How many countries don't let immigrants run for the nation's highest post?

[_Jumper_]

Besides the US, which countries do not grant equal rights to all, like Canada does, and doesn't believes that people should be allowed to vote for whomever they want to vote for?

[buckeye1]

1. Not this one.

AS can go to hell. What a poor excuse for nothing that even mattered. Botox and steroids. Shut up! You make me sick.

[_Jumper_]

2. Screw equal rights because of one man

He would be 10x worse than some other pure presidents we have had! ABI, even Bush!

[KelleyKramer]

3. Amend the US constitution for 'freedom fries'

These issues are so full of it. During work yesterday I left my tv on cspan all day for the first in years.

The Republican congress debated a bill on abortion for hours, then they had a debate on a bill honoring the actor Raul Julia.

Millions of Americans out of work, bankruptcy, a half trillion dollar deficit, US spies being outed by traitors, no 911 investigation, billions in illegal contracts and sapping the gov by over-charging...

Nope...

The Republicans ignore the business of the country and would gladly spend the whole week working on the important 'issue' of Michael Jacksons sisters right breast.

Would not surprise me one bit to see these Repubs propose that we shut down congress and every single state legislative body to spend two years debating a constitutional amend to change the name of French fries to 'Freedom' fries.

Throw the bums out!!

All of them!

They are worthless and spending you and your children into endless debt!!

[_Jumper_]

4. Sorry for being uppity

All I want is equal rights. I shall return to the back of the bus.

[KelleyKramer]

5. Equal? Question ...

I don’t know how many countries allow foreigners to lead them.

But the current proposal by Republicans in America would allow a foreigner to live here for 20 years and then lead us.

But at the same time, if you are born in the USA you have to live here for 35 years before you have the right to lead our country.

... Is that equal?

[_Jumper_]

7. Yes it is

The 35 year stipulation is because of age. They didn't want a person who they thought was immature to be president.

I know of no other country with such a provision in its laws.

[KelleyKramer]

9. Really?? Ok, so 20 'equals' 35 year old Americans

(btw, I see that you CHANGED your response)

How about a new law that says any foreigner elected gov of California in the last 3 months has more rights to run for president than any natural born American who is over 18 years old and has achieved the right to be drafted and die on the battle field for the freedom of the USA?

Better yet, not just a law, lets make that a formal amendment to the 250 year old United States Constitution to read that way.

And the US amendment would only apply to foreigners who are running as members of the Republican party.

Is that equal enough?

[_Jumper_]

14. LOL

I edited because my original comment would lead to a debate about the 35 year old requirement. That is for another thread.

Immigrants are elgible for the draft too. Let me reverse it. Why should immigrants who are elgible to fight and die for the USA not be allowed to run for president?

Would you deny blacks rights in the 1970's just to prevent Edward Brooke from running for president?

[mac2]

11. It's not about equal it's about loyality.....

Many second generation born Americans still feel a link and connectedness to their parent's country. A President has to be 100% American.

Duel citizenship is also a dangerous thing in our society. If things don't work out here one can just pass back and forth between countries...divided loyalties.

We have plenty of American born citizens who can be President...raised in our school systems, communities, etc. we don't need ones not born here. We don't need exceptions.

[_Jumper_]

13. So why not ban the 2nd generation too? Third?

n/t

[fujiyama]

19. I agree...

about Dual Citizenship...and I don't believe that anyone with it should be allowed to run for any higher office, but for God's sakes, I WAS raised in our school systems, communities, etc. I went through our shitty public schools...I came to this country at the age of one. I don't see how it even makes any difference?!

This question over "loyalty" is ridiculous. I'm not saying I'm particularly in favor of amending the constitution for this, because I think there are MUCH bigger issues out there, but don't believe that someone is any less "American" because they were born elsewhere. That's insulting and makes people feel like they will always be nothing more than a f'riner.

[_Jumper_]

20. I feel your pain

When I was born my father was a citizen who worked for the federal government (what a traitor, right?). My mother was not a citizen. I was born overseas because she was visiting a furrin country. I arrived here at the age of six months. Some claim that this makes me disloyal. Obviously, those six months didn't make a difference nor did my place of birth. The real issue here is xenophobia. Some people simply do not consider anyone who isn't a 4th+ generation white or black American a "real Murican." They will vote for Shrub before they vote for fake Murican's like us. :eyes:

[FlaGranny]

30. I'm not sure

that a foreign-born person should be president, but you say you were born to an American father overseas. Doesn't that automatically make you "American born"? Or am I mistaken.

Anyway, I don't have so much of a problem with someone who comes to the US as a small child being president, as I do someone like AS. If a person is raised in a country other than the US and comes here as an adult (even a young one), and has family and other ties in the originating country, and is still a citizen of that country, what happens if that person becomes president and has to deal in some way that involves his original country? And why put someone in the position to have to decide?

