NP Rank:
Why John McCain is INELIGIBLE to be President of the United States. ** Second UPDATE-from NY Times**
And now more from the NY Times on this very Issue...CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY
***Well boys and girls here's some more about how The U.S.State Department does not recognize John McCain as eligible to be President...read on:
OH...and Here's the link for those interested...: LINK
"7
FAM 1116.1-4 Not Included in the Meaning of "In the United States" (TL:CON-64;
11-30-95)
...c.
Despite widespread popular belief, U.S. military installations abroad and U.S.
diplomatic or consular facilities are not part of the United States within the
meaning of the 14th Amendment. A child born on the premises of such a facility
is not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and does not acquire
U.S. citizenship."
So,
legally, it's between Congressman Dr. Ron Paul and Huckabee now!
*******
THE PANAMANCHURIAN CANDIDATE:
by my friend: Tannim
Why John McCain is INELIGIBLE to be President of the United
States
Introduction
The question has been raised of citizenship on John McCain in
terms of his eligibility to be President. Please follow this closely as
it is lengthy, bit it shows that he is NOT eligible to be President.
To properly answer this eligibility question, we need to examine
what the Constitution says on the issue, what the federal law says
on the issue, what the federal regulatory policy is on the issue, and
the legal status of John McCain’s place of birth. All of this will
determine what makes him eligible to be President, or not.
The Constitution:
Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution:
No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United
States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be
eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be
eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of
thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the
United States.
Amendment 14, Section 1, Clause 1 of the Constitution:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to
the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the
State wherein they reside.
From Article II, it’s clear that to be President one must be a
“natural born” citizen.
From the 14th Amendment, a US citizen is a person either born or
naturalized in the United States (not both as they are mutually
exclusive, more on that below). There is no third type of
citizenship.
To be complete, first we must answer the question of whether or
not John McCain is in fact a citizen. The answer and its references
also help answer the natural born question as well.
In legal circles the Latin terms of reference are jus soli (“right of the
soil”) for born in the United States, and jus sanguinis (“right of
blood”) for born to citizen parents. Naturalization is referred to by
lex soli (“law of the soil”). John McCain was born in the Panama
Canal Zone in 1936 to American parents, so jus sanguinis
definitely applies to him, and is not in dispute here. But jus
sanguinis has no basis in US law (only jus soli and lex soli do)
except through applying legislation such as INA below (see the
next section), so it falls under lex soli. And therein is the question:
Is a citizen born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936 a citizen under
jus soli or lex soli (born or naturalized)?
The Untied States Code:
A quick look at 8 USC 1400 appears to answers the question.
That section of the United States Code comes directly from the
Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) of 1952, which was
passed when McCain was 16 years old. First, we must answer the
citizenship question.
If you look at 8 USC 1401(a) and (c), you find this:
The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at
birth:
(a) a person born in the United States, and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof;”
(c) a person born outside of the United States and its outlying
possessions of parents both of whom are citizens of the United
States and one of whom has had a residence in the United States
or one of its outlying possessions, prior to the birth of such person;
If you look at 8 USC 1403(a), it addressed McCain’s situation
rather clearly:
(a) Any person born in the Canal Zone on or after February 26,
1904, and whether before or after the effective date of this
chapter, whose father or mother or both at the time of the birth of
such person was or is a citizen of the United States, is declared to
be a citizen of the United States.
So it’s pretty clear that John McCain is a citizen.
But is he a natural born (jus soli) citizen or a naturalized (lex soli)
citizen? This is where it gets tricky.
Because 8 USC 1403(a) uses the term “is declared to be a citizen”
(emphasis added), that leans heavily towards a lex soli position
(naturalization). And persons born to citizens between November
1903 (when Panama became independent from Colombia with
U.S. intervention) and February 1904 are not declared citizens
under this section, which indicates that the declaration of citizenship
is simply naturalization and not by birth since it is dependent on the
law and a calendar date.
Furthermore, naturalization is defined in 8 USC 1101(a)(23):
(a) As used in this chapter—
(23) The term “naturalization” means the conferring of nationality of
a state upon a person after birth, by any means whatsoever.
