Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Hot Air (not a weather report)
The last thing we need this summer is more hot air, yet that is exactly what many esteemed members of congress--Senators Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina),and Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), among others-- seem to be blowing off regarding immigration. The latest is a call to repeal or at least change the opening sentence of the 14th amendment to exclude children born to non-US citizens or birthright citizenship.
The opening sentence of the 14th amendment reads:
"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."
This call for repeal or amendment is an election year ploy. Even Lou Dobbs, who leads the charge for strong immigration laws is against this action. He told Fox News: "We have a law in which they become American citizens for being born here. If you’re going to insist upon the rule of law and order—and I do—I have to insist that we recognize these anchor babies as US citizens."
The 14th amendment, adopted in 1868, was the first time that the Constitution defined citizen, to ensure that former slaves, among others, would be citizens. BTW, the amendment was promoted and passed by Republicans to help ensure the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (my, how times have changed!).
The opening sentence of the 14th amendment reads:
"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."
This call for repeal or amendment is an election year ploy. Even Lou Dobbs, who leads the charge for strong immigration laws is against this action. He told Fox News: "We have a law in which they become American citizens for being born here. If you’re going to insist upon the rule of law and order—and I do—I have to insist that we recognize these anchor babies as US citizens."
The 14th amendment, adopted in 1868, was the first time that the Constitution defined citizen, to ensure that former slaves, among others, would be citizens. BTW, the amendment was promoted and passed by Republicans to help ensure the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (my, how times have changed!).
Labels: 14th amendment, citizenship, GOP, Lou Dobbs
