Political Crossfire Forums

[DwightEisenhower]

If a person were to run for federal office and had dual citizenship(in a country that allows him to retain both without restriction), do you think this would be a political liability? What about if he was born in the US and never lived outside of the US, but had a dual citizenship because of a parent's status in another country? Has a similar situation ever arisen and if not, do you forsee it being an issue?

[thefranzkafkafront]

No, why should it be.

[cap'n queasy]

I guess maybe if it was citizenship in a few certain countries the US is having trouble with it might.

But other than that I don't see why.

[[Bible]Monkey]

DwightEisenhower wrote: If a person were to run for federal office and had dual citizenship(in a country that allows him to retain both without restriction), do you think this would be a political liability?

Yes.

Quote: Governor General-designate Michaelle Jean is to renounce her dual citizenship as she prepares to take up the vice-regal post.

In a brief written statement issued on Sunday, Jean said she was giving up the French citizenship she acquired when she married Jean-Pierre-Lafond, who was born in France.

The Haitian-born Jean said it would have felt "kind of strange" to remain a French national, given the duties she will be assuming, including the title of commander-in-chief of the Canadian Forces.

"In light of the responsibilities related to the function of the Governor General of Canada and commander-in-chief of the Canadian Forces, I have decided to renounce the French citizenship that I acquired for family reasons in 2004," Jean wrote in her statement.

She said that French authorities have accepted her request to give up her citizenship in that country..........

..........When Jean becomes Governor General, she will be the first black person, the third woman and, at age 48, one of the youngest to take up the post as the Queen's representative in Canada and the country's de facto head of state.



It's really just a ceremonial position, but it wierded people out , I guess, that she was a dual citizen.

If someone ran for high office in the U.S , they should give up dual citizenship, to eliminate the possibility of serving two masters.

[CountryGuy]

You should be forced to renounce citizenship to a second country if you expect to take on elected office in the US; It prevents the scenario of having a conflict of interest.

[thefranzkafkafront]

CountryGuy wrote: You should be forced to renounce citizenship to a second country if you expect to take on elected office in the US; It prevents the scenario of having a conflict of interest.

How would that solve anything?

[blockhead]

DwightEisenhower wrote: If a person were to run for federal office and had dual citizenship(in a country that allows him to retain both without restriction), do you think this would be a political liability? What about if he was born in the US and never lived outside of the US, but had a dual citizenship because of a parent's status in another country? Has a similar situation ever arisen and if not, do you forsee it being an issue?

Do you mean like the guy who is head of Homeland Security for the US?

[CountryGuy]

thefranzkafkafront wrote: CountryGuy wrote: You should be forced to renounce citizenship to a second country if you expect to take on elected office in the US; It prevents the scenario of having a conflict of interest.

How would that solve anything?

It would be mostly symbolic, but its no different than rules such as living in the state you are elected from for congress -- The goal is for your loyalties to be with your state and/or country. If you share citizenship with another country that opposes your country's actions (or worse, is at war with the US), then there is the risk that you will base your decisions not only on what is best for the US, but with the other country in mind.

[Nelson]

I believe that its a perfectly rational campaign issue, but I am firmly against any laws being created to prohibit dual-citizens from taking political office.

[CountryGuy]

Nelson wrote: I believe that its a perfectly rational campaign issue, but I am firmly against any laws being created to prohibit dual-citizens from taking political office.

Well, we agree to disagree then - Thats allowed! :wink:

[cap'n queasy]

I wouldn't vote for anyone that dual citizenship.

[Proton]

Quote: You should be forced to renounce citizenship to a second country if you expect to take on elected office in the US; It prevents the scenario of having a conflict of interest.
Why? He can run in both countries, and if he gets elected in both, he will be himself s best ally. :lol:

[Nelson]

cap'n queasy wrote: I wouldn't vote for anyone that dual citizenship.

I would seriously question voting for anyone with dual citizenship, and I would have to know for sure that it was somebody I could trust - but do you think laws should be written to prevent anyone with dual citizenship from ever being elected?

I think there is a very large difference between saying you won't vote for somebody with dual citizenship and making it illegal for someone with dual citizenship to run for elected office.

[ikari]

I don't really know all the rules and such, but I thought the US didn't recognize dual citizenship. I know other countries will recognize dual citizenship so while in the US, our government may only consider you a US citizen, but another country may consider one a citizen of two countries. But in the eyes of the law here, don't we recognize only one citizenship?

[perdidochas]

DwightEisenhower wrote: If a person were to run for federal office and had dual citizenship(in a country that allows him to retain both without restriction), do you think this would be a political liability? What about if he was born in the US and never lived outside of the US, but had a dual citizenship because of a parent's status in another country? Has a similar situation ever arisen and if not, do you forsee it being an issue?

The only problem could happen if that other country became hostile to ours. Technically, a dual citizen has to obey the laws of both countries.

