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Blunder Box

That I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully...."

-- Chief Justice John Roberts misplaces the word "faithfully" in the oath of office in a 30-second swearing-in of Barack Obama that was less than perfect.

Slate



By washingtonpost.com editors  |  January 21, 2009; 7:46 AM ET
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THE OATH SHOULD BE READMINISTERED.


Who's to say that "strict constructionists" couldn't try to undo presidential actions due to "procedural error"?

Obama should graciously invite Roberts to the White House for a "mulligan."

He can call it a courtesy, a show of respect for those strict constructionists on the court who might argue at a later date that the administration of the oath was invalid.

Such a ceremonial (but, from a strict constructionist point of view, binding) re-do would be putting his opponents on notice that Obama is hip to the potential deployment of faulty phraseology as a political weapon.

Posted by: scrivener50 | January 21, 2009 10:21 AM

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