McCaskill jumps in prez race — to help McCain
As many already have heard or read, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has once again gotten involved in the presidential contest.
Only this time, McCaskill — one of the most active supporters of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., — is out to assist Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the Republican frontrunner.
At issue is the disclosure that he was born in the Panama Canal Zone, of military parents.
As her release sent out Thursday explains:
“After starting out her day shocked about a New York Times story that calls into question the eligibility of American citizens born outside the United States to U.S. military families to become President, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill filed a bill today to put an end to the question once and for all.
“Just before she spoke on the Senate floor about her concerns related to this issue, McCaskill hand wrote her legislative fix on a yellow legal pad, which she delivered to the Senate clerk, that would ensure that any person born to U.S. citizens serving in the Armed Services while stationed abroad qualify to become president of the United States.
” ‘In America, so many parents say to their young children, ‘if you work hard and you play by the rules, in America, someday you can be president of the United States,’” McCaskill said on the Senate floor. “Our brave and respected military should never have to spend a minute worrying whether or not this is true for their child.’
“The U.S. Constitution currently states that ‘No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President,’ but does not define the term natural born citizen. McCaskill’s bill would clarify the eligibility requirements for becoming president by defining the term ‘natural-born citizen’ as it relates to citizens born to U.S. military families while abroad.’
“To date, every president elected was either born in the continental U.S. or was a citizen at the time the Constitution was adopted. However, it is not uncommon for U.S. military families serving abroad to give birth to children during their time overseas. McCaskill believes there should be no question about whether these children could serve as president someday.”
“ ‘We should quickly and without fanfare fix this ambiguity and make it very clear that any child of anyone serving in the active military should in fact be qualified to run for president of the United States,’ McCaskill said.”
By the way, Obama has signed on as a co-sponsor.
For those who want to hear McCaskill’s floor speech, here’s the link.
Uh oh.
I’m bracing for the protests of those constitutional originalists, who no doubt will be outraged that Democratic senators are trying to change the original meaning of the constitutional phrase “natural-born citizen” by legislation, rather than by ratification by the states of a constitutional amendment.
Ron2: Uh oh????
There is no “original meaning” of natural-born in the Constitution.
It certainly isn’t the same as native-born though or they would have used that word.
Natural-born surely only means “not adopted”.
The NYT knew this was BS when they printed it.
Sen.Claire McDumba** (Stupid, Missouri) should know that it is BS before she issues the press release.
The First Congress passed a law* covering this wayyyyyy back in 1790.
Case closed…
* As noted in the artilce there MIGHT be some constitutional issue with the law as it’s never been tested. Yet the same could be said for any new law yet to be passed. Sen.Claire McDumba** should know this. WHY did you ever elect her?
Much of McCaskill’s appeal is her independent thinking and acting. She also isn’t afraid to get things done. One knows she’s doing a great job just by the whining of the republican partisan hacks. She is so refreshing in comparison to who she replaced.
The thing that I like the most about her is that she is not an automatic stamp of the Bush propaganda machine.
I deleted a post by someone who IMPROPERLY used someone else’s name, in this case that of a prominent political person.
That is NOT allowed on Political Fix, unless the poster is INDEED that person whose name is used.
Be advised.
Good for Claire, this is the right thing to do. Even if it was decided back in 70, the fact that it has come up and she has come out early with her position speaks to her character.
Post #2: “Ron2: Uh oh???? There is no ‘original meaning’ of natural-born in the Constitution.”
Yikes! Really?
What other parts of the Constitution and amendments thereto have no original meaning?
Hats off the Claire! She made a tough decision to do the right thing in support of our veterans and military families community. We should take pride in having a visionary lead such as Claire McCaskill representing us here in Missouri!
WOW!!!!! Just shows MIKE HUCKABEE is the ONLY one to beat the Democrat !!!
On Hillary Clintons website she put on it : Nominate Mccain so a Democrat can win!!!!!!!
Huckabee is the ONLY one that can beat the democrat!!!!!!!!!!!
A concerned American
I did not vote for Claire McCaskill, Senator Talent was my choice. But, if Senator McCaskill continues to show her independance from the likes of Barbara Boxer, Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Charles Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and other Liberals of the like ilk, I may vote for her next time.