Shouldn't Arnold at least be allowed to run for President?

[Fire]

I have no intenion of voting for the man or any desire to see him become president but I don't see why people should have to be natural born citizens to run for president. If the people don't want them they don't have to vote for them. I say immigrants should have the same rights as everyone else.

[xultar]

1. Ahhhh no. Why should he get a better first chance than Black folk.

We should visit that issue after an American born Woman, American Indian, Black, Latino,Asian, and Indian, and whomever else before we let Ahhh-nold get his chance.

I'm sorry but If we can't have an AMERICAN BORN Black Citizen as a president in my lifetime I don't see why we sould let some NAZI Austrian dumbass muscle head get in line before a bruva & sistah.

And as for immigrants having the same rights...stand in line us black folk are still struggling for equal rights. Immigrants need to be fightin ageinst the power with us black folk.

[Fire]

13. why?

I'm sorry but If we can't have an AMERICAN BORN Black Citizen as a president in my lifetime I don't see why we sould let some NAZI Austrian dumbass muscle head get in line before a bruva & sistah.

And as for immigrants having the same rights...stand in line us black folk are still struggling for equal rights. Immigrants need to be fightin ageinst the power with us black folk.

Do you say this independent of his position? What if there was a black liberal arnold from another country?

[xultar]

17. Ummm why not. We've had hoses turned on us, we were hung set on fire

for the amusment of white folk. WE fought to have equal education, healthcare, we fought for food and for jobs.
WE help build this country and ya'll wanna elect someone who didn't have the success of this country built of of their blood sweat and tears.

I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS. A BIG BIG PROBLEM.

THERE IS NO REASON A BLACK MAN OR WOMAN SHOULDN'T BE PRESIDENT NOW. THE ONLY REASON THAT EXISTS IS RACISIM. UNTIL WE SOLVE THAT PROBLEM THEN ALL THIS CRAP NEEDS TO STAY ON THE BACK BURNER.

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT AN AUSTRIAN MUTHER FUCKER WHO IS A SECOND RATE ACTOR AT BEST HAS A BETTER CHANCE AT BEING PRESIDENT THAN

MAXINE WATERS? JESSE JACKSON? JESSEE JACKSON JR.? CAROL MOSLEY BRAUN? BARAK OBAMA? CYNTHIA MCKINNEY? DENISE MAJETT? I'LL EVEN ADD AL SHARPTON AND DENNIS KUCINICH (DK is a bruva in arms) ON THE LIST.

[nofurylike]

16. absolutely! well said, xultar!

also, to the original poster:
i'm DISGUSTED to see this particular forum - "race and equality" - abused to tout 'rights' of a privileged white man!

whole world to stick it in, gotta take even the places created for redress of that unearned privilege/dominance?!!
as usual.

yuck

yuck yuck yuck!!



peace!

[Fire]

18. Oh come on

I'm only throwing the question out there. Keep your disgust.

[nofurylike]

20. oh come on, poor white-privileged men needing their equality protected?

you worried about protecting their supremacy?

no worry replying. is yours to self-criticize or not. i'm off.


peace

[Fire]

21. What the fuck are you talking about man?

Blacks and women are allowed to run for president, people don't vote for them but they have the legal right to run. Arnold does not, how does him not being able to legally run make him privledged?

[rogue emissary]

24. Why are you making this about Arnold?

If you believe immigrants should be able to run for President, touting aronld isn't going to help your cause. Also, there might not be any laws against a minority running, but in your own word's "people don't vote for them." Why push to help him when all the above groups have been here for generations, yet don't have a shot?

[Fire]

26. Because

I used arnold as an example because he is in the news and because I want to see if people would support immigrant rights in principal even if it doesn't benefit them politically.

[rogue emissary]

29. I could support immigrants getting the right,

but I'm crazy enough to go beyond that. I think if you're old enough to go to war, you should get to run. *w has set the bar that low. As long as someone is a citizen, and old enough to vote, they should be able to run for the presidency. IMHO

[xultar]

27. I don't care where the person is from, Africa, Sweden, Hati, Ireland

until we get a Black person, an American born Woman, an American born Latino, An American Indian, an American born Korean, American born Japanese, etc...no out o country folk naturalized or not.

We still got Japanese citzens who deserve a chance after we detained them in camps.

[musette_sf]

2. NO

Arnie is a Thug tool, and they want him to run so that when they put the fix in, it'll be "believable" to the masses, because he's such a STAR.

They put the fix in for the recall, and many ppl here in CA agree with me. It was the first and last paperless election I will ever vote in. There is NO WAY he won, with Bustamante in the lead before the "election".

And I believe that candidates for the POTUS should be native born. I'm first generation, and I still believe this. Why do you believe the opposite?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

31. I believe the opposite

because I think that if someone wins sufficient votes to be elected, it implies that the will of the people is that they do so, and I think that barring them on a techicality is then a bad thing to do.

