During a CNN Republican presidential town hall on Wednesday night, a self-identified support of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) asked the Texas senator to lay out how he is eligible to run for president given that he was born in Canada.
“In order to prevent future controversy and possible litigation will you please justify, constitutionally, your legal right to be president of the United States as it relates to your natural born status?” Julie Hershey asked Cruz.
“The law under the Constitution and federal law has been clear from the very first days of the Republic. The child of a U.S. citizen born abroad is a natural born citizen,” Cruz replied. “There will still be some who try to work political mischief on it, but as a legal matter this is clear and straightforward.”
Since Donald Trump questioned Cruz’s eligibility to run for president earlier in the election cycle, the Texas senator has maintained that he is eligible. However, Trump recently threatened to sue Cruz over his eligibility.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Wednesday asked Cruz if he welcomed a lawsuit from Trump.
“Look, you can never write off the possibility of Donald Trump suing you. He is welcome to file whatever lawsuit he likes,” Cruz said in response. “If he wants to file a lawsuit, he can file it and lose.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Cruz held a press conference during which he said he looks forward to Trump’s “frivolous” lawsuit.
Watch the clip from the CNN town hall:
He just made that up. In fact it doesn’t say anything about US citizen being same as a natural born citizen. It very well could be(or not) if SCOTUS weighs in . As of now, its unknown.
Yeah, just like you effers did to President Obama for years – and Obama’s birth situation was on far more solid ground that yours, Cruz!
Actually, I’m happy that one of his own supporters asked him this very direct question and his response has been recorded on video.
Thank you! Cruz’s words are very legalese-speak. He knows the Constitution does not address his own situation that directly.
If being born abroad to an American citizen is so cut and dried, then why the 8 years of Obama birtherism?
That struck me, as well. Even some of his own supporters have lingering doubts about this, so there’s no telling what some of the other RWNJ’s think about it.
The really fun part of it is that it can’t be resolved easily. No court is going to issue an opinion about it, absent an actual case or controversy, and pretty much no one has standing to raise the issue, unless some State refuses to put Cruz on the ballot. Legislation wouldn’t do the trick - no statute can just say, “This is what the Constitution really means.” Whether that statute was Constitutional or not would still be an open question.
I’m enjoying this way too much.