Friday, November 28, 2008

Destroy the Facts

Obama haloBy now most of our readers have heard about the question of Barack Hussein Obama’s birth certificate. We covered it briefly back before the election, and Pamela has been on the issue like white on rice.

Before you jump all over my case: yes, I know that this is pointless. I know that a lot of people consider the topic an obsession of the fringe.

And Barry Soetoro is going to be President of the United States. He is The One, and nothing can stop him now, especially not some stupid little piece of paper like the U.S. Constitution. Get used to saying “President Obama”, because come January 20th, that’s what we’ll all be saying.

Except when we have to say “The Dear Leader”, of course.

But it looks like there really is an issue about where Obama was born, because his supporters apparently were already thinking strategically about the problem as early as 2006. According to a post at Patriot Brigade Talk Radio forum:

While digging my way through the Internet last night, I came across the following paper [pdf], written by SARAH P. HERLIHY. It’s title

AMENDING THE NATURAL BORN CITIZEN REQUIREMENT: GLOBALIZATION AS THE IMPETUS AND THE OBSTACLE

caught my eye, and had to read it…

I had to ask myself, what would drive any American to want to change a clause in a document that is the very foundation of our government?

So, I kept digging, and found that SARAH P. HERLIHY is employed by Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Noting that this law firm is based in Chicago, the light bulb was shining a little brighter. Upon looking at the firm, and the partners, I found that Bruce I. Ettelson, P.C., is Member of finance committees of U.S. Senators Barack Obama and Richard Durbin. (towards bottom of the page)

In addition, Jack S. Levin, P.C., another partner who, in December 2002 was presented the “ Illinois Venture Capital Association’s lifetime achievement award for service to the private equity/venture capital community” presented by Sen. Barack Obama

So it sure looks like Obama’s people have looked into the matter of “Natural born” as far back as early 2006. What is even more disturbing is that it would appear that they are following the thought of :

“If the facts do not support the theory, Destroy the facts!”

Here is the introduction to the paper… It looks like a road map for Obama’s defense lawyers…And a precursor to a Socialist world.

AMENDING THE NATURAL BORN CITIZEN REQUIREMENT: GLOBALIZATION AS THE IMPETUS AND THE OBSTACLE

SARAH P. HERLIHY
- - - - - - - - -
INTRODUCTION

The natural born citizen requirement in Article II of the United States Constitution has been called the “stupidest provision” in the Constitution,1 “undecidedly un American,”2 “blatantly discriminatory,”3 and the “Constitution’s worst provision.”4 Since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s victory in the California gubernatorial recall election of 2003, commentators and policy-makers have once again started to discuss whether Article II of the United States Constitution should be amended to render naturalized citizens eligible for the presidency.5 Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution defines the eligibility requirements for an individual to become president. Article II provides:

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; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Of-fice who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.6

Although these sixty-two words are far from extraordinary, the natural born citizen provision is controversial because it prevents over 12.8 million Americans from being eligible for the presidency.7 In addition to Governor Schwarzenegger, the natural born citizen clause prohibits many other prominent Americans from becoming president, including Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm,8 former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao,9 and over 700 Medal of Honor Winners.10 Even though many of these individuals have served in high political positions or fought in a war on behalf of America, they are not able to become president simply because they were not born in the United States.11

The natural born citizen clause of the United States Constitution should be repealed for numerous reasons. Limiting presidential eligibility to natural born citizens discriminates against naturalized citizens, is out-dated and undemocratic, and incorrectly assumes that birthplace is a proxy for loyalty. The increased globalization of the world continues to make each of these reasons more persuasive. As the world becomes smaller and cultures become more similar through globalization, the natural born citi-zen clause has increasingly become out of place in the American legal sys-tem. However, even though globalization strengthens the case for a Constitutional amendment, many Americans argue against abolishing the requirement. In a recent USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll taken November 19—21, 2004, only 31% of the respondents favored a constitutional amendment to abolish the natural born citizen requirement while 67% opposed such an amendment.12 Although some of the reasons for maintaining the natural born citizen requirement are rational, many of the reasons are based primarily on emotion. Therefore, although globalization is one impetus that should drive Americans to rely on reason and amend the Constitution, this paper argues that common perceptions about globalization ironically will convince Americans to rely on emotion and oppose a Constitutional amendment.

