Drudge is saying it. And weirdly the AP is even falling for it too, saying Obama flubbed the oath. But that’s clearly not what happened if you actually watch the video. It was Roberts who flubbed it. (ABC got it right; what’s with AP? Following Drudge? Still a GOP town?)
Roberts started the oath. Obama went a little more quickly than he’d anticipated. And then in the second stage of the oath Roberts got the words wrong. Instead of “I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States” he said “I will execute the office of President to the United States faithfully …”
Obama starts to repeat but realizes that Roberts has garbled the words (he’s probably thinking, “Dude, this is a big moment for me. Can you try that again?”) and then he lets Roberts say it again. After that it was a bit bumpy but they got through it.
No big deal. And wonderfully pulled off moment by everyone. And even for those nutballs who have been trying to get into federal court claiming Obama can’t be sworn in because he’s foreign born may get a second lease on life by claiming he didn’t take the oath correctly. So there’s something for everyone.
(ed.note: Needless to say, for those of us in the real world, President Obama became president at 12 noon. The swearing in is a formality.)
Late Update: Apparently Roberts spent a lot of time practicing the oath. Apparently to no real effect.
