Roberts and Obama Reunite for Inaugural Do-Over
The Obama White House announced Wednesday evening that the president re-performed the oath of office after yesterday's hiccup -- not because they felt he had to, but just to be on the safe side:
The following is a statement from White House Counsel Greg Craig.
"We believe that the oath of office was administered effectively and that the President was sworn in appropriately yesterday. But the oath appears in the Constitution itself. And out of an abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath a second time."
The pool report says that Roberts asked Obama if he was ready, to which the new chief executive replied: "I am, and we're going to do it very slowly."
Unfortunately, it would likely have been a violation of the separation of powers for Obama to have ordered Roberts to write, "I will not bungle the presidential oath," 100 times.
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Josh
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Eric
It would have been real funny if he had and Chief Roberts went along with the gag. It would really be some needed comic relief for the country!
January 21, 2009 10:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Was this purely to silence the wingnut freaks? If so, I say right on. (Not that they're aware enough to know when they've been foiled! Foiled again!)
January 21, 2009 11:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama Gets Last Laugh: Tricks Chief Justice into Giving Him a Second Term
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=5724
January 21, 2009 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like that they were all joking about it, especially the "12 more balls" line. I'm sure "At Last" will haunt Obama's dreams for years.
January 21, 2009 11:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not sure how haunting that would be. Whatever piece of music they play at the parties celebrating your inauguration as president, that is the greatest song in the world.
January 21, 2009 11:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
the comment on the front page about this being related to republican incompetence is unfair, IMO. It was a pressure-packed situation, Roberts messed up. Actually, wasn't it Obama that messed up first by butting in too early? They both didn't do so hot.
To tie it to a general "republican incompetence" makes us just like those whom we despise. Petty and vindictive. Two men, on one of the biggest stages in the world, goofed...one more than another (roberts), but please don't tie it to some big incompetence bandwagon...
January 22, 2009 12:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
But are you certain that it was NOT all part of a vast right wing conspiracy?
January 22, 2009 1:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wouldn't want to make too much over it, because you're right, it was a pressure-packed situation, and the first time for both men at that particular podium. That said, though, I wouldn't say that Obama was at fault for "butting in" too early; Roberts paused momentarily after stating Obama's name, the point at which most people administering an oath break for the other person to repeat. It wasn't unnatural that Obama would begin to repeat after him when he did, especially if there wasn't any previously agreed-upon place for the break, as I imagine there probably was not. That may have thrown Roberts enough off his stride that he bobbled the next line, but that's at least partly his fault for not realizing ahead of time that he needed to make it very clear where he was pausing.
January 22, 2009 2:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
But Republicans are Petty and vindictive.
January 22, 2009 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sad how we need to bow down to these wing nuts. But at least Rush and his folks will now be forced to STFU.
January 22, 2009 12:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Were they already riffin on this in the States? "Obama is not the real President," etc.?
January 22, 2009 4:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Chris Wallace had done so on Fox.
January 22, 2009 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thx. I saw Drudge was soiling his trowsers yesterday over the fact that second swearing did not include Bible (or e.g., Koran, or Tibetan Book of the Dead).
January 22, 2009 11:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Terry Moran --Nightline-- kept stressing "they" rather than Roberts who messed up the reading.
This guy was also questioned Stephanapolous for picking Obama in three straight debates. Maybe it was because George really thought Obama won, and didn't want to shade things, Terry!
January 22, 2009 12:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
How embarassing. Let's all not forget that roberts is a wingnut. Maybe he did it intentionally to just be an a**. Thank God the republicans are out of power. Now maybe the government can start doing its job and govern for pete's sake.
January 22, 2009 1:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
I doubt very much it was intentional, but in a way I'm glad it happened. Any judge that says there is no Constitutional problem with a policy that results in a 12-year-old girl being arrested, handcuffed, fingerprinted, searched, and detained at police headquarters for 3 hours for eating a single french fry in a Metro station when an adult would only be given a ticket for the same offense could do with a good dose of humility, it seems to me.
January 22, 2009 2:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
i cannot belief i saw a cnn report of rush bigmouth saying he hopes Obama fails..that to me is saying he hopes america fails..can someone PLEASE shut this fat PIG up? please////////
January 22, 2009 3:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
I say let him keep flapping his gums.
Obama's got an +80% approval record...the more people like him talk, the more they isolate themselves and prove to the American people that they are only out to further their own self-interests.
January 22, 2009 8:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Leave it to the one Republican participating in the event to screw it up.
January 22, 2009 8:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
He shoulda said, "Yeah, I'm ready. Are you ready, motherfucker?"
January 22, 2009 8:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is it just me? or is Gibbs getting hammered by the Press today? I understand the need for tough questions, but it's his first day and two, where the hell were they when Bush was in office?
January 22, 2009 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink