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What are the Requirements to Run for President in the United States?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Under the terms of the United States Constitution, someone who wants to become the president of America must be a natural born United States citizen who is at least 35 years old and who has lived as a resident of the US for 14 years. These are the only legal requirements for the position, but many people have many expectations of presidential candidates which could be considered informal requirements. Additionally, anyone wanting to run for president must have access to very large sums of money, as a campaign costs a great deal of money.

Constitutional Requirements

A portrait of George Washington, the first president of the United States.
A portrait of George Washington, the first president of the United States.

The terms of citizenship for presidential candidates are interpreted very strictly. Any person wishing to run must be a natural born citizen, meaning that immigrants are not eligible to run, no matter how long they have lived in the US. If a child of American citizens is born abroad, he or she is technically considered a natural born citizen, and can therefore run for president. The requirement for being a permanent resident in the US for at least 14 years is meant to ensure that anyone running is aware of general issues which impact the American people.

Exceptions

The White House, home of the president of the United States.
The White House, home of the president of the United States.

There are a few exceptions built into the Constitutional requirements for those wishing to run for president. For instance, nobody who has already been president for two terms can run again. Additionally, no one who has served more than two years in a presidential capacity even though he or she wasn't elected — for example, if the vice president becomes the president after an assassination — he or she can only be re-elected once. The Senate can also ban people who have been impeached from the presidency from running again.

Informal Requirements

Presidents must have strong public speaking capabilities.
Presidents must have strong public speaking capabilities.

Most Americans want their presidential candidates to be of good character. While a felon could technically run for president, his or her campaign would be unlikely to succeed. The morals and ethics of candidates are often carefully scrutinized, especially by their opponents, so those who wish to run for president try to keep their personal lives clean.

The Constitution sets the legal requirements for becoming president.
The Constitution sets the legal requirements for becoming president.

Many American presidents have been publicly religious, and almost all have had families as well. Although these two traits are by no means required to run for President, they are often expected. Experience is also an important aspect of a campaign. Most citizens prefer to vote for people who have served in public office before, since it implies that they are experienced in dealing with similar positions. Military experience is also expected of many candidates, especially those who are old enough to have served in a major war.

President Kennedy was very charismatic.
President Kennedy was very charismatic.

Another important aspect of running for president is public speaking and charisma. Presidents undergo a long, grueling campaign trail; criss-crossing the country in an effort to garner votes. While doing this, they must be able to speak persuasively and clearly about major issues even when they're tired. Charisma makes a presidential candidate more accessible to potential voters, which can strengthen a campaign greatly. One of the most well-known examples of this was the Kennedy campaign in 1960, when Kennedy appeared much more confident and charismatic in televised debates than his opponent, Richard Nixon.

Financial Requirements

Anyone wanting to run for president needs to be wealthy, or at least able to access a lot of funding during the campaign. Candidates generally spend hundreds of millions of US Dollars (USD) in the first few months of campaigning alone, and an entire campaign can cost between $700 million and $1 billion USD. Though much of this comes from fundraising, candidates still have to provide a substantial amount of money, especially at the beginning of a campaign.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a UnitedStatesNow researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a UnitedStatesNow researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Hatski

@anon 142938: When will you Liberal Progressives stop making things up? Obama is not a natural born citizen. he has said so on at least one occasion and in Hawaii, a child can be registered with the State with a "Certificate of Live Birth" which is all obama has shown to us, and the State of Hawaii allows the parent(s) up to one Year of the entry into the state to fill out the "Certificate of Live Birth", and the sooner you Liberal progressives STOP believing your own lies, the faster the truth will surface that obama is not and never has been eligible to be President.

The courts have been afraid to rule because of the ensuing crisis that would undoubtedly follow, but you guys just keep going and doing all you can to discredit those you disagree with.

If this site allowed URLs I would gladly post the video where obama says he was born in Kenya, just as his mother, and sister and grandmother all have said.

anon142938

@120 When will you "birthers" get it through your thick skulls that it doesn't matter where Obama was born? If he had a parent who was an America (and he did), he is automatically an American citizen, regardless of where he was born.

Even if you guys were right about him being born outside the US (and you're not), the fact that his mother is an American means that he is an American as well. You guys are wrong - end of discussion.

anon138203

119, the truth is, people don't trust obama, and before he will be allowed to run a second term, several states will force him by law to produce his Long Form Birth Certificate which doesn't exist, no matter how many people yell and scream they have seen it, they have not.

anon137596

It is quite feasible for a president to serve 10 years as president of the United States. He could serve two years of his predecessor's term, in the event of the death or resignation of that president, and if elected on both occasions, two full terms of his own, making 10 years in total.

anon137458

Regardless of what any of us thinks about Obama, the fact remains that, as president, he can order the release of any and all of his birth records and schooling records.

If (and it is a mighty big if) he has, and has nothing to hide, there should be no problem. However, the mere fact that he refuses to answer to the American public shows disregard and disrespect to those Americans who voted for or against him.

Face it, people: he was put into place by the countries he is so very fond of bowing down to. No president in the history of the United States has ever bowed as deeply to the oil cartel heads of state and no former president would have been allowed to do so without fear of impeachment. Goes to show how poorly our "representatives" value We the people.

We started a takeover and removal of the guilty parties this past November. I firmly believe the United States of America is the finest nation in the world or even the known galaxy. However, our leaders have tee-totally strayed from the founding fathers' ideals and have allowed it to go on far, far, far too long.

It is time they take a very serious look at the founding fathers' intentions and *not* the current "politically correct" ideals that are killing this fine nation.

The public has a right to know who is governing our country and if the president continues to disrespect the wishes of the citizens of the country he is supposed to represent and is supposed to want to advance our interests then he should have no compunction about opening the stinking false records his "people" have now had plenty of time to create.

Hatski

poster 101, you simply have no clue, and who is "we" you refer to, because over 60 percent of Americans don't think obama is eligible to hold the office of the US President, and liberal progressives (like yourself) only make up 20 percent of this nation's voters.

You can rant and rave all you want, but you have never seen the long form birth certificate obama is required by the US Constitution to produce, because it doesn't exist.

anon134035

@anon106438 - The 1st 10 Amendments of the Constitution of the United States, "Our Bill of Rights" are "Inalienable". Which means under no circumstances does Congress or the Senate have the right nor the power to amend those amendments. The country needs to wake up and stop thinking in terms of Democrat or Republican. They are both liars!

