Free Republic

Give Obama A Pass on Oath Flub? Have you heard? Chief Justice Roberts mixed some words around in the Presidential oath that Presidents take upon assuming the office. The oath should read as follows: "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." It seems that Chief Justice Roberts put the word "faithfully" in the wrong place. It was then repeated incorrectly by Mr. Obama. Should we give Mr. Obama a pass?...

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...