Can Ted Cruz run for president if he was born in Canada?

[Emit]

The Republican senator from Texas says he can. And just to be sure, he’s taking the extra step of renouncing the Canadian citizenship he says he didn’t even know he had...

Is Ted Cruz, born in Canada, eligible to run for president?

By Angie Drobnic Holan
Published on Tuesday, August 20th, 2013 at 4:41 p.m.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during the family leadership summit in Ames, Iowa, on Aug. 10, 2013.

Can Ted Cruz run for president if he was born in Canada?

The Republican senator from Texas says he can. And just to be sure, he’s taking the extra step of renouncing the Canadian citizenship he says he didn’t even know he had.

Cruz -- full name: Rafael Edward Cruz --was born in Canada in 1970 because his father was working for the oil industry there. The senator’s recently released birth certificate shows his mother was born in Delaware and his father was born in Cuba. The Cruz family left Canada a few years later. Cruz grew up in Texas and graduated from high school there, later attending Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

By virtue of his American-born mother, Cruz, 42, considers himself a natural born citizen and eligible to run for president.

~snip~

Defining "natural born"

So what is a "natural born" citizen? The Constitution doesn’t specifically say.

In 2008, we reviewed research and polled several legal experts. The consensus was that someone is a "natural born" citizen if they have citizenship at birth and don’t have to go through a naturalization process to become a citizen.

If that’s the definition, then Cruz is a natural born citizen by being born to an American mother and having her citizenship at birth. (This same logic would apply to Obama, even if he were born in another country, which he wasn’t.)

~snip~

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2013/aug/20/ted-cruz-born-canada-eligible-run-president/

scary shit indeed... this guy's nuts

[brucefan]

1. Yes please

[Emit]

2. careful what you wish for

[Mojorabbit]

3. I was born in Bermuda

to am American father on an air force base but my mother was Portuguese. They were married but he was stationed there and she did not become a citizen till he returned to the states. I had to go through the naturalization process when I was a child. The laws are really confusing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Ou should not have to

Somebody goofed.

[truebluegreen]

52. I believe there was a double standard depending on whether the mother or the father

was the American citizen. Couldn't have those lonely GIs bringing home foreign wives and half-blood children...

The law has since been changed. I think.

[2ndAmForComputers]

9. Aren't such bases considered USA territory?

[sakabatou]

50. I believe so

[ryan_cats]

10. That is weird, about what year?

That is weird, about what year?

I was born on a US military base overseas and they treated it like US soil.

[Mojorabbit]

14. Naturalization in the early 60's. I was born in late 50's.

Perhaps they have changed the laws since then.

[Cleita]

18. Me too. Born in Chile to an American father and Chilean mother, who

became an American citizen when I was eight years old. Although I always traveled on an American passport, I had to swear the same oath naturalized immigrants do. I have a document that says I'm a citizen from birth. However, the judge who swore us in was very explicit in explaining to those of us (a roomful of American kids born overseas) there that only those born on embassy grounds or a military base could run for President. The rest of us couldn't. So I really don't think Cruz or even Romney for that matter should be able to. I don't think we have any military bases in Canada and unless he was born in the embassy there, he doesn't qualify but I guess IOKIYAR seems to operate here.

[Mojorabbit]

19. I was roughly the same age and I also swore the oath the same time my mother did.

But I was born on a military base. I also traveled as a child on an American passport.

[Wounded Bear]

4. McCain was born in Panama....

Right?

[cali]

20. to two American citizen parents, one of whom was active military posted there

I never understood the argument that he wasn't eligible at all.

Frankly, if you're a citizen at birth, what else can you be but a "natural born citizen"? There are only two types of citizens; those who are citizens by birth and those who are naturalized. ergo, if you're a citizen by birth, you're a natural born citizen. Everything else is noise.

[immoderate]

5. Sure. I want a president who sounds like Mr. Magoo.

And just in case ...

--imm

[JohnnyRingo]

23. I just realized today...

He looks and sounds like Mr Haney, the carpet bagging scamster on "Green Acres".
Maybe that was his dad.

[immoderate]

25. I got a better one. He sounds like Walter Denton from "Our Miss Books."

?t=7m7s

Walter appears at about 7 minutes in.



--imm

[FarCenter]

6. Has Ted Cruz renounced his Cuban citizenship?

Ted Cruz was born in Calgary, Alberta, on Dec. 22, 1970. His mother is a lifelong U.S. citizen. His father, born in Cuba, remained a Cuban citizen until he was naturalized as an American in 2005. When Cruz was born, his parents were living in Canada, where they had opened a seismic-data business in the oil patch.

http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20130819-editorial-ted-cruz-and-the-birther-issue.ece

He has renounced his dual-citizenship in Canada. However, he must also be a dual-citizen of Cuba because of this father's citizenship, just as he is a US citizen because of this mother's citizenship.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Depends on Canadian law when he became an adult

In Mexico you had to chose at 18. These days, due to changes you can be a dual citizen that changed in 1998. I know, it came into effect before I became a US Citizen.

