Why Some Republicans Want to ‘Restore’ the 13th Amendment

[Elmore Furth]

There is a school of "Thirteenthism" in the conservative pantheon of weird political theories that says that the Thirteenth Amendment to the Consitiution was actually approved by Virginia in 1819 and is thus in effect. Thus, since Barak Obama received the Nobel Prize, he cannot hold the office of Presidency.

It is problematic for these people that the Department of Justice looked into whether Obama needed Congressional approval to accept the Nobel under the existing emoluments clause, and based on the meaning of “foreign state” (which would not cover the Nobel Prize Committee) concluded that he did not.

But just to be on the safe side, the Iowa GOP in calling for ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment. Silly me, and I thought the economy and the two wars were the top priorities.

In 1812 Republican Sen. Philip Reed of Maryland introduced an amendment meant to strengthen the existing “emoluments clause” in Article I, Section 9, of the Constitution. (“No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”)

Reed’s proposed amendment extended the ban from office-holders to “any citizen of the United States” and made the penalty loss of citizenship:

“If any citizen of the United States shall accept, claim, receive or retain any title of nobility or honour, or shall, without the consent of Congress accept and retain any present, pension, office or emolument of any kind whatever, from any emperor, king, prince or foreign power, such person shall cease to be a citizen of the United States and shall be incapable of holding any office of trust or profit under them, or either of them.”

“Titles of Nobility Amendment” (TONA) never achieved the necessary 13 ratifications—three quarters of the 17 states as of 1810—and fell further behind as more states joined the union.

Why Some Republicans Want to ‘Restore’ the 13th Amendment

[sarge43]

1. Because I don't have a life, I'll ask the question:

If in some alternate universe this would become an amendment to the USC, would Teddy Roosevelt loose his citizenship or Henry Kessinger or Colin Powell (honorary knighthood)?

[tabatha]

2. Because the birth certificate thing did not pan out.

They have to try something different.

[My Good Babushka]

3. If they interpret "gift from foreign power"

to include any campaign contributions from global corporations, then I'm for it.

[Cirque du So-What]

4. That oughta keep the little fuckers busy for awhile

Every minute spent tilting at this particular windmill means time taken away from erstwhile activities such as kicking the family dog. Think of the puppies!

[Rincewind]

5. It occurred to me

the other day, that there are still a number of veterans of WWII, who received medals from France, and or England. Do they lose their citizenship?

[sarge43]

6. Just ran a check on the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Between them (Chair, Vice Chair and four branch chiefs) they have fourteen foreign awarded medals.

Ooops.

[scaryadam]

7. Reagan and George H.W. Bush

were both anointed as an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, a British first class knighthood. Should they be included in this as well?

[Permanut]

8. So if you're born in Kenya...

This wouldn't apply?