Comments: False. Barack Obama is, in fact, a natural-born citizen of the United States, for the simple reason that he was born on American soil (in Hawaii, two years after it acquired statehood). The age and citizenship status of Obama's parents have no bearing whatsoever on Obama's citizenship.
Any confusion on this point is the result of misunderstanding the legal concepts of jus sanguinis (right of blood) and jus soli (right of birthplace). Here is how the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service explains the difference:
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship at birth to almost all individuals born in the United States or in U.S. jurisdictions, according to the principle of jus soli. Certain individuals born in the United States, such as children of foreign heads of state or children of foreign diplomats, do not obtain U.S. citizenship under jus soli. Certain individuals born outside of the United States are born citizens because of their parents, according to the principle of jus sanguinis (which holds that the country of citizenship of a child is the same as that of his / her parents).
It is a fact that under the provisions of Article Two of the U.S. Constitution naturalized citizens are ineligible to hold the office of president, but this disqualification does not apply to Barack Obama, who has been a citizen since birth.
Update: Is Barack Obama's birth certificate valid? Self-styled "experts" have questioned the validity of Obama's Hawaii birth certificate as posted online, but after examining the actual document the Annenberg Public Policy Center concluded it is authentic. The state of Hawaii has also affirmed its validity.
Why does that matter?
Who exactly is Judah Benjamin?
First, you might find the discussing/debunking interesting:
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-psmomspol/message.asp?webtag=iv-psmomspol&msg=4474.1
From urban legends at about.com:
Comments: False. Barack Obama is, in fact, a natural-born citizen of the United States, for the simple reason that he was born on American soil (in Hawaii, two years after it acquired statehood). The age and citizenship status of Obama's parents have no bearing whatsoever on Obama's citizenship.
Any confusion on this point is the result of misunderstanding the legal concepts of jus sanguinis (right of blood) and jus soli (right of birthplace). Here is how the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service explains the difference:
It is a fact that under the provisions of Article Two of the U.S. Constitution naturalized citizens are ineligible to hold the office of president, but this disqualification does not apply to Barack Obama, who has been a citizen since birth.
Update: Is Barack Obama's birth certificate valid?
Self-styled "experts" have questioned the validity of Obama's Hawaii birth certificate as posted online, but after examining the actual document the Annenberg Public Policy Center concluded it is authentic. The state of Hawaii has also affirmed its validity.