Elect your red-blooded, average independent candidate, and if there is no independent running, write in a vote: none of the above. When, we the people

start acting like our founding fathers did and stop conforming to whatever the government says, we have to do (Does a thing called, "The Boston Tea Party" ring any bells?) then and only then will the politicians wake up and listen to their constituents!

anon127244

No matter what anyone's personal opinion of our political leader is, God appoints all of our leaders for a reason, and our job is to respect and work with those leaders until their term is over. I don't agree with most of the things Obama stands for, but because God appoints our leaders, your duty and mine is to respect and work with him.

ejuk60

amypollick is quite correct. The 22nd Amendment clearly states that two terms is the limit that any president can serve. However, if (as was the case when Johnson became president on the assassination of Kennedy in November,1963) he serves more than two years of his predecessor's term then he can only be re-elected for a single term.

anon118815

@Post 102: There is a plain and simple one of a person who is trying to make a run for president in 2012. Check out the 'Re-Establishment Act 2012"

anon113707

This is the problem with this country. People's priorities are all screwed up, and common sense is out the window. just like our government people need to get this nation's priorities straight. who cares about his birth certificate? he is the president now and he is a politician. he lied to get in office talking about change and cutting the fat, yet when he took office he played the politics game and has done no different than past presidents.

we need a president who will truly make change and put america first and the american people as his top priority. a man who will put billions of tax payers money back into america and its economy first before sending a dime overseas let alone the billions already wasted.

We need a president who will not waste another young american life for crap, a man who will work for the people not the money! unfortunately obama is not the man, but he is not the worst president by far, considering what he was handed by the worst president ever. that's what politicians do and how they do it.

anon106438

Now here's one for all you Constitution Lovers.

The Constitution was written of, by and for the bankers, just like Iraq and Afghanistan's were in the past decade. The loopholes are there for a reason.

To get the people to sign on to independence they did had to offer the people The Bill of Rights, (thanks Patrick Henry) which are amendments so that they could be amended, so I suggest we fight to hold on to what we have. instead of like most of you, fighting to give those rights away, along with my own.

The Constitution is nothing more than it has always been, a checklist to tyranny.

The only thing keeping us from being all powerful is believing that we are all powerless.

Any government only represents the apathy or the courage of its citizens.

anon106428

The part where the refer to 'technically' being able to be president after living here 14 years was 'technically' there for those there before the Constitution was written and there were no US Citizens. Nice try, Constitution hater.

All those saying the legitimacy of a US president is racism might want to know that the current Puppet in Chief was selected for just that reason: to play the race card anytime anyone doesn't approve of anything the illegal, criminal US federal government does to dissolve US sovereignty in order to form their unelected world banking government.

Don't think it's illegal. Then you know nothing of how the Federal Reserve was formed in secret with Senator Nelson P. Aldridge violating The Logan Act, a crime that if considered treason, which is was and still is, is a crime punishable by death.

anon103054

Post #97 : I don't think it would be possible to have a government position and work another full time job. Granted, some of them hardly do their job right anyway but they should devote all of their time to making this country better, not juggling two jobs. I will say they make way too much money and should be paid on a military scale.

For example: A Senator/Congressman/House Rep should be paid at an O3 level. Military pay is based on your years doing the job so let's say you have been a senator for four years. You would get paid $4883.40 a month (2010 military pay scale) before taxes. They can have a housing allowance just like we do, which is non-taxable. This would mean their pay raises would be regulated and coincide with our military's pay raises. Our Secretary of State and like positions would receive O6 pay which at four years of service would be $6776.70 a month. If they could not live on this, there is a major problem. They get paid way too much and we wonder why there is no money.

Cut back on the salaries of the government and there would be more money for education and health care and a myriad of other programs that do not get the money they should get.

I also think all government offices should have a term limit so there are fresh minds/eyes/ears rotating through and no one gets too comfortable (might prevent the corrupt from taking over and bullying others around).

anon102913

It doesn't take a military person or a person in politics to make a great president. It takes life experience.

I think the next president should go against all the rules. No lobbyists, no raising funds from corporations or politicians who expect favors in return for a donation. I will use facebook, twitter, you tube and the local media. If what you have to say can and will protect the citizens of the United States then that's what we need. We need someone who has the guts to stand up to corporations that are taking our hard earned money. Someone who actually realizes that everyone should and will be treated equally.

Look at all the help we give to other countries; what about our people, "We the people?" We have hurricane destruction that has not been taken care of yet. Punta Gorda Fl was devastated in 04 -- has anyone been there lately? I live in this area and it's not repaired. Hurricane Katrina? Michigan and most of the country is in shambles because of the greedy people we are electing to office. If we were Amish we would and could have fixed all our friends' and families' devastation by now.

Listen, I'm a 43 year old mother of two who has been married for 20 years. I remember the 60s, 70s and 80s when were all doing pretty good, but the 90s and 2000s have been a lot of crap for us in every aspect of our lives and we are just letting the same crap happen over and over again.

No more democrats, no more republicans, just we the people. The government is so twisted, with the people in Wall Street and we the people are letting them continuously keep doing it to us. We have the numbers, people! We have to take back our country. We have to stop playing the victims and start manning up.

How much longer are we going to keeping letting them push us, take our hard earned money, our jobs, and our dignity? We are smarter than this. We have been so caught up in life, money and living that we don't have time to keep a watchful eye on our property anymore.

We need someone like me, who, instead of making it so ridiculously difficult to balance our US check book, will take it back to basics. Instead of getting bullied by corporations for all of us middle class people to bail your butts out, fall on your butt, because that is what we are doing right now for them.

I'm not going to apologize for my words, but I am a little fired up because I just watched "Capitalism Love Story." If we all band together and acted a little more like Michael Moore we would all be in a much better place on our way to the next life. HJT - out

anon102310

Poster 100, stop playing junior constitutional lawyer. I was born in New York City in the 1960s. My birth certificate, the only one that NY issued, is a certificate of live birth, just like the President's. No one with an ounce of gray matter in their skull believes this fairy tale.

And, while we're talking, we don't care if a guy's middle name is Hussein or Lucifer or Beelzebub. What we care about is that this guy is not some nutsy cowboy who thinks that Americans are superior to other people. He's someone we are proud to call our President. And we're not worried about 2012.

anon96749

poster #99, it is clearly you who are the ignorant one, obama has never produced a long form birth certificate; he only has shown a "Certificate of Live Birth" and it is highly questionable in accuracy, besides the certificate of live birth is not recognized as a Legal birth certificate not even in Hawaii. and should obama be stupid enough to try running again in 2012 he'll be forced by many states to produce the actual required long form birth certificate, which he not only does not have but cannot produce, which is why he is playing a shell game with all his other records.

anon95966

Okay, so your reason for disliking Obama is based on ignorance rather than racism. I'll grant you that one.

Poster #85 said: I get so mad when someone says they don't like Obama and it is followed by that person being called a racist.

Why can't someone not like a person for what they are doing or the lies they tell? I am not a racist, I just flat don't like him. He doesn't have anything to do with the bible, he won't wear the pin of the flag of the country he runs. Also he won't salute the men he is in charge of.

