That is the question that columnist and blogger Daniel Friedman asks in this piece, “Can I Be President?”

Forget Giuliani, McCain, Romney, Obama, and Clinton. There is only one candidate that every American envisions in the White House: oneself. Which American, at least as a child, never once daydreamed of sitting behind the big desk in the Oval Office Â… leader of the free world Â… fighting evil and protecting freedom?

And I was no different. Well, slightly different. I was born and raised in London, spoke the Queen's English, and never heard the date 1776 mentioned in school. But as an American citizen — born to an American mother and a British father — I too dreamed of being president. Sure being prime minister was cool, my friends certainly thought so, but who dreams of being Robin when you can be Batman?

A high school teacher shattered these dreams (don't they always?) by telling me that "natural born citizen means born in America." Sidekick it was from then on. But while living in Brussels a few years ago, an American colleague pointed out — after I told him that he was doing his children a disservice by not having them in America — that it's unclear whether children born to American citizens overseas really can't be president.

Friedman notes that many people argue that he cannot. On the other hand, my answer has always been quite the opposite – that natural born, rather than native born, would certainly be inclusive of those born American citizens regardless of their place of birth. That would include those Americans born abroad to American citizens, such as military dependents, the children of diplomats, and other expats. After all, if they are not naturalized citizens, they must be natural born citizens.

Posted by: Greg at 10:44 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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