To the Editor:
Re “Trump, Pushing a Racist Proposition, Questions Harris’s U.S. Citizenship” (news article, Aug. 14):
Once again, President Trump is playing the birther card, this time with Kamala Harris. What is it about Democratic people of color running for high office that triggers Republicans to promote baseless conspiracy theories?
The original focus of birtherism was Barack Obama, who was born in Hawaii. Senator Harris was born in California. According to the 14th Amendment, they are both natural-born citizens and therefore eligible to be president or vice president of the United States.
One can only conclude that this has more to do with inciting fear of a diverse America than constitutionality. Shame on Mr. Trump for pushing these bogus ideas. I guess that is the only way he believes he can be re-elected.
Marjorie Lundgren
Stony Brook, N.Y.
To the Editor:
Of course Senator Kamala Harris meets all citizenship requirements for vice president, having been born in Oakland, Calif. No matter that her parents were immigrants.
President Trump’s first and third wives are immigrants, so even though the Trump children of those marriages were born in the United States, does that mean they too do not meet the citizenship requirements to run for high office?
Mr. Trump’s mother was an immigrant, from Scotland. So in that case his citizenship requirements may apply to Mr. Trump himself, meaning he is not qualified to be the president and should resign immediately.
Bringing back the “birther” thing has consequences, and slinging mud often besmirches the slinger.
Nancy Eichler
Albany, Calif.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
