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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inauguration Flubbing the Oath of Office

Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 3:27 PM

I haven't surfed over to any crazy, right-wing websites today—I'm trying to be better than that—but I suspect the fact that Roberts flubbed the oath, causing Obama to flub the oath, has some right-wing nutbags insisting that Barack Obama is not officially, not technically, President of the United States.

Anybody care to dive into, oh, Free Republic and see if I'm right?

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Comments (37) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

i had the exact same thought when it happened. but he's not really president because his birth certificate is forged and he wasn't really born in this country, right?

Posted by rara avis on January 20, 2009 at 3:35 PM

According to Jim Lehrer, Obama was President at Noon... before he even took the oath.

Posted by DOUG. on January 20, 2009 at 3:37 PM

I heard that Glen Beck talk about how he's not going to do anything for his country. He only does things for himself. And he also talked about how he's a "confederate"!?! Petty, small man. No doubt he saw nothing wrong with Bush & co. Already carping and sniping at Obama.

Posted by Vince on January 20, 2009 at 3:37 PM

Verbal hanging chad! Does not count! Or does it?

Posted by Explorer on January 20, 2009 at 3:39 PM

I must say that I thought it was deliberate that Justice Roberts tripped up Obama. It’s always been “… and will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States” instead of “… United States, faithfully.”
Also, Roberts closed it with “… so help you God.” And Obama, rightfully said “… so help me God.” In the past the Justice always says “me” so that the new President wouldn’t have to be concerned with switching pronouns.

Posted by raindrop on January 20, 2009 at 3:41 PM

I was thinking the same thing, but I think you'll have better luck on the "Obama's not a natural born citizen" sites.

Posted by Gitai on January 20, 2009 at 3:44 PM

No thanks, that's what I pay you to do.

Posted by brian on January 20, 2009 at 3:46 PM

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtrac…

Yep. Except it doesn't matter, since, as pointed out, he became President at noon no matter what he said.

Posted by Abby on January 20, 2009 at 3:47 PM

I heard something on NPR this morning that said that the official switch in power would happen at 12 noon, regardless of whether the oath had been "done" yet.

One of the NPR commentators came on the air during the classical music interlude and said something to the effect of, "They're running a little behind schedule, but for the record it's 12:01 pm and Barack Obama is now officially the president of the United States."

Posted by talldrinkofwater on January 20, 2009 at 3:48 PM

They've been flubbing it for years by adding "So help me God" at the end. It's not part of the oath, which is in the constitution.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0878064.h…

Posted by Patrick on January 20, 2009 at 3:48 PM

#2 and Jim Lehrer are mostly right:

Amendment XX, Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

But Article II says:

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation

What the distinction is between his term beginning and him "entering on the execution of his office" I don't know.

What I find curious is that Obama paused so Roberts could correct himself, which he did, then Obama proceeded to recite the original incorrect phrase. Oh well, nerves. Too bad, though, it kind of killed the moment for me. I teared up during Biden's oath, not so much for Obama's.

Posted by w7ngman on January 20, 2009 at 3:51 PM

No thanks, Dan, it'll give me explosive diarrhea.

Posted by Chris down in The Couv on January 20, 2009 at 3:54 PM

Of course Free Republic is already on that, Dan. Some of them are convinced that Roberts flubbed it because "in his mind he knows there's some doubt about OB meeting the constitutional requirements ... His mind caused his mouth to stutter because of it. You can't repress guilty knowledge without an occasional flare-up." Sometimes, Free Republic is hillariously entertaining, like if Fox News started a Daily Show without grasping the difference between "laughing with" and "laughing at".

Posted by Brian on January 20, 2009 at 3:55 PM

A couple of freepers:

"So is he officially inaugurated if he doesn’t recite the correct lines? Maybe the birth certificate folks can check into this" (which was sarcasm) and

"Roberts muffed the oath. In his mind he knows there's some doubt about OB meeting the constitutional requirements.

"Regardless of all of the legal gobblygook and hemin and hawin by the courts, Roberts knows the doubt exists. His mind caused his mouth to stutter because of it. You can't repress guilty knowledge without an occasional flare-up. "

Posted by Fnarf on January 20, 2009 at 3:56 PM

I still teared up, flub and all. It made it real and human.

Free Republic comments have a lot of arguing over who caused the flub. The most interesting one stated that the chief justice flubbed, because his conscience suspects Obama isn't a US citizen.

Posted by kim on January 20, 2009 at 4:02 PM

You needn't worry, Dan. Fox News is a go:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtrac…

Or check out the entry at 1:51 p.m., titled "Wild Oaths:"

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/…

Posted by go dot on January 20, 2009 at 4:04 PM

Freepers must now come to terms with the fact that they're not just one century behind, they're two centuries behind.

And now for The Hague and the war crimes trials ...

Posted by Will in Seattle on January 20, 2009 at 4:05 PM

Honestly, hillaryis44.com has more hateful things to say than either redstate or the free republic.

Hillary should go have a talk with those people.

