Chief Justice Roberts stumbles (reversed several words in the oath of office)

[sabra]

Source: AP

Chief Justice John Roberts swore in President-elect Barack Obama as president of the United States on Tuesday with a slight stumble over the wording of the oath of office in the first of what could be many important interactions between two men who rose to their positions of power quickly and who have some background similarities, but whose politics differ.

...

But at one point, Obama paused abruptly after Roberts reversed several words in the oath.

The oath includes the phrase "that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States" but Roberts didn't say "faithfully" until after saying "president of the United States."

Obama apparently realized that something was out of order.

With Obama not reciting, Roberts then repeated the phrase correctly, the brief awkward moment ended and Obama was back on track.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11498044

[bluestateguy]

1. Roberts should resign over this flagrant violation of his constitutional duties

Despicable.

[fed_up_mother]

2. Chill. They were both nervous. Obama rushed. Roberts stopped. Screwed up. etc.

They both looked like nervous grooms to me. :)

[Xenotime]

15. I have heard that some are going to take it to court.

[Cronopio]

25. Let's hope not. We all should have had enough of that kind of petty shit over the last 8 years. nt

[Terran]

27. Take WHAT to court?

The oath of office isn't even necessary for him to become President. It happened automatically at noon.

Edit: it occurs to me there may have been sarcasm...sorry if I missed it. :blush:

[struggle4progress]

30. Constitution Art II Sec 1: "Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take

the following Oath or Affirmation: 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"

But of course no one sane holds that such an oath or affirmation becomes invalid, if the person administering it or the person taking it fumbles it slightly, especially if the fumble is corrected: it is not a test of skill as an actor but a solemnizing of good-faith commitment to the rule-of-law defined by the Constitution

[Terran]

32. Hmph, my mistake

Someone who seemed to know whereof they spoke told me earlier today the Oath isn't mandatory.

[NYC Liberal]

35. Obama became president at noon oath or not. The oath is required

before actually exercising the powers and duties of the office.

[Terran]

43. Thanks for explaining.

Something not covered in any civics class I ever took.

[struggle4progress]

59. I have no idea what it would mean, that you imagine someone could be President

without having the authority to exercise the powers and duties of the office, since the office is defined by its powers and duties -- though I suppose the question could arise and be important under certain limited circumstances, which I prefer not to imagine

[alcibiades_mystery]

64. The Cheshire Cat, smiling without a face, etc.

Problems in the Philosophy of Language.

Or Nietzsche: the "doer" is nothing but the deed, a set of capacities. Without the power to act as president, there is no president. The separation of the lightning from its striking is a trick of language, a trick of grammar: there is no lightning separate from its striking, even if we can separate the phrase "Lightning strikes" into a subject (Lightning) and a verb (to strike), and thereby create the illusion that the doer precedes or exists outside the deed. Similarly for a President and his or her powers: the "President" is nothing but a set of powers; they can only be separated through the most absurdist language tricks, little artifices of grammar.

[Ian David]

41. MSNBC and CNN both reported that Obama became President at Noon, even if he doesn't take the oath.nt

[mcg]

65. On the news they said there would be a do over in private,

it has happened before.

[Ediacara]

3. As should all people who've ever made a mistake ever

:eyes:

[Occulus]

45. It *is* a bit odd, though

I would say Roberts has little experience in front of large crowds, and got rattled by the enormity of the audience.

Stage fright.

That said, one would presume he'd been prepared over and over to give the oath. It's not as if his function there was terribly complicated, after all.

[treestar]

67. I would presume someone with what it takes to become CJ of the SCOTUS

would be someone who didn't get nervous.

But we're talking a Chimp pick, here.

[cui bono]

4. Oh please.

:eyes:

[Wednesdays]

39. Exactly.

"Roberts should resign over this flagrant violation of his constitutional duties."

You got that right...except none of that has to do with what happened today.

