Foreigners for President

[Tom]

New ads scheduled to begin running November 15 will attempt to touch the hearts of the population, reciting such messages, as “You cannot choose the land of your birth. You can choose the land you love." What is the goal of these new ads?

Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones, who appears in the referenced ad, is a major campaign contributor of Schwarzenegger. She is helping to spearhead the new organization producing these ads, who's major purpose is pushing to amend the constitution to allow foreign-born citizens to run for president. This would include Arnold.

For those of you who paid attention in social studies class, you know that to qualify for president, one must be at least 35 years old; have lived one's last 14 years within the country; and have been born a citizen. (Article 2, Section 1; U.S. Constitution) It's been that way for a long time.

Many people like Schwarzenegger, but an overwhelming majority oppose the proposed amendment. What do you all think?

Discuss.

-Tom-

[Matt Alan]

I think Schwartzenegger would make a terrible president, and I can't think of any other politically active foreign born Americans who are actually involved much with poltics, but if this ammendment actually got passed....I'd be voting Jackie Chan as my write-in candidate. >D;

[Fiona C]

*snerk* My sister told me about this earlier, lol.

Piece of nonsense, really. If you think the Presidential race is a popularity contest now, just you wait 'till Schwarzenegger runs against Hilary Clinton. XD It's supposed to be about the issues, ne? And not the candidate themselves. It would just throw the whole system to the dogs.

That said, I'm British, so... *Shrug*.. Just a British point of view speaking. ^^

[Masahiko]

arnold as president... nothing can be more american than that... that is more american than apple pie. not sure what kind of president he would make, but ya never know, he might be a good president, since he seems sincere and not one of those plastic faced politicians.

[Yami no Kitsune]

Well, I think if Arnold ran for president there would be so many people who would vote for him simply because he's Arnold Schwarzenegger, not caring about the issues or anything like that. Though, I do think that as long as you are a current citizen of the country you live in, you should have the right to run for leadership. ^^

[lirifox]

Should you be allowed to if you're not born in the states?

HELL FUCKIN YEAH! Why not? I was not born in the US, but I moved to New York at the age of one, and grew up in Houston, Texas. I'm as American as it gets. I'm lazy, I watch reality TV, I love movies, I have a Texan accent, and I stand up for what I believe in. But I can never be president. Too bad.

Not that I want to be president. It's not an honor anymore. What's the point if everyone will hate you?

Now, Arnold specifically? He's done a pretty damn good job as governer, and I think he would make a good president because he's so sure of what he wants and will do.

Kerry pisses me off so bad because he contradicts himself and supports what he dosen't believe. If he won't support his own beliefs, how can he support our country's? I think he was a horrible, horribles choice to rep the democrats.

Bush pisses me off because he's just a little puppet. He can't speak English, he's an idiot, and he dosen't know what he wants. If he can't control his two alcoholic daughters, how can he countrol the country?

What we need is a plan. We need someone who dosen't seem like they're just up there mumbling and shrugging and saying "Okay, whatever."

It dosen't matter who it is. And Arnold would do it pretty well. Since he's not from the US, he knows what it's like being out of the US. And we are all from somewhere else. We need that view, that global thoughtfulness (for lack of a better word). And the dude is pretty smart, too.

[Mindychan]

I would more than likely to vote for Arnie not because of his big movie career but because of that man's extremely impressive accomplishments. My husband is a British immigrant and looks up to Arnie and feels that he can reach his goals and isn't beaten down because of his immigration status. Arnie is pretty outspoken as well (some would say a little too much) but politicans need to be called something mean every now and then on television, lol. I don't agree with Mr. Arnold on some issues but that's to be expected. ;)

Remember Ronald Regan, folks.

[Dylan]

Schwarzenegger would be a terrible president indeed.

But from the day they accept foreigners, I'll make it my life's pursuit to run for president of the United States of America.

[Henageshi]

I have some mixed feelings on this issue...

Sometimes I do think that foreigners should be allowed to run for President and sometimes I don't. Who knows, maybe a foreign President could be a way better President than any of the American presidents we've had so far. Sometimes people just need a chance to show others what they can do. ^^

[chronocrossed]

Those not born in the US should only be allowed to run for President if they are 35, are citizens of the US, and have lived here for fifteen years. That's how I feel. There would have to be a better canidate than Arnie though.

[Akoto]

I know it's slightly off-topic, but all the constitutional amendments we're seeing lately disturbs me. That document is supposed to be changed only under the most dire of circumstances. It does, after all, represent the freedoms and rights promised to the US by its forefathers. When you start changing it every other week for small things, imagine how it'll be when the big things roll along. With that said ...

I wouldn't object to someone of foreign birth running for the presidency, with reasonable safeguards in place. Arnold in particular? I don't like the idea of him being in the big chair, and it has nothing to do with his heritage. Yes, he's a fairly charismatic guy who says what he means, but I don't think he's cut out to govern a world power. Much like our current president, it would fall to his cabinet.

[Amby Leigh]

Say NO to the Prezenator!

[rpnara]

Arnold for President? Hell no! But I do think it's incredibly unfair to not be able to run because you were born elsewhere, even if you were a baby when you moved here. Not that I would run if I could. That kind of job would scare the pants off me.