It wasn’t that long ago that the Republicans were all hot to have the chance elect a foreign-born president.

On July 10, 2003, Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, took action against what he calls “an anachronism that is decidedly un-American.” He introduced a bill that would allow a person who has been a U.S. citizen for 20 years and a resident for 14 years to run for president.

This was when Arnold Schwarzenegger was on the trail of becoming governor of California and the GOP really wanted him to run for president. (How’s that looking now?) Later Mr. Hatch held a hearing at which he brought in fellow Republicans to support the amendment, and following the GOP playbook then, he hauled out the ever-popular “support the troops” meme.

This is also true for the more than 700 immigrant recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor—our Nation’s highest decoration for valor—who risked their lives defending the freedoms and liberties of this Nation, many of whom gave their lives. But no matter how great their sacrifice, leadership, or love for our country, they remain ineligible to be a candidate for President. Now, this amendment would remove this unfounded inequity.

The Birthers blew a hole in that hull, didn’t they?

HT to Digby