[rpannier]

49. He was nervous

Give it a rest

I'd be nervous if I was him too

[ShortnFiery]

63. Perhaps not resign, but it's no time to ask "the boss" for a pay raise Johnny Boy.

:evilgrin:

[Tempest]

5. It makes sense Roberts would stumble on the word "faithfully"

Considering how Roberts has ignored it since he took his seat in the SC.

[saigon68]

10. I wonder if he stumbles

When he uses the toilet paper

[TahitiNut]

21. You got that right, Temp! It was a Freudian moment.

:thumbsup:

[unblock]

6. let the conspiracy theories begin!

roberts tried to trick obama! he deliberately used the wrong phrasing so they would later be able to say that he was never properly sworn in as president!

i'm series!!!11!!!!!1!

[liberalhistorian]

8. OMG, that is just so

HUGH!!1111111

:rofl: :rofl:

[central scrutinizer]

14. Yes, it was a Rovian trick! MIHOP! LIHOP!

[420inTN]

16. I was thinking the same thing when it happened

"Oh great, here come the conspiracies."

[Usrename]

19. I certainly don't put it past him.

He was up to his neck in the Florida recount, advising Jeb on how to best screw the voters and silence the voice of the people.

Look at how big the birth certificate story is. Can you imagine if he wasn't properly sworn in?

It won't take much to get me to buy into the theory. Although it was a BIG crowd, and that does tend to make people nervous.

[chusmeria]

7. we sure it was a seizure Roberts had and not a stroke?

nt

[pasto76]

9. i think there is some psycology in there

some inner turmoil and guilt caused roberts to screw it up. I mean, even little kids can remember all the babble that goes along with their first communion.

"aw c'mon!" -pastor manning

Im glad to be able to expect responsible decisions from our civilian leadership again. I will re-enlist this summer.


SGT PASTO

[Phred42]

11. Heckova Job Bobbie.

Just typical incompetence from Republican Appointees

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

12. They'll get it right next time. No worries

[RedEarth]

13. TPM: Chris Wallace is saying it might end up in the courts

With a bit of humor in his voice but not completely clear he was joking.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/01/fox_eats_wallaces_brain.php

Also from TPM.......

Dump That Meme ...


Drudge is saying it. And weirdly the AP is even falling for it too, saying Obama flubbed the oath. But that's clearly not what happened if you actually watch the video. It was Roberts who flubbed it. (ABC got it right; what's with AP? Following Drudge? Still a GOP town?)


http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/01/dump_that_meme.php

[420inTN]

17. what's the big deal

They go to a back room and do it again, and get it right this time.

[RedEarth]

20. It's not a big deal, it's the right wing freaks on fake news and hate radio

that might try and make it a big deal...but, it's not. Especially when you watch the video of Obama taking the oath. You can see him smiling and waiting for Roberts to state the oath correctly.

[Hugabear]

57. I'm sure Hannity and Weiner Savage will be all over that

Fucking hatemongers.

[leftynyc]

44. Exactly

And he didnt even need Roberts to do it. Michelle could administer the oath (and probably should have - she would not have screwed it up).

[JDPriestly]

31. Roberts flubbed.

First, he should have paused after "I, Barack Obama," because that is where the pause naturally takes place. Obama started to recite "I, Barack Obama," while Roberts was continuing the sentence. That threw Roberts off and he forgot to say the word "faithfully," before the verb "to execute." Fortunately, "faithfully" is an adverb that can be placed at the end of the sentence. Obama gracefully gave Roberts time to correct his error, but then repeated the error.

Roberts strikes me as being very shy. I think Roberts just got confused. If you look at Roberts' face when he begins to say the oath, he looks extremely serious -- downright terrified. Poor guy. As usual, Obama was all love and grace. I suspect that Obama has made a friend for life in Roberts.

[glinda]

18. Roberts is TOAST

I believe Obama will remember that and eventually it will affect Roberts. Not by being mean but he will remember it.

