Even Ted Cruz's Constitutional Law Teacher From Harvard Hates Him

Meanwhile Laurence Tribe did vouch for John McCain back in 2008. Yet he  was on Lawrence O'Donnell again last night claiming that the question of Cruz's eligibility is not settled. 

Indeed, Trump has taken to quoting Tribe-who taught both Cruz and Obama in law school. Even O'Donnell took pleasure in hearing that Trump 'took notes' watching Tribe on his show last time.

Is Cruz eligible? I certainly believe so. The problem is-he has no friends. Everyone takes pleasure in kneecapping this guy. Democrats and Republicans, pundits, a constitutional  law professor-who insists that it's not personal but you really in listening get the sense that it is-and: even the Republican Iowa Governor of the state that has been assumed to be Cruz's state, signed, sealed, and delivered, that he's done all this work in has cut him off at the knees.

"Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) said Monday that the birthplace of Sen. Ted Cruz is "fair game," adding to a growing chorus questioning whether the Texas Republican's Canadian birth could affect his ability to secure the GOP presidential nomination."

"When you run for president of the United States, any question is fair game. So let the people decide," Branstad told reporters Monday."

"Cruz, speaking to reporters in Baton Rouge, La., noted that Branstad's son has thrown his support elsewhere, hosting fundraisers for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie."

Brandstad's son "is leading the effort of lobbyists and Democrats to run attack ads against our campaign because they're supporting a more moderate candidate," he said. "They’re entitled to do that and they’r entitled to engage in whatever attacks they want. It's the nature of politics."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/11/iowa-governor-branstad-knocks-cruz-on-canadian-birth/

The trouble is that everyone is doing this to Cruz. John McCain who had similar questions rasied about him said 'There are questions.'

Again, in all honesty, I believe Cruz is eligible-I mean Obama was, McCain was, people are assuming Rubio is, and all have similar-but not identical cases. Yet others have been allowed to skate-maybe at sometime Trump will go after Rubio on this too-the Rubio Birthers exist.

There's no question Cruz is a US citizen. It doesn't matter where he was born as his mother was a US citizen. I don't believe the fact that she may also have been a Canadian citizen at the time should matter as you can have dual citizenship-as I do; I'm also a British citizen. To be sure, I am certainly not eligible to run for US President-maybe I could get British Prime Minister!

Which is kind of a pity for Americans as I'd be a great President. Really great. I'd be better even than Donald Trump says he would be. It's not too late America: just amend the Constitution and I'm there. 

But the ambiguity is the mischievous words in the Constitution: you have to be a 'natural born citizen.' What does that encompass and what doesn't it encompass? There is no hard and fast ruling from the Supreme Court-this is why Tribe chides Cruz that 'it is not settled law'-to literally be 'settled' you would need a SJC ruling. 

The fact that his mother was a citizen should mean he's 'natural born'-but there is ambiguity. Tribe could have lessened the ambiguity as he did for McCain but he has decided to go the other way and increase it as have McCain, the Iowa Governor and O'Donnell, and even Josh Marshall. 

And let's face it-the GOP base is not known for making fine distinctions and everyone is leaving this very murky-other than Mark Levin who is really peeved about what's being done to Ted Cruz. 

"RNC chair Preibus defended Obama against birther attacks but won't say if Cruz is a citizen. Clown. http://fb.me/2i9Og3xYN "

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/360992.php

True and the Democrats defended McCain. But no one but Mark Levin is defending Cruz. 

And Glenn Beck of course. 

http://www.theblaze.com/news/ted-cruz/

Yes, Glenn, Trump playing Born in the USA at his rallies is a jab at Cruz. 

So does this help Trump? In a normal. less dysfunctional-less fun-primary it might not. But this is the 2016 GOP primary. Many will be jolted by the idea that Ted Cruz was born in Canada. It's enough that Ted Cruz is Latino-now he's born in Canada as well? It's too much for them to wrap their heads around at once. 

I understand that Cruz has done some real homework in Iowa. He has done everything right and has some deep support with the Evangelical base. If he had a 20 point lead vs. Trump it might not have an impact. But despite him being the presumptive favorite here, his lead over Trump is not large in the state. There were a few polls which showed him up closer to double digits in Iowa but lately his lead has only been about 4 points or so. 

But yesterday, a few polls actually showed Trump up by a couple points. RCP now has him leading Trump by only 27.3 percent to 26.8 percent.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/ia/iowa_republican_presidential_caucus-3194.html

 In other words, it's tied. You can argue why this is but you can't deny that this has happened right after Trump started with the Birther stuff. 

If Trump wins in Iowa that's a huge blow to Cruz. But as Cruz has no friends no doubt everyone is going to help Trump amplify this attack. 

Live by the Birtherism, die by the Birtherism.