John Roberts' Rookie Mistake

[Adam Weinberg]

http://www.tmz.com/2009/01/20/chief-justice-screws-up-oath-obama-blanks/

Since this was the Chief Justice's first time administering the Presidential Oath of Office, you'd think he would have brushed up on it a bit more.

But then again, who can be sure if he was familiar with this esoteric pledge? After all, we only dust it off every four years, right?

And it's only specifically written (verbatim) in the Constitution--which is only the Supreme Law of the Land--for which he is only the highest government official charged with its regular interpretation and enforcement!

Watching the video again, I'm not sure Obama "blanked" as TMZ calls it. I think he may have been trying to hint Roberts to give it another try, but didn't want to cause a scene by contradicting his reading of it. But I guess it could have been either.

Have there been other screwed up Presidential oaths that anyone knows of or can recall?

 

[Damocles]

Not that I remember. It could be one of those things they just didn't report though.

Long ago, back in JFK days they didn't report on sexual shenanigans either...

 

[Damocles]

Good to see you Adam...

 

[Adam Weinberg]

Good to be here.

It's petty, I know, but I was compelled to share it with all of you.

 

[Epicurus]

It kind of ruined the moment a little bit.

 

[ib1yysguy]

Can conservatives do anything without fucking it up?

 

[Bonestorm]

I personally can't wait for the litigation from the nutters over this. I suppose Roberts just wants to keep a full docket at the SCOTUS.

 

[ib1yysguy]

I personally can't wait for the litigation from the nutters over this. I suppose Roberts just wants to keep a full docket at the SCOTUS.

Yeah, they're going to claim he's not legitimately president because he didn't say the words perfectly.

 

[BRUTALITOPS]

oath is ceremonial etc obama was president at noon regardless, carry on.

 

[Jarod]

Looks to me like Obama saw the mistake and was trying to prompt Roberts to correct himself. All that really matters is that Obama said the correct words... Which he did.


Looks like Obama, the former constititional law professor, knows the Constitution better than Roberts, the chief justice of the supreme court.

I knew Obama voted against Roberts for a reason!

 

[Adam Weinberg]

I personally can't wait for the litigation from the nutters over this. I suppose Roberts just wants to keep a full docket at the SCOTUS.

Yeah, I can see how the folks who are trying to say (and wasting their time) that he isn't a citizen would want to further present this as evidence that his Presidency is unconstitutional.

 

[KingCondanomation]

Yes thanks Adam for pointing out this, as you said, petty mistake from a rookie Chief Justice.
Now sit back and watch how it gets magically transformed into a conpiracy of some combination of incompetent conservatives who are determined to ruin it for Obama.

 

[ib1yysguy]

I don't think he said the words correctly. He said "faithfully" at the end of the sentence, which isn't how it's written.

 

[BRUTALITOPS]

IT'S CEREMONIAL YOU IDIOTS. IT DOESN'T MATTER.

 

[Damocles]

Yes thanks Adam for pointing out this, as you said, petty mistake from a rookie Chief Justice.
Now sit back and watch how it gets magically transformed into a conpiracy of some combination of incompetent conservatives who are determined to ruin it for Obama.

LOL. That and the wheelchair. Obama is doomed!

A slip of the tongue and a chair with wheels, only two of the nefarious pieces of the ultimate plan!

MwahahahahaHAHAHAHAHA!

(I need a smilie rubbing his hands evilly.. Find one somebody!)

 

[Onceler]

Kind of a lackluster inauguration, imo. Except for Aretha; she nailed it...

 

[ib1yysguy]

IT'S CEREMONIAL YOU IDIOTS. IT DOESN'T MATTER.

Yes, we all know that because CNN said so. That's not going to stop idiots from making a federal case out of it (maybe literally).

 

[ib1yysguy]

Kind of a lackluster inauguration, imo. Except for Aretha; she nailed it...

I thought the John Williams arrangement was notable.

 

[Adam Weinberg]

oath is ceremonial etc obama was president at noon regardless, carry on.

The oath is not just ceremonial, though. It's in the Constitution, and the President is instructed to recite it upon taking office.

Of course, he becomes President at noon. He's got the job.

But the oath is one of his requirements to start his job. It's a legal oath, and I'm just a little mad because it's an important tradition, an important moment, and it shouldn't have gone like that.

But it is a small thing.

 

[Bonestorm]

Yes thanks Adam for pointing out this, as you said, petty mistake from a rookie Chief Justice.
Now sit back and watch how it gets magically transformed into a conpiracy of some combination of incompetent conservatives who are determined to ruin it for Obama.

What conspiracy? Roberts fucked up. People may question whether he did so intentionally but there is no conspiracy there. It's just people saying that Roberts did it on purpose.

All the more likely, however, is litigation brought by the nutters.