# Obama not really the President because he didn't really take the Oath **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167 "2009-01-20T18:26:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/221 "2009-01-22T05:00:32Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > The irony of this is the fact that it was Chief Justice Roberts who flubbed the oath. In the unlikely event that Obama’s presidency was ever challenged, the case would end up in Roberts’ court. 😉 I actually think a case could be made that it was Obama, by jumping into the oath a bit too early, who caused Roberts to lose his place or concentration or whatever. If you listen, you can hear Obama interrupt him for a brief second. ---
**Author:** ![Amish\_Barbie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f475e1/32.png) [@Amish\_Barbie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amish_Barbie)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/222 "2009-01-22T05:01:18Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > W, bless his little heart, was probably blissfully unaware… Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/223 "2009-01-22T05:52:12Z")
Here’s an article about the 2nd swearing in. [Obama Sworn In Again, With Right Words](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012103685.html?hpid=topnews) > [@](#): > > In golf, they call it a mulligan. A do-over. > > There’s no formal name for what President Obama and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. did last night. > > After flubbing his one role on Inauguration Day – administering the oath of office to Obama – Roberts traveled to the White House to re-administer the oath. > > Just to make sure. > > “We decided it was so much fun . . .,” Obama joked while sitting on a couch in the Map Room. Obama stood and walked over to make small talk with pool reporters as Roberts donned his black robe. > > “Are you ready to take the oath?” Roberts asked. > > “I am, and we’re going to do it very slowly,” Obama replied. > > After a flawless recitation that included no Bible and took 25 seconds, Roberts smiled and said, “Congratulations, again.” > > Obama said, “Thank you, sir,” and then added: “All right. The bad news for the [reporters] is there’s 12 more balls.” > > … [freeperthink]Oh noes, no bible! It’s not official!![/freeperthink] > [@Marley23](#): > > A few losers sent months in court trying to prove Obama wasn’t a citizen, Oh that’s still going on. There are several lawsuits wending their way through the system, and more to be filed. There are people determined to file a suit anytime Obama signs a law or veto. Their dim thought processes go something like this: Since he’s not _really_ president, because he’s not eligible to be president, he has no authority, they say. Judges will be kept busy with this bogus crap for years. > [@Marley23](#): > > so as silly as this was, I suppose it was a good move not to give them another opening. Well, these types of losers will never be satisfied. If it’s not one thing, it’ll be another. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/224 "2009-01-22T05:57:12Z")
> [@Amish\_Barbie](#): > > No. Regardless of the “flub”, he was officially President as of noon yesterday, prior to taking the oath which really is just a traditional “formality” than anything else. Yep. Formality. I learned about situations like this (not legal situtions per se) in a linguistics course in college. ---
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/225 "2009-01-22T05:59:04Z")
After the farce that was the Florida recount back in 2000 (that’s two trip-nought 😉 ) Bush still became president. If people are in an uproar about a little flub during an oath, well, fuck 'em ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/226 "2009-01-22T07:17:00Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > [freeperthink]Oh noes, no bible! It’s not official!![/freeperthink] [You betcha!](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2169331/posts) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/227 "2009-01-22T07:25:42Z")
Didya notice the video on that page with the Obama kid’s singers? So this is what their nightmare looks like… ---
**Author:** ![mallocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@mallocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mallocks)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/228 "2009-01-22T08:36:31Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > [freeperthink]Oh noes, no bible! It’s not official!![/freeperthink] Having followed the Conservapedia page on Obama for a while, with its increasing preponderance of ‘our first Muslim president’ ‘information’, I can guarantee that some people are going to have a field day on that one. ---
**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, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/229 "2009-01-22T08:41:13Z")
Unconstitutional? Good grief, what version of the Constitution are the Freepers using? I don’t see “Bible” listed here: > [@U.S. Constitution](#): > > 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.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/230 "2009-01-22T08:43:34Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > Unconstitutional? Good grief, what version of the Constitution are the Freepers using? I don’t see “Bible” listed here: Yep. And Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in without a Bible, so far as I can dig up. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/231 "2009-01-22T09:04:20Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > Unconstitutional? Good grief, what version of the Constitution are the Freepers using? I don’t see “Bible” listed here: Don’t be silly. The Bible _is_ the Constitution. That other document with the articles and amendments and stuff, that’s just a guideline. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/232 "2009-01-22T09:39:39Z")
