THAT child could be pres of the US, but the NYTraitor q’s whether the son of military parents stationed overseas can be pres…yep, that sounds about right for them.
JustTruth101 on February 28, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Natural Born probably means both parents have to be U.S. citizens when the child is born.
waterhouse on February 28, 2008 at 12:13 AM
Help them they’ve fallen… and they can’t get up!
CynicalOptimist on February 28, 2008 at 12:13 AM
Pathetic.
Talon on February 28, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Wow, the times is doing a great job of firing up the conservative base for McCain. One could argue they are better at it than he is.
SCGOPgirl on February 28, 2008 at 12:17 AM
That old gray mare
She ain’t what she used to be
Ain’t What she used to be
Ain’t what she used to be…
Viscount_Bolingbroke on February 28, 2008 at 12:33 AM
Well silly me, here I was thinking “natural-born citizen” simply meant born out of the vagina of a citizen of the United States.
Mark V. on February 28, 2008 at 12:37 AM
George Washington was born on British soil. Maybe we should revoke his presidency.
No need, Article II says “natural-born citizen or a Citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution.”
Mark V. on February 28, 2008 at 12:39 AM
George Washington was born on British soil.
What are you talking about?
Washington was born in Virginia. Westmooreland County, Virginia: 22 Feb 1732.
Washington was born in Virginia. Westmooreland County, Virginia: 22 Feb 1732.
…which at the time was a British colony.
29Victor on February 28, 2008 at 1:11 AM
Scene: NY Times editors’ staff meeting. Editor 1 is browsing John McCain’s Wikipedia entry…
Editor1: Hey, it says here he was born in the Panama Canal Zone.
Editor2: Ha! You said cAnal!
Editor1: No, I said “great idea for a story!”
BossEditor1: What do you have, kid? Tell me it’s a sex scandal involving Panamanian lobbyists!?! The last one worked out so well!
Editor1: Nope – better! This means Adolf McWarmonger wasn’t born in the US of A. He’s not allowed to be president! That piece of paper Bush hates says so!
BossEditor2: Khorosho! Oops, that’s one from the old days….I mean, Allah be praised! Oh…too soon for that one? OK, um, good job, kid!
BossEditor1: Wait, is this really true? Because we’ve almost been burned by this “fact-checking” thing before, you know. I mean, almost. It’s been kinda close.
Editor1: I’ll get the research team on it, boss.
Editor1 begins to log in to his democraticunderground account, the camera showing his Che avatar and username ‘FightinDaMan’; coming up quickly from behind him, BossEditor2 reaches over his shoulder and takes hold of the computer mouse
Editor1: Hey, what gives? I came up with two new ways to tie Bush to Hitler in line at Starbucks this morning. I was just about to post to the “Is Bush Hitler?” open thread before I asked their legal experts about our scoop!
BossEditor2: I’ve seen ‘em all, kid. Who do you think started that thread?
Editor2: You’re “OlbyPincher?”
BossEditor2: Nevermind that. Pay attention, son.
BossEditor2 drags clicks the mouse for no more than two or three seconds. A new screen appears, a large bold headline followed by many paragraphs formatted text in a classic font.
Editor1 (reading): “McCain legally barred from presidency. Election over. Our guy wins!” How…?
BossEditor1 puts his hand on both junior editors’ shoulders, lifts his eyes to the horizon and speaks
BossEditor1: Boys, we’re the New York Times. It’s who we are. It’s what we do.
Hannibal Smith on February 28, 2008 at 1:17 AM
Mr. McCain’s likely nomination as the Republican candidate for president and the happenstance of his birth in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936 are reviving a musty debate that has surfaced periodically since the founders first set quill to parchment and declared that only a “natural-born citizen” can hold the nation’s highest office.
Look at the way the Times words this. THEY dredge this crap up out of nowhere, and then act like there’s this massive debate going on, and they’re just doing us a favor by informing about it.
The readership of the NYT is around a half-million now – and that includes New Yorkers who get it for local news and people who buy it for the crossword puzzle, society pages, or just as an inexpensive birdcage liner.
