Should the Constitution Be Altered for Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Throughout history, the United States has amended its constitution to conform to society's standard morals and beliefs. Americans have revised the U.S. Constitution 17 times since 1791, yet kept intact what the Founding Fathers would believe is just and acceptable for American society and politics. An important current issue that addresses today's society is the question of whether Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, foreign born and presently California's governor, should be allowed to run for president. Society is debating whether the 28^th Amendment should be amended for the Austrian-born governor to run for the White House as soon as 2008. This dispute is a constitutional issue because it debates whether the Constitution should be amended, in particular for Arnold Schwarzenegger or if the society should preserve the beliefs of our Founding Fathers. The pros and cons that surround this argument make this issue such an imperative topic because the final decision will either preserve the status quo or open new frontiers for future leaders of the United States.

Since his huge victory in the election of California a year ago and his recent invigorating speech at the Republican National Convention, Arnold Schwarzenegger has gained support and his movement to become President has gained momentum. Arnold has said in previous interviews that he supports and amendment and feels that anyone who has been a U.S. citizen for at least 20 years should "absolutely" be able to seek the presidency. "There are so many people in this country that are now from overseas, that are immigrants, that are doing such a terrific job with their work, bringing businesses here, that there's no reason why not," said Schwarzenegger, who became a U.S. citizen in 1983. "Look at the kind of contribution that people like Henry Kissinger has made, Madeleine Albright," he said, referring to two former secretaries of state who were born in Europe." Furthermore, organizations that support the possibility for Arnold to run for President have been created. In particular, Morgenthaler-Jones, a businesswoman and Schwarzenegger campaign donor, created the Web site www.amendforarnold.com runs a support group that has paid $20,000 to run a TV ad in California over six days in November. "You cannot choose the land of your birth," Morgenthaler-Jones says in the ad. "You can choose the land you love." An additional reason why supports feel foreign-born citizens should become president is that he or she can provide a new perspective to American leadership. A person born in another country may be able to eliminate the majority of the world's negative view towards the U.S. by making decisions that are better for the world and not necessarily only America. and

The opposing side of this constitutional issue feels that the U.S. Constitution should not be amended for "The Terminator" because of several reasons that would destroy the nature of American beliefs and possibly pose a threat to the American society. Permitting the Austrian-born former bodybuilder to become president would contradict the beliefs of the Founding Fathers who addressed this issue during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Americans do not want the United States to suffer the same fate as Poland, which in 1772 had been partitioned among Austria, Prussia, and Russia after agents of those countries bribed Polish nobles to elect a disloyal king. Sen. Dianne Feinstein does not think that it is unfair to say the president of the United States must be a native-born-citizen, stating that, "Your allegiance is driven by your birth." Furthermore, there may be possible influences on a foreign born president's decisions because he is sympathetic for his initial country of citizenship and is also considering its best interests rather than just the United State's.

Suggestions to end the Constitution's discrimination against the foreign-born have been proposed to Congress. However, the 26 previous amendments that have been proposed have died in subcommittees. The Hatch-Rohrabacher amendment would impose a 35-year citizenship requirement for a foreign-born to run for presidency. However, if this law were to be passed, Arnold would have to wait until 2020 to be able to run and president, at which time he would be 73 years old. The question arises of whether Congress should take the time and consider revising the U.S. Constitution for a man who would not be interested in running for presidency when he would eventually be allowed to.

1) http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2004-12-02-schwarzenegger-amendment_x.htm

2)www.arnoldexposed.com/articles/usa_today.htm

3)lawreview.kentlaw.edu/articles/81-1/Herlihy.pdf