What if Cruz were born in Iran to an American mom and Saudi Arabian dad?

[apples and oranges]

Would that change the discussion surrounding his eligibility to be President of the United States?

[blue neen]

1. He'd try to deport himself.

[LonePirate]

2. He never would have held public office in Texas.

[SheilaT]

3. Dumb question.

If either parent was a citizen, he's a citizen.

Haven't we been through this before?

[apples and oranges]

4. That's not the point. The question isn't whether he's a citizen

since he obviously would be. It's whether he'd meet the "natural born citizen" requirement to be President of the US. If it's OK for a Canadian to be president, then it should also be OK for an Iranian to be president, as long as one of his parents is or was American. I

On the other hand, if it's not acceptable for an Iranian to be President of the United States, then it should not be acceptable for a Canadian to be the president of the United States.

[SheilaT]

5. Anyone who has a parent who is a U.S. citizen

at the time of his or her birth, no matter where that person is born, is a natural born citizen.

Period. Cruz, asshole that he is, isn't a Canadian, although for a period of time he had dual citizenship.

You make us look as bad as the Republicans to raise the question this way.

[CBGLuthier]

8. That is no longer true. In Cruz's case yes, but since 1986

there have been further qualifiers than the simplistic if your parent is an american statement.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_nationality_law

A person born on or after November 14, 1986, is a U.S. citizen if all of the following are true:

The person's parents were married at time of birth
One of the person's parents was a U.S. citizen when the person in question was born
The citizen parent lived at least five years in the United States before the child's birth
A minimum of two of these five years in the United States were after the citizen parent's 14th birthday.

Now as a real life example I have a sister in law. She has lived in Europe since she was 15 years old. She is still an American citizen. She recently gave birth to a son. That son is not an American citizen because she did not satisfy the 4th clause above.

[SheilaT]

9. Thank you for that clarification.

But still, Cruz is a natural born citizen, and if the hypothetical person born in Iran's mother had lived in the United States the appropriate length of time, then that person would likewise be a natural born America and eligible to become President.

[WillowTree]

6. It's not 'OK for a Canadian to be president'.

Where did you get that idea? It's OK for him to be president because he was born to an American mother without regard to where the birth took place. What part of that is unclear?

The rules determining who meets the criteria to be called a natural born citizen do not change based on where the birth took place. If Ted Cruz was born in Iran to an American mother, he would still be a natural born American citizen.

As the case was, Canada granted him dual citizenship since he was born there, but he renounced his Canadian citizenship several years ago when he was elected to Congress. Had he been born in Iran to an American mother and had Iran granted dual citizenship, it wouldn't work any differently.

He's a "natural born" American citizen. Always has been. Just like the President is and always has been a "natural born" American citizen. This is a foolish, foolish conversation, just as it was when the President was running.

Or don't you think he can be beat by arguing ideas and policy?

[Iggo]

7. Not for me. But I don't hate Iranians or Arabs.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Well, Iggo You Have To Say. . .

. . .that if this hypothetical were true, there's almost no way Cruz would be a republican and we might be having a completely different conversation about his politics.

So, this hypothetical does turn a few things sideways.
GAC

[eggplant]

11. AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service

On Mon Jan 11, 2016, 11:51 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

What if Cruz were born in Iran to an American mom and Saudi Arabian dad?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027520956

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Can we please dispense with the birther shit?

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Mon Jan 11, 2016, 11:58 PM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Doesn't violate any rules. People need to stop alerting or silly reasons.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I think it is a legitimate question - seems to me the poster is trying to highlight the double standard Muslims face around here by pointing this out for a potential POTUS (God forbid!). I don't think there's anything hateful or hurtful about this post.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

Aw, someone got a timeout.