If he’s not official because he didn’t use a bible for the second time he took the oath, then neither were Theodore Roosevelt and John Quincy Adams. Nor Lyndon Johnson. We’ve been in big trouble with this from the start, at that rate. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/233 "2009-01-22T15:11:25Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > [freeperthink]Oh noes, no bible! It’s not official!![/freeperthink] That was my immediate thought. Wonder how long it will be before someone notices that Obama’s left hand is not visible in the Official Picture of the Official Oath and claim that the photo was cropped because B. Hussein O. had his fingers crossed. :rolleyes: Kinda silly of them to make such a big deal of the oath, considering how Obama’s predecessor seems not to have taken his too seriously. . . . ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/234 "2009-01-22T15:14:16Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Well, these types of losers will never be satisfied. If it’s not one thing, it’ll be another. I know. Message to Democrats here: you won. You can ignore these people now. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/235 "2009-01-22T15:20:54Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > I actually think Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/236 "2009-01-22T15:47:22Z")
Dudge has a screaming headline about the “no Bible” non story. Oh Matt, what happened to you? I don’t think the crazies are saying the oath without the bible isn’t “official,” but that is just proves what a heathen President Obama is. Apparently he doesn’t always have a bible by his side. ---
**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, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/237 "2009-01-22T15:48:55Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Dudge has a screaming headline about the “no Bible” non story. Oh Matt, what happened to you? Nothing happened to him. He’s been a right-wing shill famous for posting smears since the beginning. He scooped the Lewinsky thing and he’s been riding on that one triumph for 15 years now. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/238 "2009-01-22T15:58:52Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Nothing happened to him. He’s been a right-wing shill famous for posting smears since the beginning. He scooped the Lewinsky thing and he’s been riding on that one triumph for 15 years now. Drudge has indeed been right wing forever. His radio show was impossible to listen to. However, I think he’s gone off the deepend more lately. This No Bible headline is a good example. He’s giving top billing to something that even he must know is not a story. Seems like I’ve seen that kind of thing more in the last year or so. Sorry about the hijack into Drudge pitting. Now back to our story. ---
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/239 "2009-01-22T16:03:11Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > > [@Equipoise](#): > > > > [freeperthink]Oh noes, no bible! It’s not official!![/freeperthink] > > [You betcha!](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2169331/posts) I don’t need no stinkin’ freepers when my co-workers are perfectly good at coming up with theories. This is where they stand now: _Obama is such a good public speaker that he intentionally tripped up Roberts because he knew that would make him flub the oath, thus, making the oath on the bible invalid. Now he takes the oath away from all the cameras to take the oath on the Koran which Roberts has to let him do because it’s not illegal. The next step is to release his brothers-in-arms from gitmo into the American populace to carry out their original plans…among which is to blow up the Superbowl so they aren’t going to be in the area that weekend (we’re in Tampa)._ There were other theories but that is the one they all agreed on before breaking up when the coffee was ready. I really want to know what they come up with at lunchtime…there is no shortage of entertainment around here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167/240 "2009-01-22T16:07:16Z")
> [@Alienhand](#): > > I don’t need no stinkin’ freepers when my co-workers are perfectly good at coming up with theories. This is where they stand now: > > _Obama is such a good public speaker that he intentionally tripped up Roberts because he knew that would make him flub the oath, thus, making the oath on the bible invalid. Now he takes the oath away from all the cameras to take the oath on the Koran which Roberts has to let him do because it’s not illegal. The next step is to release his brothers-in-arms from gitmo into the American populace to carry out their original plans…among which is to blow up the Superbowl so they aren’t going to be in the area that weekend (we’re in Tampa)._ I see. But couldn’t he have taken the oath on the bible and still implemented his evil plan? I understand Obama is Muslim, but I don’t think he’s very observant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-not-really-the-president-because-he-didnt-really-take-the-oath/482167.md?page=13)