Obama-Roberts Oath: Not Clean, But It Got The Job Done

Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States this morning, but it wasn't the smoothest taking of power we've witnessed.

It has nothing to do with politics, but there was a little misstep during the 31 seconds it took for Obama to take the oath of office from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Yeah, it wasn't clean. Maybe they needed some rehearsal time.

However, I'm giving them a pass because they are standing in the cold temperatures in front of two million people with perhaps billions more watching on TV or online around the world.

The new president waved off the oath oops in a story by ABC News.

"We were up there, we've got a lot of stuff on our minds. He actually, I think, helped me out on a couple of stanzas there," the president said. "Overall, I think it went relatively smoothly and I'm very grateful to him."

Still, it was odd to see a classic speaker like President Obama struggle in front of a microphone.

For the record, the oath is supposed to be "I, (state name of individual taking the oath), 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 so help me God."

Again, who am I to judge. When I had to repeat my marriage vows more than a decade ago, I was determined that I would speak strongly and not have a gasping frog come out of my throat at the crucial moment.

So when the time came I bellowed "I WILL!" to the point that I think I scared one of the bridesmaids and startled my bride. I still hear about to this day.

Thursday Update

WASHINGTON (AP) - Some are calling it the flub heard around the world.

Because the wording was bungled during President Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony, Chief Justice John Roberts re-administered
the oath to Obama last night.

The White House counsel says Obama has been president since noon on Inauguration Day, but Greg Craig says the do-over was decided
upon out of "an abundance of caution." This time, the scene was the White House Map Room in front of a small group of reporters, not the Capitol platform.

Obama joked to reporters "We decided that because it was so much fun ..."

Roberts, in his black robe, asked Obama if he was ready to take the oath. Obama replied -- quote -- "Yes, I am," adding "and we're going to do it very slowly." Roberts then led Obama through the oath without any missteps.

Two other previous presidents have repeated the oath because of similar issues, Calvin Coolidge and Chester A. Arthur.