Not Quite Anyone Should Be President

Re “Maybe Anyone Can Be President,” Column One, Feb. 2: So Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) thinks it’s OK for Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger to be allowed to run for president because for more than 20 years Schwarzenegger has been “totally dedicated to this country as an American”?

Wrong. Although Schwarzenegger has been a U.S. citizen for a bit over 20 years, he’s been an Austrian citizen his whole life. He’s still an Austrian citizen today. Accordingly, there is no way that sane persons could imagine that he is “totally” dedicated to this country. He is, by definition and by his own choice, at least partly dedicated to a foreign power. Let Arnold renounce his Austrian citizenship. Then maybe in another 20 years we’ll let him onto the ballot.

Jim Weinrich

El Cajon

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As a natural-born citizen of this great country, I am shocked to read that support for foreign-born naturalized citizens as president of United States is rising! Many people feel that our country is on its way out, so to speak, because of the lack of concern for education and common decency, and ideas like this. But to give the right to run the greatest and most powerful country in the world to someone who is foreign-born is ridiculous, un-American and ignorant.

Those who suggest such an amendment to our great Constitution care little for our future and only wish to push for a few rich, power-hungry, foreign nationals to control great power. They are not satisfied serving as councilmen, mayors, governors, congressmen, senators, etc. Is it not obvious what they are truly after?

Many of us think Schwarzenegger should leave well enough alone, be happy in the position he is in and leave the running of this country to its natural-born citizenry.

Richard S. Sayer

Los Angeles