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Erm....should Mccain even be running?? -
10-13-2008, 11:07 AM
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I just randomly caught a glimpse of this story and was actually kind of suprised and annoyed that I'd heard nothing of it before.
Basically, John Mccain was born in Panama, though in a US naval hospital and to two US citizens. Still, our constitution states that a Presidential candidate has to be born in the US. Because his birthplace is debateable, the Senate had to pass a non-binding resolution declaring him eligable.
My point with this thread is, I'm just kind of in shock that....Perhaps I pulled a Rip Van Winkle or something, but I'd heard nothing about this. I personally have nothing against Mccain running, but the fact that the Senate making such a move that's debateable with what the constitution states NOT being such a common news story really annoys and scares me. Like I said, if it were made common news and common debate over if he should be allowed or not, and fucking CNN did nothing but talk about it all day and all night, I probably wouldn't be annoyed by this one bit. Sitting here one month before the campaign and hearing "Btw we made a small alteration to the constitution, lol" is...yeah, really scary!
So my issue is probably more with the media, aswell as with the senate, but who knows, I'm also asking: Did I like sleep through the entire time when this was a big debate and people were annoyed by it being broadcasted everywhere? As for the senate, it seems as though, rather than taking care of this like they should be, they're doing it with a rather informal "So we all cool with the idea?" "Yeah sure, whatever."
Other than that, people are welcome to debate about if they think he should be allowed to, if allowing him to is small step leading to much bigger changes to what the constitution states, and whatever else this issue brings to mind. I mean, Panama was under US control for the time, but it wasn't the US, to my knowledge. On another hand it IS a US base. Still, the decision made by the Senate here really has no legal bearing; it's more they're all looking the other way, but the reality is, it's definitely debateable if Mccain should be allowed to run or not; not really because no one trusts him, but more rather because this is potentially going against the constitution, which is supposed to be the document we follow by the book, as if it's the Bible of our country.
Me, I'm still having trouble believing this just went by me all these months.... Dx
I was born in the Azores Islands, Portugal. Also in a military hospital, and to 2 U.S. citizens. I have dual citizenship to both Portugal and the U.S.
So McCain would have the same thing, meaning he can be considered a legal citizen.
lol. no. its not about citizenship. to be president, you have to be born on *american soil*. thats why arnold schwarzenegger, who received his US citizenship a few decades ago, cant run for president. he wasnt born in the US.
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10-13-2008, 12:19 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by guorbatschow
lol. no. its not about citizenship. to be president, you have to be born on *american soil*. thats why arnold schwarzenegger, who received his US citizenship a few decades ago, cant run for president. he wasnt born in the US.
And like I said, I'm more concerned simply because I feel it wasn't taken as seriously as it should've been. I'm all for an outcome where they allow Mccain to run, but I mean it just doesn't seem like it was taken as seriously as it could've been. I mean, it IS something debateable by the constitution...
Well, I'm not surprised nor scared of this news. I didn't know about this until I read this thread. But I understand why it is downplayed. It's because McCain is Republican that's the simplistic answer Rush Limbaugh style. Nothing's a big deal as long as a Liberal is not doing it. Just like teen pregnancy and ignorance about US policies.
So basically no big deal. I'm ready for the voting to start so we can head to Hell in a hand-basket.
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10-13-2008, 09:58 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoraMio
Well, I'm not surprised nor scared of this news. I didn't know about this until I read this thread. But I understand why it is downplayed. It's because McCain is Republican that's the simplistic answer Rush Limbaugh style. Nothing's a big deal as long as a Liberal is not doing it. Just like teen pregnancy and ignorance about US policies.
With all due respect Sora that's a rather biased statement. I could easily and truthfully say the same thing about liberals. Honestly, it happens more often from your side of the spectrum.
Anyway, not even going to try to attempt an actual political discussion here.
It is worth noting, however, that Rush Limbaugh (and a good chunk of the Republican party) hates McCain because he leans so far to the left. But no-one here would care about that, as apparently we are incapable of seeing past the (R) in front of his name. Way to go, American media and public education system! You played your part masterfully
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10-13-2008, 10:13 PM
no offense long but i see this as really pointless.
We have probably one of the biggest elections occuring for a long time, and you wanna debate about this?
Without getting to political here, the man served in our military, was born on a U.S military base, back when the panama canal was under american control.
I mean are you saying that if U.S soliders, who has a family, who has kids when their overseas, who are laying down their lives to protect and serve us. Your saying that those kids shouldnt be allowed to run for president?
I believe that deserves a: lolwut?
Last edited by MStevens24; 10-14-2008 at 12:07 AM.
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10-14-2008, 03:32 AM
As far as I understand, any place with a flag hanging on a pole is seen as sovereign property under protection of that flag. This only includes vessels, embassies, and military objects. So a field hospital would most likely be US soil and at best US property.
John McCain, who ran for the Republican party nomination in 2000 and is the Republican nominee in 2008, was born at the Coco Solo U.S. military base in the Panama Canal Zone to U.S. parents. Although the Panama Canal Zone was not considered to be part of the United States,[6] federal law states: "Any person born in the Canal Zone on or after February 26, 1904, and whether before or after the effective date of this chapter, whose father or mother or both at the time of the birth of such person was or is a citizen of the United States, is declared to be a citizen of the United States."[7] The law that conferred this status took effect on August 4, 1937, one year after John McCain was born — albeit with retroactive[8] effect, resulting in McCain being declared a U.S. citizen.[9]
I hoped that answered the question lols.
Last edited by Punishment; 10-14-2008 at 07:28 AM.
Erm....should Mccain even be running?? -
10-13-2008, 11:07 AM
guorbatschow
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