Foreign-born President

[Brutus]

Since the election of Gov. Schwarzenegger, there's talk about amending the constitution to allow foreign-born citizens to hold the office of President.  First, do you think this is likely to ever happen?  Secondly, and for fun, cast your vote on who would win a hypothetical match-up between Austrian-born Gov. Schwarzenegger and Canadian-born Gov. Granholm.

[Mr. Fresh]

Since the election of Gov. Schwarzenegger, there's talk about amending the constitution to allow foreign-born citizens to hold the office of President.  First, do you think this is likely to ever happen?  Secondly, and for fun, cast your vote on who would win a hypothetical match-up between Austrian-born Gov. Schwarzenegger and Canadian-born Gov. Granholm.

I don't think it's likely to happen, and I sure hope it doesn't happen.  Allowing foreign born citizens to become President is a ludicrous idea, imho.

And for fun, I think Schwarzenegger would rip Granholm to shreds.  First, he's a Republican, and moreover a liberal Republican.  Thus getting the Republican vote, and a side of the liberals.  He's also got his reputation for his career, hardly anyone knows or cares about Granholm.  Since this is hypothetical, it's made as if there was no conservative Republican was running.

[© Tweed the Younger]

I would support this amendment, I agree with arnold, we live in a more global society today and if you have been a citizen for 20 years, you deserve to have the right to run for president.

PRESIDENT GRANHOLM

[Dave from Michigan]

I don't know if I would support this does anyone Know if other countries allow foreign born people to run.

Granholm would make a bad bad bad president.

[Dave from Michigan]

Granholm would get elected if the amendment passed

[California Dreamer]

well I think it is fine, but all this talk about ammending the constitution...arent there far more important areas to ammend it, how about fixing the Electoral College first?

RE: Arnie vs Grandholm

I got to go with the babe here....and I doubt Arnie would survive a Republican primary process which is still winner take all, California may be able to handle him, but he is a Democrat from the point of view of the South.

[Dave from Michigan]

Granholm and schwarzenegger both have similar views
Granholm's a moderate democrat and schwarzenegger is a liberal republican.

A Granholm vs. Schwarzenegger election would be fun

[Vasall des Midas]

It's highly unlikely to happen, it's just too much hassle to change the constitution. Certainly it's not going to happen while one major party has a credible foreign-born contender, the other party would be hell-bent to prevent it.
I guess Arnold would probably win, not that I like the prospect.
Of course no civilized nation would ever ban foreign-born citizens from political office, the only places where I know of such a rule are the US and Cote d'Ivoire, where it was introduced to keep the most popular candidate, Alassane, I've forgotten the surname, from running. (He was born in Burkina Faso.)

[dunn]

the sur name is OUATTARA

[Huckleberry Finn]

It's highly unlikely to happen, it's just too much hassle to change the constitution. Certainly it's not going to happen while one major party has a credible foreign-born contender, the other party would be hell-bent to prevent it.
I guess Arnold would probably win, not that I like the prospect.
Of course no civilized nation would ever ban foreign-born citizens from political office, the only places where I know of such a rule are the US and Cote d'Ivoire, where it was introduced to keep the most popular candidate, Alassane, I've forgotten the surname, from running. (He was born in Burkina Faso.)

In Finland we also have such a rule. President of Finland should be native Finnish.

[Vasall des Midas]

It's highly unlikely to happen, it's just too much hassle to change the constitution. Certainly it's not going to happen while one major party has a credible foreign-born contender, the other party would be hell-bent to prevent it.
I guess Arnold would probably win, not that I like the prospect.
Of course no civilized nation would ever ban foreign-born citizens from political office, the only places where I know of such a rule are the US and Cote d'Ivoire, where it was introduced to keep the most popular candidate, Alassane, I've forgotten the surname, from running. (He was born in Burkina Faso.)

In Finland we also have such a rule. President of Finland should be native Finnish.

Alright, I guess there's a number more. I just don't know of any other examples. Certainly there's no such rule in either Germany or India.

