One More Time

Just to be sure that Barack Obama is really the President and there are no questions or challenges down the line, he and Chief Justice Roberts had a do-over. This time both parties took it slowly and got it right. Whew! No questions. Obama is president for real!

According to CNN, the second oath just happened a little while ago, at 7:35 tonight.
"Are you ready to take the oath?" Roberts asked.

"I am, and we're going to do it very slowly," Obama replied.

Below is how the oath should have gone the first time.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

I hate to get all paranoid, but I have to admit that the mistake was kind of lurking in the back of my head. I'm glad they did the oath again.

Anali's First Amendment © 2006-2009. All rights reserved.

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Comments

Anonymous said…
And Fox News anchor Chris Wallace said: "We're wondering here whether or not Barack Obama in fact is the president of the United States. They had a kind of garbled oath. It's just conceivable that this will end up going to the courts."

Dear Chris: How do you look at your father when you get together?
Liz Dwyer said…
I'm glad they did it over too, even though he was officially the president as of noon, oath or not. I could not believe Fox News. They are shameless and childish!
Anonymous said…
Oaths are but words and words but wind. Bush's oath went without a hitch and we have had 8 years of him then breaking that oath and ripping the constitution to shreds.

Frankly, I'm fascinated on how many people believe it is the oath that makes a president and not the democratic process.
dmarks said…
It's the Electoral College that makes the President, really, and that is not very democratic.

I've also read that the President is President on noon that day, regardless of the oath.
Anonymous said…
It's the Electoral College that makes the President, really, and that is not very democratic.

Do you normally go out of your way to miss the point or is it your hobby to pursue tangents?

The issue is that he was elected every which way to Sunday (popular vote, electoral college, LA Burdick's hot chocolate poll) which is what makes him president, not because he utters an oath correctly or not.

Although, I agree with Lisa that it's probably safe just to do it over to squelch Fox News and their spittle-flinging ilk.
David Sullivan said…
What a joke! Is it a coincidence that Roberts is as conservative as they come? hmmmmm...
dmarks said…
Chris: Cool your jets. Nothing I said was worth the sneering. There's nothing in the way Anali runs the blog to imply your "say something insulting if someone goes off on a tangent." Yes, I got the exact point in what was said, hence my comment. But I did not bother to read the 2nd comment after your rant.

David: At least it wasn't Dan Quayle trying to deliver!
Lisa Johnson said…
adamg - And this is why I'm so glad they did the oath again. Unbelievable.

los angelista - I never watched Fox News anyway, but I actually can't watch it now, because the channel strangely stopped working on my TV. Just as well.

chris - So true. Bush didn't take the oath too seriously. Or maybe he just didn't understand it. I will never truly comprehend his presidency.

dmarks - I heard that as well, that at noon, the transfer of power is automatic regardless of the oath.

david - I thought the same thing! I'm sure Roberts didn't vote for Obama.
dmarks said…
I just think too big of a deal is made over it. The most outrageous thing to come of this is Chris Wallace's musings, I think.

I think Roberts had a case of the nerves. But if the time comes for him to do this again, in 2013, or 2017, all eyes will really be on him. And it will make him even more nervous.
Anonymous said…
Legally he was President even without the oath. The do-over was primarily to calm down the people who don't understand that. We have a new President - finally! Isn't it exciting?
Lisa Johnson said…
twenty four at heart - It is WONDERFUL!!! ; )
Suldog said…
Another conspiracy theorist checking in :-)

Obama was one of those who did not vote for Roberts, so perhaps Roberts gave him a little payback?
Lisa Johnson said…
suldog - I guess we'll never really know...

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