Would you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger if he could run for president?

[Anonymous]

Yes

No

I don't vote/I am not American/I don't care

[goaded]

Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks is running to be the Democratic nominee for president which involves arguing that the 14th Amendment allows him (a naturalised citizen, like Schwartzenegger) to be president.

He may have a point:

"Section 1. 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. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Amendments generally supersede the original document, do they not? (The 12th Amendment does not explicitly mention Article II, either, afaics.)

If I were American, I'd still vote Democratic, but I wouldn't worry about Schwartzenegger doing stupid MAGA stuff.

[WindAtMyBack]

That passage is about being a citizen, not the qualifications to be president. They are two different things. The original document specifically says they must be a natural born citizen, not just any citizen. The question is not whether they are citizens. It's whether they are natural born citizens.

[goaded]

@WindAtMyBack You can see the argument though, right? Article II is a law that distinguishes between "persons born" and "[persons] naturalized", which is disallowed by the 14th Amendment. It will be interesting to see how it works out.

[WindAtMyBack]

I see the argument. I just strongly disagree with it.

[BCRanger10]

No. He thinks he's a Republican. In reality, he's a far left Democrat.

[Asker]

But I thought it was the left wing that can't handle disagreements? I thought's the right wing was all about freedom of speech and having different opinions. So because he disagrees with Trump and doesn't support him he is not a republican? I thought the right wing was all about freedom and freedom of choice.

He's in the party even thought he doesn't agree with you. Same as Chris Christie who doesn't agree with Trump as. They have the rights to their opinion. I mean that sound hypocritical accusing the left wing of being an echo chambering and censoring opinions that aren't popular and when you got a Republican voicing his disagreements about Donald Trump you accuse of being far left or not true to his belief's.

You American right wingers claim to be for freedom and yet you can't accept someone in your own party who disagrees with Trump. I thought it would be a good thing to have other people in your party who have disagreements because you get healthy debates with each other, yet you're sounding like the left wing echo chamber you complain so much about. You can be friends with someone who you don't agree with on everything.

[BCRanger10]

I'm simply noting that he takes positions that would pit him against many Republicans, as well as the general party platform. That's not an unfair or unreasonable criticism or observation. I mean, why bother identifying yourself with an organization or party if you're going to outright reject core beliefs?

[Anonymous]

On his last day in office as governor he pardoned a gang member who had murdered an innocent kid at a party because he was the son of a guy who had donated money to his campaign.

[AviatorTom]

That's not possible. He wasn't born in the United States and therefor doesn't satisfy the Constitution's requirements for President.

[slatyb]

he's an honorable man. It's unfortunate he can't run for the Republican nomination.

[goaded]

The 14th Amendment says naturalized citizens "are citizens of the United States" and must enjoy "equal protection of the laws". The Constitution is the law of the land, so it's reasonable to argue that that nullifies the "natural-born" part of Article II. Article II even allows for citizens who've only lived in the US for 14 years to run; that could be far less than half their lifetime!

[NamerOfStars]

Mister "Fuck your freedoms"? No. No, I would not.

[Texaskid1]

He has my vote.

[Drumlin2001]

It would be unconstitutional. He wasn't born in the US

[exitseven]

No, unless it is a choice between him and Biden.

[MikeFrench]

He lost me when he caved to the Covid Nazis.

[FunkyMonkee]

No, he's a nazi. We've already got one of those in charge!!

[Snakeyes7]

Not since he came out and said "screw your freedoms"

[JamesRandiDebates]

Anyone who says "screw your freedom" immediately loses any chance of my support.

[Bricealan]

In a heart-beat!

[Avicenna]

I probably would, yes

[RedInnocent68]

Sure. He’s surprisingly reasonable.