What little freedom we had is gone and the only people who think it is great stands around with their hands out. Too lazy to get it themselves.

We need someone who cares about America, who won't destroy it and mock all the men and women who died for us so we can live like the country that we broke away from.

I plan on running this next election and I don't have a thing to hide. I might be one of the biggest rednecks who lives and I am proud of it. That's what we need now more than ever!

anon94024

Umm, my birth certificate, and my brothers also all say "Certification of Live birth" as well, not "birth certificate", and we were all born in Queens NY. my parents on both sides born in NY as well. What is wrong with you people? Do any of you still arguing over this actually read what your documentation says? i just looked now because I thought I was crazy but nope! i was right.

anon87378

I would like to see all government jobs without salary. Meaning you have to work for a living in addition to serving in your countries government and a cap on election spending.

Get out and meet the people the old fashioned way, door to door handshake to handshake. No frills or elite jets, just honest-to-goodness Americans running America and working, not taking from the people that put you there.

Heck you already get to live in a house with servants and free transportation.

amypollick

@Anon87124: Not quite. The 22nd Amendment clearly says that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. Period. You can look it up. Resolutions to alter the amendment have been brought up in recent years, but never made it out of committee. One of them was indeed, to say you couldn't be elected to more than two consecutive terms, but could serve if elected outside the two terms. But it died in committee, too.

Feel free to research this for accuracy. It took me about 10 seconds to find the text of the 22nd Amendment online.

anon87211

So how the hell did Obama become president? Hey can't come up with a birth certificate? he is muslim and he is dumb.

anon87124

Don't care about the other stuff however-

to quote and respond to:

"@Anon84488: Two terms is the limit. No, Bill Clinton could not come back and run for president. Jimmy Carter, however, could do so if he wanted to, since he did serve only one term in office.

- amypollick "

Google "Grover Cleveland" He was the 22nd and 24th president. You can be president as many times as you are elected as long as they are not consecutive. The one exception is FDR who was elected to four consecutive terms; however the law was changed when he died.

anon86010

There is a legal definition of "natural born citizen". See

Supreme Court of the United States

Minor v Happersett (1874).

anon85037

Truth: The gradient fall and economic struggle we are seeing in today's political medium in reference to our own country is easily explainable, after all, this wouldn't be the first time any of us had ever heard of it.

Look back into history, ladies and gentlemen, and you will find similar situations in various times and places.

For example, in what we like to refer to as "The Dark Ages", a royal ruling class and their vassals were treated with all the luxuries from every corner of their land while the masses of the poor were kept poor through taxation, and if they could not afford their taxes, were summarily imprisoned or executed, and what little they did have would become property of the state, or ruling body.

Another example: England and our break away from them. Why did we determine that we could govern ourselves and walk away from them? Because of similar tactics.

The rich were getting richer by riding the backs of others, basically saying "if you don't give me what you have been working so hard to provide while i sit here doing nothing but making you work, i will punish you". When you put it bluntly like that, it doesn't really sound like a good thing, does it?

But doesn't it sound like what is happening now in our current government? Our government seems to want to act the part of a large corporation, where making money is the main goal, but not for the nation, but for the individuals within it.

In addition to the salaries which they are paid for "serving" this country in office, did you know that certain loopholes exist which would allow a person who campaigned for an office to keep the remainder which wasn't spent? This amount can sometimes total several millions of dollars!

Truth: For every enterprise, every endeavor made by a large business or special interest group, there is a fund to which anyone can contribute. However, many of these so called special interest groups are only interested in making money, not in helping out their fellow man as they would have you believe. And the politicians only give to these groups in order to gain favor or more cash in their pockets, or for promises for backing when a decision must be made.

Or sometimes the reverse is true. The special interests will back a politician with funds or favors. For this backing, they gain special concessions from said politician. This is a well known practice, albeit an illegal one.

Truth: No matter the goal, people will tell you what you want to hear to get what they want. The true measure of a man, or woman, is whether or not they will follow through with the promises they made when they get where they want to go.

The presidency is no exception. All have made promises to the public, some have managed to deliver on those promises. They have all claimed to have a plan for rejuvenating our nation, but what has our most recent presidents really done for the people?

There is a problem here, but recently it seems that the government thinks "if we throw enough money at it, the problem will go away". I assure you, it has not and will not. We are not stupid.

We are the poor, we are the masses, and we the people can only take so much.

America is not a country of serfs and lords. We are not content to sit by and do as we're told. We know right from wrong, we see the oppression, we see the homeless, we see the injustice, and we the people have had enough.

amypollick

@Anon84488: Two terms is the limit. No, Bill Clinton could not come back and run for president. Jimmy Carter, however, could do so if he wanted to, since he did serve only one term in office.

anon84488

I have a question: Can a former president run again at least four years after he exits office? For example, could Bill Clinton run again for president in 2011? Or, since Bill Clinton held two terms, could Jimmy Carter run for president now since he only held one term?

anon84289

One day I will run for President. I am 15 years old and I am the future hope for this nation. This nation needs morals again and I will bring them back. We also need the respect of other countries. by the way, my name is Matt.

anon83831

It is obvious who the redneck, illiterate idiots are here. First, their grammar is laughable. Second, they all say the same things -- things that are just rumors they heard at the tractor pull.

Democrats want to take your guns and your personal freedoms away? Really? Go read up on the "Patriot Act" and where your Magna Carta rights went under your daddy Bush. Idiots. Try cross checking some facts instead of believing everything your inbred brethren say.

anon81275

How about 150 IQ min?

anon80285

The term "racist" no longer has meaning. Too many times al sharpton and jessie jackson and others have invoked the race card, and it now has little or no meaning.

anon79752

I get so mad when someone says they don't like Obama and it is followed by that person being called a racist.

Why can't someone not like a person for what they are doing or the lies they tell? I am not a racist, I just flat don't like him. He doesn't have anything to do with the bible, he won't wear the pin of the flag of the country he runs. Also he won't salute the men he is in charge of.

What little freedom we had is gone and the only people who think it is great stands around with their hands out. Too lazy to get it themselves.

We need someone who cares about America, who won't destroy it and mock all the men and women who died for us so we can live like the country that we broke away from.

I plan on running this next election and I don't have a thing to hide. I might be one of the biggest rednecks that lives and I am proud of it. That's what we need now more than ever!

anon76920

Should both parents of candidate for the U.S president be both american citizens?

anon61405

Ladies and Gentlemen, our problem is not whether or not the president is a citizen of this great nation, it is what he is doing to it right now and what he will do to it in the next three years.