So if Cuban law was similar to pre 1998 Mexican law, it was automatic. At 18 Cruz became a US Citizen. Canadian Law is obviously like present Mexican law.

[Nay]

31. The only thing we know FOR SURE is that he is a Canadian citizen. He has a Canadian

birth certificate. That's all the proof needed.

What we need to know is what US proof of citizenship has he been using throughout his life here -- an F-240 from the State Dept? A US passport? What? He must have had some proof for him to go to school here, vote here, work here, etc. Why haven't we seen that documentation? That's all that is needed to settle the matter once and for all.

It makes me wonder why he's reluctant to simply produce that document. If he doesn't have it, how has he skated through life so far? If he has produced a document in the past, why is he reluctant to produce it now? It's not like he's just being harassed for no reason -- he's got a Canadian birth certificate, so he does have to prove that he is a US citizen somehow.

One serious complication could be that the document he has been using is fake. But we won't know until he produces it. Hey, Cruz, the rest of us have to prove our citizenship for all sorts of processes, so why do you think you're exempt?

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. Well, that is a good question

But hey, as a Right Winger, tea party type...

[Jenoch]

16. I'm interested in finding out if

Cruz really does have Cuban citizenship. Do you have a link?

[DURHAM D]

8. Does he not have Cuban citizenship as well?

I would love to write that political ad.

[Ed Suspicious]

12. Are you lazy or something? That ad writes itself! ;)

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. See 11, nor reposting

[treestar]

15. Some of the birthers of the more legal persuasion

Were arguing the theory that a person born in the US who has one parent who is not a US citizen should not be considered a "natural born citizen" and that at least it should be tested in court. They claimed the Founders' understanding of the term "natural born" would have followed a Frenchman's theory of that era that said so.

It could be an open and unsettled legal question whether one is Natural Born if born a US citizen in another country.

But certainly he should have to document it as Obama did. From now on, every candidate should be demanded to show a birth certificate showing birth in the US. In Cruz's case it should be his birth certificate along with his mother's, and evidence that she lived in the United States for the required lengths of time at the required ages.

[CreekDog]

32. Wrong, wrong, wrong...Obama didn't have to document, second Cruz isn't naturalized, born a citizen

at least get it right.

[treestar]

36. did you miss the demands for Obama's Birth Certificate?

And when he finally released it? Then they went on about it not being a vault copy.

I didn't say Cruz was naturalized, but that it could be an open issue whether his citizenship at birth is "natural born." Read the post again to get what I am saying. The birthers used fancy legal arguments which if they really believed and were consistent, would mean that whether citizens at birth abroad are "natural born" as stated in the constitution on Presidential qualifications, is just as open a question.

[Bluenorthwest]

39. Except you seem to be in agreement with the Birthers on settled law.

No surprising, but still...And Obama did not have to document anything, his citizenship was not in question in reality based circles.
I do not agree with you and the Brithers that these are open questions.

[treestar]

49. The law is not settled

that is what some of those birthers claimed. The Vattel doctrine was something they latched onto to claim the Founders did not think a person was a natural born citizen unless both parents were born on the soil. Where did I say I agreed with them? I did not.

I am pointing out that you can tell any birther who made that claim that if they are going to be consistent then they should also want this legal question decided.

Obama did have to release his birth certificate. Even then they started to claim it was a fake.

So why shouldn't Cruz have to document his citizenship, which in his case would be his birth certificate, his mother's birth certificate and evidence his mother lived in the US 10 years, five of which were after age 14.

[CreekDog]

41. why is it an open question?

[treestar]

51. The Supreme Court, or no court, has taken it up

The term Natural Born Citizen has not been litigated as to what it would mean. Common sense says it would mean anyone who is a citizen at birth, but the crazy birthers wanted to litigate the question of whether natural born citizen did not include people who had a parent born in another country. Thus those same people should be willing to litigate whether that term includes all citizens at birth or just the ones born on the soil.

Orly Taitz did not manage to get a case past the frivolous bar - some people did try the Vattel theory (that a person is not a NBC unless both their parents are- they may be citizens, but not NBCs - but that was rejected in favor of the fact Obama was born on the soil of the US).

Left birthers could try to disqualify Ted by saying that the Constitution did not mean NBCs are all who are citizens at birth, just the ones born on the soil. They could lose, but they could litigate it.