But the NYT’s political columnists are constantly voted “most influential” by other members of the press. That’s because, to the liberal media, the NYT still IS the most influential paper in the world.
The NYT “endorses” McCain; the rest of the press build him up for the nomination. Then the NYT gives the signal, and all the liberal media turn on the crap faucet at the same time.
logis on February 28, 2008 at 3:58 AM
“But it is certainly not a frivolous issue.”
Maybe not, but the timing is… Did the Times write anything about it in 1999/2000? How about in 2007?
How pathetic.
darkpixel on February 28, 2008 at 6:44 AM
I’m an Air Force brat who was born in Okinawa when my dad was stationed there. Due to bad information at customs, my parents had to have me naturalized when we came back to the States. Years later my mom investigated and found out that this wasn’t necessary because I am a citizen by birth born abroad to two US citizens, as referenced earlier in this thread.
Apart from the oddity of me holding dual US citizenship, there is no citizenship issue with McCain being president.
James on February 28, 2008 at 8:02 AM
The Times wanted him to be the nominee. Now, they’re afraid he may win.
Great link!
Some might define the term “natural-born citizen” as one who was born on United States soil. But the First Congress, on March 26, 1790, approved an act that declared, “The children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond sea, or outside the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural-born citizens of the United States.”
How ironic George Romney had the same issue thrown at him in 1967.
George Romney, the late Michigan governor and a leading aspirant for the 1968 Republican presidential nomination, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico….William Loeb, the late publisher of the Manchester Union Leader who made his conservative views well known to New Hampshire primary voters, simply dismissed Romney as “Chihuahua George.” But Romney was eligible
TheBigOldDog on February 28, 2008 at 8:22 AM
“Natural born” citizen means an American citizen since birth, which applies to McCain. The only “musty debate” here is whether the New York Times leadership is blindly partisan or just plain dumb. And while I wasn’t a huge McCain fan, my support for him is growing in direct relation to the New York Times’ fear of him. As a general rule, I look at the New York Times’ position, and throw my support in the opposite direction.
Rational Thought on February 28, 2008 at 8:23 AM
Fish refuse to be wrapped in it and birds refuse to crap on it!
farleyman on February 28, 2008 at 8:52 AM
The only explanation I’ve heard for the view that U.S. citizens born abroad is that unless you are constitutionally guaranteed U.S. citizenship, you’re not a “natural born” citizen for purposes of the Constitution. If that’s the rule, no “natural born” citizens existed until 1868, when the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted, and every President from John Tyler through Andrew Johnson was illegitimate. [Washington and the gang get a pass because Article II, Section I grandfathers in anyone who was a citizen at the time of ratification.]
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Registration is currently closed. That means if you're not already registered, you can't comment. We will let you know if and when registration re-opens. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
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Good Greif that is desperate. So now our Military brats shouldnt be counted because Their parents were overseas ?
If we want to use strick interpretations we could argue that since Barak’s father was American he is only half an american.
William Amos on February 27, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Just wait until the inevitable photo surfaces of McCain dressed in Panamanian garb.
Mark1971 on February 27, 2008 at 11:10 PM
George Washington was born on British soil. Maybe we should revoke his presidency.
locke on February 27, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Ha!
Hannibal Smith on February 27, 2008 at 11:15 PM
OMG! What does the Times have left on the assignment desk? Jeez!
BJ* on February 27, 2008 at 11:15 PM
What a joke. I should send this on to my daughter and tell her that DOD form ‘Report of Child Born Abroad to American Parents’ is worthless.
Limerick on February 27, 2008 at 11:16 PM
As if the NYT needed more credibility issues raised. Who is running this paper??? Must be the same guy who runs the Knicks… they’re both sinking ships
Luckedout on February 27, 2008 at 11:20 PM
NYT = DNC Rag
petefrt on February 27, 2008 at 11:20 PM
So petty.
SoulGlo on February 27, 2008 at 11:28 PM
The NYT has become the Truthers of the MSM: “Hey, we’re just asking questions!1!!”
