U.S. Presidents & The Natural-born-citizen Clause

[Pat Mustard]

The purpose of it was to make sure the president has an allegiance with the US and not another country. I agree with the intent of the this.

What if Putin came over here and got elected? That wouldn't be good at all now would it?

I understand that, but blanket banning seems a little harsh. After all, there are plenty of U.S. Citizens who have worked for foreign governments, have spied against the U.S., etc. These people would have all be eligible for the presidency.

Precisely the point.  Being 'natural born' doesn't automatically confer allegiance of any kind.  Here's a more likely scenario than Putin running for the US presidency:

Walter and Ilsa, citizens of Sweden, come to the US on work visas.  They stay for an extended period, during which their son Karl is born in the US.  Since Walter and Ilsa have both maintained their Swedish citizenship, baby Karl is a Swede, not a USian.  But he is steeped in American culture, mores and values.  He speaks fluent, unaccented English.  After school, he joins the US army and serves with distinction.  Upon his discharge, he enrolls first at university, then goes to law school.  Karl works hard and builds a modestly successful legal practice.  At the urging of friends, he stands for the local council (or whatever the American equivalent is) and wins.  Over time, he attains higher and higher political office.  At the age of 50, he is understood by virtually everyone to be eminently suited to be President, a position from which he is forever barred.

Bit of a silly rule, if you ask me.

Boru

To the bolded part:

What, he sounds like Brenda?