I don't think that being born in a country has anything to do with your ability to govern it.

[dkofos]

3. No

He is a second rate actor that can barely speak english.
I can't imagine how he became gov. ((yes I can)FRAUD)

[drdtroit]

39. Well ,,,

Shrub is a second rate human being and can barely speak English and he became (p)Resident.

[Robb]

4. Well, again, if the people want it they can vote on it.

The natural born citizens clause has been in effect forever, but if people want to vote to get rid of it, they certainly can.

Hilarious the debate should center now around one of the dimmest bulbs in "politics". There have been movements from time to time throughout U.S. history to change the law, but they never gained ground despite remarkably qualified immigrants.

Hell, why limit it to immigrants. Why not non-U.S. citizens living abroad? And why do we have to settle on humans? I've got a goldfish with some pretty progressive ideas on tariffs. And the dog knows a thing or two about social security.

[xultar]

7. I can't believe this. We'd rather elect a white dude from another

country before a naturalUS born black man/woman or woman...

NO EFFIN WAY.

If that is the case we'd never get a black president. White folks would rather vote for a white person from another country than a black american citizen. Ya'll know it, I know it, we all know it.

NO NO NO!

[Krinkov]

33. no one is stopping blacks...

but the voters and the candidates.

people will go with what they want. Would you put that into law--

"no repeal until a person of african descent has been elected"

good luck fighting every other minority group in this country for that.

anyway I'd care more about having a good president (not arnold, of course) than having one for the sake of his skin color. Would you vote for Alan Keyes?

and don't give up on obama, he could be the one.. he's just starting out. Hope the hill doesnt kill him like it did kerry.

[Pam-Moby]

5. What if

we allowed anyone who wanted to, to become president. Do you not think that some of our true enemies would attempt to place someone in the position to become president in order to seize control of our country. I believe that by it remaining a must that you be born a US citizen it allows for there to be proper background checks of your qualifications.

[slor]

8. Our govt. has been seized...

by "true enemies"...have you not noticed the past four years?

[Fire]

12. what?

maybe but who would want to vote for Osama in your hypothetical?

[Pam-Moby]

25. Example

The United States and Russia have placed people in each other governments for many years. In order to gain knowledge of what the other was up to. Never have these people had the ability to become a US president. So by me saying that it is a requirement to have been born a US citizen even a person placed within our system evasively would never have the chance to infiltrate our top echelon of our government with purposes of allowing foreign control.

[slor]

6. Can we wait until he is...

at least not an option though? Quite a few Americans have proven their stupidity this year, and even barring almost certain fraud, this race was still WAY too close, considering the chimp and his obvious shortcomings. So I do not trust many Americans from wanting a Terminator for Prez, despite the obvious foolishness of voting that way.

[justinsb]

9. I'd go further

and say that any person should enjoy the full rights and freedoms of any country he/she is in regardless of how, when or why they arrived - try to get that past the GOP, they may smile at the idea of Arnold being president but the reality of such a system - including the right of illegal aliens to vote and the right of prisoners in Guantanamo to a full trial will rattle their little world.

[bobweaver]

10. The only thing he should be allowed to run for is the border

[NurseLefty]

11. Remember what it takes for such a change.

To amendment process is a tough one, and for good reason. See below.
Besides, this is a bad idea. I second what others have said. We need to focus on supporting women, African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans for higher offices before considering Goohveenoooh Tuuuhhmiiyhnayyytooohhh...

(From http://www.usconstitution.net/constam.html#process)
<snip>
The Amendment Process

There are essentially two ways spelled out in the Constitution for how it can be amended. One has never been used.

The first method is for a bill to pass both halves of the legislature, by a two-thirds majority in each. Once the bill has passed both houses, it goes on to the states. This is the route taken by all current amendments. Because of some long outstanding amendments, such as the 27th, Congress will normally put a time limit (typically seven years) for the bill to be approved as an amendment (for example, see the 21st and 22nd).

The second method prescribed is for a Constitutional Convention to be called by two-thirds of the legislatures of the States, and for that Convention to propose one or more amendments. These amendments are then sent to the states to be approved by three-fourths of the legislatures or conventions. This route has never been taken, and there is discussion in political science circles about just how such a convention would be convened, and what kind of changes it would bring about.

Regardless of which of the two proposal routes is taken, the amendment must be approved by three-fourths of states. The amendment as passed may specify whether the bill must be passed by the state legislatures or by a state convention. See the Ratification Convention Page for a discussion of the make up of a convention. Amendments are sent to the legislatures of the states by default. Only one amendment, the 21st, specified a convention. In any case, passage by the legislature or convention is by simple majority.

It is interesting to note that at no point does the President have a role in the formal amendment process (though he would be free to make his opinion known). He cannot veto an amendment proposal, nor a ratification.
<snip>

[Journeyman]

14. What other countries allow foreign-born people. . .

whether they be naturalized citizens or not, the opportunity to run for the highest public office?

