In April 2008, a resolution was proposed to the U.S. Senate, recognizing John McCain as a "natural born citizen." Now what is odd about this resolution is that it was introduced by the opposition party, Democrats, Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The bill was co-sponsored by whom? It was co-sponsored by political opponents, nominees, The Elect, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton.
Their sponsorship, in the midst of a contentious campaign, is to say the least odd. Why were they so interested in the subject of "natural born citizen?"
At the time, McCain was obviously their primary opponent as he turned out to be during the Fall campaign.
In any case, Senate Resolution 511 was passed on 30 April 2008 as a non-binding resolution. S.R. 511. S.R. 511 is not a law, but rather, a unanimous opinion. Obama and Clinton were determined to demonstrate that McCain qualifies as a natural born citizen.
The respective candidates addressed the question that The Elect, Obama, did not want to face directly. Are you, yourself, a natural born citizen? Obama has failed to produce documentation that he is a natural born citizen of the United States. He attempted to defer questions about his origins by deflecting doubts about McCain. McCain agreed with the arrangement so no one would be inclined to doubt the citizenship about a person who clearly loves this country and was willing to fight and suffer as a prisoner of war as he did for five and a half years.
We await definitive proof or the Supreme Court Justices will decide. Or, The Elect could simply produce a $14.00 authentic birth certificate, or his student records, or a passport before he entered the Senate, or health records stating his natural born status at birth, or any simple and easily produced documentation. So, far, no records have been transparent, only expensive legal defenses and claims of how transparent his administration will be. So far, this is not so.
Cf. S.R. 511:
Co-sponsors
o Sen. Hillary Clinton [D, NY]
o Sen. Barack Obama [D, Ill]
Committees
Introduced result Voted on by Senate
April 10, 2008 April 30, 2008
All Bill Actions
* Passed by Unanimous Consent in the Senate on Apr 30, 2008. Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
* Apr 24, 2008: Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-226. 10:00 a.m.
* Apr 24, 2008: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
* Added to calendar on Apr 24, 2008: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 715..
* Added to calendar on Apr 24, 2008: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably..
* Apr 24, 2008: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment and with a preamble. Without written report.
* Apr 10, 2008: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
* Introduced on Apr 10, 2008.