...Barack Obama took the oath of office and became the 44th president of the United States of America.
The proceedings, however, did not go as smoothly as planned.
As Joe Biden completed his oath and a moving performance of a unique John Williams piece completed. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, prepared to administer the oath of office to senator Obama. With his left hand on a bible last used by Abraham Lincoln and his right hand in the air, Obama repeated after Roberts' recital of the presidential oath:
"I, Barack Obama, do solemnly swear..."
Then, though, something went wrong. The incoming president stumbled over his words, appearing to have difficulty repeating the oath. With hundreds of millions of people looking on, and standing opposite the highest judicial officer in the country, Obama appeared to forget his lines.
Did he really forget his lines, though, or was some other factor in play?
Apparently, there was a misstep on the part of Chief Justice Roberts, not Obama, that caused this presidential blunder.
Roberts, it appears, botched the delivery of the oath by saying, "that I will execute the office of President of the United States faithfully." Despite its utterance by the highest ranking judge currently serving on the Supreme Court, this line wasn't quite in keeping with tradition... or the Constitution.
Article II, Section I of the United States Constitution sets forth the official Presidential Oath as: "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."
Like Eric Morecombe playing the piano.... the words were all there, just not necessarily in the right order.
It was Obama realising that Roberts had made a mistake. Must admit, I thought it was Obama, but seems he was on the ball.
The Youtube clips clearly show that Obama says (after Roberts has cocked it up) "That I will execute....." then pauses , waits for Roberts to try and correct it, gives a smile and nod of the head as if to say "C'mon you cnut... say it properly or I WILL execute!" Then they both fek it up.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JDyqulx03QE
They've since done another formal 'ceremony' using the words in the proper order, just in case there was some pedant out there saying "He ain't President as he hasn't said the Oath as stated in the Constitution."
didn't he redo it in privacy? even though messing up those lines doesn't stop him being president. as he was president before the oath was even taken :]
