# Arnold might lose his Austrian citizenship **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 24, 2005, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391 "2005-01-24T07:56:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/41 "2005-01-24T13:54:18Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Well, nobody could have a cite yet for that one way or the other, because nobody could have taken a meaningful survey yet. And it’s highly patronising to suggest that the Austrian public are so insecure that they wouldn’t be able to bring themselves to disown him. Whoa there **GorillaMan**. Wasn’t trying to be patronising at all. Just asking a question. Relax a bit eh? What I was saying is that, last I heard, the general populace of Austria still probably likes the guy. Countries tend to be fond of their biggest celebritites just as much as small towns are. All you’ve said is that he failed to grant clemecy to a death row inmate. I didn’t know that Austria was so sensitive about such things. Thus far, one person wants to have the Governators citizenship revoked. As far as I know, it takes more than one person to get such a thing done. When more than one person is pushing for this to happen, I’ll believe it. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/42 "2005-01-24T14:08:08Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > It would be a conflict of interests if they had a role in governing two countries. But merely being a citizen of another country doesn’t give any such conflict. Doesn’t it? The example given is Arnie and America. What happens if it is Mohammed and America? ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/43 "2005-01-24T14:14:29Z")
**Calm Kiwi** surely you are not suggesting that Muslims cannot be loyal Americans :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/44 "2005-01-24T14:15:12Z")
Yes, in this case, Arnie does appear to have ended up with a conflict of interests. But your suggestion was that _all_ people in government should _automatically_ reject dual citizenship, which is something different altogether. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/45 "2005-01-24T14:33:06Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > **Calm Kiwi** surely you are not suggesting that Muslims cannot be loyal Americans :dubious: Not at all! I am suggesting that HOLLYWOOD stars seem less threatening then Mohammed-from-Iraq, surely it is all about perception? I can imagine your more nationalistic Austrians wanting to get rid of Arnie. I can respect their not wanting to have someone so obviously commited to a foreign country as a citizen. He has showed his loyalty as a citizen is about being an American. If Austria removes his citizenship does it mean he has no Austrian heritage? He has chosen where his loyalty lies though. I can imagine your more nationalistic Americans not wanting Mohammed to be a senator, while holding dual America/Iraqi citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/46 "2005-01-24T14:36:33Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Yes, in this case, Arnie does appear to have ended up with a conflict of interests. But your suggestion was that _all_ people in government should _automatically_ reject dual citizenship, which is something different altogether. I liked my suggestion. Live as Joe Bloggs anywhere with dual citizenship. Go for an elected position…then you just chose a citizenship (ok…only in my world). ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/47 "2005-01-24T14:40:37Z")
So what about people who don’t go for _elected_ positions, but are still extremely politically active in their adoptive country, say taking a paid position for a political party in the adoptive country’s Parliament? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/48 "2005-01-24T14:46:09Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Live as Joe Bloggs anywhere with dual citizenship. Go for an elected position…then you just chose a citizenship (ok…only in my world). OK, what about countries that don’t require citizenship for you to be elected? (Any Commonwealth or Irish citizen can enter UK elections…) ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/49 "2005-01-24T14:48:02Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > So what about people who don’t go for _elected_ positions, but are still extremely politically active in their adoptive country, say taking a paid position for a political party in the adoptive country’s Parliament? I thought I already said that. If you CHOOSE to take an ELECTED position in another country then you have chosen that country. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/50 "2005-01-24T14:52:39Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > OK, what about countries that don’t require citizenship for you to be elected? (Any Commonwealth or Irish citizen can enter UK elections…) Yeah I know. Some Kiwi Lordy-Lord type has been in the house of commons for years. I think dual citizenship is a wonderful thing. I believe running for election should mean commiting yourself to one place though. Hey I am often wrong, I’m just stating my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/51 "2005-01-24T14:58:22Z")
When Govenor Scwartzenhager became a U.S. Citizen he took the same [oath](http://www.us-immigration.com/information/citizenship_tutorial/oath.html) I took. That oath said that he relinquished all ties to other countries. > [@](#): > > I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; The United States does not recognise duel citizenship and therefore, by the laws of the country he is a Govenor in he does not have Austrian citizenship. Even though Canada still considers me a Canadian citizen, the United States does not, and would refuse me a US passport if I carried A Canadian one. Normaly when another country agrees with us we don’t call them Nazis. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/52 "2005-01-24T15:04:40Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > I thought I already said that. If you CHOOSE to take an ELECTED position in another country then you have chosen that country. You did, but I’m not clear why you’re limiting it to _elected_ positions. Appointed political positions often involve as much if not more political work than elected positions. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/53 "2005-01-24T15:05:32Z")
> [@furlibusea](#): > > …and would refuse me a US passport if I carried A Canadian one. How would they even know what foreign documentation you posessed? ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/54 "2005-01-24T15:07:10Z")
> [@furlibusea](#): > > Even though Canada still considers me a Canadian citizen, the United States does not, and _would refuse me a US passport if I carried A Canadian one._ The emphasised part of your post is incorrect. You’d be required to show your US passport to US officials, but they wouldn’t stop you from carrying a foreign one. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/55 "2005-01-24T15:08:14Z")
Oops. well, I _tried_ to emphasise part of your post, but I forgot it all comes out in italics anyway :smack: ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/56 "2005-01-24T15:10:36Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > You did, but I’m not clear why you’re limiting it to _elected_ positions. Appointed political positions often involve as much if not more political work than elected positions. Hmm I suppose that is dependent on where you are from? Maybe? I can’t think of what kind of positions you are thinking of. I say elected postions because they are elected. If someone applies for a job and gets it, then YAY to them. There are few elected jobs (ok few elected jobs HERE). Maybe we are just not understanding each others systems? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/57 "2005-01-24T15:10:39Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > Yes, I see how coming from New Zealand you might be confused. In a federal system however there are various different levels of government. The level which Arnie is at is not a level that can be described as part of “the governing body” of the country. That would only include offices such as Congressman, President, Cabinet member etc. - not Governor Well, that’s not what the Constitution of the United States says. The state governments are part of the United States, their powers specifically laid out. They aren’t independent agents. It’s a FEDERAL system, not a country that’s just had these “state” things spring up out of nothing. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/58 "2005-01-24T15:14:16Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Hmm I suppose that is dependent on where you are from? Maybe? I can’t think of what kind of positions you are thinking of. It could be anything from an unelected member of Cabinet, to the political advisor doing most of the legwork for a Parliamentarian, to the General Secretary of a political party. These aren’t McJobs, they involve an _enormous_ commitment. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/59 "2005-01-24T15:14:43Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, that’s not what the Constitution of the United States says. The state governments are part of the United States, their powers specifically laid out. They aren’t independent agents. It’s a FEDERAL system, not a country that’s just had these “state” things spring up out of nothing. Well maybe that is where differences arise. I doubt that Austria is one of the states of America. Austria is a country. It may have different criteria. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391/60 "2005-01-24T15:16:54Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > You’d be required to show your US passport to US officials, but they wouldn’t stop you from carrying a foreign one. So in this case, am I right in thinking that the US doesn’t actually care whether you hold another citizenship, as long as you’ve got everything correct for your American citizenship? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arnold-might-lose-his-austrian-citizenship/286391.md?page=4)