In other words, naturalization means a person is made, conferred,
or “declared” a citizen after birth, leaving “natural born” to only
mean becoming a citizen at birth. This is consistent with 8 USC
1403(a), which was enacted when John McCain was 16 years
old. So at 16 years old John McCain was naturalized as a citizen
by legislation, that legislation being the INA.
But is there anything more concrete than that? The Supreme Court
has never addressed the specifics of a natural born citizen, except
once in passing, in the dissent of the infamous Dred Scott case, of
all places, so it really has no bearing. Other cases have looked at
citizenship, but not specifically the natural born part of it.
Historically, the term “natural born” was put in Article II at the
request of John Jay (who later helped write the Federalist Papers,
became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and pointed
out in 1796 that jury nullification is a right and duty of the people)
to George Washington in a letter from 25 July 1787.
McCain has claimed that the Naturalization Act of 1790 (26
March 1790) covers his status as a natural born citizen. That is not
true. A close look at the Act indicates that it only covers
“admission as a citizen” (meaning naturalization), and that Act was
repealed in part 29 January 1795 and again in total 14 April 1802.
So that argument does not work because it was repealed and
because it creates naturalization instead of natural born citizenship.
Federal Policy:
It turns out there actually is something more concrete than just the
USC mentioned above, and that is the regulations put forth by the
State Department on citizenship. Specifically, 7 FAM 1100
addresses the situation quite clearly:
7 FAM 1111.2 Citizenship
(TL:CON-64; 11-30-95)
a. U.S. citizenship may be acquired either at birth or through
naturalization.
b. U.S. laws governing the acquisition of citizenship at birth
embody two legal principles:
(1) Jus soli (the law of the soil), a rule of common law under which
the place of a person’s birth determines citizenship. In addition to
common law, this principle is embodied in the 14th Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution and the various U.S. citizenship and
nationality statutes.
(2) Jus sanguinis (the law of the bloodline), a concept of Roman or
civil law under which a person’s citizenship is determined by the
citizenship of one or both parents. This rule, frequently called
“citizenship by descent” or “derivative citizenship”, is not embodied
in the U.S. Constitution, but such citizenship is granted through
statute. As laws have changed, the requirements for conferring and
retaining derivative citizenship have also changed.
7 FAM 1116.1-4 Not Included in the Meaning of "In the United
States"
(TL:CON-64; 11-30-95)
c. Despite widespread popular belief, U.S. military installations
abroad and U.S. diplomatic or consular facilities are not part of the
United States within the meaning of the 14th Amendment. A child
born on the premises of such a facility is not subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States and does not acquire U.S.
citizenship by reason of birth.
So citizenship is either by birth or naturalization, according to 7
FAM 1111.2(a) here and noted above. Furthermore, the principle
of jus sanguinis is NOT part of the law, except by statute (lex soli)
according to 7 FAM 1111.2(b)(2) here and also noted above.
The regulation at 7 FAM 1116.1-4(c) puts forth the idea of a birth
in a military installation aboard as not part of the United States
under the 14th Amendment, and therefore children born there must
be naturalized in order to be considered citizens.
For 7 FAM 1116.1-4(c) to apply to John McCain, then, it must
be shown that the Canal Zone was not “in the United States”.
That brings us back to 8 USC 1101(a)(38):
(38) The term “United States”, except as otherwise specifically
herein provided, when used in a geographical sense, means the
continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam,
and the Virgin Islands of the United States.
Note the Canal Zone is not listed. However, since the Canal Zone
is no longer under United States control as of January 1, 2000, this
is only an indicator and not conclusive.
To get a better understanding of the status of the Canal Zone, we
look at the relevant treaties. The first one is the Hay-Bunau Varilla
Treaty of 1903, which established the Canal Zone for the actual
building of the Panama Canal. The second one is Torrijos-Carter
Treaty of 1977, which transitioned the Canal Zone control back to
Panama by December 31, 1999.
Who Owned The Canal Zone?
Was the Canal Zone actually a territory under United States law,
or was it just a leased area?
