User:Hutcher/John McCain presidential eligibility controversy

John McCain presidential eligibility controversy refers to an effort by John McCain supporters to suppress a debate in the media about his eligibility for President of the United States. The eligibility debate centers around the meaning of the term "Natural-born citizen" in the US Constitution (Constitution) and the legal status of John McCain's birthplace of the Panama Canal Zone (PCZ). Although, the debate over the term "Natural-born citizen" has been engaged for two centuries and John McCain's eligibility has been debated since his run for President in 1999 the debate was renewed in 2007 when he ran for President again.

Mainstream Media Reports
Washington Post commentator Ken Rudin broached the topic in 1998 claiming that the Naturalization Act of 1790 granted naturalized citizens "Natural Born" status. This editorial is the basis of most arguments in favor of McCain's eligibility. The Naturalization Act of 1790, however, was repealed and replaced by the Naturalization Act of 1795. Regardless it has never been proven constitutional.

The New York Times published an article in 2008 that touched somes basics of the debate but did not go into much depth.

McCain Campaign Position on eligibility
In 1997, McCain spokesperson Nancy Ives declared that: "He meets the requirement of U.S. citizenship in order to be eligible for president".

Internet Buzz questions eligibility
Numerous web articles addressed the

Wikipedia Editors Censor Debate
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