I read all of the comments on this page and then sat for a moment to bring it all in and try to understand the feelings you all are having. If you would do the same, we are all mostly scared or at least worried about the direction our president is taking us. We have seen no relief and there are no promises made yet for help in jobs, food and shelter for our citizens that really need it, (and right now!) and there is so much needed right here in our own country with no answers to any of them in the immediate future.

I believe some of you hit it right on the head. Running for office takes a lot of money. I mean a lot! And to get some of that money deals are made. I’ve held office, and I know that when someone knows you have a chance in winning, the check books come out and promises are made to cover those checks. This is true!

I watched for quite some time during the past year of 2009 waiting and watching the "Shovel Ready" money that he pushed through Congress shortly after taking office. If you all will recall, he was conveniently flying around this country holding town hall meetings while Congress was tied up in Washington and told not to leave until it is passed. Not quite a trillion dollars when it was all said and done, but very, very close. That was a trillion dollars that we didn’t have, not matter how bad we were doing. I know that sounds heartless, but it’s the truth.

As of August of 2009, only 8 percent of that money was released. Eight percent does not put many men and women of this country to work. Also the recent drop of around 2 percent in unemployment that was announced, I believe last month, was not from people getting jobs, it was the fact that those people that were on unemployment, ran out of extensions of benefits and were no longer counted as being unemployed, thus lowering the unemployment rate.

I’m not trying to blow smoke here, just trying to open your eyes to a few things that once heard, you think is a good thing, is really a terrible thing because now there are an additional 2 percent of U.S. citizens without any income whatsoever. You may be one of them. But the government made it sound like they were doing their job at getting jobs.

I am disabled Marine and I have plenty of time to sit here and do research on what is truth and what is not. And believe me when I say I too am upset with him not wearing an American flag or fails to salute here or there, or when he said to another nation that “We are not a Christian based country”, that it in fact does bother me.

This country was founded by our forefathers on Christian beliefs, our money has “In God We Trust” on it, and in a football player’s interview after winning a game, he thanks God for making it all possible. Then there was our 32nd president, President Franklin Roosevelt who led this great nation in prayer prior to World War II, it makes one wonder what Mr. Obama is up to.

Instead of bailing out the auto companies, why didn’t he say, lower your prices and sell more cars, it will work out. If not the smaller companies will get stronger. All the smaller companies, Mom and Pop shops do that and they don’t get a bail out. They lower their prices, take a little loss but have a little coming in to survive on until the economy comes back. It probably didn’t help with all the negativity he used saying this country is in a recession so many times, I quit counting!

A president needs to be positive and give hope. The same hope he used during the campaign. Once in office, hope went out the window. He said prior to the elections that he is a professional speaker, which only means he will tell you things to make you believe, see elections, then get out of it with other words when he is caught. And he is good.

I’m almost finished and apologize for such a long comment. But here are my gut feelings on what is going on. The economy will come back, and come back strong, but when “he” wants it to. That will happen well prior to the elections for his next term to be the savior and get reelected. Being a savior would be to fix it now, give money to the people of this nation to spend and bring back the economy. Not take $3 trillion and pay back your election promises to build things we just don’t need right now.

If you saw and read the first stimulus bills that were passed, then you know what I mean. Don’t get mad folks, do your homework. You have time and are on this site writing what you are feeling and defending your president or not. Instead of doing that, poke around a little bit.

You’ll find that Mr. Obama and someone I won’t name are wanting to do away with the dollar and strongly supports a world government with world currency. Look, you will find it. It is there, but you need to dig a little.

My daughters both know I would love to run for president in the next election. I’ve considered it very strongly. I am for the little people and have no promises or ties to any government officials. The people would be allowed to vote on issues that are raised just as my father and mother did when I was a little boy growing up outside Cleveland.

This president is calling all of the shots and most are behind your back. It seemed my parents were always at the polls about something. But if I were the president, the priorities would be much different than those of Mr. Obama’s. This country’s people first, including our troops overseas and their families here or abroad. Our poor, our lower and middle class citizens. Taxes need to come from those that have money, not forced upon those that don’t. We do not need a health reformed bill shoved down our throats that will “fine” us money if we do not use it or go without because we feel we are better off. Read it folks!

I would also take a minute to shake the Marines' hands who protect the president on every trip the man takes. I enjoyed and am very proud to call myself a U.S. Marine and serving this great country of ours nearly 17 years and it wouldn't slow down my daily routine to take a couple minutes out of the schedule to ask where the Marines are from or find out how long they have been in. Not a problem here. And they would, each and every one of them get a salute from their Commander in Chief!

But there is such a bigger picture that all of America is failing to see. Mr. Obama did a big no-no while at the UN meeting(s) when he took the floor. That in itself calls for his immediate removal from office as “No one man shall take control during one of those meetings”, yet he did. I'm still trying to find out why and how he received the Nobel Peace Prize and with being in office for nine months or less! Now that’s a good one.

I haven’t decided to run yet and I meet all the requirements. I’m 50 years old with a lot of experience and I know the one thing you only need is to keep the people of this country number one on your list of things. If I run, I will run for you, “You, the people.” Remember that as I will use that in my campaign. LPC, Pennsylvania

anon60368

I am posting this anonymously because I have family that is in the government, but I am sure they can track it anyway.

I am extremely patriotic and have no problem with a black president. I decided not to vote this election because I did not feel that either of the candidates deserved it, but I will not fallow a president who cannot prove his citizenship!

I care about what happens to this country, and more people should look at what is going on around you instead of being wrapped up in your own lives.

If he cannot or will not provide his citizenship papers we should think about why. We worry about terrorists and war, but what is the easiest way to attack a country. From the inside out. So maybe we should worry a little more about it, and in my opinion that is the most patriotic thing you could do, because this man runs our country, and we and our children are the ones who have to live with the consequence of his actions.

Our loved ones are out dying for this country, and our freedom, a country that we love. It is his duty to us as a nation to provide us with the legitimate information of his citizenship so we can trust him.

As is said in the Bible "beware of the false prophet." I thought when he began campaigning that he would bring our country together, but now I wonder if he will be the downfall of this country.

So all the people out there I am not bashing Obama! I am just asking that they provide the legitimate papers needed to put people's minds at ease, and for all of the other people who are die-hard Obama fans, please look around at what is going on. This affects you and your children also.

This is our country and for generations we have fought to defend it. We have the right to feel secure with our government and who is in it.

anon60348

Why is it that if an immigrant comes into the USA without a visa and decided that they want to stay here and have children here their children are classified as US citizens although theire parents broke our laws?

anon57039

I'm planing to run for president come election time. i'm just a working man from louisiana and if i win i'll do good things for the U.S. We need a working man in office -- someone who knows about what happens to people when the politians don't keep their promises to the american people.

anon55263

For the one who says you must serve in the Unites States Armed forces I have this to say.