Dusty on February 27, 2008 at 11:34 PM
So let me get this argument straight. McCain, being born on an Army base in Panama, isn’t American enough to qualify for the presidency, but any Mexican that runs across the border is American enough to get all the rights of privileges of our society?
p0s3r on February 27, 2008 at 11:36 PM
I can’t follow the link, as I’ve not knowingly given the NYTs a fraction of a penny of income for years now, but I gather they’re now claiming he’s not a US Citizen, so doesn’t qualify to hold the office?
Sheesh, if so, they truly are lost in space.
ShoreMark on February 27, 2008 at 11:44 PM
as an american born to two U.S. citizens on a U.S. airbase in spain, i can tell you that THIS IS PATHETIC! not only because AIN’T NOBODY GONNA TELL ME THAT I AIN’T A “NATURAL BORN AMERICAN”, but also because this B.S. was addressed and owned 10 YEARS AGO!!! scroll down to “Some might define the term…”
end of rant…
homesickamerican on February 27, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Good thing McCain wasn’t born on February 29th, they’d be debating whether or not he is over 35.
29Victor on February 27, 2008 at 11:46 PM
Obviously the framers had Ah-nold, not McCain, in mind when they wrote that.
jgapinoy on February 27, 2008 at 11:46 PM
29Victor on February 27, 2008 at 11:46 PM
nice!
homesickamerican on February 27, 2008 at 11:47 PM
What choice does the Times have other than to keep Senator McCain out of the White House to avoid the penalties for publishing Top Secret information?
News2Use on February 27, 2008 at 11:54 PM
g1…and don’t forget, an illegal immigrant can cross the border an hour before giving birth, get free labor and delivery services at a US hospital, and THAT child could be pres of the US, but the NYTraitor q’s whether the son of military parents stationed overseas can be pres…yep, that sounds about right for them.
JustTruth101 on February 28, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Natural Born probably means both parents have to be U.S. citizens when the child is born.
waterhouse on February 28, 2008 at 12:13 AM
Help them they’ve fallen… and they can’t get up!
CynicalOptimist on February 28, 2008 at 12:13 AM
Pathetic.
Talon on February 28, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Wow, the times is doing a great job of firing up the conservative base for McCain. One could argue they are better at it than he is.
SCGOPgirl on February 28, 2008 at 12:17 AM
That old gray mare
She ain’t what she used to be
Ain’t What she used to be
Ain’t what she used to be…
Viscount_Bolingbroke on February 28, 2008 at 12:33 AM
Well silly me, here I was thinking “natural-born citizen” simply meant born out of the vagina of a citizen of the United States.
Mark V. on February 28, 2008 at 12:37 AM
No need, Article II says “natural-born citizen or a Citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution.”
Mark V. on February 28, 2008 at 12:39 AM
What are you talking about?
Washington was born in Virginia. Westmooreland County, Virginia: 22 Feb 1732.
Spirit of 1776 on February 28, 2008 at 1:08 AM
…which at the time was a British colony.
29Victor on February 28, 2008 at 1:11 AM
Scene: NY Times editors’ staff meeting. Editor 1 is browsing John McCain’s Wikipedia entry…
Editor1: Hey, it says here he was born in the Panama Canal Zone.
Editor2: Ha! You said cAnal!
Editor1: No, I said “great idea for a story!”
BossEditor1: What do you have, kid? Tell me it’s a sex scandal involving Panamanian lobbyists!?! The last one worked out so well!
Editor1: Nope – better! This means Adolf McWarmonger wasn’t born in the US of A. He’s not allowed to be president! That piece of paper Bush hates says so!
BossEditor2: Khorosho! Oops, that’s one from the old days….I mean, Allah be praised! Oh…too soon for that one? OK, um, good job, kid!
BossEditor1: Wait, is this really true? Because we’ve almost been burned by this “fact-checking” thing before, you know. I mean, almost. It’s been kinda close.
Editor1: I’ll get the research team on it, boss.