To answer that question, we look at the original Hay-Bunau Varilla
Treaty of 1903, negotiated by Theodore Roosevelt and his
Secretary of State John Hay.
Of note are both Article II and Article III:
Article II
The Republic of Panama grants to the United States in perpetuity,
the use, occupation and control of a zone of land and land under
water for the construction, maintenance, operation, sanitation and
protection of said Canal of the width of ten miles extending to the
distance of five miles on each side of the center line of the route of
the Canal to be constructed; the said zone beginning in the
Caribbean Sea three marine miles from mean low water mark and
extending to and across the Isthmus of Panama into the Pacific
Ocean to a distance of three marine miles from mean low water
mark with the proviso that the cities of Panama and Colon and the
harbors adjacent to said cities, which are included within the
boundaries of the zone above described, shall not be included
within this grant. The Republic of Panama further grants to the
United States in perpetuity, the use, occupation and control of any
other lands and waters outside of the zone above described which
may be necessary and convenient for the construction,
maintenance, operation, sanitation and protection of the said Canal
or of any auxiliary canals or other works necessary and convenient
for the construction, maintenance, operation, sanitation and
protection of the said enterprise.
The Republic of Panama further grants in like manner to the United
States in perpetuity, all islands within the limits of the zone above
described and in addition thereto, the group of small islands in the
Bay of Panama, named Perico, Naos, Culebra and Flamenco.
Article III
The Republic of Panama grants to the United States all the rights,
power and authority within the zone mentioned and described in
Article II of this agreement, and within the limits of all auxiliary
lands and waters mentioned and described in said Article II which
the United States would possess and exercise, if it were the
sovereign of the territory within which said lands and waters are
located to the entire exclusion of the exercise by the Republic of
Panama of any such sovereign rights, power or authority.
Note that Article II Panama grants the United States “the use,
occupation and control of a zone of land and land under water” for
the Canal. It does NOT say it cedes that land to the United States,
not does it say that Panama grants ownership of the land to the
United States, just use and control of it. This is a lease, not a
transfer of real estate, and therefore Panama still owned the land.
Article III is exactly the same in nature, but it applies to auxiliary
areas if Panama owns them. Read the sovereign clause carefully as
the “it” in there refers to Panama, not the United States.
Also of note is the resource use grant in Article IV:
Article IV
As rights subsidiary to the above grants the Republic of Panama
grants in perpetuity, to the United States the right to use the rivers,
streams, lakes and other bodies of water within its limits for
navigation, the supply of water or waterpower or other purposes,
so far as the use of said rivers, streams, lakes and bodies of water
and the waters thereof may be necessary and convenient for the
construction, maintenance, operation, sanitation and protection of
the said Canal.
In other words, the landowner (Panama) granted water rights to
the lessee (United States).
Further, note the payment schedule in Article XIV:
Article XIV
As the price or compensation for the rights, powers and privileges
granted in this convention by the Republic of Panama to the United
States, the Government of the United States agrees to pay to the
Republic of Panama the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000)
in gold coin of the United States on the exchange of the ratification
of this convention and also an annual payment during the life of this
convention of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000)
in like gold coin, beginning nine years after the date aforesaid.
Notice it never says these payments are compensation for the land,
just the “rights, powers, and privileges” to use it. This is RENT.
One last part adds to the lease argument, Article XXV:
Article XXV
For the better performance of the engagements of this convention
and to the end of the efficient protection of the Canal and the
preservation of its neutrality, the Government of the Republic of
Panama will sell or lease to the United States lands adequate and
necessary for the naval or coaling stations on the Pacific coast and
on the western Caribbean coast of the Republic at certain points to
be agreed upon with the President of the United States.
If the United States owned the Canal Zone land, thereby making it
a United States territory, then this clause would not be necessary
as they could build such stations within the zone, and this clause
would not have been necessary.
It’s pretty clear from the original treaty the Canal Zone was
actually Panamanian land leased to the United States.