Posted by Zelbinian on January 20, 2009 at 4:07 PM

YAY!
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k294/s…

Posted by Jamie on January 20, 2009 at 4:10 PM

But don't you guys fucking love that our President knew the oath better than Roberts? Watch it again. Obama paused to let Roberts correct himself, when he didn't, Obama chuckled and still followed the Justice's script to keep things going.

That anybody would fault Obama for the "flub" is pure and utter desperate desperation.

Posted by Non on January 20, 2009 at 4:10 PM

YAY!
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k294/s…

Posted by Jamie on January 20, 2009 at 4:11 PM

Didn't read through all the comments, so don't know if it has already been stated...do people know that the president-elect automatically becomes the president at noon (regardless of the oath) since it is embedded in the constitution?

Posted by sean on January 20, 2009 at 4:14 PM

Let us quote President Obama (IT IS SO.FUN.TO.TYPE.THAT.)

"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

There is no flub, no scandal, no issue with his swearing in. Anybody who falls into reporting on it or taking issue with it, please see:

"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

Posted by Non on January 20, 2009 at 4:19 PM

an end to the petty grievances
an end to the petty grievances
an end to the petty grievances
an end to the petty grievances
an end to the petty grievances
an end to the petty grievances

Posted by Be the Change on January 20, 2009 at 4:21 PM

If Bush got to be president without technically being elected, I think Obama gets to be the president without technically saying the oath as written. Fairsies.

Posted by violet_dagrinder on January 20, 2009 at 4:28 PM

While it is prudent to urge caution–given that we’ve seen how quickly political fortunes can change–it would be immensely satisfying to tell people like the Freepers to get down and wrap their lips around that thick, baseball bat-sized Hope kahk.

Start suckin’, neofascists.

Posted by Original Andrew on January 20, 2009 at 4:40 PM

@23 and 24

Fine, but war crimes are NOT petty.

Posted by Renton Mike on January 20, 2009 at 4:45 PM

I thought Obama flubbed it first. Roberts hadn't finished speaking when Obama jumped in a little early saying "I, Barack Hussein Obama..." He ends up stepping on Roberts' "...do solemnly swear..." part.

Posted by schmacky on January 20, 2009 at 4:46 PM

27, contextually, I was referring to this most recent manufactured instance of episodic drama.

War crimes are still on the table

Posted by Non on January 20, 2009 at 4:49 PM

So much for John "Textualist" Roberts, strict-Constitutional-interpreter; vote against his confirmation and payback is a beeyotch.

Posted by Andy Niable on January 20, 2009 at 4:58 PM

I was glad for the moment of levity. I was about to cry in front of all my co-workers and it allowed me to pull it back together. I started to choke up when I saw Pelosi and Feinstien walking out in front of him with HUGE smiles on thier faces and then when he hugged Lewis and Jackson Jr the waterworks were primed to go.

Posted by Jersey on January 20, 2009 at 5:08 PM

"So help you God?"

"No"

#28, I thought Obama jumped in pretty cleanly and noticeably, after which Robert kept speaking. Obama did jump in over Roberts as he fumbled the line the second time, though.

Also, who cares? Does anyone even remember the oath the next day? It's all about the address.

Posted by w7ngman on January 20, 2009 at 5:14 PM

"You can't repress guilty knowledge without an occasional flare-up."

That explains why W Bush can't get a full sentence out without screwing it up.

War Crimes are not petty squables. I hope they convict.

Posted by If the ex-Pres was a dick, you must convict. on January 20, 2009 at 6:00 PM

The flubbing was an unexpected blunder that will forever scar the moment for all our grandchildren's grandchildren. It was disappointing, but a bit humourous. I thought the President rescued the ceremony with the pause, smile, nod and repeating the Justice's error nevertheless.

I'm right behind #20. Bang on.

I don't agree with #28. For no freaking reason, Roberts paused between "Obama" and "...do solemnly swear." That seemed to prompt -- or bait for you conspiracy types -- Obama to jump in. Man, don't they rehearse these things anyway...?

After further review, the call on the field stands. First down Obama.

Posted by Avro on January 20, 2009 at 6:05 PM

FYI, Obama can have the oath re-administered at any time. So this is all just mental masturbation.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on January 20, 2009 at 6:20 PM

"You can't repress guilty knowledge without an occasional flare-up."

Agreed. Although the "guilty knowledge" on Robert's part is that he is a big old closet case that has no right being on the supreme court. Along with Thomas, Alito, and a few others.

Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay on January 20, 2009 at 7:21 PM

I was listening to a show on "Air America" (don't know name of show), but the two women hosting it mentioned the flub up probably had more to do with Roberts not bothering to bring an index card with the ACTUAL oath with him. He was just so cocky about it that he figured he didn't need it. Apparently in contrast former Chief Justice Rehnquist rehearsed many times when he swore in past presidents and always brought a card with the words just in case he got nervous (as anyone who does public speaking knows can happen). I think this was more a case of Roberts being a slacker, and the unflappable Obama not letting Roberts fuck-up faze him. Doesn't surprise me in the least though that right-wingers are already making a big deal about it. Petty, small-minded people are so predictable.

Posted by Jennifer on January 20, 2009 at 8:06 PM