[© Tweed the Younger]

I think Granholm would win narrowly against Arnold.

[dunn]

It's highly unlikely to happen, it's just too much hassle to change the constitution. Certainly it's not going to happen while one major party has a credible foreign-born contender, the other party would be hell-bent to prevent it.
I guess Arnold would probably win, not that I like the prospect.
Of course no civilized nation would ever ban foreign-born citizens from political office, the only places where I know of such a rule are the US and Cote d'Ivoire, where it was introduced to keep the most popular candidate, Alassane, I've forgotten the surname, from running. (He was born in Burkina Faso.)

In Finland we also have such a rule. President of Finland should be native Finnish.

Alright, I guess there's a number more. I just don't know of any other examples. Certainly there's no such rule in either Germany or India.

most countries do not have such a law

[Sibboleth]

Schwarzenegger would lose... remember the Wille Horton ads?
Say hello to Kurt Waldheim ads...

[Dave from Michigan]

Granholm would win shes more likeable

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

I am against amending the constitution for this reason.  Nor do I think it would pass.  

[elcorazon]

I believe this is completely antiquated and is exactly the type of thing that is worthy of amending the constitution over.  When this country was formed, it was a completely different world and the issue made sense.  I think that it is a real shame that kids from Korea or China or wherever who are adopted as babies into familes of US citizens and know no other world besides the United States cannot be president because they were born elsewhere.  Let us not forget that the president has to be elected so the concern over allegiances is pretty remote, given that they have to win an electoral victory anyway.  Obviously, there would need to be SOME guidelines, with respect to citizenship, etc., but in theory I'm all for foreign born Presidents.

[NHPolitico]

Granholm would win shes more likeable

I saw her on Fox News Sunday. She was a smooth operator. I was impressed.

[M]

Whoa, you mean, like,  there's politcs and stuff happening in California, dudes? Righteous! Oh, like, you mean it's totally Arnold Schwarzenegger the movie star? Whoa-oa-oa, awesome, man! I would like, totally, want to like, amend the constitution for Arnold, man. Whoa-oa!

Oh, yeah, Arnold would like, totally, crush the Canadian chick.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

Arnold is a clown.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Arnold is a great public servant and is an excellent Governor.

[Demrepdan]

Arnold is a great public servant and is an excellent Governor.

Yeah? Well he's not all too good of an actor......"Ja! GET DOWN! HERE COMES DA HELA-KOPTER!!! IT IZ ZOOTING AT US!!! GET DOWN!! AGGH!!"

[TheWildCard]

I'm against this amendment.

But I would vote for Arnold(As I would have in the REcall but I missed it by 4 months) and I think he'd crush pretty much anyone with his name recognition alone.

[Vasall des Midas]

I believe this is completely antiquated and is exactly the type of thing that is worthy of amending the constitution over.  When this country was formed, it was a completely different world and the issue made sense.  I think that it is a real shame that kids from Korea or China or wherever who are adopted as babies into familes of US citizens and know no other world besides the United States cannot be president because they were born elsewhere.  Let us not forget that the president has to be elected so the concern over allegiances is pretty remote, given that they have to win an electoral victory anyway.  Obviously, there would need to be SOME guidelines, with respect to citizenship, etc., but in theory I'm all for foreign born Presidents.

All those arguments were entirely valid back then.
In fact, the Constitution says that those who immigrated before its adoption are eligible as Presidents.

Seems to me the Founding Fathers seriously undervalued the longevity of the document they drew up...and the difficulties in changing it.

[TheWildCard]

Whoa, you mean, like,  there's politcs and stuff happening in California, dudes? Righteous! Oh, like, you mean it's totally Arnold Schwarzenegger the movie star? Whoa-oa-oa, awesome, man! I would like, totally, want to like, amend the constitution for Arnold, man. Whoa-oa!

Oh, yeah, Arnold would like, totally, crush the Canadian chick.

BTW M Dude! you sure you shouldn't have a California like as your Avatar?

LOL