[Richard Owl Mirror]

Here's an interesting take on the subject: Contradictions of Dual Citizenship ~ July 15, 1985
Quote: Ideally, all dual citizenship should be eliminated since, however friendly two countries may be, their interests are not and cannot always be identical.

US Citizenship: How to Get It, How to Lose It, How to Add to It
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_nationality_law

Austria bursts with pride over native son 'Arnie' Schwarzenegger possesses rare dual citizenship
Quote: Should Arnold Schwarzenegger be elected governor of California, he may well be facing a conflict of interest of sorts. He owes allegiance not only to the United States but also to his native Austria.

Shortly before gaining U.S. citizenship in 1983, the bodybuilder-turned- actor made sure to retain his Austrian citizenship as well -- a status rarely granted in Austria, which in principle does not allow dual nationality.

Unlike Schwarzenegger, thousands of other Austrian immigrants who became naturalized American citizens over the years have automatically lost their Austrian citizenship the moment they took the oath of allegiance to the United States.

Josef Krainer, the former governor of Schwarzenegger's home province of Styria, recently acknowledged that he had helped Schwarzenegger to retain his Austrian citizenship.
~snip~


"Pledging Multiple Allegiances"
Quote: Jesus R. Galvis came to America, built a business in New Jersey and got elected to the City Council of Hackensack. Last month, he decided to expand this American success story by running for the Senate. The one in Colombia. Galvis was attempting a feat perhaps unprecedented in American politics: holding two elected offices simultaneously in two countries. He is, after all, a citizen of both places, with a pair of passports to prove it. "I was going to travel back and forth," said Galvis, who runs a travel agency in Hackensack. "I saw this as a good opportunity to keep some ties to the homeland there."

He lost, however. But the fact that a public servant from an American city campaigned for a post in a foreign government is but one example of a growing global phenomenon: dual citizenship.
~snip~


Here's a question beyond the scope of an elected official retaining Duel Citizenship.
Should anyone employed with the United States Secret Service, Counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration, intelligence, or public health surveillance retain a Duel Citizenship?

[Nathyn]

DwightEisenhower wrote: If a person were to run for federal office and had dual citizenship(in a country that allows him to retain both without restriction), do you think this would be a political liability? What about if he was born in the US and never lived outside of the US, but had a dual citizenship because of a parent's status in another country? Has a similar situation ever arisen and if not, do you forsee it being an issue?
I'm a dual American\British citizen, but I grew up in America.

As an American citizen, I say yes. As a British citizen, I say no, but I'm only saying that because I'm secretly plotting with the Queen of the UK to re-establish the thirteen colonies.

I understand why no one would want me to hold office, though, because I'm particularly biased against dental hygiene.

And I understand why Brits wouldn't want me to hold office, because I think the monarchy and nobility should be dissolved which, technically, I think would make me a traitor to the crown or something like that.

[Revenant]

Nathyn wrote: DwightEisenhower wrote: If a person were to run for federal office and had dual citizenship(in a country that allows him to retain both without restriction), do you think this would be a political liability? What about if he was born in the US and never lived outside of the US, but had a dual citizenship because of a parent's status in another country? Has a similar situation ever arisen and if not, do you forsee it being an issue?
I'm a dual American\British citizen, but I grew up in America.

As an American citizen, I say yes. As a British citizen, I say no, but I'm only saying that because I'm secretly plotting with the Queen of the UK to re-establish the thirteen colonies.

I understand why no one would want me to hold office, though, because I'm particularly biased against dental hygiene.

I change my position, we should deport all dual-citizens :twisted:

[cap'n queasy]

Nelson wrote: cap'n queasy wrote: I wouldn't vote for anyone that dual citizenship.

I would seriously question voting for anyone with dual citizenship, and I would have to know for sure that it was somebody I could trust - but do you think laws should be written to prevent anyone with dual citizenship from ever being elected?

I think there is a very large difference between saying you won't vote for somebody with dual citizenship and making it illegal for someone with dual citizenship to run for elected office.

No, I don't think the law should be changed. I just personally wouldn't vote that way.

[cap'n queasy]

Revenant wrote: Nathyn wrote: DwightEisenhower wrote: If a person were to run for federal office and had dual citizenship(in a country that allows him to retain both without restriction), do you think this would be a political liability? What about if he was born in the US and never lived outside of the US, but had a dual citizenship because of a parent's status in another country? Has a similar situation ever arisen and if not, do you forsee it being an issue?
I'm a dual American\British citizen, but I grew up in America.

As an American citizen, I say yes. As a British citizen, I say no, but I'm only saying that because I'm secretly plotting with the Queen of the UK to re-establish the thirteen colonies.

I understand why no one would want me to hold office, though, because I'm particularly biased against dental hygiene.

I change my position, we should deport all dual-citizens :twisted:

:lol: That's mean.