VP Biden Pokes Fun at Chief Justice Roberts

Wow. I am the first to comment? Love it. The story is great. Good fun to start things off.
Now I wonder how long it will take for the rabid right-wing haters to pillory Joe?

Yes, John. We must always at all times be deadly serious. Thou shalt have no fun, ever.

Siccing BIDEN on Roberts is how the Pretender-in-Chief is countering the curse of the Lincoln Bible?
Yeah, THAT’LL really work.

The “Curse of the Lincoln Bible” ?????

LOL, Chris. Fox News, a bastion of “fair and balanced” reporting. Excuse me while I wretch.

“As a former Federal officer who administered the oath of office to a lot of newly hired Federal employees, I can assure you that Justice Roberts not only screwed up the cadence but the oath itself. There is always a break between “I (and your name)” and “do solemly swear (or affirm)”.
Plus Obama isn’t the President “to” the United States but President “of” the United States.”
And that doesn’t even mention, Robert’s getting the ‘faithfully’ out of order.

“For the “CHIEF” justice to forget the word faithful is shameful…that is the reason Obama voted a NAY during the Robert’s nomination…Roberts was nominated by Bush.. same level of language skills…”
I’m with you!

Oh please, Biden was doing some good natured ribbing as I’m positive he has received over the years. It’s much better than the claptrap I was seeing yesterday saying it was deliberate on Roberts part because he didn’t like Obama. It’s no more a slap in the face to Roberts than it is to give Biden grief about the stuff he says or some of the priceless stuff Bush has said. I’m almost positive we will see the incident on SNL. Laugh! This country needs to take things like this in stride. Let’s worry about more serious issues that the VP giving the Chief Justice a little business.

“Fox news is calling it “A Slap in the face”"
Then we know the opposite is true.

This very discussion is nuts and I consider my own choice to post somewhat suspect in this regard. It was a simple transposition and NOT A BIG DEAL. Biden likely only mentioned it so that the news media would drive home the point that it was the justice that flubbed it, and not Obama, as some viewers didn’t realize that.
I think come credit is owned to Obama for knowing the difference and giving the justice the opportunity to fix it. I do not believe this reflects in anyway on the chief justice.
Move on… :P

“The “Curse of the Lincoln Bible” ?????”
You think Lincoln liked having his Bible drafted into the coronation-by-Disney?
Look up “hubris” … as Obama’s bait-and-switch Mellow-drama attempts to lurch past prologue, and the censors slice away at references to the Lincoln Bible.

“Obama was the one who muffed the oath of office?”
Obama interrupted Roberts. Roberts then misplaced “faithfully”.
The Lincoln Bible is not mocked, it seems. WherEVER one lays the “blame”.

“You think Lincoln liked having his Bible drafted into the coronation-by-Disney?”
You think Lincoln enjoys being the father of the party the belched forth George W. Bush?
BTW, I love how your prediction of this being a huge gaffe for Obama that would haunt him appears to have been nothing more than a little joke with its target being CJOSC Robert.

I think Justice Roberts should be commented for at least attempting to administer the oath from memory. I believe he’s the first that I’ve seen not just read it from a hunk of paper in front of him.

Let’s get this show on the road – together! What an incredible show of support and enthusiasm by the American people. I am so proud of the inauguration. My prayers and hopes are with the new administration and all of us. The future is in our hands.

Stop living in a lie!!!!! Lincoln only emancipated the slaves as a way to undermine the south in the war. Lincoln was no friend of the slave and that is a fact. Lincoln knew the north did not treat blacks well and he fully accepted it. The truth is Lincoln was an ego-maniac who only wanted the south to accept his forced union on them—hero to slaves-no way-only and ego driven man who put 600,000 men in their graves for his ideas!

Ok–laughter aside, let’s get on the business of getting out of this terrible mess we’re in.
If President Obama acheives his goals for his administration and for the country in 4 years (and maybe 8, if he goes for a second term), he will be voted as one of the greatest American presidents in history, with a great chance of his “self” being plastered in places like Mt. Rushmore.
That, in the end, will severly anger every conservative, right-wing, fascist Republican in this country.
Ah . . . how sweet it could be!

President Obama . . .

I sure hope Obama doesn’t put up with sarcasm in his administration.

“The “Leaders” weren’t organized & didn’t seem to know what they or the other was doing!”
But haven’t B&O finally squeezed themselves onto the same public page on how many positions in His administration Obama offered Biden?
Fire up the kiln for the commemorative door-stops honoring this vital “Democratic” accord …

Unfortunately, there is relevant significance on the oath to the office per the constitution. Those 35 words are to be exactly spoken as written; (hence their quotation marks)They require that strict interpretation to insure that the office taker(s) do not start make subtle adjustments and alter the power and role of the Office. Hence, it’s relevant for President Obama to be sworn in again in lieu of the gaffe. This would not be unprecedented as two previous Presidents had to repeat at the oath due to similar technicalities. In order to save face for the Chief Justice, it should be handled in a low key manner.
As far as the VP quip, it’s interpretation it’s really a matter on the type of personal relationship between him and the Chief Justice.
However, the propensity of media outlets to use this comment to inflame partisanship in these very difficult times for the Nation is inappropriate and wrong. As Americans, we must start rejecting this baiting whether we are conservatives, liberals or independents and apply our attentions to help solve the challenges ahead.

