Rules for Me, But Not for Thee…

Here’s an interesting (albeit ironic) discovery I made this week.  You’re going to love it.  Apparently, in our country there are rules for one group that do not apply to the other group.

It seems in April of 2008 our illustrious Senate convened to discuss the status of John McCain’s “natural-born” status, the status required by the Constitution in order to serve as President of the United States.

“In April of 2008 the U.S. Senate concurred with the definition of Vattel via Senate Resolution 511 stating that a ‘natural born Citizen’ is a child who is born of American citizens [with an “s”].

_____________________________________________ Recognizing that John Sidney McCain, III, is a natural born citizen. (Agreed to by Senate)

SRES 511 ATS 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 511 Recognizing that John Sidney McCain, III, is a natural born citizen.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 10, 2008 Mrs. MCCASKILL (for herself, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. OBAMA, Mr. COBURN, Mrs. CLINTON, and Mr. WEBB) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

April 24, 2008

Reported by Mr. LEAHY, without amendment

April 30, 2008

Considered and agreed to

————————————————-

RESOLUTION

Recognizing that John Sidney McCain, III, is a natural born citizen.

Whereas the Constitution of the United States requires that, to be eligible for the Office of the President, a person must be a `natural born Citizen’ of the United States;

Whereas the term `natural born Citizen’, as that term appears in Article II, Section 1, is not defined in the Constitution of the United States;

Whereas there is no evidence of the intention of the Framers or any Congress to limit the constitutional rights of children born to Americans serving in the military nor to prevent those children from serving as their country’s President;

Whereas such limitations would be inconsistent with the purpose and intent of the `natural born Citizen’ clause of the Constitution of the United States, as evidenced by the First Congress’s own statute defining the term `natural born Citizen’;

Whereas the well-being of all citizens of the United States is preserved and enhanced by the men and women who are assigned to serve our country outside of our national borders;

Whereas previous presidential candidates were born outside of the United States of America and were understood to be eligible to be President;and

Whereas John Sidney McCain, III, was born to American citizens on an American military base in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That John Sidney McCain, III, is a `natural born Citizen’ under Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution of the United States.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=sr110-511

What I want to know is…where is the other resolution stating that Barack Obama is a “natural born” citizen? There is none.  If we had THAT resolution, this birth controversy might not be swirling about us right now.   The Senate took all this time and formality to meet, discuss and produce a resolution concerning Senator McCain’s qualification, but didn’t see fit to do the same with the other candidate?  How can this be?  Disingenuous at best.  Of course, if I read through the list of names…it seems there were all Democrats…and Mr. Obama’s name is even attached to the resolution.  Hmmm….and nobody thought to check Mr. Obama’s birth credentials? Or to pass a resolution declaring him to be a natural born citizen?

According to common law and Vattel (mentioned above) it seems the term “natural born” was and is and has always been  understood to mean born to parents who are citizens (with an s)  (and with emphasis on the father) of the United States.  What we have in our current president is a man who is the child of a British national. This may present problems.  If our current president does not meet the “natural born” requirements then we have a constitutional crisis on our hands.

I have been doing some reading on what “natural born” citizenship is and will post about my findings soon.  I’ll get back with you about this because I’m finding the whole issue a bit confusing.