I plan to run for president when I become of the age of 35. I did not join the United States military because of the impurities and lies of the Bush Administration. The fact of life is that Bush's father hated Saddam and used 9/11 as a tool to deceive the whole nation. He claimed to be fighting Bin Laden, but look at Barack Obama. They have detained Bin Laden in a matter of a year.

My grandfather received the highest distinguishable honor of any military soldier. If he stood before the president of the United States, the president would be obligated to salute the man.

His blood runs through my veins. Also, my other grandfather was the slave of all. He was an Iowa farmer and worked his entire life so that he could feed the needs of those around him. He helped found Waverly Iowa, and is a different kind of hero worthy of a different kind of highest distinguishable honor.

anon54854

There is an aspect of this that I find interesting. It cannot be disputed that Barack Obama was born with dual citizenship. His father, being a Kenyan citizen in 1961, was a subject of the British Empire, and thus Obama was born with dual citizenship (UK Commonwealth/USA). Didn't the United States recognize dual citizenship in 1961? He obviously is not a dual citizen today. Does being a dual citizen at one time or another preclude one from being president?

anon53486

Ugh, Reagan turned us around and got the country on track. Clinton screwed us with his so called legislation for people acts. Bush was his own demise. He actually did what any other president should have done, he just happened to be the one to deal with 9/11, Iraq, Bin laden, and the most criminalistic decade in american history. Check out history for yourself, anon53001. We are not living on the borrowed money from Reagan's term, but the imaginative money from Clinton's term.

anon53456

All too often, decisions regarding the military suffer when we have had a president who did not serve in the military.

We need a constitutional amendment requiring a presidential candidate to have served in some capacity in the United States military.

The president is the Commander In Chief of the armed forces.

How can you be in charge of an organization that you were never a part of and do not understand its inner workings?

anon53324

All of you should just get over it. Obama is president and he would have been replaced if he wasn't an actual citizen.

Also, I'll laugh at everyone in 2013 and all the years after 2012. We've had many claims since the beginning of time. The end is going to come to all of us at some point; all animals/plants die at some point.

anon53001

Reading this board has made me understand how bush got two terms and why the us has gone to hell in a handbasket. All we are is a third world country of bible toting, redneck idiots!

Americans are so stupid they actually believe the fox news crap. The mouths are all laughing their way to becoming billionaires while the stupid racists follow suit.

Try studying history. Think for yourselves. Your are being ripped off intellectually and you will never get anywhere in life.

We are paying the price for what Reagan started and the country followed, living on borrowed money, a lifestyle that does not exist. Let's deregulate everything!

anon48148

I would like to point out that this is an informative, non-fiction article, that someone decided needed to be turned into a debate about President Obama. It was probably started by one of the Google Ads at the top of the page that looks like part of the article. So here's an idea to all of the debaters out there: shut up! There are people out there coming to this page because they are looking for information, not your ignorant comments.

anon46980

Who cares where he's from, he's ruining the U.S.

anon44887

In three years it won't make a bit of difference. Planet X is on the return orbit and the most of the people on earth wil be dead. The deadline is Dec. 21, 2012. So you see, it matters not what anyone does, it's all over folks. But the best thing about it is, just think, most of us will be alive to see the end of the world. Now who can top that event?

anon41025

i want to run in 2012 and I'm a normal average Joe but actually care about this country and the people how would I get started, I think its time for America to be America again.

anon40792

if obama was a citizen, we wouldnt be having this discussion, would we? the fact is, his mother had him in Kenya, and the Hawaiian "certificate of live birth" can be done up to a year after the child is born, and it does *not* mean the child was born in an Hawaiian hospital, only that the child is alive. the fact is his mother was an Indonesian and they don't allow dual citizenship. she had to renounce her US citizenship, and she wasn't a US citizen long enough to begin with, (10) years is the requirement. much of this is conjecture, and what's worse, obama spent over a million dollars so far, hiding this information, and why? why doesn't he produce a document most of us have within ten feet? he doesn't have one. if he did, Kenya wouldn't have sealed records, on someone that wasn't born there, now would they? the concept this is race based is typical of the left. it has nothing to do with race, and everything to do with honesty, and character, something no longer valued in the U.S., or he would be booted till he answered the charges. any suggestion this president be allowed to blow off a Constitutional requirement to hold office is absurd. if we keep circumventing the constitution, what's the point of having it?

the law is the law. the United States was founded on the Rule of Law. follow the law Obama, and produce a birth certificate showing the doctor, and your footprints, and the rest of the info that makes forging that document all but impossible, or leave office. those of you who think this is no big deal, if later he is found to have lied, which he will, all the laws and treaties and executive orders he signed are null and void -- all of them.

anon40704

If the racists are so against President Obama then why don't *they* run for president? The advantage to living in the US is that you don't have to deal with a dictator or president-for-life. If you don't like the current president, then you can impeach him and elect one more to your liking. I suggest the racists do just that if they don't want a black or biracial person running the show.

anon39714

lol. If either of your parents are born here, then you are a natural born citizen.

So Obama isn't an illegal alien either way it goes

anon38645

All this birth stuff boils down to the fact that the racists in this country can't come to grips with the fact that a highly educated, qualified and competent, mixed race (African American / White)individual is commander-in-chief of the United States of America. It's pure racism, period, end of story.

anon38027

I just find it interesting that people claim a massive conspiracy by President Obama, when in fact he did present his birth certificate to the FEC *and* in a separate lawsuit was reviewed by the Supreme Court of the United States, in private session, led by Justice Roberts and with a conservative majority. if he was not constitutionally approved to run don't you think that 5 republican justices would have voted that way, but instead they all voted to confirm him as able to run. The main problem we have here from most of the comments I read is racial. it is shocking that in 2009 there are so many people motivated by racial and religious hatred towards anyone, regardless of the 1960's, 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan or anything else.

anon34090

Why are so many people are still Nuts?

Why are these people trying for a post mortam after they got enough time to vent into his private details before casting votes.

Yes,he is an illegal citizen,what you are up to do?

Yes,he is not a Christian,Can you baptize him now?