Part one of this paper provides a brief history and overview of the natural born citizen requirement. Part two discusses the rational reasons for abolishing this requirement and describes why the increase in globalization makes abolishing the natural born citizen requirement more necessary than ever. Part three presents the arguments against allowing naturalized citizens to be eligible for the presidency and identifies common beliefs about glob-alization that will cause Americans to rely on emotion and oppose a Constitutional amendment.


Hat tip: Zenster.

15 comments:

folly said...

The original reason for Article II is simple, and these days it makes even more sense. If a person of foreign origin with an agenda gets elected to the presidency, the changes could be incredibly destructive. Imagine if a hostile foreign agent were elected.

While I understand that a single president cannot instantly convert this country to a communist paradise, a president with connections outside the country and assistance inside could certainly sabotage the country's defenses enough, over a number of years, to allow a foreign army to invade.

While I understand that a natural born citizen can certainly be under the influence of foreign countries, remember the deep sleeper cells of the Cold War. Naturalized American citizens, working for Russia. At least, in what is supposed to be the cold, critical eye of the press, we'd hope to find those associations.

Am I being paranoid? Ask Poland, which the paper's author so kindly mentioned in the pdf. Ask the African countries infiltrated and overthrown by muslim influences. If we're not careful, you'll be able to ask your grandchildren.

Anonymous said...

Greetings:

What occurs to me is the growth of dual citizenships. While I certainly agree with the natural-born requirement, what protection is there from multiple citizenship holders?

Czechmade said...

Kissinger came from a Bavarian Jewish family. Albright from a Czechoslovak Jewish family, her name was Korbel.

Václav Havel proposed her for the Czech president, which made a crazy effect. Her funny Czech is not that convincing for a loayal citizen. The president of Latvia was/is Canadian. If I remember one of the Lithuanian presidents had US background. For them it had some healing effect.

Thinking of Albright imagine the effect of having one president of US and Czech Rep. at the same time.



Obama might become easily Kenian president, given all the media attention and celebrations at home.
How to stop the frenzied crowds? Study the Kenian legal system...


And Afonso would speak of a "bridge".

In the US legal system it is also unthinkable for a president to have a foreign wife. Which is the case with Yushchenko and Saakashvili.

Anonymous said...

If you actually read the paper (which is very unprofessional and sophomoric), it becomes obvious they had Obama in mind. Section 6 is titled "Racism and Religious Intolerance," and starts with the usual boilerplate about "progress has been made," etc., yet concludes that racism against non-whites and intolerance against non-Christians will likely prevent amending the Constitution.

As a lawyer, what shocks me most is how bad this thing is given K&E's reputation, their ridiculous obsession with grades and awards and their general pomp. It proves what I've always known: lawyers, especially the most myopic "stars" of the profession, are terrible political thinkers and as divorced from wisdom as professors of English Lit. It's amazing how a little learning can be so dangerous.

Czechmade said...

The correct approach is very simple:

It is dicriminatory against all who might think of candidating and did look at their foreign birth certificate...black or white, who cares...

But it is a common theme in the Western politics - the somewhat priviliged status makes you a precious asset independent of your personal qualities. Breaking some law makes you feel even more priviliged - an additional asset.

Barons comment on gratitude comes to mind. Strange mechanics outside our infantile while logical democratic thoughts at work.

Was it explicitly thought of as a leash for an unleashed Obama? MSM pressure on a boy who is a president under condition we keep looking away?

Afonso Henriques said...

"Get used to saying “President Obama”"

Come on Baron! Everyone who says "President Obama" is indeed one of his supporters! I think we all should refer to him as President Hussein.
I will do this for now on. Actually I am already doing.
President Med-ve -deve; Prime Ministers Berlusconni, Gordon Brown and Sarkozy and the most powerfull man of the world: President Hussein.
That's how I'll be refering to the people at the G8 summits and such...

About the story, I am one of those who thinks this demonisation of Obama (over topics like these) is senseless. However, this stoty was a must see. Thank you both, Baron and Zenster.

And meanwhile, the new format for commenting with the instructions and mainly the format to present links is much better!

But, what I also wanted to ask is, will the Democrats join the Fórum de São Paulo any time soon?

People say that I am crazy when I start talking about "what I coined as Bolivarianism".
People also seem to believe that there is a huge difference between North America and Latin America, I don't.

I defy you to follow the link. You will read "Nationalist political parties" but what it really means is anti-European/white political parties, wether Latins or Germanics... (or even French).

You also ought to read the works of the Brazilian Olavo de Carvalho. He himself writes in english and his words are filled with truth. You may understand what I call Bolivarianism that is... well:

A spectre is haunting (the) America(s) - the spectre of Bolivarianism.