Editor1 begins to log in to his democraticunderground account, the camera showing his Che avatar and username ‘FightinDaMan’; coming up quickly from behind him, BossEditor2 reaches over his shoulder and takes hold of the computer mouse
Editor1: Hey, what gives? I came up with two new ways to tie Bush to Hitler in line at Starbucks this morning. I was just about to post to the “Is Bush Hitler?” open thread before I asked their legal experts about our scoop!
BossEditor2: I’ve seen ‘em all, kid. Who do you think started that thread?
Editor2: You’re “OlbyPincher?”
BossEditor2: Nevermind that. Pay attention, son.
BossEditor2 drags clicks the mouse for no more than two or three seconds. A new screen appears, a large bold headline followed by many paragraphs formatted text in a classic font.
Editor1 (reading): “McCain legally barred from presidency. Election over. Our guy wins!” How…?
BossEditor1 puts his hand on both junior editors’ shoulders, lifts his eyes to the horizon and speaks
BossEditor1: Boys, we’re the New York Times. It’s who we are. It’s what we do.
Hannibal Smith on February 28, 2008 at 1:17 AM
Look at the way the Times words this. THEY dredge this crap up out of nowhere, and then act like there’s this massive debate going on, and they’re just doing us a favor by informing about it.
The readership of the NYT is around a half-million now – and that includes New Yorkers who get it for local news and people who buy it for the crossword puzzle, society pages, or just as an inexpensive birdcage liner.
But the NYT’s political columnists are constantly voted “most influential” by other members of the press. That’s because, to the liberal media, the NYT still IS the most influential paper in the world.
The NYT “endorses” McCain; the rest of the press build him up for the nomination. Then the NYT gives the signal, and all the liberal media turn on the crap faucet at the same time.
logis on February 28, 2008 at 3:58 AM
Maybe not, but the timing is… Did the Times write anything about it in 1999/2000? How about in 2007?
How pathetic.
darkpixel on February 28, 2008 at 6:44 AM
I’m an Air Force brat who was born in Okinawa when my dad was stationed there. Due to bad information at customs, my parents had to have me naturalized when we came back to the States. Years later my mom investigated and found out that this wasn’t necessary because I am a citizen by birth born abroad to two US citizens, as referenced earlier in this thread.
Apart from the oddity of me holding dual US citizenship, there is no citizenship issue with McCain being president.
James on February 28, 2008 at 8:02 AM
The Times wanted him to be the nominee. Now, they’re afraid he may win.
Be careful what you wish for…………
Dave from Flint on February 28, 2008 at 8:15 AM
Great link!
Some might define the term “natural-born citizen” as one who was born on United States soil. But the First Congress, on March 26, 1790, approved an act that declared, “The children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond sea, or outside the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural-born citizens of the United States.”
How ironic George Romney had the same issue thrown at him in 1967.
George Romney, the late Michigan governor and a leading aspirant for the 1968 Republican presidential nomination, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico….William Loeb, the late publisher of the Manchester Union Leader who made his conservative views well known to New Hampshire primary voters, simply dismissed Romney as “Chihuahua George.” But Romney was eligible
TheBigOldDog on February 28, 2008 at 8:22 AM
“Natural born” citizen means an American citizen since birth, which applies to McCain. The only “musty debate” here is whether the New York Times leadership is blindly partisan or just plain dumb. And while I wasn’t a huge McCain fan, my support for him is growing in direct relation to the New York Times’ fear of him. As a general rule, I look at the New York Times’ position, and throw my support in the opposite direction.
Rational Thought on February 28, 2008 at 8:23 AM
Fish refuse to be wrapped in it and birds refuse to crap on it!
farleyman on February 28, 2008 at 8:52 AM
The only explanation I’ve heard for the view that U.S. citizens born abroad is that unless you are constitutionally guaranteed U.S. citizenship, you’re not a “natural born” citizen for purposes of the Constitution. If that’s the rule, no “natural born” citizens existed until 1868, when the Fourteenth Amendment was adopted, and every President from John Tyler through Andrew Johnson was illegitimate. [Washington and the gang get a pass because Article II, Section I grandfathers in anyone who was a citizen at the time of ratification.]
Xrlq on February 28, 2008 at 9:25 AM