It's not a matter of "who your parents are."
It's a matter of where you were born and of loyalty. Think of the mess Iraq would be now if the only people running for office over there were Americans. Would that be accpeted? I think not.
In order to hold the highest office in this land I think that it's not an unreasonable prerequisite to have been born a citizen. On U.S. soil, a U.S. military base or a U.S. ship. I have no problem with a native Hawaiian, Eskimo or U.S. born child of an immigrant running for and serving in the office because this is their homeland. I don't think anyone born outside the United States (even if they consider it their 'adoptive' home) would serve the same way as someone born here from day one.
Everyone here too often bashes the President as an institution rather than just the man. This political season especially nobody could see past 'the man' to see a person doing their job. The Presidency is an institution of this country and so much effort goes into discrediting the candidates during election years that as it turns out this year, just under half the country I am sure has no respect for George W. Bush. Hate the man, love the man or be indifferent. A must for this country's population is to respect the office.
I am sure if you asked everyone in the country if they respect the Preisdent of the United States, 49% would say he is an incompetent bumbling redneck Texan hell bent on the world not liking us. They missed the question, do you respect the job which is the institution of President of the United States. They spend so much time hating the man they no longer respect the job and that is not healthy for our country.
I think only a natural born American would make the deicsions being made now. The decisions that the 'world' hates. It takes a natural born American to make a decision or stay a course that is not popular with the world and in this case many Americans because they feel it is in the country's best interest. The way we are going about shutting down terrorism (Al Quaida is not the only terrorist organization out there) is obviously effective because the rest of the world who has been giving into and supporting (directly or indirectly) terrorists are now realizing that we will uncover their indescretions. The oil for food controversy and France & Russia supplying weapons to the Iraqis are just the tip of the iceberg and world leaders are starting to realize that we're not going to be too pleased with them once we uncover all the dirt.
Do you think a French Born citizen, 60 years old with 20 years of citizenship would be doing what is in America's and ultimately the world's best interest in starting the war or terror? Would that man, who spent forty years living in France, who grew up in France, went to school in France and worked in France would make these decisions that affect the American way of life? I think not. There would be a deep embedded loyalty to his home and that is an internal conflict that the person serving as President cannot be afforded. I used France as an example, not to bash. Same goes for all other countries in the world.
I will never support a foreign born person to run or serve as President of the United States, and that is why.
