Shameful. On the Left, the usual lying, parsing and double-talk have already taken hold of the census question "Are you a US Citizen?" Like I've often counseled, when constitutional issues/questions arise, consult--what else--the Constitution. So much easier that way.
In a nutshell for the brain dead obfuscators out there, here it is:
Art I Sec 2 Clause 3 of the Constitution calls for the "enumeration of the people" (except Indians) every 10 years in order to properly apportion direct taxation and representation, the ratio of reps to population today which is, roughly, 1 rep for every 800,000 citizens.
In Federalist #16, framer/founder Alexander Hamilton defined those persons enumerated, aka counted, would be "the natural guardians of the Constitution", that being We the People, the citizens of the US, who created the federal gov't and Constitution, and in whom is entrusted the duty of safeguarding that Constitution. (Notes: 1. Clearly, illegal aliens,, temporary residents, visa holders and resident aliens cannot be described as "the natural guardians of the Constitution"; 2. The Constitutional Convention eliminated this citizens-only rule by including 3/5 of slaves in the enumeration, a compromise crafted by the framers to entice the southern States to ratify the Constitution and to accede to union with the other States. 3. Per the 14th Amendment in 1868, also included as "guardians" were Indians who were paying taxes and expressed a desire to vote. 4. And in 1924, all Indians were included in the enumeration as citizens; 5. Very important to understand that "inhabitant", "qualified person" and "US Citizen" are interchangeable terms in Art I Sec 2 Clause 2 and Art I Sec 3 Clause 3 when defining the qualifications for national elective office.)
Any argument to the contrary is N-O-I-S-E.
