Sen. Orrin Hatch is pushing a constitutional amendment that could allow his pal, fund-raising helper and potential California gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger, to also run for U.S. president someday. Hatch, R-Utah, introduced without fanfare last week an amendment to allow foreign-born people who have been naturalized U.S. citizens for at least 20 years to run for president. Currently, only native-born citizens may run for president. Hatch spokeswoman Margarita Tapia said the legislation was not drafted with Schwarzenegger or anyone else specifically in mind when Hatch came up with the 20-year requirement. "It was a policy judgment not associated with any one individual," she said. [...] A constitutional amendment must pass both houses of Congress by two-thirds votes and then be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures to become law. The amendment was referred for consideration to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Hatch chairs.
Now isn't that funny? Despite the insistence that this law wasn't meant with anyone in mind, Hatch is going to have trouble making this not look like a favour to Ahnuld. Of course, the law does also clear the way for Jerry Springer to run for President one day as well. I'm not sure which is the more frightening proposition, President Ahnuld or President Jerry...
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
The real question is what is the difference between a native-born and a 20-year naturalized citizen? Perhaps this is an idea whose time has come regardless of whom it may appear to favor. WHY were foreign-born citizens barred from serving as president in the first place? What are the actual ramifications, if any?