My (somewhat paranoid) thoughts in restricting the executive office to one of natural US-born persuasion has more to do with restricting the Oval Office from yet another special interest group:
Foreign powers.
We've got enough PACs and far-flung special interests in Washington as it is; allowing a foreign-born President could potentially unsettle foreign relations between the US and other countries, thereby weakening them. Conversely, it could potentially strengthen them between the US and powers that would unsettle things in the other direction.
This is especially true if the ethnic/cultural/foreign ties are more powerful by a non-US born candidate to their birth country than to the US itself. This isn't always easily detected until that person is in a position of power...
I'm not totally against the idea, but nothing is selling me on it, either. I seriously doubt Arnold would be an Austrian puppet in the White House, but one has to think past this single person and consider other situations beyond a rather likeable fellow to others that might try to follow in his footsteps.
I'd love to have the possibility to vote Conan...I mean Arnold in, as his politics are more closely aligned to my beliefs than this administration, but opening the door to one likeable candidate could be a Pandora's Box that is being opened up for all the wrong reasons.
I'd have to say no on non-US born Presidents for now, despite my like for Conan...Arnold.
This certainly could change, though.
Last edited by JaTo; 11/15/04 02:54 AM.