[Cronopio]

24. When Roberts and Obama get into an argument about the Constitution, and they will ...

... Obama can now say "Hey, who screwed up the oath dude?"

It's ammo.

[tabasco]

53. LOL!

[kiranon]

47. He will remember that he makes Chief Justice Roberts nervous and wonder why.

[nolabear]

22. Trickster reminds us to be humble

It's a wonderfully Indian moment, a "Don't get too sure of yourself; shit happens to you too" lesson. Between that and Reverend Lowry's playfulness I think it was perfect. Obama is the calm center, but even he can make a false start and have to wait patiently for a stumble.

[frebrd]

23. Did I hear wrongly.....

or did Roberts say President "to" the United States, not "of" the United States?

[JDPriestly]

33. You heard right. I have a real good ear for that sort of thing.

You are right. Roberts said "to." Not "of."

[scytherius]

26. *shrug* It's not a perfect world. Screws fall out.

I don't give a damn if he said it backwards. Obama is President!!!!!!!!

[Myrina]

28. Yeah, I loved the look on Prez O's face ... as if to say

... "son, make an appointment with my secretary and I'll tutor you in some Constitutional Law" ...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[2Design]

29. kick

[Javaman]

34. "two men who rose to their positions of power quickly and who have some background similarities"?

roberts was a community organizer?

[pjt7]

36. Why did they announce Obama's middle name as H

in the beginging, but Roberts swore hm in as Barack Hussein Obama?

[Kolesar]

38. At least he didn't call him Herbert Horatio Hornblower...eom

[JI7]

52. Obama wanted to use "Hussein" during the oath

[Cronus Protagonist]

37. He also said president TO, not "of" the United States

That "slip" was more telling.

[Ian David]

40. Reich-wing will say this renders his oath inoperative and invalidates his Presidency. n/t

[Endangered Specie]

46. But technically Obama becomes President by time

12:00pm EST 20 Jan... belive its in the 21st or 22nd amendment.

[mcg]

68. They did, but the do-over deflates them. nt

[specimenfred1984]

42. Roberts is an anti-American who conspires against the U.S. daily

He's a repuke who disguises his anti-American activities by hiding behind a Constitution he has no intention of supporting, as do all members of the Federalist Society.

[Octafish]

48. Well said, specimenfred1984.

Listening to NPR or Bill Press this morning:

The talker mentioned Laurence Tribe, Harvard law prof and yaya, who said Obama was the brightest student he ever taught. Tribe failed to mention that he also taught Roberts, the crook.

[unkachuck]

54. roberts did it intentionally.....

....didn't Obama vote against his confirmation? Payback?

....how often does a repug get a free shot at wiping a large snot on a Dem adversary?....come back tomorrow, come back in a 200 years, and that snot will still there....

....a historic event, a historic President, a historic republican snot wiped on the occasion....

[Doctor_J]

50. What a tool. Can he be impeached over this?

:eyes:

[Aristus]

51. I'm not even a lawyer, and I could get this one thrown out of court. Any freeper

trying to get Obama's inauguration invalidated would have to prove INTENT; did President Obama deliberately flub the oath, with intent to deceive? (And just as important, from a logical standpoint: why would he want to?) The burden of proof is on the prosecution, your Honor...

Case dismissed!

Everybody move on...

[depakid]

55. So much for the "brilliant legal mind"

Roberts is- and always was, just another 2 bit fundamentalist ideologue.

[FSogol]

56. Roberts realized that one day everyone would be booing him, just like they did for Bush. n/t

[Enrique]

58. "see why I voted not to confirm you?"

I know that's what Obama was thinking during that pause.

[Eurobabe]

61. Roberts is an idiot

all he had to do was get 35 words right. And we're stuck with this moron leftover for how many years at CJ/SCOTUS??

[SemiCharmedQuark]

62. LOL

[snot]

60. i'd like to blog this, but your link's not working . . .

[bdamomma]

66. Roberts really screwed up, but Obama did not fall for it.