Is there still any point to the US President having to be a natural-born citizen of the United States?

[Felch]

As long as they were citizens when the Constitution was adopted, Paine and Hamilton would have both been eligible.

[Captain ******* Kirk]

I say get rid of the restriction. I mean, it didn't prevent OBAMA

Don't blame the Constitution because Obama lied about being born in KENYA and his allies in the lamestream media covered it up.

[onodera]

I've thought this meant a PotUS couldn't be born via c-section.

[SlowwHand]

It seems like a bit of an anachronism to me. Surely the ideology behind America is opportunity? That any man or woman no matter how humble his or her background can work hard and achieve anything?

The idea of choice pervades everything, yet if someone chooses to move to America and become an American, and chooses to devote their life to public service, and then the US public choose to be represented by that person, that is not allowed due to a technicality of where that person was born.

I understand why it was originally a rule, because the founders were concerned about foreign powers gaining control of a country where democracy was still limited and where the spread of information to the public was extremely scarce. However various rules have changed over the years including the introduction of term limits. Is there still any reason for keeping the natural born rule?

*EDIT: Meant to add a yes/no poll but forgot because I'm an idiot.

No matter what you see the point of anymore, it's that way for a reason. Belatedly making excuses for Obama changes nothing.

[Wiglaf]

This is like a debate question that a sixth grade school teacher might pose to her class of pre pubes fifth graders. There is no point to this discussion, no originality in the topic, nothing but angst. Foreigners are untrustworthy obviously, but the real reason for this restriction is that the Chinks are getting close to hacking brains. Foreigners are dumber and easier to hack in the Information Age, to use an Age of Empires reference, WHICH BABY WE'VE ENTERED IF NOT PASSED.

[Alexander's Horse]

In those revolutionary war movies I always find myself rooting for the redcoats.

[SlowwHand]

That's like saying you wanted convict ships to Australia to sink.

[kentonio]

No matter what you see the point of anymore, it's that way for a reason. Belatedly making excuses for Obama changes nothing.

For Obama? Hahaha, you ****ing insane old nutter, you really should get some mental help.

[Alexander's Horse]

That's like saying you wanted convict ships to Australia to sink.

Well yes - that too - I just don't like rebels, offends my sense of order.

[Ben Kenobi]

As long as they were citizens when the Constitution was adopted, Paine and Hamilton would have both been eligible.

Paine and Hamilton were both subjects of the Queen. There's a significant grandfather clause exempting those born before the signing of the US constitution.

[molly bloom]

In those revolutionary war movies I always find myself rooting for the redcoats.

I feel the same about the Romans/Egyptians in Biblical epics.

Paine and Hamilton were both subjects of the Queen.

Or King George III as he's known to humans and people with genuine history degrees.

[Imran Siddiqui]

[DinoDoc]

If we're going to discuss the Revolutionary War, can we at least direct it to the cool bits of it? Like the Culper Spy Ring for instance.

[molly bloom]

If we're going to discuss the Revolutionary War, can we at least direct it to the cool bits of it? Like the Culper Spy Ring for instance.

And people with two forenames, such as Benedict Arnold.

[DinoDoc]

How's he remembered in the UK?