Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The first right-wing conspiracy theory of the Obama administration

I guarantee you that right-wingers will claim that Obama isn't really the president because Justice Roberts messed up the language of the oath:

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.

Roberts moved "faithfully" to follow "States", and Obama paused but then he said it as Roberts had said.

Follow-up: In a comment on the Volokh Conspiracy post on this topic, DailyRich says something I agree with: "Eh, Bush nailed the oath and flubbed everything else, I'll gladly take the trade-off."

More follow-up: The Constitution says the new president takes office at noon without stating any qualification or requirement about the oath. And, at the luncheon immediately following, apparently Justice Roberts took the blame and apologized.

Final follow-up: The Prez and Chief, as expected, had a do-over. So if someone says he's not President because he botched the oath, they're double crazy.

1 Comments:

At Tuesday, 20 January, 2009, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a gaffe. You'd think the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States would be able to read 35 words accurately. Don't they rehearse these things at all?

 

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