John McCain: Is he "Natural-Born"?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by skylark

So who would have standing to sue?

I'm really not sure.

Originally Posted by scbelle

I don't understand the wiki article that says that children are not subject to US jurisdiction when born overseas.

Just to be straight, it was the Department of State that said that.

But while they SAY that, it's not functionally true. When a child of military parents are born here in Germany, for example, the parents receive the German birth certificate (a long and short form). You are then required to file paperwork for: a Consular Report of Citizen birth abroad, a social security card, a US passport with a SOFA stamp (which means that you, as a dependent of a military person shall abide by the agreement made by the US and Germany) and must register in DEERS, the system that keeps track of vital stats and eligibility for benefits, namely Tricare coverage. You are subject to all of the rules and laws that govern military posts, which are put in place by the US government.

Ah, that's interesting. Just based on what you've described, and invoking my continuing disclaimer that I may not know what I'm talking about , it sounds like what the Department of State describes may be the legal status of things -- that perhaps you're not a citizen by virtue of your birth but by virtue of the filed and approved paperwork.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I'm really not sure.
Just to be straight, it was the Department of State that said that.

Ah, that's interesting. Just based on what you've described, and invoking my continuing disclaimer that I may not know what I'm talking about , it sounds like what the Department of State describes may be the legal status of things -- that perhaps you're not a citizen by virtue of your birth but by virtue of the filed and approved paperwork.

I think they are saying that a child whose parents were not Americans wouldn't automatically become so by being born on base, which is different from saying that a child born to American parents on base wouldn't.

Being born on base alone wouldn't do it. Having parents who were Americans and could prove it, would.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Being born on base alone wouldn't do it. Having parents who were Americans and could prove it, would.

Possibly, but I'm not sure that's what they're saying.