Bustle – by Lara Rutherford-Morrison
When Massachusetts resident Alena Mulhern learned that she wasn’t eligible to run for President of the United States, she didn’t take it lying down: The 10-year-old is fighting to change the Constitution, so that she and others like her can vie for a seat at the White House. When I was Mulhern’s age, the extent of my civic engagement was to campaign for the blue M&M to replace the boring tan one, so, needless to say, this girl is seriously impressive.
Mulhern was born in China and became a U.S. citizen when she was adopted at 10 months. Although she has spent almost her whole life in the U.S., she isn’t eligible to be president due to regulations in the Constitution that require presidents and vice-presidents to be natural born citizens. Last Wednesday, Mulhern testified at the Massachusetts State House to argue that the current eligibility rules for the presidency should be overturned, saying, “We should all have the opportunity to run for president.”
Section One of Article Two of the U.S. Constitution states,
No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President.
Although the Constitution doesn’t define “natural born Citizen,” the phrase has been interpreted to refer to people who were U.S. citizens at birth, who therefore have not had to go through any kind of naturalization process to gain citizenship. (Other requirements include being at least 35 years old and having lived in the U.S. for 14 years. That means that, if Mulhern’s campaign were successful, she would be eligible to run for president in 2040).
10-Year-Old from Kingston Is Trying to Amend the Constitution https://t.co/hh70JzFSsu Get it, girl! #Alena for #President – Change is needed
— Eileen Yu (@eileenyu01) October 31, 2015
Mulhern’s mother, Barbara Mulhern Caparell, told CBS Boston that when her daughter said she wanted to be president some day, she had to give her bad news: “I said to her honey, unfortunately that’s the only thing you can’t be.” Mulhern Caparell continued, “She said, well that’s not fair. And I said what are you going to do about it, and she said I’m going to change the law.”
Alena is attempting to do just that. She told the State House committee, “I know that I am an American first and foremost. Just think of all the great candidates that would not be able to serve our country because of a law that came into existence more than 200 years ago.”
10 yr old Alena Mulhern of Kingston wants to be #POTUS Calls for change in law that forbids foreign born Presidents pic.twitter.com/eMho5dano3
— Lana Jones (@Lanawbz) October 28, 2015
In an interview with CBS Boston, she elaborated, “I am an American as much as you are and everyone else. And I don’t really remember China that much. All I know is America.” The aspiring politician has already got her campaign speech down, explaining,
I would be a great leader and bring people together. I would guide our country so it would be an even greater place to live, work and raise a family. And most of all, I love my country. I want to serve my country, and this is my country.
So will we all be sporting “Mulhern for President” bumper stickers on our cars 25 years from now? Only time will tell, but, given Alena’s tenacity at only 10 years of age, I wouldn’t bet against her.
And this is what a George W and Osama Obama presidency has done to the office of POTUS. It has made a joke of it. I would have to agree with the ten year old, she cant do any worse than the previous two ass clowns.
No 10 year old came up with this, someone is behind this and she needs deported back to China. There is a reason we do not permit FOREIGNERS to hold the office of president, the problems we have been having are case in point. I do not give a rats ass what she says, Barry Sotero offered “change” too and look around, she would be no different.
The only reason they are even reporting this to ANY degree is because she is a FOREIGNER, ten and is trying to DESTROY what little we have left of the nation. Deport her ass back to China where she belongs.
By the time she’s old enough, there will be no U.S. of A .
And, no 10 year old came up with this bullshit.
We’ll see about that george… 😡
We must have the right outlook/vision… 😉
Adopted from China, say no more. Might as well let her handle her business, Obama’s no different. It’s all based on bullshit!
Anyone who wants the job is unqualified to have it.
I do not care if they are 10 years old or if they are the Trumpet
Damn, everybody seems to be open about writing the Constitution any way they want. Thought these rights and rules were the basis to this country, whatev.
Ehh , by the time she gets to adulthood she’ll realize how stupid the person was that pushed her into this , she will also realize that the president of this country isn’t as great a position as she thinks it is
She’ll probably end up running an animal shelter and sending half of them back home for food , until she gets busted and sent to prison
I actually forgot where I was headed with this
But her and most 10 year olds want to be president and usually not for any other purpose but to sound and look important or they think they can do what ever they want
I digress .. Again
Oh brother! What vision this “child” has. It’s for the children, we all know the line.
Is this so we as American National adults can feel like crap as we sit back daily and watch the treachery perpetrated on us, armed to the teeth but to ascared to use them?
But here is this “little girl” working on changing the constitution, boy she’s a really doin somethin.
Anyway, a feel good story perhaps that fell flat for what it is, bull!
“… became a U.S. citizen when she was adopted at 10 months.”
10 months and a day late, you little commie tool.
What is with this snot, Berry got in and he was not born in the US of A, so what is her problem??