"Qualifications" for President - Everyone is Correct

[Land Shark]

Constitutionally, every "natural born" citizen over the age of 35 is qualified to be President. The Constitution only recognizes two classes of citizens, natural born and naturalized, so for Constitutional purposes of presidential qualifications, if you're not a naturalized citizen, then you're a born citizen, naturally. Everyone currently running is constitutionally qualified and over 35 years old. And every reader 35 years of age or.older is qualified to be President, constitutionally.

The "qualifications" that Sanders and Clinton currently speak of are different. These qualifications exist in the minds of the voters, which is where the true qualifications for President rely. They can be different for every voter. In fact, as voters we are equal and can enforce qualifications only through our own votes and through nonbinding persuasion.

Some think that being a Senator makes one qualified. Others may think it disqualifies a person if they think every single elected official in DC is no good. They are entitled to that opinion, no matter if wrong.

Many think being a Senator and Secretary of State qualifies a person. Many think only in terms of a resume, but for many others qualifications have political components. And it certainly does, since treason would be disqualifying. The only question is which political stands besides treason make one not qualified.

Obviously there is no final definition of "qualified" -each voter can determine their own. Thus, both Democratic candidates will be qualified in some.people's minds and disqualified in others minds.

Because there is no binding standard or definition for the political qualifications for President, everyone can and will disagree. So it is a perfectly meaningless disagreement. "Qualifications" is just a stand in for whatever one likes or doesn't like about a candidate.

Sanders and Clinton fail to understand that anyone can call them disqualified. The Founders deliberately left the people free to determine their own qualifications, and the 35 year age requirement was just to discourage dynastic presidencies passed from parent to child.

There is nothing here except the general debate over pluses and minuses of candidates. So at least let us not act like things are getting so bad nobody can take it any more.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

1. many thought these were qualified

[bigwillq]

2. Ms. Clinton is qualified to be president, but her record should disqualify her.

Many bad decisions and poor judgment in her record.

[Land Shark]

3. Perfectly legit opinion. We just can't begrudge others' contrary opinions.

[immoderate]

4. Well done. EVERYBODY (of age and citizenship) is qualified!

What make a GOOD president? The answer is judgement.

--imm

[Land Shark]

5. Right! And the judgment of the voters too!

It's whatever the voters say it is. (With acknowledgement of the difficulty in divining the will of the people)