We checked the facts and Ted Cruz is wrong--McCain was NOT born in Panama, but in the Panama Canal Zone, which at that time was a US. territory. Cruz claims, falsely, that McCain was the child of soldiers abroad--that would have been the case if McCain's parents had crossed the border to the country of Panama, but they chose to stay in U.S. territory.
On the constitutional term "natural-born citizen", OnTheIssues follows the "stamp rule": What stamp would one use at the place one was born? McCain's parents would have used US stamps in the Canal Zone, so McCain is eligible. Barry Goldwater was similarly questioned in 1964 because he was born in Arizona territory before it became a state--he also passes the "stamp rule." George Romney, born to US parents in Mexico, does not pass the "stamp rule"--nor does Cruz!
The above quotations are from Fox Business Two-Tier 2016 GOP primary debate First Tier: Top Seven by polls Second Tier: Three other Republicans. Click here for main summary page. Click here for a profile of Ted Cruz. Click here for Ted Cruz on all issues.
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