THE OATH FLUB (NOT OBAMA'S FAULT!)

It's hard to think of something of less consequence on a day like today, but humor and wonkishness compel me to bring it up nonetheless: someone messed up the presidential oath today. And that person was not the president.



I know, I know. President Obama spoke over Chief Justice Roberts for a moment, and then seemed to pause in mid-sentence, unsure of himself, before the Chief Justice repeated the oath. The speaking-over was a minor faux pas, but the pause was Roberts' fault: he misstated the oath. Article II, section 1 of the Constitution makes the content of the oath clear:

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."

Sadly, Chief Justice Roberts managed to cut out the word "faithfully" and tack it back on after "President of the United States." This obviously threw Obama, who seemed to nod at Roberts to suggest that he repeat the oath properly. When Roberts failed to do so and bumbled again, he simply repeated the (wrong) formulation Roberts initially gave.

If you care enough to still be reading at this point, Slate has an even nerdier, word-by-word analysis here.

You've got to feel bad for Roberts. He's only been on the Supreme Court for a little over three years, and this the first swearing-in (God willing, the first of many) that he's been privileged to conduct. It's one of the few perks attendant with being the Chief Justice, and his nerves simply got the better of him. Word is that he apologized to Obama later in the day. Hopefully he isn't beating himself up too much about an unfortunate slip-up...though you can bet he'll get it word-for-word (or at least not try to memorize it again) when 2012 rolls around.

(P.S.: for all those conspiracy theorists out there who are looking for yet another reason to challenge Obama's legitimacy as president since the birth certificate challenges failed, don't get your hopes up. Under the Twelfth Amendment, Obama qualified for the presidency following his Electoral College victory on December 15th (and Congress's subsequent counting and certification of that result on January 6th). As a result, under the Twentieth Amendment, he officially became president of the United States at 12:00pm today once President Bush's term ended, which was moments before the oath was even administered. So any slip-ups in this formality do not impact his legal qualifications for the presidency.)