WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Barack Obama Tuesday recited the oath of office to become the 44th president of the United States, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts:
ROBERTS: Are you prepared to take the oath, Senator?
OBAMA: I am.
ROBERTS: I, Barack Hussein Obama...
OBAMA: I, Barack...
ROBERTS: ... do solemnly swear...
OBAMA: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear...
ROBERTS: ... that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully...
OBAMA: ... that I will execute...
ROBERTS: ... faithfully the office of president of the United States...
OBAMA: ... the office of president of the United States faithfully...
ROBERTS: ... and will to the best of my ability...
OBAMA: ... and will to the best of my ability...
ROBERTS: ... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
OBAMA: ... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
ROBERTS: So help you God?
OBAMA: So help me God.
ROBERTS: Congratulations, Mr. President.
Please pardon me! The UPI does include the garble.
Did anyone else think it odd that Roberts had to ask him “so help you God?” I thought that was a voluntary on the part of the oath taker.
Rome is burning and we are worrying about this...
But, ok, here is the first mistake. It is in the delivery of the oath.
ROBERTS: ... that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully...
Shouldn’t it have been...
... that I will execute the office of president OF the United States faithfully...
The case might be made that Obama did not wait for Roberts to finish the first sentence. That through off the rhythem like happens when two people start talking over each other (go ahead, you talk..pause, go ahead. Pause, ok, you go first...)