Nathan Deal

U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, a Republican candidate for governor of Georgia, has proposed changing the long-standing federal policy that automatically grants citizenship to any baby born on U.S. soil, a move opposed by immigrant rights advocates.

Supporters of Deal's proposal say "birthright citizenship" encourages illegal immigration and makes enforcement of immigration laws more difficult. Opponents say the proposed law wouldn't solve the illegal immigration problem and goes against this country's traditions of welcoming immigrants.

Automatic citizenship is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which says: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside." That provision, ratified in 1868, was drafted with freed slaves in mind. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/26/nathan-deal-georgia-lawma_n_207485.html

This an example of what I was talking about in a previous blog. http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/dikkday48yahoocom/2009/05/o-loo-cee-you-got-some-splaini.php#comments

You see, like w's OLC, we need to stop back a bit when we look at our laws and our Constitution. We need to THINK outside of the box, so to speak.

Now the sixth grader--you know the hypothetical sixth grader that appears to know more than the 'man on the street' confrontations made famous by Leno--might look at that sentence in the 14^th Amendment and think: Hey, if I was born here, that makes me a citizen.

Whereas someone like Yoo or Bybee might think: Hey, this clause appears to only refer to freed slaves.  And everyone knows that the Mexican slaves that cross our borders and work for $4.00/hr under the table so to speak, are unfreed slaves.  So that their children are also unfreed slaves, and, well, this Constitutional Provision could not possibly apply to them and their ilk!!!

And we sure do not need more citizens like this in Georgia!!!  For Chrissakes!! (Blesses himself)

I mean, its NO BIG 'DEAL' so to speak. And it certainly is no big deal to Deal to find a new deck to deal from, so to speak. Or at least be able to deal from the bottom of the deck provided by those goddamnable northerners. (Deal refuses to bless himself)

What I admire is how repubs 'frame the issue' and provide those profound catch phrases to further their legislative aims:

They call U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants "anchor babies" because, when they become adults, the children can sponsor their parents for legal permanent residency.

Isn't that just precious?  Anchor babies. Brings new meaning to that great American lilt: Anchors Away, does it not?

I mean, look at how Georgia got around the 15^th Amendment:

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude--

Now it took Georgia ten years to think about this one!!! I mean Negroes were allowed to vote. Even after the Federal Troops left in 1877 or so, the powers that be had to ponder this one. But then, someone like Yoo or Bybee saw an opening by looking outside the box, so to speak:

13^th Amendment:

Section 1.
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Georgia, with a prison population in excess of 47,000 inmates has the sixth largest prison system in the nation.  http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/Reports/AgingPopulation.html

64% of those in Georgia Prisons, are Black.  29% of the population in Georgia is African-American. (It is estimated that soon 10% of the prison population in Georgia will be Hispanic. See, Georgia is working on this too.)  At any rate, Georgia figured out that if you simply convicted the blacks, you could reinslave them and that was the best way to take away their right to vote.  Remember now, once you are convicted, even though you eventually get released from prison, YOU STILLCANNOT VOTE. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13000.html

How is that for thinking outside of the Box? Ha!!!

So how hard is it going to be for Georgia to get around the 14^th Amendment, with mind's like this?

AP -- U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, a Republican candidate for governor of Georgia, has proposed changing the long-standing federal policy that automatically grants citizenship to any baby born on U.S. soil,...

AP -- U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, a Republican candidate for governor of Georgia, has proposed changing the long-standing federal policy that automatically grants citizenship to any baby born on U.S. soil,...

GEORGIA ON MY MIND

Georgia, Georgia, we cry the whole night through

Just the same old song

Keeps Georgia, far behind

Talkin' about Georgia

Glad I'm not in Georgia

I have an Hispanic name

With that same old song

They'd be mad I came

I said Georgia

A song of woe

No peace would I find

How can they be so unkind

The sheriff's arms reach out to me
To put me in the penitentiary
Such unpeaceful dreams I see
The road gangs block my view
Georgia, cruel Georgia, no peace I find
Just the same old song
Keeps Georgia  from my mind

Sharecropper farms dot the land
Worked over by Hispanic and Black hands
There is no justice that can really stand
The white man's boot on you
I'm not in Georgia, Georgia, right wing Georgia
No peace, no peace I find
Just the same old song
Keeps Georgia out of my mind
Just that same old song
Keeps Georgia forever out of my mind

Apologies to Ray Charles and Seashell