The Torrijos-Carter Treaty of 1977 further backs this up:
Article I
2. In accordance with the terms of this Treaty and related
agreements, the Republic of Panama, as territorial sovereign,
grants to the United States of America, for the duration of this
Treaty, the rights necessary to regulate the transit of ships through
the Panama Canal, and to manage, operate, maintain, improve,
protect and defend the Canal. The Republic of Panama guarantees
to the United States of America the peaceful use of the land and
water areas which it has been granted the rights to use for such
purposes pursuant to this Treaty and related agreements.
Note this treaty declares Panama as the territorial sovereign,
meaning they own the land and water, and they grant to the United
States use of the land and water.
It is conclusive that the Panama Canal Zone was Panamanian
sovereign land administered and operated under treaty by the
United States, and that popular belief that the Canal Zone was a
United States territory is mistaken. This also is consistent with the
State Department regulations in 7 FAM 1100 and 8 USC 1403(a)
cited above.
Since the Canal Zone was not “in the United States” with respect
to the 14th Amendment, it must follow that the only place it can be
is outside the United States. John McCain was born outside the
United States in the Canal Zone, and as we have already seen,
was covered under 8 USC 1403(a).
If you look again at 8 USC 1401(c) and 1403(a), you see a big
difference. 8 USC 1401(c) address births outside the U.S.,
meaning clearly that the “born in the United States” clause of the
14th Amendment cannot apply to this form of citizenship.
Therefore a person that falls under 8 USC 1401(c) has to be a
naturalized citizen. 8 USC 1403(a) already “declares” citizenship
and implies naturalization. The only logical conclusion is that the
Canal Zone was considered to be outside the United States, else
these sections (8 USC 1401(c) and 8 USC 1403(a)) never
needed to be codified into law in the first place, and 8 USC
1401(a) would apply instead (see above).
Conclusion
That leads us all back to the Constitutional requirements. The
citizenship definitions of both Article II and Amendment 14 apply
in terms of McCain running for President.
So, tying it all together so far:
1. The 14th Amendment and matching regulations limit citizenship
to natural born and naturalized.
2. John McCain was born in the Canal Zone to citizen parents.
3. 8 USC 1403(a) declares naturalized citizenship on persons born
in the Canal Zone to citizen parents.
4. Therefore 8 USC 1403(a) applies to John McCain.
5. Therefore John McCain is a naturalized citizen.
6. The Canal Zone was not part of the United States.
7. Therefore John McCain was not born in the United States.
8. Therefore John McCain is a citizen not born in the United
States.
9. Therefore John McCain is not a natural born citizen.
10. Article II of the Constitution states to be President a person
must be a natural born citizen.
11. THEREFORE John McCain is not eligible to be President of
the United States under Article II of the Constitution.
Sources:
• Latin terms from Black’s Law Dictionary.
• State Department Regulations
• United States Code from Findlaw.
• Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty of 1903
• Torrijos-Carter Treaty of 1977
February 14, 2008




Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (33)
at 21:01 on February 14th, 2008
Oh, this old stuff again. It's been circulated around the 'net since the '90's.
First, let's start here: "But the First Congress, on March 26, 1790, approved an act that
declared, "The children of citizens of the United States that may be
born beyond sea, or outside the limits of the United States, shall be
considered as natural-born citizens of the United States." McCain's parents were both citizens. His father, a U.S. Navy officer, was stationed at the Naval base in Panama, and his wife was with him. Hence, McCain was born in the Navy hospital on the base.
(I'll skip the argument over whether or not U.S. control of Panama, hotly contested by Panama in later years, made Panama "outside" the U.S. or not; that's just pointless legal nitpicks going both ways.)
Then there's this: in cases of married active duty military personnel, a military hospital is considered American soil for citizenship purposes.
I.E., it would be not only manifestly unfair, but also a real slap in the face, to declare that children born to military families serving overseas weren't U.S. citizens.
McCain's father served his country in the military. Likewise, McCain, who also was a POW in Vietnam's infamous Hanoi Hilton. He survived torture. Now he's not American enough? Give us a break. Contend with him on issues, but this old stuff is....silly, IMHO.
