Right and maybe soon in office: Kamala Harris
Photo: Carolyn Kaster / APThe US magazine "Newsweek" has apologized for a guest comment, the author of which questions the citizenship of Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The false claim that Harris is not a US citizen and is therefore not allowed to run for elections has been spread by right-wing Trump supporters for a few days.
"This contribution is used by some as a tool to fuel racism and xenophobia. We apologize for this," said a statement from the chief editor. She had previously defended the comment of law professor John Eastman at length.
"We could not have foreseen in which way the essay could be interpreted, distorted and used," write the responsible department head, Josh Hammer, and the editor-in-chief Nancy Cooper. The aim of the essay was simply to discuss the definition of "natural-born citizen". However, many readers received the message that Harris was not a real American.
And further: "The guest commentary was never intended to fire the racist lie of Birtherism or to make common with it, the conspiracy theory that Barack Obama is unlawful. But we would have the potential and also the probability that exactly this will happen have to."
The statement ends with the note that the contribution will not be withdrawn and will continue to be available - provided with the comments.
Writer wanted post that went to Harris
The guest contribution was written by John Eastman. The conservative Republican argues that the US Constitution does not guarantee a birthright to citizenship. In the US legal system, this happens either when a person was born in the United States - like Kamala Harris - or when one or both parents are or were already US citizens.
Eastman alludes to the origins of Harris' parents in his text. Her mother, a cancer researcher, was from India and her father, a Stanford Professor Emeritus, is Jamaican.
Eastman tried to become attorney general in California ten years ago. However, he did not manage to run as the top Republican candidate in the 2010 election. Instead, Steve Cooley competed. He was defeated by Harris, who held the office from 2011 to 2017.
"Newsweek" initially defended Eastman's position. The starting point of his considerations is "a long, secret scholarly dispute" over the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. He did not try to "stir up a racist conspiracy theory about Kamala Harris' candidacy".
Candidate is legal and in no way controversial
However, the claim that Harris is not allowed to run for election is fundamentally wrong. Harris was born in Oakland, California. She can become Vice President and President. The matter is by no means controversial among constitutional lawyers. The campaign recalls attempts by the right to sabotage Barack Obama's election campaign.
Nonetheless, Trump last referred to Eastman's "theory" at a press conference in the White House, calling him a very intelligent lawyer.
Parts of the "Newsweek" editorial team criticize the decision to allow Eastman to speak at all with his false claim. "This is a highly dangerous, racist opinion piece that should never have been published," tweeted Christina Zhao, a "Newsweek" editor from New York.
Icon: The mirror