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'Just to Be Safe,' Obama Should Redo Oath: Experts

Lawyers advise he retake fudged oath to avoid controversy

By Ambreen Ali,  Newser User

Posted Jan 21, 2009 4:40 PM CST

(Newser) – OK, it's probably not going to come up in court, but some constitutional lawyers tell the San Francisco Chronicle that Barack Obama should retake his flubbed oath just to be on the safe side. Presidents Coolidge and Arthur did after similar gaffes. It "would take him 30 seconds, he can do it in private, it's not a big deal, and he ought to do it just to be safe," said a Boston University constitutional scholar. "It's an open question whether he's president until he takes the proper oath."

“This is the chief justice’s version of a wardrobe malfunction,” says a law professor at George Washington University, who adds that a child attending his inauguration party called out Roberts’ mistake. “Obama should probably go ahead and take the oath again. If he doesn’t, there are going to be people who for the next 4 years are going to argue that he didn’t meet the constitutional standard.”

Barack Obama took the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts to become the 44th president of the US yesterday. Or did he?
Barack Obama took the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts to become the 44th president of the US yesterday. Or did he?   (AP Photo)
Obama paused to let Roberts correct his mistake, but then repeated the flubbed oath. Lawyers say he should redo it to avoid controversy.
Obama paused to let Roberts correct his mistake, but then repeated the flubbed oath. Lawyers say he should redo it to avoid controversy.   (AP Photo)
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Watch the flubbed presidential oath.   (weichenxi)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Reader2898
Jan 22, 2009 6:46 AM CST
Heard on NPR that several former Presidents never even said the oath, they just said "I do" once it was over. I think he's probably in the clear.
TerrifiedCitizen
Jan 22, 2009 5:48 AM CST
You should leave the planet, it would be a better place without you.
Doctor-Zaius
Jan 21, 2009 11:11 PM CST
Do you think CK's mom had any children that lived?