Mike Johnson likes birthright citizenship when it scores goals

Nothing says originalism like cheering the goal and booing the amendment.

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Folarin Balogun is eligible to play for the United States because he was born in Brooklyn, which is awkward for Republicans currently trying to make “born in America” mean “terms and conditions apply.”

“Like all good things, it can be abused, and birthright citizenship goes back to the root of the country, the history of the tradition. You look at the original intent of the Constitution and the founders and what they were doing, of course … they were facing a very different set of circumstances than we’re facing now.”

“We know it has been abused in recent years because people have been literally just come over the border just to have a baby so that they can, you know, avail themselves of the social welfare system of America. As I mentioned, we arethe most benevolent nation in the history of the world but this must be done within reason.”

“That’s why the argument was presented to the Supreme Court. Is it time to reevaluate that? We’ll see where the court comes down on it. I think they’re going to look at it like originalists, as textualists. I think they’re also going to consider the factors that are at issue and the strength and stability of the country.”

“The President makes a lot of compelling arguments. I think a lot of people do and we’ll see how that shakes out.”

Johnson added that he doesn’t view these arguments “as inconsistent at all,” insisting that it is possible “to celebrate immigration—legal immigration,” stressing that his grandfather immigrated to the U.S. “from Sicily with eight siblings.”

ComicSands

The funny part is that Balogun did not sneak through a loophole. He is the rule. Born here, American. That is the whole thing. Republicans like the rule fine when it beats Belgium. They hate it when it produces a baby they cannot campaign against yet.

Nothing says originalism like cheering the goal and booing the amendment.