| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: Politix |
| MSNBC Says Roberts Flubbed Oath Not the Messiah |
| 2009-01-20 |
| The recitation of the presidential oath came in fits and starts. The Constitution prescribes the text: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will to best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." But Chief Justice John Roberts, using no notes, flubbed his lines, and Obama knew it. First, Obama jumped in before the "do solemnly swear" phrase, which seemed to throw the chief justice off his stride. Roberts rendered the next phrase as "that I will execute the office of President to the United States faithfully." "That I will execute," Obama repeated, then paused like a school teacher prompting his student with a slight nod. Roberts took another shot at it: "The off ... faithfully the pres ... the office of President of the United States." The oath then got more or less back on track after that. Close enough for government work. NBC's Abby Livingston adds the transcript: ROBERTS: I, Barack Hussein Obama... OBAMA: I, Barack... ROBERTS: ... do solemnly swear... OBAMA: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear... ROBERTS: ... that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully... OBAMA: ... that I will execute... ROBERTS: ... faithfully the office of president of the United States... OBAMA: ... the office of president of the United States faithfully... ROBERTS: ... and will to the best of my ability... OBAMA: ... and will to the best of my ability... ROBERTS: ... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. OBAMA: ... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. ROBERTS: So help you God? OBAMA: So help me God. ROBERTS: Congratulations, Mr. President. |
| Posted by:Beavis |
| #4 After twenty years of Yale degrees, we get two Harvard men with this song and dance. |
| Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2009-01-20 19:02 |
| #3 looks to me that they both flubbed 1. Roberts used phrases that were too long 2. Obama didn't tell Roberts to use short phrases 3. Obama interupted Roberts in the first phrase 4. Roberts put the word "faithfully" in the wrong place. |
| Posted by: mhw 2009-01-20 18:28 |
| #2 I hope not - that will make Biden the President wouldn't it? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-01-20 14:56 |
| #1 So tomorrow I'll assume we'll have the hysterical "He's not really president!!!" stories? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-01-20 14:47 |