There's also another provision that leftists want to overlook, *except* when they want to rage about "American imperalism." The grounds of American facilities overseas, including military bases and diplomatic missions, are considered American territory. When you see the U.S. flag fly over it, it's American and will be defended as such.
at 23:15 on February 14th, 2008
Yeah, what Pep said, so there !!
at 00:37 on February 15th, 2008
T.S. (Too Sad) for PEP, he can't refute ANY of the FACTS that have been laid out against McCain. This is picking up steam!
at 23:55 on February 14th, 2008
I smell "SPIN" out of PEP!!
at 00:02 on February 15th, 2008
Taking your response and digging it into the dirt in just a few. I'm calling you and your maniac candidate OUT! LOL
at 00:14 on February 15th, 2008
PEP going DOWN!lol
PEP wrote: "Then there's this: in cases of married active duty military personnel,
a military hospital is considered American soil for citizenship
purposes."
My (Sapphira's), response RIGHT FROM THE RESEARCH (which obviously PEP DIDN'T EVEN READ!!!
7 FAM 1116.1-4 Not Included in the Meaning of "In the United States"
(TL:CON-64; 11-30-95)
c. Despite widespread popular belief, U.S. military installations
abroad and U.S. diplomatic or consular facilities are not part of the
United States within the meaning of the 14th Amendment. A child born on
the premises of such a facility is not subject to the jurisdiction of
the United States and does not acquire U.S. citizenship by reason of
birth.
Bring it PEP! Your boy ain't legal for the Presidency
Sipping a 1990 Latour while PEP shrinks like a frightened turtle...hehehe
at 02:34 on February 15th, 2008
Mountaineer:
1. You might want to review NowPublic's flaming policy. Comments such as "shrinks like a frightened turtle" and other jeering remarks aren't really debate, but flaming.
2. If you're going to refute an point--vs. personal attacks--consider searching outside the material that you originally submitted that is the very point under contention.
3. You may wish to check the State Department's documents. You will even find the exact number of the official documents that covers the cases like McCain's.
4. You may also wish to review 7 FAM 1441.
5. And, finally, this isn't a new beef at all. Sen. Barry Goldwater was born in Arizona when it was still only a territory, not a state. The same attack vis a vis citizenship came up during his presidential run, too--and was also dismissed. And, of course, there's the simple, common sense approach of understanding the framing of the constitution, as well as the phrase "natural born citizen," which doesn't necessarily mean born within the confines of the U.S geographically. Arguing that it does makes as much sense as arguing that children born in Cesearean sections are not "natural born," hence they are not "natural born" U.S. citizens.
at 15:32 on February 21st, 2008
Sorry, 87 FAM 1441 applies to birth certificates, not natural-born status.
Also, Barry Goldwater was born in a US territory, which qualified him as natural-born under the 14th Amendment. The PCZ was never US soil, always Panamanian, so the specifics of it apply to McCain.
Please reread the original post, I cover all of those details.
at 06:40 on February 15th, 2008
PEP, you have still NOT refuted ONE point of this story. You have brought up strawman arguments. That's all
at 07:36 on February 15th, 2008
"Natural born", as opposed to "naturalized". Doesn't matter if McCain was born in the Canal Zone or Madagascar: as long as his parents were both Americans, then, in the eyes of thelaw, he's a "natural born American".
To put it another way, if I was born to two Americans whilst they were living in Albania, then I could indeed run for Prez. Arnold Schwartzenegger, a naturalized American, cannot. Folks in the interwebs can quibble about this all they want, that's cool, but the Supreme Court will not. Were I John McCain, I wouldn't worry about this at all.
at 12:17 on February 16th, 2008
Good illustrative point distinguishing 'natural born' from 'naturalized'.
at 15:34 on February 21st, 2008
Not true, Jordan. Go reread the post. That is the jus sanguinis position which has no basis in US law.
at 09:53 on February 15th, 2008
You should have done more research on this subject, mountaineer. This issue was covered by the Washington Post back in 1998!
Just in case that's not enough for you, check out the Naturalization Act of 1790.
Or if you don't trust wikipedia try this one .
