Reply #21: These threads are stupid -- and, btw, its was proper to refer to Obama as Senator

[onenote]

Good heavens, you'd think this was that other place, as people spar and debate over whether Roberts violated the Constitution by mucking up the words or whether he screwed up by inquiring of Obama whether he was prepared to take the oath "senator."

Who gives a rat's ass? The oath was administered; while the words were spoken slightly out of order, there is no case law to suggest that rearranging the words in the fashion that occurred would invalidate the oath; and even if there were, there are reports that the oath was re-administered.

As for referring to Obama as "Senator" -- that was entirely appropriate and in keeping with tradition. You can search youtube or whatever and find recordings of the swearing in of previous presidents; while most start with the beginning of the oath, some include the CJ's inquiry as to the president elect's readiness to take the oath. Carter was referred to as Governor, as was Reagan, even though neither had those positions at the time. And Ford was referred to as Vice President when he took the oath, even though Nixon's resignation was effective at 12 noon and under the Constitution, Ford became president at that moment (even if the oath wasn't administered until a couple of minutes later).

In other words, apart from some bad understanding of history and faux outrage, there isn't anything to complain about, other than the fact that Roberts and Obama tripped over each other a bit, with no one harmed in the process.