He is a born Muslim,So what?

anon30270

A certificate of l

Obama submitted his birth certificate official copy to the FEC when he registered to run just like the other candidates.

anon28554

here's a concern. i would be very careful with accusations towards the highest ranking elected official in the U.S. that's not some thing that you would want to play with at all. i'll agree, i have several major problems my self with the government of today. however, remember that the majority electoral voters did what they did. and so far every one has tucked tail and went on their knees to let them do what they want to do. imagine that.

anon28553

sbb2009, For 8 years I listened to the Liberals slam everything Bush did..... times Up, it's *our* turn now, and if they don't like it...let come harass *me* !....obama is doing to the US what the Muslims have been Praying for, for 8 years the Liberals demagogued Bush and the Right ....I am hardly afraid of Them, and YOU should be, the Left rather than going after Your Guns....that's *if* you're smart enough to Own any, are instead going after your Ammo, the Dept of Defense Sells it's OFB (Once Fired Brass) to large Volume Reloaders, but the NEW Policy is to make anyone buying the Used but Valuable Brass Cartridges now must destroy them and turn them into scrap.....

some recycling program wouldn't You say ?....that's going to puts hundreds of people out of work, and not only that, it circumvents the Legislative Process and bypasses the Checks and Balances of Our system.......Just what we should Expect from someone afraid to show a Real Authentic Birth Certificate.

the Leftists are running this Nation into the ground....they are handing Money out to buddies that will *never* help You, and this is from the Same people just a while back were demagoguing "supply side economics and Trickle Down....if it doesn't Trickle Down....who benefits ?....

Not You...that's who....

Hatski

Here are some of the disturbing facts surrounding Barack Hussein Obama's *actual birth certificate* - not rumors, not wild theories - just the *facts*.

*fact* #1: Article 2, Section 1, of the Constitution of the United States, *specifically* states, "No person except a natural born citizen of the United States, at the time of adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President..." It's *not* a technicality, or lunacy on the part of our Founding Fathers. It is a specific statement within a document that forms the basis for *all* of our laws and not open to interpretation (unless the entire Constitution should be now open to interpretation).

*fact* #2: In order to be a "natural born citizen," you must be born in the United States or, if you are born abroad, you *can* (if specific circumstances are met) inherit citizenship status from your parents. If he was born abroad, then that's a problem for Barack Hussein Obama because his father was *not* a citizen of the United States and his mother had not lived in the United States the required amount of time after attaining the age of majority when Obama was born - meaning *she could not* pass her citizenship on to Obama.

*fact* #3: If Barack Hussein Obama *was not* born in the United States, he *is not* a "natural born citizen" and if that is the case, Obama is guilty of perpetuating the most massive fraud in the history of the United States!

*fact* #4: Barack Hussein Obama has *actively refused* to show his *actual birth certificate* to the people who elected him. Under Hawaiian law, only Obama can legally release the document but *he just won't do it!* Why not?

*fact* #5: Obama has multiple teams of lawyers helping him shield the document from the prying eyes of the American people. Why?

*fact* #6: Instead of producing an *actual birth certificate*, Team Obama produced another document - a "Certification of Live Birth" - and said, in effect, "Here's his Birth Certificate! Now shut up!"

And when it comes to *fact* #6, Team Obama engaged in a sleight-of-hand that is going unnoticed by the American people, because the liberal media refuses to scrutinize the actions of Barack Hussein Obama.

A *certification* of Live Birth and a Birth Certificate (A *certificate* of Live Birth)... [notice the difference in the words "certification" and "certificate"] *are two totally different documents!*

A *certification* of Live Birth - the document that Team Obama produced - is a document that essentially proves that you exist and Barack Hussein Obama most certainly *exists* - that point is not in dispute.

A *certificate* of Live Birth (an *actual birth certificate*) - on the other hand contains more information. It gives the specific location of your birth, the hospital, the time of birth, the attending physician etc.

anon28347

okay. it is not a question of where Obama was born. it is unimportant. Obama is a US citizen.

*But* Obama is not a Natural Born Citizen.

*therefore* Obama is *unelegable* to hold the office of the *potus.*

Obama is at the epicenter of the greatest national disaster in the history of the United States of America. *Nothing* that Obama will ever do in the office of the *potus* will ever be anything more than *fraud* and *illegal.*

anon28242

28176? we don't have a right to know every little thing about Our future President? why didn't you tell the Media that when they were trying to dig dirt up on Bristol Palin? for *your* information a Certificate of Live Birth, he has from Hawaii is *not* the same as a Birth Certificate, and he didn't ever produce a Real copy, and that is because he wasn't Born in Hawaii, he was Born in Kenya, does it bother *you* in the least someone with "nothing to Hide" would go to all the trouble to have Birth Records sealed?

it does Matter what his Religion is if he's Lying about it and it looks to me and many others he is *doing* to the US what AL Quaeda has been Wanting for years, except Obama is doing it in the name of "saving" the economy and he's got Simpletons like you to fall for it.

anon28176

To anon27590, and all the others who do not read up on the truth, let me fill you in:

First, Barack *has* proven he is a US citizen.

Second, he *was* sworn in on his *own* copy of the *bible*, the christian one. He is a *Christian*, not a *Muslim*.

Third, you expect change to happen immediately, but it takes time. Just because some people have lost faith, doesn't mean he is doing anything wrong. Let's see any one of you balance your lives with trillions of dollars going in and out with little to no control over the spending.

Fourth, it wouldn't matter what religion he is, people *voted* him in and he is the president. Our country was built on religious principals, not run by them. If you want a religion to play a bigger roll in government, have all the churches, mosques, synagogues and whatnot start paying taxes.

Fifth, we have no right what so ever to know every little thing about the people who want to be president. We may think we do, but it is about as much right as we have to know every little thing about every person we come in contact with at any point. Do you want everyone in the world to know what you do behind closed doors? We have a right to know *how he will lead our country*, nothing more.

Last, it doesn't matter who is voted into presidency, there will always be people who are mad that the person they wanted didn't win. Well, deal with it, that is life, if you don't like who is running the country...*leave*!!! The way it is is the way it will be for the next four years so deal with it. People's constant reliance on gossip and rumors just leads to dissent due to your inability or lack of desire to fact check. People can say anything, doesn't mean it is real....look for the facts.

anon27590

anon27575, well first, obama wasn't elected, he bought the white house with almost 700 Million dollars he refuses to substantiate, second of all he refuses, ....that's "*refuses*" to produce a Legal Birth Certificate,...and for *your* information, a Birth Certificate is *not* the Same as a Certificate of Live Birth, what I really want to know is, How Long it's going to take Liberals like *you* to wake up, or if that's even an Option, and see *his* Policies are Bankrupting the US, the Stock Market has Lost 2800+ Points since his speeches of assurance about the US economy were made, yet he and others after campaigning on how the "Liberals" would turn this around.......No one especially the Stock market seems to think "Change from Capitalism and a free Market to Socialism is what this country Needs,.....or Wants, and Why won't the US close it's Southern Borders, Mexico is spreading it's Mayhem to the South, and Phoenix is succumbing to Kidnappings and other issues the States that Border Mexico shouldn't have to Face.......since *that* is one of the US Governments First Priorities....*not* making sure every Crack head gets *full* Health Insurance....Snap *out* of it.

anon27575

It amazes me how narrow minded some of our citizens are. Do you honestly believe that our country with its history of slavery would enable a black man to run for Presidency without meeting the requirements? He would have to go above and beyond proving he's worthy and eligible to be in this position.

