'Tis Only My Opinion!

The lingering doubt that President Barack Hussein Obama is not a "constitutionally eligible candidate for office" has surfaced again and again.  The latest was today's press conference by Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Phoenix, Arizona and his "Cold Case Posse" suggesting that not only was Obama's birth certificate a forgery but also his social security card and his draft card.

I was struck by Sheriff Arpaio last comment ... "To whom does he address the matter ... the FBI, Homeland Security, the courts, Congress or  ..."

Those on the left do not feel that the constitutional issue is of any importance. They point out that the electorate voted for Obama and that settles the question. To me, that is a very weak argument. The Constitution is the most important document for this Republic.  Every time a decision or act is undertaken that is not in accordance with the Constitution is another chink in the fabric of this nation.

Those on the right may or may not consider the matter of constitutional importance but see it as a way to achieve political goals.

The Basic Problem

The basic problem is that there is no standard procedure for vetting a candidate for most offices.  The voters have left the job up to the political parties and over time, they have failed to realize that the they have a responsibility to the voters to make sure that the constitutional requirement is met. 

  The result of the certification process which now exists is that in effect, the vetting process has been left to the fourth estate.  As most journalists are either unwilling or unable to do the necessary work of vetting, we are left with today's situation.

The judicial system is afraid of what might occur if they challenged the fact that President Obama was not constitutionally eligible. 

The Constitutional Requirements for the Presidency

Qualifications for the Office of President

Age and Citizenship requirements - US Constitution, Article II, Section 1

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.

I will not go into the ramifications of what constitutes a "natural born citizen" as there are many discussions about that topic.

The Constitutional Nightmare

The judicial system is afraid of what might occur if they challenged the fact that President Obama was not constitutionally eligible.  If it is determined either before or following Obama's leaving office to have been not qualified for the office, every Act of Congress and Executive Order which he signed will be "null and void."

The fact that the vetting process was so poor has created this situation.  We know less about Obama's background than almost any other presidential candidate in history.  That should bother every voter.

Part of the problem is the fact that very few voters have ever read the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and/or the Federalist Papers.  With most secondary schools removing a class in civics from the curriculum, it should not be a surprise that most of the electorate is unable to understand the issue.

Conclusion

The vetting process has been neglected and/or suborned by the media, political parties and the attorney generals of each state.  Perhaps, it is time for the voters to insist that the requirements of the Constitution be adhered to ... not only in the qualifications for office but in all other matters.  There is a  process for changing the Constitution and it should be used ... rather than letting a judicial body make sweeping changes to it.

But, of course, that will require the voters and their representative, politicians, to understand the Constitution.  In today's environment, there is little chance of that happening.