Secondly, the US Constitution should only be changed if absolutely necessary. It is pretty darn good as it stands. We shouldn't change it to prevent gay marriage and we shouldn't change it to allow foreign born folks to become president. It should only be changed if it is somehow working against the original intent of the document.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Couldn't help imagining the irony in the Congress

considering a bill honoring Raul Julia. His very last movie, after which he died, focused on the murder of El Salvador's Archbishop Romero, who was murdered in mass, by people trained by the School of the Americas, during a U.S.-backed purge of any Salvadorans considered left-leaning. Amazing!

(snip) There is a tremendous irony that President
George W Bush has chosen to visit El Salvador
on the anniversary of the murder of the
country's Archbishop, Oscar Arnulfo Romero,
22 years ago.

A campaigner against the Salvadorean army's
death squad war, Monsignor Romero was shot
through the heart while saying Mass, shortly
after appealing to the US not to send military
aid to El Salvador.

The appeal fell on deaf ears and for the next 12
years, the US became involved in its largest
counter-insurgency war against left-wing
guerrillas since Vietnam.

Today US officials are
saying that President Bush's visit is in part to
celebrate a US success story in which his
father was personally involved.
(snip/...)
http://www.socialconscience.com/articles/2002/salvador/romero.txt

On edit:
If Schwarzenegger wants to be the president of a country, why doesn't he return to Austria and do it there?

Arnold needs to learn a bit of respect, and it doesn't look as if he's going to learn it hanging around the Republican Party.

[_Jumper_]

18. It isn't about Arnold. It is about equal rights.

1/8 of Americans are furrin-born. Why ban them from running?

[camero]

6. I don't think it's about equal rights really

But it's about foriegn influence in our elections. Suppose Osama sent a terrorist to this country and he or she became president? It would really throw a monkey wrench into things.

Also, maybe we should focus our energies on electing a woman or African-American President first.

[_Jumper_]

8. That is impossible

Do you think people wouldn't figure it out? If they are that dumb why have a democracy? With all the scrutiny that candidates are under these days do you think a foreign agent could hide their true loyalty? Moreover, what is to stop a foreign entity from hiring their own version of Shrub? What if Robert Hannson ran for president? Heck, some people argue that PNAC, which many believe controls Shrub, is loyal to a foriegn country.

I believe in equal rights for all. There is no hiearchy as to which non-white male group should reache the White House first in my view. Let's let everyone run and let the people choose who they want. If that happens to be a woman who immigrated from Honduras at the age of 2 months so be it.

[camero]

23. Yes

Some could actually be that dumb. Bush got how many votes in 2000? Close to 50 million? Anything is possible.

[mac2]

12. And as we see by Bush's AWOL records...they can be changed to

fit a need.

[mac2]

10. Probably all of them.....

To allow such a thing is not common sense.

[_Jumper_]

16. Probably all democracies do

If you can't trust voters to figure out who is or isn't loyal how can you trust them to decide issues such as going to war or national budget policy? Indirectly, the people do control those policies. Shrub wouldn't have gone to war if the people opposed it.

[camero]

24. Helloooooooooo

We did oppose it. It was opposed worldwide. The wimps in Congress are the ones who voted for it.

[_Jumper_]

26. Most Americans supported the war

:(

[camero]

27. Just goes to show the affect of propaganda

And you still believe a terrorist couldn't get elected?

[_Jumper_]

28. Yes

The media's intense scruntiny would smoke out a terraist.

[camero]

29. Like their intense scrutiny of Bush? n/t

[_Jumper_]

15. Question for those that fear disloyalty

Would you refuse to vote for someone of another race because they might favor their race over your race? Should David Duke and Louis Farrakhan be allowed to run for president?

[kayell]

21. Do you know?

I don't, but am curious. Have you done the research?

[_Jumper_]

22. No

That is part of why I asked. I have heard some people say that this is the only one and I hope they respond to this thread so we can find out the truth. I know that Canada allows all citizens to run for Prime Minister.

[rasputin1952]

25. For starters, very few would vote for president...

someone who was foreign born. At least at this stage of the country, the thought is almost ludicrous. It is another Red Herring tossed out by the GOP to keep our eyes off the radar screen.

Schwarzenegger has as much chance being elected president as Tony Blair. The notion really stinks IMHO. There are plenty of qualified Americans that could fill the role, (much better than the unqualified buffoon we have now, I might add). What I find amazing is that it is the GOP that is coming up with this gem.

The thing I notice, is that they are willing to toss their hands in the air, and basically say..."we have no candidate that inspires the American people, we need to look elsewhere". The notion that Arnold would be a candidate is even more ludicrous. Just like Reagan, he has limited knowledge of gov't, and comes from the infamous place called Hollywood, a place that most R's consider on par w/hell.

As I stat4ed above, this is a Red Herring; they know it would never pass the smell test. Keep you eyes on the radar screen....something is coming in, and it is most likely dangerous.

O8)