asaris

Thanks Pan. Sadly, lawyers know that much of what you learned in 11th grade is false. The courts have never definitively stated that 'natural-born citizen' means 'citizen at birth'. Most people believe this is the case, but for the contrarians:

By basic standards of statutory interpretation, if Congress changes the wording of a statute, it must be changing the meaning of the statute. Therefore, Congress changed its mind, and so citizens born abroad are not to be considered 'natural-born'.

If I recall correctly, he has the additional problem that Congress only passed a law making the children of US citizens born in the canal zones citizens themselves after McCain was born. Meaning that McCain was not a citizen when he was born.

Like I've said, I don't think these arguments work (and I don't think any court would toss out McCain as president based on these arguments). But they're not ridiculous arguments as far as legal arguments go.

See also this post by Prof. Jack Balkin for a summary of an argument a strict constructionist might make:
http://balkin.blogspot.com/2008/05/w...ds-living.html

__________________
"Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht."

"The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche