# Bible not used in obama re-swear!!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 22, 2009, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439 "2009-01-22T12:23:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/21 "2009-01-22T17:55:29Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > When I am sworn in as the POTUS, I’m swearing in on a stack of Onion Newspapers and Fark Political Wars. I think I’d like to do it Roman style and grab my balls. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/22 "2009-01-22T18:09:49Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’m sure the Lincoln Bible was returned to whatever archive or Library that it was borrowed from on tuesday, then when Roberts showed up yesterday at the Oval Office for the Mulligan, Obama was just moving in and there was no Bible available. There probably wasn’t even a stapler or a paperclip available, much less something as extraneous as a Bible. It wasn’t necessary for the redo (not that the redo itself was even necessary), and it wasn’t worth the time it would have taken to send somebody off to look for a Bible, so they just said the magic words and got it over with. > > At first blush, it seems to give the winngnuts ammunition, but on close examination it really gives them nothing. The legal significance is zero and the political significance is confined to wingnuts only. The only people who would care about this are the same mouth breathers who already think he’s a Muslim. Let them carp. The more they scream about garbage lke this, the more they marginalize themselves. Obviously neither of us has any way of knowing, but I’m quite confident there was a bible that was within easy reach at the White House. The simplest answer is that they didn’t use a bible because there’s no reason to use a bible, the only reason to use it is symbolic. The whole swearing in ceremony is symbolic itself, once that was complete whatever symbolic purpose there was in using a bible was exhausted. Since this secondary swearing in was just being done to quell murmurings on the fringe there was no reason to go at it with the full ceremonial gusto of the “original” swearing in ceremony. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/23 "2009-01-22T18:11:27Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > … There probably wasn’t even a stapler or a paperclip available, much less something as extraneous as a Bible… When I am sworn in as president, I am totally swearing the oath on a stapler. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/24 "2009-01-22T18:48:22Z")
Can someone link to the inevitable whackadoo speculation that the televised inauguration was all a sham and the “secret” oath in the White House involved Michelle and the kids in burkhas, a copy of “On the Origin of Species”, and a phone call from Osama Bin Laden? You know it’s out there. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/25 "2009-01-22T18:49:46Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > When I am sworn in as president, I am totally swearing the oath on a stapler. While wearing a paperclip necklace. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/26 "2009-01-22T19:03:52Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I think I’d like to do it Roman style and grab my balls. You know that where the word “testi” fy comes from right? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/27 "2009-01-22T19:40:20Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Obviously neither of us has any way of knowing, but I’m quite confident there was a bible that was within easy reach at the White House. That was part of the pranking of the departing administration: they removed all the Bibles. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/28 "2009-01-22T19:43:06Z")
When I’m sworn in as president, I’m just going to swear. “Do you solemnly swear …” “Fuck, yeah!” ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/29 "2009-01-22T19:48:32Z")
He just better keep wearing that flag pin so I know he doesn’t hate America. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/30 "2009-01-22T19:49:00Z")
When I’m sworn in as President, I’m going to swear on the latest issue of the TLA Video catalog. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/31 "2009-01-22T19:50:54Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > When I’m sworn in as president, I’m just going to swear. > > “Do you solemnly swear …” > > “Fuck, yeah!” “…that you will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States…” “No shit, muthafucker” ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/32 "2009-01-22T20:09:22Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > When I am sworn in as the POTUS, I’m swearing in on a stack of Onion Newspapers and Fark Political Wars. I’ll use the _Necronomicon_. “Do you solemnly swear to ensure that as many Americans as possible are eaten first ?” “I do. \*Ia Ia Cthulhu Fhtagn \*!” ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/33 "2009-01-22T20:13:06Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > “…that you will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States…” > > “No shit, muthafucker” [subtitle]Golly.[/subtitle] ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/34 "2009-01-22T20:22:04Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > That was part of the pranking of the departing administration: they removed all the Bibles. And the Gideon people haven’t had a chance to come in and replace them yet. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/35 "2009-01-22T20:23:27Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Obviously neither of us has any way of knowing, but I’m quite confident there was a bible that was within easy reach at the White House. In the entire White House maybe, but not necessarily in the West Wing. All the offices had been cleaned out down to bare carpets and empty desks. I read one story that said some staffers didn’t even have phones or computers in their offices. I’m sure office supplies were quickly brought in, but any Bibles would only be brought in as private property by staffers, and how many people bring Bibles to their first day of work? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/36 "2009-01-22T20:24:58Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I think I’d like to do it Roman style and grab my balls. Me too. If I’m sworn in, I’ll grab your balls. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/37 "2009-01-22T20:30:31Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > “…that you will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States…” > > “No shit, muthafucker” “…and will to the best of my ability…” _“Oh I got the ability, biatch.”_ “…preserve, …” _“Preserve this! Hooha!!”_ “…protect and defend the Constitution of the United States…” "_Damn fucking straight, Judgy Robby Rob…"_ ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/38 "2009-01-22T20:31:52Z")
First swear: Obama, who left this motherfuckikng Bible here? Re-do: Obama, who left this motherfucking book here? TBS re-do: Obama, who left this mellon farmer here? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/39 "2009-01-22T20:36:04Z")
Rush and his dittoheads have so little to bitch about. They are grasping at what little they have. Somehow the bible which was there for the first swearing in, has lost its miraculous powers. Barack should carry one around everyplace and swear in 3 times a day facing the gravity hot spot that is Limbaugh. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439/40 "2009-01-22T20:41:16Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > First swear: Obama, who left this motherfuckikng Bible here? > Re-do: Obama, who left this motherfucking book here? > TBS re-do: Obama, who left this mellon farmer here? I think “who it is left this melon farmer here?” might work too. Or even adding, “so help me God, yo” at the end. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-not-used-in-obama-re-swear/482439.md?page=3)