Posted on 01/20/2009 10:45:44 PM PST by America2012
Several constitutional lawyers said President Barack Obama should, just to be safe, retake the oath of office that Chief Justice John Roberts flubbed.
The 35-word oath is explicitly prescribed in the Constitution, Article II, Section One, which says the president "shall" take the oath "before he enteron the execution of his office." It was discussed during the Constitutional Convention.
Roberts misplaced the word "faithfully," at which point Obama paused quizzically, and then Roberts corrected himself, but then Obama repeated the words as Roberts initially said them.
The oath reads: "I do solemnly swear 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."
A do-over "would take him 30 seconds, he can do it in private, it's not a big deal, and he ought to do it just to be safe," said Boston University constitutional scholar and Supreme Court watcher Jack Beermann. "It's an open question whether he's president until he takes the proper oath."
The courts would probably never hear a challenge, and some might argue that Obama automatically took office at noon because that's when President Bush left the office. But because the procedure is so explicitly prescribed in the Constitution, Beermann said if he were Obama's lawyer, he would recommend retaking it, just as two previous presidents, Calvin Coolidge and Chester Arthur, did under similar circumstances.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Someone at work, was watching the inauguration so proudly. When they announced, barack HUSSEIN obama, her jaw dropped, she said Hussein, I smugly said yes, that is who you put in office.
Hussein should provide a birf certificate while he’s at it. Re-do the oaf and finally provide his birf certificate once and for all.
Something certainly was on Robert's mind, and I don't doubt he was conflicted by a serious matter.
Roberts: Are you prepared to take the oath, Senator?
Obama: I am.
R: I, Barack Hussein Obama, [overlapping: do sol]emnly swear
O: [overlapping: I, Bara—] (waits for Roberts to finish)
O: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear
R: that I will… execute the office of President to the United States faithfully
(Note: The correct reading would have been “faithfully execute the office of President of the United States”.)
O: that I will execute (nods sharply to Roberts)
R: the off– faithfully the Pres– office of President [overlapping: of the United States]
O: [overlapping: the office of President] of the United States faithfully
R: and will to the best of my ability
O: and will to the best of my ability
R: preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States
O: preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States
R: So help you God?
O: (nods) So help me, God.
R: Congratulations, Mr. President.
Affirmative action babies are never responsible.
Poor Hussein, an epic failure on his first day.
Several things come to mind:
1. This Chief Justice (Roberts) had never sworn in any President before.
2 This was the first Chief Justice to have sworn in a President who (as Senator) had voted against his confirmation.
3. This was the first Chief Justice to have sworn in a President who was the subject of lawsuits concerning his Constitutional eligibility for the office, and this Chief Justice had seen those lawsuits cross his desk.
So, I imagine poor Chief Justice Roberts was a bundle of nerves that morning.
No! Did you see the news today? They said at 12 noon Barry became President anyway even if he had not taken the oath of office yet. Besides he is a Kenyan citizen!
Exactly. The oath is right in the same section as the natural born citizen part...if we ignore latter, why not the former?
And it’s understandable that Justice Roberts would state it that way—the adverb should follow.
Nope. The Constitution explicitly states:
“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.” “
Note: BEFORE HE ENTER ON THE EXECUTION OF HIS OFFICE.
Yes, but he can't execute the office until taking the oath.
Article II, Section 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."
Obama F’d up before the “faithfully” part.
Something certainly was on Robert's mind, and I don't doubt he was conflicted by a serious matter.
Justice Roberts came face to face with the faker he rubber stamped and the full magnitude of his mistake hit him
But there was a Koran inside those Bible covers so it's invalid anyway <grin>
Course, everyone will just say it is a technicality. If so, why is it in the Constitution? Chief Justice, You Magnificent....!
Justice Roberts stuttered and stumbled because he knows he is swearing in a fraud
Interesting take. The equivalent of a Freudian slip...?
Agree.
I’m not exactly a big fan of Obama to say the least, but to be fair, Roberts started the fiasco. It’s basically the ONE THING he has to do in a large public/televised audience, only a few times during his career. He really should have practiced, for goodness sakes. Some people think that he screwed up deliberately. If he did, it was small and petty.
While we’re at it. Let’s do over the primaries/caucus/election stuff as well. And locate Obama’s real birth certificate, just to be safe.
yep, he’s a Kenyan Repeater
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