The Depths of Desperation

It is always enlightening to see what a desperate campaign (or their followers) will resort to when they're down.

A current tactic by the conservatives is to cast doubt on Senator Obama's eligibility to even hold the office of the President. Article II of the US Constitution outlines the three requirements to be eligible for election as President:

• be at least thirty-five years old;
• have been a permanent resident in the United States for at least fourteen years;
• be a natural-born citizen of the United States

It is on that last item, "be a natural-born citizen of the United States" on which many have tried to "disqualify" Obama. They claim that his mother had to have been 21 at the time of his birth in order for Obama to be a natural-born citizen of the United States. But is this really the case?

I would direct these "detectives" to the United States Code, Title 8 > Chapter 12 > Subchapter III > Part I > § 1405:

A person born in Hawaii on or after August 12, 1898, and before April 30, 1900, is declared to be a citizen of the United States as of April 30, 1900. A person born in Hawaii on or after April 30, 1900, is a citizen of the United States at birth. A person who was a citizen of the Republic of Hawaii on August 12, 1898, is declared to be a citizen of the United States as of April 30, 1900.

And that, my friends, answers that!

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