HARRISBURG -- State legislation requiring presidential candidatesto prove they are natural-born citizens has a better chance ofpassing than last year but still faces hurdles in a Republican-controlled General Assembly, a political analyst said Tuesday.
The proposal is "red meat" for many conservatives, "but I don'tthink a lot of more moderate Republicans want to deal with it," saidChristopher Borick, a political science professor and pollster atMuhlenburg College in Allentown.
It inevitably leads to a debate over whether President Obama wasborn in the United States, Borick said, noting a controversy thatpresidential hopeful Donald Trump recently stoked again.
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, has 28 co-sponsors for the billhe said was initiated "in light of the controversy regardingcitizenship and public officials."
His memo seeking co-sponsorship says presidential and vicepresidential candidates would have to establish proof of "naturalborn citizenship," age and residency. All other candidates would berequired to file documents including "proof of citizenship, proof ofage and proof of residency" under the legislation.
The memo never mentioned Obama or the "birther" movement thatquestions whether Obama is a U.S.-born citizen.
In 2008, in response to widely circulated rumors and Internetpostings, Obama's campaign posted his "certificate of live birth"form filed in Hawaii. Theories stemmed from Obama's father havingbeen born in Kenya, and the fact he spent his early childhood inIndonesia. Critics including Trump contend there is a "long form"certificate Obama should release.
Trump told media outlets including ABC that he will release histax returns if Obama releases his birth certificate.
"I wouldn't say (the bill) is specifically in response to Obama,"Metcalfe said yesterday. The bill stems from the lack ofdocumentation required for candidates, he said.
Asked if he doubts whether Obama is a U.S.-born citizen, Metcalfesaid, "I have not seen the actual documentation. I would expect he'dbe natural born."
On Monday, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a bill that would haverequired Obama and other presidential candidates to prove their U.S.citizenship. Brewer said in a veto message she opposed the idea ofone person, the secretary of state, serving as the "gatekeeper" tothe ballot, adding it could lead to "arbitrary or politicallymotivated decisions."
Metcalfe, an ultra-conservative House member, filed a similarbill last year that wasn't considered. Because Republicans tookcontrol of the General Assembly in November's election, Metcalfe nowchairs the House State Government Committee, which would considerthe bill. His bill is backed by mostly conservative Republicans andone Democrat, Rep. Harry Readshaw of Carrick.
Roberta Pfeiffer Gick, legal adviser to the Pittsburgh Tea Party,said she sent an e-mail to members urging them to contactlegislators to support Metcalfe's bill, saying it is not aimed atObama and is important legislation to require candidates to adhereto the U.S. Constitution.
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