[autorank]

15. Did Hitler deserve a chance to run for office?

We know Arnold is up to no good. Why enable this folly. Leave the Consitution alone on this issue. Are you with Sen. Hatch, R, UT, a farking screw ball if there ever was one? He's salivating to get Arnold to run. Send Arnold back to Austria (where he is no longer popular and therefore no longer a threat).

[Fire]

22. Hitler is not an american citizen

and wouldn't have been elected anyway. We're talking about american citizens who just happened to have been born in another country but have assimilated.

[autorank]

23. Welcome to DU! Damn, you got me there. Of course he should be blocked.

He is a conniving, vile, political whore. For example, he met with Enron executives prior to the CA energy crisis to plot how to sell deregulation to CA citizens (a meeting he acknowledges but denies remembering much about, oh sure). He is an admitted sexual harasser, groper of women through out his career. He's tied into the * fund raising circle and supported *. Leave the Constitution alone for now. The problem really centers around guaranteeing the rights we now have. This guy can go fuck himself and his Repuke supporters will have to find another "charismatic" character to run.

My point about Hitler is simple. If you know someone is vile and totally unacceptable, what responsibility do you have as a citizen to make sure that person does not take office. In this case, the responsibility is already taken care of. Leave it alone.

[Fire]

28. So.

----------------
He is a conniving, vile, political whore. For example, he met with Enron executives prior to the CA energy crisis to plot how to sell deregulation to CA citizens (a meeting he acknowledges but denies remembering much about, oh sure). He is an admitted sexual harasser, groper of women through out his career. He's tied into the * fund raising circle and supported *. Leave the Constitution alone for now. The problem really centers around guaranteeing the rights we now have. This guy can go fuck himself and his Repuke supporters will have to find another "charismatic" character to run.
----------------

I don't contest that. It's not like I'm voting for the bastard but the location of where he was brought into this world shouldn't matter. We are a nation of immigrants.

----------------
My point about Hitler is simple. If you know someone is vile and totally unacceptable, what responsibility do you have as a citizen to make sure that person does not take office. In this case, the responsibility is already taken care of. Leave it alone.
----------------

But should a charismatic liberal canidate from another country emerge in 10 or 20 years it would look very hypocritical for the democrats. It also isn't going to win them any friends in the immigrant community. And what's with making fun of his accent? That's one of the worst ad homs I've ever heard and I would say it borders on racism. It's wouldn't be cool for people to make fun of a japanese imigrant's accent by saying "ching chong chinaman" even if he was a groper.

EDIT: Ok looks like this forum doesn't have a "quote" function

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TNMOM]

30. No. But his son can...

Arnold is on an Austrian postage stamp, for goodness sakes! The Austrians claim him as their native son. They can have him.

[Pushed To The Left]

32. I agree with you

There are other candidates besides Arnold who would benefit from this type of constitutional amendment. I think the governor of Michigan is foreign-born, and she appears to be a popular Democrat. The only thing that bothers me is that it is being pushed because of one particular person. I don't like the way the right-wing has used constitutional amendments to take away free speech and equality, but this type of amendment is actually a very progressive one.

[Jackie97]

34. I agree and disagree.

I don't think immigrants should have a right to run for president, but I do think that naturalized citizens should. Those people have earned the right to be an American and to run for office more than we have. I earned citizenship and the right to run for president one day just by being born in this country, but naturalized citizens have to work their butt off for both. I don't think that's fair.

[Stop_the_War]

35. HELL NO!!!!

HELL NO ARNOLD IS AN ASSHOLE

[Jackie97]

36. So is Bush, but he was allowed to run.

Seriously, consider this. We have a Republican a part of the party right now who has all or most of the same political stands as a Democrat does. What if he could become the president? He might change the Republican party forever. I'd like to see that. I'd like for the Republican party to become less of a threat.

[Mr_King]

37. Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-MI)

My Governor Jennifer Granholm was born in Canada and can't run for President. She I think could be the first woman President because she reminds me of Hillary Clinton except her name isn't Clinton which in some parts of the country would work in her favor.

I say if those meathead Republicans in Congress get the law changed so they can run Arnold that just might hurt them in the long run because I see more Americans voting for Granholm then Arnold for President. Arnold's thick accent would hurt him and he'd just be a joke, despite his many many faults Reagan could atleast speak english clearly (even though it made no sense much of the time).

[jmcon007]

38. It will never happen, because

it would flood the field with more competition and that's something the political parties will never allow to happen.

[Montauk6]

40. As long as we have NO accountability on the voting process,

a thousand times NO!

Besides, don't feel so sorry for Arnie. After all, the same bar applies to (somebody mentioned Gov. Grantholm), Harry Belafonte, Arianna Huffington, Bono (does he reside here?), and William Shatner.