WWTBAM Bored

Call me crazy, but I DO think Roberts was the sole screwup on the oath. Here's my reasoning.

I realize I've never had to do or witness an important oath-taking, but every one I have witnessed or participated in started the same way, and the way this one should have started:

Rob: I, Barack Hussein Obama...

O: I, Barack Hussein Obama...

And so on. Instead, Roberts tries to cram the "do solemnly swear" in there before pausing to let Obama respond. That was the beginning. Then he misplaces the modifier "faithfully," probably because he's a nitpicker on split infinitives like me, and it rankles him, even though the oath is written into the Constitution. Obama, it appeared to me, did nothing wrong but try to be as graceful as possible while Roberts is making a mockery of the oath.

I would bet pretty good money that they did not rehearse this thing, which is unbelievable to me. And that may have been Obama's fault, I don't know. But as to the actual administration and repetition of the oath, it was all Roberts' fault.

For your rebuttal, please identify where Obama screwed up, KEEPING IN MIND that even Hedley Lamarr knows you're supposed to pause after the "state your name..."

Obama screwed up by interrupting. Yes, that's a screw-up.

He also screwed up by not listening to what Roberts said. Even if Roberts said it wrong, the phrase was short enough that if Obama had been paying attention, he could have repeated it as stated, and it would not appear to anyone that there had been a mistake.

I really think that Obama's interrupting is what caused Roberts to get flustered. No way to prove it, so no way to know.

Who cares, and why?

Who cares who was at fault or who cares that it was not done correctly (and why do they care)?

Which question are you asking?