If all you can wrestle with is his citizenship then I would suggest you are the ones with the problem. There are far greater issues that we have to deal with such as the ones that President Bush "a natural born citizen" has left us with.

baisden

i get a feeling before it's over he's only going to help his own.

Hatski

sbb2009, The US congress and senate are passing the remainder of over a Trillion dollar Pork and wasteful spending bill and your worried about the Presidents Salary of $400,000.00 a year ?

lets see how those compare, $1,000,000,000,000.00 vs $400,000.00 yea looks close to me.....except for *all those zeros* to the *left* of the Decimal Point.

sbb2009

regardless of who sits in the Oval Office with the largest job in the US i think that its real funny that part of the reason we are in this financial shape is because the President decided to give himself a 200k per year pay raise. now that's funny because all of the other Presidents before were told that there was no money for that. yet, a President gets into office and all of a sudden there is thousands that was suddenly found some where. imagine that. but hey, we are just small american citizens that don't know what to think or who to listen to. i guess unless you have a office in washington a person has no common sense and can't think for themselves. world war III here we come.

anon26348

anon26344, funny, m...you and your Liberal buddies complained about Bush and his spending, and in less than 6 Months your side has Doubled the Current National Deficit...and you'll Justify this, because *you* and Your side are going to Save America, when in fact, the bill that was just passed will lengthen the recovery, and those 4 million jobs will be taken by aliens who the US government isn't going to stop from coming into this Land.....you may be one of it's First Employment Casualties, but you are probably some genius going to College the rest of your lives.

anon26344

All of ya'll who diss Obama are wrong! You people are just upset cause Mcain ain't the new President! Oh well! He lost. Obama won fair and square and he and everyone else in our government knows what they are doing!!

anon25740

I'm only 21 and not known very well throughout America. I was born in Florida and raised in Louisiana, Mississippi, and California. I do know that it will be a struggle to run since I'm not a politician and not the richest person in the country (i'm a student in college) but, i *will* run for president. I think that an average American who has lived in middle/lower class who will listen to what the people have to say not other politicians should be given a chance to run for president.

Hatski

obama couldn't pass a background check for the FBI, he couldn't even be his own secret service Guard... this country is headed for trouble, like no other time in history....

sbb2009

As a United States citizen I believe that every American has the right to know every thing, in detail, about the Presidential Candidate. However, here we are voting in a person of which we know hardly any thing about. Where is his true citizenship? Where are his parents? Has any one seen them any where? Where was the BIBLE when swearing in that this land was built upon? What happened to following the federal rules of running for the office that stated "must be a natural American Citizen"? If we are going to do this then why not let any person from a foreign country come in a run this country? God help us because Revelations is unfolding faster and faster. Way to go America.

anon23105

For the poster saying that if you don't like it move to russia. There is no need to move anywhere. Socialism is coming here. All I can say is, that if America wanted a man who hates the U.S. Constitution and God, they got him. I will support him so long as he does not violate the law. And yes, in a speech he did say, the problem with America is the constitution. Then in another he said that God and the bible have caused the division of this country and is the problem. And no Obama is not the truth. (he is a politician, the truth is not in him)

Hatski

anon22906, heres a Clue, if obama didn't have any issues, why won't he just produce THE real Birth Certificate, instead of stone walling this and all other requests? it is the Law after all, and if he doesn't have anything to hide, why is he making this so difficult ?, why not produce it instead of "sealing birth" records ?..it's clear he isn't a US citizen, it is even More clear, the Democrats in their Quest for all the Power will never let this deal come to light, it will never be answered in my lifetime, instead it will be one More Blight on the US and its elected officials continuing to flaunt the US Constitution, and being aided by the Media to keep a lid on this, most in the US don't even know it's an issue, just like Most don't have any idea of the shady past obama has, and all those around him involved heavily in corruption, and now with the Illinois Gov deal, few will connect the dots to obama, even though the connection is clear.

anon22906

I'm sure the Obama team is working diligently to provide you all with a certified copy of his birth certificate. LMAO The whole "Obama is not a citizen" movement is so full of holes its not even funny. Have any of you bothered to read the immigration laws on the CIS and Department of State websites, or do you all just blindly believe what Phil Berg spouts out of his mouth?

anon22740

In 1982 I got a job working for the government. All I had was a certificate of live birth from the state of Michigan. I was told by the governing bodies that this was not a birth certificate and that I must obtain one before I could go to work. Seems to me this is a double standard. So I guess if the elect president doesn't have to follow the rules or laws, then I don't either

anon22662

Only ONE of Obamas parents were born in the USA...the rules say that if you are born abroad and BOTH parents are US citizens you are a US citizen, Obama isn't a US citizen.

flopso

This all does not make sense ! It was proven he was not born in Hawaii. But tell me this. The Mexican ladies will jump the borders to have their babies on U.S. land so they are citizens. And we then have to pay for them. So why is it that he is. I like him and I think he would do a good job. But I like we have rules and rules come first.

anon22540

If a child of American citizens is born abroad, he or she is technically considered a natural born citizen, and can therefore hold Presidential office. It doesn't matter if he was born in Kenya as long as his parents are american citizens. John McCain was born abroad too, anyone trying to say he isn't a naturalized citizen?

anon22503

All of those who continue to spread lies about our next President are obviously un-American and do not believe in Democracy. We had an election and Barack Obama won. He is our new President, end of story. He was eligible to run, and, therefore, he was allowed to. No matter what level of office one runs for, their eligibility is checked. Only a complete moron would believe that candidates running for the highest office in our land would not have their eligibility checked & would be able to "sneak in". If you don't like our political process, move to Russia.

anon22227

First, Obama's own "beloved grandmother" is quoted as saying she was present for Obama's birth in Kenya. Second, it is explicitly written in the first line of article II, clause 5: No Person except a natural born Citizen - can run for the presidency of the U.S. What other president or candidate has ever had his (or her) birth certificate sealed as this man has? I would venture to say none. This man was voted in as president by an uneducated America or at best an uninformed America.

anon21831

okay anon21089, he will not be the first president to not be sworn in with the bible. sooo what's the big deal with that?

anon21363

People are dumb believing that Barack Obama won the election and he is just 67 days to go to the Oval Office, and still hasn't prove his citizenship? Come on! If any person applied to work for the Post Office they checked your background 10 years. back! How can some people be so narrowminded! To "run" for President he had to prove his citizenship already. Do you think he will be that far?