[drhobo]

17. some good laughs to be had

Reading the convoluted logic employed by some birthers to try and make a case that Cruz is eligible but Obama isn't

It sounds like Cruz is eligible though, the criteria generally applied for 'natural born citizen' seems pretty low

[juxtaposed]

21. This was my feeling from an earlier post and still feel the same, Is Ted Cruz a Terror Baby

Now this may have been already covered. Ted Cruz was born in Canada to an America Mother and a Cuban Father that makes him Canadian by place of birth, American by his mother, Cuban by his father. Canadians and Cubans are free to travel between counties, no travel restrictions that I know of.
The question I'm asking, is Ted Cruz a Castro Communist or did his father escape the oppression of Fidel on a raft and ended washing up in Newfoundland.
Even more frightening could this be Cuba's diabolical plan coming to full fruition as in the movie,"The Omen" the only problem the Cubans had was Cruz's father missed landing in the US, makes sense right, Cruz looks a lot like Damien. Rep. Louie Gohmert has talked about "Terror Babies" many times, could Gohmert be working with the Cubans throwing up smoke screens for Cruz. Gohmert says the Terror Babies will come from the southern border of his home state, never mentioning that they could come from the north.

We need to get "The Donald and Jumpin Joe Arpaio" on this.

[TheTruthBeKnown]

22. No, Cruz is not a US citizen

Cruz is not a legal US citizen. Please refer to my post in the discussion forum today about the steps that MUST be taken for any foreign born person to become a US citizen.

Not only is Ted Cruz not eligible at this point to be called a US citizen, he's not even eligible to be a US senator. Cruz had to have become a citizen by 1/19/04 according to the Constitution, Article 1, Section 3. In addition, because Ted Cruz is not a legal US citizen he violated US election laws every time he voted in the US.

If Cruz wants to run for president he must first apply for US citizenship and give an oath to the US, which to date he has never done.

Please refer to my other post for a more in-depth analysis describing why Ted Cruz is not a US citizen or a dual citizen.

Thanks.

[former9thward]

28. You should give your detective work to Harry Reid.

Tell him to have the security guards stop Cruz from coming on the floor of the Senate. Tell him to cut off his salary. You have found out something no one else knows. Not the Democratic Party, not legal and constitutional experts, nobody! Now do your duty.

[BlueState]

30. You crack me up!

[malaise]

40. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah hahahahha

I'm lovin' these threads.

ReTHUGs finally have a real birther story.

[Iggo]

45. Link?

[Zoeisright]

24. Nope.

I want to see the long-form birth certificate, and I want a statement from the doctor who "delivered" that asshole, and I want certified letters from all the personnel in attendance, and then I'm going to demand to see the long-form birth certificate 35,00000000000000 more times and whine that Cruz hasn't released it, and file multiple lawsuits, and then whine some more, then have a screaming fit.

[kentuck]

26. Not legally.

But you can see the double standard already taking shape.

[former9thward]

29. Now the left birthers arise.

Can you provide any legal or constitutional experts who agree with your theory?

[DJ13]

27. I've had cons on another site swear that he can run because

"His mother was a US citizen", so "it doesnt matter where he was born".

They dont see the irony, even when I try pointing out the birther arguments made about Obama.

[Emit]

35. I imagine I'll be hearing this same twisted

argument from my dad soon enough, sadly. He loves Ted Cruz, ugh.

[treestar]

37. Exactly. They wanted to argue that someone born in the US

was not natural born because of having a noncitizen father.

They are all about heredity. Which the Founders were opposed to.

There is not a single crowned head in Europe whose talents or merit would entitle him to be elected a vestryman by the people of a ny parish in America.
Read more at http://quotes.dictionary.com/author/thomas+jefferson?page=1#8tTYAgpL6MPERK5d.99
Thomas Jefferson on royalty and status conferred at birth.

[pa28]

33. If we had a good candidate born in Canada would he/she be eligible?

If the situation were reversed the Republicans would challenge the candidacy every step of the way on a legal basis and they might succeed.

At the very least we need to be pointing out their hypocrisy. It knows no bounds.

[hack89]

38. Yes he can. He is a natural born citizen. nt

[DiverDave]

42. NOPE, if he was born in Canada

if in the U.S. then, yeah.

[tsuki]

48. Yes, he is if his birth was registered by the American consul. In that case, he

has a birth certificate of an American born abroad.

[WI_DEM]

43. Yet, these bastards attack the Hawaii born Obama

[Iggo]

44. Yes.

[1-Old-Man]

46. If he can run then so can Jennifer Grenholm, which would you vote for?

[Throd]

47. Yes

[Shrike47]

53. Yes

And we should not go down the crazy road on the issue. Fight the man on his principals, not this crap, which sounds like a 'sovereign citizen' argument.

[krispos42]

54. To regular people, the answer is yes

To the people with Lipton stapled to their forehead, they'll need a decision matrix that takes into account melatonin levels and perceived conservativeness.


Or, being unable to create a decision matrix, will simply do whatever Glenn Beck tells them to do.