Afonso Henriques said...

"Although these sixty-two words are far from extraordinary, the natural born citizen provision is controversial because it prevents over 12.8 million Americans from being eligible for the presidency.7 In addition to Governor Schwarzenegger, the natural born citizen clause prohibits many other prominent Americans from becoming president, including Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm,8 former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao,9 and over 700 Medal of Honor Winners.10 Even though many of these individuals have served in high political positions or fought in a war on behalf of America, they are not able to become president simply because they were not born in the United States.11

Limiting presidential eligibility to natural born citizens discriminates against naturalized citizens, is out-dated and undemocratic, and incorrectly assumes that birthplace is a proxy for loyalty.

Although some of the reasons for maintaining the natural born citizen requirement are rational, many of the reasons are based primarily on emotion.

discusses the rational reasons for abolishing this requirement and describes why the increase in globalization makes abolishing the natural born citizen requirement more necessary than ever."

---------------------------------

They are right. The mess in the United States is such that in my opinion it does not make any sense to aply to it a "blood law" if every blood can be a part of it and if all the blood in the world will be converted to American blood after one generation.
Also, this is not a blood problem but a soil problem. So, why would soil make a difference? Why would one have to wait one generation to be president if America is inviting the world and everybody can be an American?

Afonso Henriques said...

Czechmade,

"In the US legal system it is also unthinkable for a president to have a foreign wife. Which is the case with Yushchenko and Saakashvili."

What a surprise! And, are they Russians?

Between, have you looked to Sarkozy: Hungarian, Jewish, Greek. How is he supposed to have any conection with France? How is it supposed for him to be a ("true") "French Conservative"???

And I know one cannot chose one genes... but, and continuing about Sarkozy, what about his wifes? Wifes... how can he be... okay, we're talking about France...
But seriously, why can't he get a French wife? Why does he have to marry Mediterranean women who seem to be not particularly sympathetic towards France:
A Corsican and an Italian?

You see... he never tricked me...

Czechmade said...

Afonso,

"Sarkozy: Hungarian, Jewish, Greek"

He might be a perfect Obama for Romania.

Afonso Henriques said...

Well noted...

I just think he lacks a little Gypsy, no?

ɱØяñιηg$ʇðя ©™ said...

And the swedish PMs grandfathers father or something like that was a negro. Maybe that is the draconian plan, to switch all european leaders from ethnic nationalities to those of foreign origins, as they hope these people will have less loyalty to the country they are sat to govern? Do I get my tinfoil hat now? :)

Czechmade said...

Robin,

just watching our parents we became racists. Watching them blindly for years...we got the wrong idea.

And now our suffering does not count.
It is a wrong suffering.

Our dream of becoming a minority is a dream of becoming a real social Jesus Christ. Born leftists with a
real birth certificate like Obama.

So do not ask Obama for some funny piece of paper. He is his birth certificate in person.

Unknown said...

Hi

I am in the situation where I have recently moved to the U.S. My young children were born outside the U.S. When they are adults they will have had all their schooling in the U.S. and be as american as any one else here. Watching the recent election they have been asking if they can become President. The answer is that "America is a place where anyone can become President". Is it fair to exclude them?

After a certain amount of time, or a waiver for kids brought to the U.S at an early age, loyality should be the measure, not where they were born.

Ex-Dissident said...

Crisscross, it may be a dumb provision, yet it is the law of the land. If this law is amended, let naturalized Americans run for office. However, those who believe they are above the law should not.

Decatur said...

I've been looking at this issue on and off for about six months and it seems almost too big an issue for it to be true. If this man has lied about his true identity then he will suffer the consequences. Off the top of my head I can only recall Michelle Obama stepping in from time to time saying that Barack was born in Hawaii, does anyone recall him saying this himself? Someone has pointed out that if Obama is a Kenyan national and not entitled to become American president but he goes ahead and takes the office anyway,("...takes power and rules from day one" as his transition co-ordinator Valerie Jarrett states) then it amounts to nothing less than a coup. He would have to be removed from office and impeached. The reaction from Obama supporters does not bear thinking about, need I say more. The millitary would need to take control as they are duty bound to ensure that no foreign national, individual or group takes power over the United States.
I am concerned at Obamas reluctance to reveal so many documents that would put an end to the speculation.
I am disappointed to see so many posters not seeing the importance of being 'natural born'.