anon21184

OK first off i am all for Obama and i am not black. second off whoever wrote the comment about where he was born, he was born in hawaii, and he lived with his late grandmother so get your facts straight!!! and he is a U.S. citizen, i am getting sick and tired of hearing these dumb and wrong accusations that are being implemented against him, he is now and will be the president of our United States, and if you don't like move out of the country!!!!!!!!

anon21089

I believe the Obama was elected for the wrong, because he is "black", I don't care if the president is black or white, but Obama does not believe in American values, he has stated that he would not be sworn on the Holy Bible, but that he would be sworn in the Koran, the Islamic "bible", He has no experience what so ever, and also with the democrats running the gov't now, we might as well kiss our basic rights away, like freedom of speech, right to bear arms, etc...,

anon20709

I am unsure about Obama living 14 consecutive years in US as he was in Bali writing book sometime in 1990's can't find out when or for how long. Still it seems this should all have been vetted before now.

anon20684

I think that we as true American citizens should not even have to worry about whether the man trying to win this country over as president is a true "natural born" citizen. I believe that with all of this controversy he never should have made it this far. There should be no question or worries about who will run for president. All of this should be checked before they are allowed to run. I can honestly say that if Obama wins this country is in more trouble than we bargained for.

milkyway23

I would like to tell all of you that one of his parents were American and his dad was born somewhere else besides the u.s. you have to be born on the u.s. soil in order to be a u.s. citizen. Obama was born in Kenya, Africa to an American Stanley Ann Dunham but his dad was Kenyan man, Barack Hussein Obama Senior, as reportedly shown by a birth certificate from Mombasa Maternity Hospital. According to the law at that time, a parent could pass US citizenship on to a child born abroad if the parent was at least 19 years old. Obama's mother was only 18.husband to his country, Indonesia. Records indicate Obama was naturalized as an Indonesian citizen.

so that should answer all your question Barack obama is not a u.s. citizen and Hawaii has no proof that he was born there.

anon20599

Obama is the truth...

Hatski

Why would anyone vote obama in as president, when he refuses to wear the US Flag on his Lapel, refused to Salute the Flag, refuses to prove his citizenship, refuses to disclose all of his Health records, refuses to Admit he's a Marxist posing as a Moderate Democrat, he refuses to help his Aunt who is here illegally, and then wants ME and YOU to pay higher Taxes to Help her...when He won't, refuses to admit the Surge in Iraq helped, refuses to admit his Tax plan isn't written in stone, and with the help of Joe Biden and Joe the plumber we find his tax plan goes from $250,000 down to $200.000, and now Joe Biden says $150,000.....so....barry soetoro, a.k.a. barack hussien obama,...(he insists isn't a muslim name) even when middle east officials praise his "muslim name"....anyone tell me a good reason to turn a Great Nation over to him....Pelosi, and the Rest of the Leftists ?.....huh ?

quig

I agree and im an avid hunter and if obama is pres i will have my guns taken away and that's against the 2nd amendment for the right to bear arms.

Hatski

Why is it obama knows more about where he was born, than people who were there? his grand mother said he was born in Kenya, his mother took him to Indonesia, Indonesia doesn't allow dual citizenship, and therefore he wasn't a US citizen anymore, he never reapplied for US Citizenship...therefore he is an Alien.....and the US Federal Courts, if they don't toss this, Like the Judge in Pennsylvania, who never addressed the Issue of the Authenticity of the Document, made his ruling based on The Alienation of the VOTERS, that isn't his JOB, as usual with "Liberal courts" and is being Appealed, and also filed in 8 other States so far....this needs looked into, it needs Forensic experts, even the FBI if necessary to find out the truth, it's just as Much against the Voters who are against him, as For those who support him, I am being Alienated at the decision vs the Alienation of those he Lied to again.....so, my vote is less important than Those who followed him to this Crisis ?....sorry, that's their Loss...not mine

bill3dster

Senator Obama was born in Kenya, not Hawaii! Because his mother was a citizen, I would say that he would still be considered a citizen from birth and would be qualified as President. That is not my real concern about him. The man is heart and soul a Marxist and his word is that of a political opportunist. He can't be trusted with the Presidency!

anon19981

What happens if a person wins the election and it is found out he is not an US citizen? or Just before the election what then happens? Do we start over or ????? To be considered a citizen do you not have to be born U.S. soil (military etc.) or just because your parent was born in the U.S.?

anon19806

Does not the person have to fall under the law that was in effect at the time of birth for the place of birth to qualify and not under today's law?

anon19750

Let's not be too hasty to accept that Obama was born in Hawaii. The birth certificate his campaign has posted on the web site does not have a seal on it and could be a fraud. He has yet to produce a bona fide copy in response to the suit filed alleging his lack of citizenship. Why is he not responding?

anon19176

Barack Obama was born in Hawaii which, contrary to Anon15065's opinion, is part of the United States. Also, John McCain was born in Panama when it was still part of the United States. So, they are born natural born citizens.

anon19095

Since McCain was born in Panama, does he hold dual citizenship?

anon15290

Does the candidate have to produce their birth certificate?

anon15065

What about Barrack Obama? He is a citizen but only one of his parents was a citizen, as well as he was not born either within the country, a U.S territory, or a military post. Is he really eligible according to the rule of law, or is an exception being made?

anon14525

So...if both of my parents are citizens, but had me while they were on a trip to China, I would still be eligible to run for president?

anon11251

I meet the qualifications of a US citizen. What do I need to do to get on a ballot in a state to run for the president?

smartcookie

Can the US President hold dual citizenship?

catapult43

Anon10366 - Yours is an interesting question with lots of nuances that depend on where the child is born (e.g., outside the US versus outside the US but in a US possession or territory) and whether the non-citizen parent is also considered a national (legally protected by the US, e.g., a long-term resident of the US). A natural born citizen is determined by the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution and 8 USC 1401. But, to answer your specific question, the following is a natural born citizen for purposes of being eligible to be a US president:

Parent 1 is a citizen and did any of the following collectively for 5 years: lived in the US, served in a branch of the US military, and/or served the US in a diplomatic way; and parent 2 is an alien.

Some other interesting scenarios giving the child natural-born US citizen status:

Parent 1 is a citizen who lived in the US for at least a year and Parent 2 is a US national. A US national is a non-citizen who is legally protected by the US, e.g., a long-term resident of the US.

Parent 1 is a citizen and lived in the US for at least a year, and the child was born outside the US but in a US possession (note a US possession is different than a US territory) and Parent 2 is an alien.

anon10366

If one parent is a citizen of the US, and the other is not, and the child is born outside of the US, is the child a "natural born" US citizen for purposes of US presidential requirements?

apolo72

Perhaps this goes without saying, but there are also term limits to the US Presidency. So, you could say another requirement is that the 35 plus year old citizen who's resided in the country for at least 14 years has not served two 4-year terms whether they be consecutive terms or not.

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