Super Awesome Blog » Oath of Office

Obama's Oath Re-Do Bible-less?

SAB — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:56:56 +0000

Keith Olberman reported today that (responding to Glenn Beck’s reporting) that Barack Obama’s redo oath of office did not include a copy of the bible. Looks like they got a few things right this time around. Doesn’t it seem more appropriate to have an incoming president swear on the Constitution he’s swearing to protect than on a work of fiction?

Obama Oath Re-Do (Still wrong, of course)

SAB — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:29:12 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLu37dM6hsc

Looks like they re-did it. Still wrong however, as Roberts prompted him to swear to God. Sigh. I’m sure that had they not done a re-do, conspiracy theorists would have claimed he wasn’t the actual President. I’m sure that some will claim that anything he did between the point of his first swearing in and his second was technically illegal too… at least he was properly elected!

Justice Roberts Flubs Oath, Forces "So Help You God?"

SAB — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:15:51 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Yff-_9MZs

The media has been making a big buzz about Chief Justice Roberts’ flub of the Oath of Office. The Actual Oath as written in Article II of the Constitution reads:

“I Name Here 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.”

The Oath Administered by Cheif Justice Roberts was:

“I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully, (waits) the off… faithfully 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. So Help you God?”

Most media sources have been covering Robert’s delivery of the oath as a light fluff peice to get a quick laugh. I don’t care too much about the misspoken line, but more about the unconstitutional additon of “So Help You God?” to the end. “So Help Me God” is a tradition, started by George Washington. It is thought that most, if not every president since Washington has said it at the end of their oath. That doesn’t mean the Supreme Court Justice should add it to the oath himself, the President Elect should add it to the end if they prefer. Bad Chief Justice. Bad.