Horserace
February 28, 2008 5:47 PM

McCain Addresses Presidential Eligibility Question

As we mentioned earlier, the New York Times ran a story this morning on the question of whether John McCain is eligible to be president of the United States.

The potential problem? The Constitution says that the office-holder must be a "natural-born citizen" – a concept that has never been fully fleshed-out in the courts – and McCain was born on a military base in the Panama Canal Zone. (His father, a U.S. Naval officer, was stationed there at the time.)

Now the Associated Press reports that McCain has commented on the issue. The presumptive GOP nominee argued the question of his eligibility was settled when Barry Goldwater, also an Arizonan, ran for president more than 40 years ago.

``Barry Goldwater was born in Arizona when it was a territory, Arizona was a territory, and it went all the way to the Supreme Court,'' McCain said. ``And there's no doubt about that. And it was researched again in 2000.''

``It's very clear that (the idea that) an American born in a territory of the United States whose father is serving in the military would not be eligible for the presidency of the United States is certainly not something our founding fathers envisioned," he added.

McCain attorney Ted Olson told the AP that people born to parents who are citizens qualify as "natural-born citizens."

``I am confident that the United States Supreme Court, should it ever address the issue, would agree,'' he said in a statement.
Tags:
John McCain ,
Eligibility ,
panama canal zone ,
ted olson
Topics:
John McCain
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by fred_couplez March 1, 2008 9:18 PM EST

There''s a great newspaper story with a lot of detail about Obama''s career as a lawyer before he entered politics.

Unlike the copy & paste spammers who post dubiously sourced smears, this is an actual news story written by an independent research journalist.

www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/20/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-Attorney-at-Law.php
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by fred_couplez March 1, 2008 9:12 PM EST

There''s a great newspaper story with a lot of detail about Obama''s career as a lawyer before he entered politics.

Unlike the copy & paste spammers who post dubiously sourced smears, this is an actual news story written by an independent research journalist.

www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/20/america/NA-POL-US-Obama-Attorney-at-Law.php
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by giantrobot2 March 1, 2008 5:02 PM EST
Top 10 Reasons John McCain should not be the Republican presidential nominee.

Number 10 - McCain has to get "permission" from the big wig party bosses who sit in their luxury rooms smoking cigars, counting their money and their power before he is allowed to say anything.

Number 9 - McCain was not born in America and technically not allowed to become US President.

Number 8 - All the true conservatives are not supporting him. Dr. James Dobson endorsed Huckabee not McCain.

Number 7 - McCain wants to water down or eliminate the Federal Marriage act between one man and one woman.

Number 6 - McCain does not actively support pro-life causes. He only reluctantly does when forced too.

Number 5 - The McCain-Fiengold law that he pushed thru to become law restricts him from spending any more in the general election against Obama.

Number 4 - McCain will have not power in the White House because he is not allowed to make decisions until he get''s permission from party big wigs.

Number 3 - McCain does not want to seal the border. The biggest threat to American security right now.

Number 2 - McCain''s speeches are just a tad more exciting than boring falling a sleep Fred Thompson.

And Number 1 - McCain is just too old. He will not be able to compete against the 46 year old Obama on his firepower. If elected he will be the oldest president ever.

Huckabee is the ONLY won who can compete with Obama in the general election. Vote for Huckabee!
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by grandus11 February 29, 2008 3:21 PM EST
Why is there such angst from Obama supporters about the media attacking him on non-issues.

I think Barack Hussein Obama should be happy that the media is not trying to tie him and his Illinois Senate position to Tony Rezko or Penny Pritker.

He did more work for Rezko in the 12 years he was with Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland than just a few days as before suggested by his campaign spokesman.

And considering that Allison Davis was not only the law firm senior partner but also was a partner of the Rezko''s company, kinda makes me wonder just how involved the Senator from Illinois happened to be.

We know that Obama was still working for Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland while he was in the Illinois senate.

But Hey the media has not reported on the S&L scandal involving Penny Pritker and the Pritker family (Penny Pritker is Obamas campaign finance chairperson by the way ) nor much has been reported on the Tony Rezko scandal.

You can check all this info your self dont take my word for it.
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by forthepeopl1 February 29, 2008 3:05 PM EST
IF YOU''''RE ANGRY AT THE ELITES, STOP SUPPORTING THEM !

1) CANCEL YOUR CABLE / SATTELITE TV: let the corporate media moguls (and their advertisers) know that you will no longer pay for their propaganda.

2) STOP INVESTING YOUR MONEY ON WALL ("WAR") STREET: corporate America is selling out the middle class to the lowest global bidder and using our own money to do it; the financial markets will push for anything that increases profits - especially war .. invest your money in land, real estate, gold and silver.

3) SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMIES !
- Buy from local manufacturers, local retailers, local craftspeople/artisans, etc.
- if possible, BURN WOOD for heat;
- support local ORGANIC growers or grow some of your own food;
- implement alternative energy sources (solar, hybrid autos etc ..)
- develop local means of commerce not based on the failing US dollar.

4) AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE BEGINS WITH YOU - healthy eating habits and exercise will create less demand on the system meaning lower costs. You%u2019ll have plenty of time to work out once you UNPLUG THE TV DRUG. Avoid eating processed foods, soda and fast foods.

5) STOP UNNECESSARY CONSUMPTION & STOP USING YOUR CREDIT CARD !

6) DECENTRALIZE ! - the global economy is nothing more than a ploy to centralize power, control and wealth into the hands of an elite few - blinded by misinformation, the American people are buying right into it - the rich get richer and the middle class is quickly becoming the working poor.

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by noregion5 February 29, 2008 2:07 PM EST
McCain doesn''t deserve to go any further than this. If he can not rise to a debate for the Republican Party, than pack''er up and be gone. What the heck will you do for America, if you will not even respresent at this level? America is in big trouble if Huckabee or Nadar doesn''t get sworn in to office as the president. You think Bush sold out America, all 3 front runners are suped up for Super Hwy to he11, at the peoples country''s expense. God Bless the USA!
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by sburton86 February 29, 2008 12:32 PM EST
I don''t know much about laws or anything like that...I just really hope that McCain really can''t be president. He scares me. He calls himself a republican but doesn''t hold the same values. He''s awful cocky and arrogant. I''m glad that Huckabee isn''t backing off yet!!
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by shingles1 February 29, 2008 12:31 PM EST
Hey Brian, can you explain to me the press'' double standard in how they are treating Obama/Farrakhan as opposed to the McCain/Hagee story?

Specifically, why is the press continuing to push the Obama/Farrakhan story despite the fact that 1) there''s no story there, 2) Obama has not sought out Farrakhan''s endorsement, 3) Obama as already repeatedly denounced Farrakhan, and 4) has a tangential connection, at best, to Farrakhan.

On the other hand, John McCain has ACTIVELY sought out the endorsement of and appeared on stage WITH John Hagee - a man who has called the Catholic Church ''The Great ***,'' an ''apostate church,'' the ''anti-Christ,'' and a ''false cult system''. People off various political stripes, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League for example, are asking McCain to distance himself from Hagee.

Yet the press reaction?
Chirping crickets.

Why the double standard?
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by louthesz9 February 29, 2008 5:29 AM EST
I can point to one other candidate who ran for office but never made it to the top job: George Romney, Mitt''s father ran for president in ''68, even though he was born in Mexico. I mean seriously, don''t you think the Constitution needs to be drastically modified since it''s so outdated and a lot has changed since 1787?
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by gitarfan February 29, 2008 2:50 AM EST
As I said, do some research. Paul Clement is the Solicitor General. Ted Olsen works for McCain. He USED to be the Solicitor General.
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by encinomanbrewery February 29, 2008 2:05 AM EST
Johnny "Manchurian" Candidate is so owned. The difference between him and Goldwater is he is no Barry Goldwater libertarian-republican. Goldwater was born in a territory of the USA, Arizona. McCain was born in the Panama Canal which was not recognized as a territory of the USA. Thus he can''t be Presidento.
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by gce65 February 28, 2008 11:54 PM EST
If it'' such a settled issue, then why is US Solicitor General Ted Olsen looking into the matter?
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by twocanpete February 28, 2008 11:54 PM EST
This wouldn''t matter a stitch to Juan McCain. He loves illegal aliens. It only makes sense that he would be one.
http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
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by gitarfan February 28, 2008 11:49 PM EST
This is a non issue. A law was was passed in 1790 that clarified this. Can''t any of you do any research? The Times got the the man they want to attack the most as the Republican nominee and they aren''t wasting any time. The rest of you sheeple in the press are ready to go along. Why don''t you ask Obama about his Abramoff ties or more about Rezko? Because you''re PARTISANS not reporters. Giant, you''re out in left field. Huck and Paul are granola, flakes and nuts.
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by giantrobot2 February 28, 2008 11:10 PM EST
This was a great question by reporter Joy Lin.

(By the way, I think her boss should give her a big pay raise this year. Her news reporting is ten times better than anyone else in the field).

The McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill that John McCain pushed thru will prevent him from spending enough in the general election to compete against Obama.

John McCain is toast. He is not allowed to make decisions until the big wig party bosses tell him he can and now he doesn''t have enough campaign money to go against Obama in the general election. The FEC will not allow him to spend any more money.

This leaves Mike Huckabee wide open to take the commanding lead in the race. Mike has huge amounts of money he can still spend in the general election since he didnt spend barely anything in the Republican race. He can blow away Obama in the general election. And he is the only true conservative out there.

Ohioians and Texans, do not waste your vote on McCain. He is effectively washed up with the law he pushed thru on campaign spending. He will never be able to compete with Obama, plus he is not a true conservative like Mike and he is just too dog gone old to compete with a young Obama.

Only Huckabee and Obama can go toe to toe in the ring. Ohio and Texas, please do not make a fatal error voting for McCain. He is washed up, the Republican party is doomed forever if you cast your vote for him.

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