Enuff said.
at 15:37 on February 21st, 2008
Except that 1790 Act was repealed in part in 1795 and in whole in 1802. Go reread my post, I cover that too. INA was passed in 1952 and the relevant parts then are the same now.
at 06:10 on February 24th, 2008
Yeah what he said...
at 17:25 on February 15th, 2008
NO!! you guys are using the SAME straw man arguments. How about refuting the info in my post? You cant!
at 22:46 on February 15th, 2008
Okay, That's It, I'm turning the Car around, say goodbye to Disney World.
at 11:22 on February 16th, 2008
Barry, me too.
I'm not sure how actual facts, and documents from the U.S. government on this issue, are "strawmen." Kinda like saying "it's legal to drive as fast as you can in the U.S." and people saying "no, here are pictures of speed limit signs, here are documents that talk about differing speed limits in differing places," and having someone say "Well, that isn't real and isn't proof."
Mountaineer, check the resources offered to you, from Rene, and also the State Department resources. The State Department tends to be a reliable source on this issue.
Like Barry, I'm done. I can't stand one more chorus of "It's a small world after all!" ;} (Those who have been on that ride at DisneyWorld in Orlando, FL will know what I mean with this joke.)
at 08:24 on February 17th, 2008
You can't GO to Disney World. You are already living there! Refute my FACTS!
at 11:11 on February 16th, 2008
Refute the facts in my article. You CAN'T! John McCain is NOT ellible for President
at 08:40 on February 17th, 2008
John McCain is NOT edible for President either
Of course Mountaineer, you will have your day in court, once McCain is sworn in as president, you can run up to McCain and point out this fact of yours. as secret service agents drag you away as you rant "But he can't be president", He cant, my research............ Yes then and only then Mountaineer will you prove to the world, that you too have struck a blow against international communism in the free world, with group hugs, and pithy dialogue as we all sit around a campfire singing songs about Coke as the real thing, while you fill our political enema bags, as we Goose Step to the porta potty to flush out the truth.
Julius Caesar or Homer simpson siad the above I think
at 09:34 on February 17th, 2008
Since you can't REFUTE the Facts I have laid out, You move on to PERSONAL Attacks...hmm
at 09:12 on February 18th, 2008
Who me, personal attacks against you? Hell No, just making light of a subject in which a Horse has been flogged to death by commentators, Truth be Known, I like your stuff ,most times and look forward to what you have to say, good or bad, I think I may have even flagged your stuff as good stuff ojn an occasion or two. Don't let my humour come off as personal, it's just me, being me. If I offended you I apologise Mountaineer.
at 15:58 on February 18th, 2008
Oh no offense taken from you Barry...ever. I think you are very smart, and I, as well, look forward to your..."stuff". I want to know why "PEP" won't REFUTE what I have in this article. He makes fun of it, but will not, because he can not, refute the info.
at 21:13 on February 18th, 2008
Well, right there you are off on the wrong foot mountianeer, Pep is a woman, full of scintillating insights, whether she is walking the catwalk or a gala redcarpet, or even walking her cat across the red bathroom carpet. Either way PEP has some valid insights and experience in some of this. Why I remeber one time we were having a buttered Toast fight, and you know what they say, its only fun when your naked or someone loses and eye..... well my bathrobe flung open just as the fridge door closed and we were in total darkness.....Next on Geraldo.............
at 21:37 on February 18th, 2008
PEP is a WOMAN?!?!?! What the ?!?!?
at 06:41 on February 19th, 2008
Yep a Dee, one would also assume that is you in the photo posted, hence a woman as well>?
at 08:31 on February 28th, 2008
All woman here
at 15:42 on February 21st, 2008
Barry, darling, anything as long as you don't tell them about...the jello, the champagne, and the full moon. ;}
Mountaineer, I and several others *have* refuted your piece, several times. Follow the links to actual U.S. legal documents.
Why is it such a shock to you that I'm a woman?
at 18:06 on February 21st, 2008
Where pray tell is this Jello you speak of? The champagne just sweetens the deal :0)............. <-- that's drool by the way Pep.