Why can John McCain run for president and Arnold Swazinwhatever cant?

I have to write a quick paragraph for school, why John McCain can run for president when he was born in Panama and Arnold cant because he was born Australia? I kind of figured because Panama was a US territory, but if anyone can get in depth about the law or nything like that it would be great!

Public Comments

1. Because McCain gave Bush a bear hug
2. Arnold was not born in the USA And he was born in Austria, Not Australia.
3. John McCain was born on a US Military base near the Panama Canal.... born of American parents Arnold is Austrian? or Australian.. crap.. Anyway born of foreigners in a foreign country and the constitution prohibits it.
4. maybe because Johns parents were american citizens, and arnolds wern't, were the McCains out of the country on a trip etc. when he was born, or did his fathers job take him out of the country?? the parents were still citizens!!
5. What was the citizenship of his parents? I have not looked, but I am guess that they were U.S. Citizens. Arnolds parents were not.
6. Because McCain was born to US Citizens abroad which makes him a US Citizen. Arnold Schwarzenegger was born to Austrian parents in Austria who came to the US and became a US citizen. The Constitution clearly states that to be elected president one must be born a US Citizen.
7. First of all, Arnold was born in AUSTRIA. And it's because to be able to run this country, you have to be born here. it is stated in the constitution. and yes, panama was a US territory when John McCain was born way back then. lol. GO MCCAIN!!!
8. McCain was born on a US Air base in the Panama Canal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_mccain So therefore he was born on US territory. Besides his parents are natural born US citizens.
9. Fairly sure John McCain's parents were American. If they weren't, and figuring the time of his birth in the Panama, then he wouldn't be American.
10. LMAO i like the first answer :P McCain was born to US Citizens his father was stationed in Panama when he was born. If a military couple has a baby over seas that child is automatically a US citizen. Arnold is from/born/raised in Austria His Parents weren't US citizens of any kind In order to be president one of the requirements is that you are a natural born citizen McCain fits that description and Arnold doesn't
11. McCain was born in Panama because his dad was an Admiral in the Navy who happened to be stationed there when John was born. He was not a Panamanian, he was a US citizen serving in the military stationed out of the country. Arnold is an Austrian through and through.
12. John McCain is a US Citizen by birth b/c he was born to US Citizens and Schwarzenegger is a naturalized citizen (he was born in Austria). If you are not a US born citizen, you can't run for President.
13. The founding fathers did not want foreigners of any kind to run this country. After all, they just declared independence from England. Consequently, a law was made that said ONLY people born in the US could run for the presidency. Obviously, an Austrian, Arnold, is not allowed to run, although he is allowed to hold a state office such as the Governor of California. From what I'm reading, McCain was born in Panama. But, Panama, at that time, was under the supervision of the US government. I'm sure there's a name for that but I don't remember what it is. In any case, McCain can be considered a US citizen by birth, making it possible for him to run for the presidency. OH! I just found this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_nationality_law I think it will answer all your questions.
14. An amendment would let Arnold run and if he could I know John McCain would pick him; however he's already been talking with his old pal Bloomberg about that spot instead.
15. Dumb question Well seeing that McCain's father was based in Panama by the US GOVERNMENT, then I guess any children they have would have the same rights as if they were born in the USA. So I guess the question, why should Obama allow himself to call himself balck, when he has a white mother and a black father, would also be acceptable?
16. Very good question. Your teacher is wanting you to be astute enough to find the exact official reason, which is that Arnold is not a natural born citizen of the United States, while McCain is. You'll find it in Article 2, Clause 5 of the United States Constitution. Article 2, Clause 5: Qualifications for office: No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States The US Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787. Arnold was born outside the US to foreign parents, therefore he is not a natural born US citizen. So he is simply not eligible to run for president. John McCain however, was born to US parents in Panama (which was NOT a US territory at that time, contrary to popular belief. See link below). If your parents are US citizens at the time of your birth, then you are considered a 'natural born' US citizen regardless where your birth takes place. So John McCain is eligible to run for president. Good luck on your assignment! (edit) PS. Don't get mixed up about being a 'natural born citizen' and being born in the US. It's not a requirement to be born in the US. You can be born anywhere, as long as one or more of your parents are US citizens, which would make you a 'natural born citizen' born on foreign soil. So, a foreign couple could immigrate here, get citizenship, move back to thier country of birth, give birth to a baby on foreign soil, and that baby would be a 'natural born citizen' and be able to run for president. Of course he would have to move back to the US for 14 years and reach the age of 35.