ahhhh, Joe. I think Joe is going to give us some laughs in the years to come. Obama is such a straight man. He doesn’t want to offend or isolate anyone, but hey, there’s always Joe! I like how Obama holds out hisarm to Joe after he says that, sort of a ‘steady there boy…” gesture. We wont have the complete idiocy to laugh about this presidency. I think what we’ll more have is stinging and accurate zingers. As for Roberts, I think he justwanted to say “Hussein” so badly he forget how to do his job. That’ll happen when you’re being a partisan.

pefros: Don’t get me wrong, CJ Roberts messed up a bit and I’m sure he was mentally kicking himself (like we all do when we publically say something incorrectly. Everyone is making a big deal out of nothing. Biden was just adding some levity. Let’s face it, these days we can all use a laugh now and again. what’s it to you if he uses the Lincoln Bible. It was significant to Obama to use the Bible of a man he admired. I wasn’t a fan of George Bush, but if it had been the same situation with him, I would defend that decision as well. Move on and complain about something significant like maybe all the American jobs moving pollution, health care, the state of the schools…or better yet, put down the keyboard and try to make things better.

Oops! I didn’t proof. I intended to say did not come from the Bible.

EGP: One of Justices has already weighed in on if it was a legitimate oath. He pulled case law out of his pocket and indicated it was legit. I suspect Obama understood the mistake. It’s not easy to stand up in front of all those people and recite from memory if you are used to it. Can you imagine the Chief Justice who rarely has to do anything like that. Cut Roberts a break.

[i]Actually Joe stated the proper role of the VP.[/i]
No, he didn’t. He said that the VP is the president of the senate in the case of a tied vote. The VP is always president of the senate, but only votes in the case of a tie.

I think Roberts just wanted to overstate Obama’s middle name too, and after that, he lost focus. If you listen to the tape, he said “Hussien” much slower than “Barak” or “Obama”. It’s a r ight wingnuts big talking point. After Robert’s big overemphasis (gee, as if Republicans didn’t beat that dead horse enough) then Roberts lost his place and his concentration. He was just sitting there waiting to say “Hussien”, you’re right, and after that, he was essentially done. ROberts didn’t go there to administer the oath, he went there to say “Hussien”.

As a women, I am offended this site called Roberts “Brilliant”. In his arguments to make abortion illegal unless the husband gave permission there was nothing “Brilliant” about it. It was Draconian. In a world where men cheat far more on their spouces than women, I found it highly highly offensive to have this idea that a husband is to be gatekeeper of his wife’s body, and if she is pregnant she must go to him FOR PERMISSION to end a pregnancy, withouth ANY stipulation that the baby is even his!!! What if this ‘husband’ is a constant cheater, so she cheated too, and it’s not even his! What if they are separated and again, it’s not even his baby! His argument was NOT brilliant, as he is NOT when it comes to issues of women. Sandra Day O’Connor slapped himaround goodwith her VERY eloquent reprisal. I am horrified this man is chief justice. I agree with the posters about his obession to call Obama out onhis middle name. Roberts is a partisan matriach freak. That a man like him is in a position of law is simply dangerous. And typical. Typical that a guy like that chooses a profession that is all about exerting power over overs.

Things are going to change… oh deary… oh deary. The court is packed with right wing imbeciles… time to get rid of them like Roosevelt did. Time for young liberal minds on the supreme court. The Exxon travesties of 2008 showed who was bought out.

“Am I the only one that watched the oath? OBAMA started repeating too soon, before Roberts was finished speaking. This caused Roberts to flounder.”
And THEN, according to both recollection AND the SF Chronicle, after Roberts misspoke and then corrected himself, OBAMA repeated it WRONG.
The hubris of using the Lincoln Bible will out.

“Am I the only one that watched the oath?”
EVERYBODY, really nearly everybody in the electrified world, saw JUST what happened with the oath.
That some major media and the punditocracy have raced to pretend what happened DIDN’T happen is an unhappy sign that the media fix is still on for the “Obama” organization.
I’m no Roberts fan, but his intention to have the first line be “I BHO do solemnly swear” may well have been an attempt NOT to have the “Hussein” middle name hanging out at the pause, and/or to make the old new by not pausing at the name, but going three words — THREE words — further, to “swear”.
If Obama hadn’t decided to interrupt Roberts in the middle of Roberts’ first line … Roberts might not have misplaced “faithfully”, which he corrected … only to have OBAMA say it back in the WRONG order.
Wolf Blitzer should be ashamed of himself. Meanwhile, there’s an accurate account (of what everybody saw anyway) in the SF Chronicle.

Feinstein should have cued Biden in on how to deliver the “oafe”.

I just listened to the video/audio again and it appears to me that both screwed up. Obama twice jumped the gun and did not let Roberts finish a phrase before he started repeating it. After that, it all seemed to get out of sync, with Roberts misplacing “faithfully” resulting in “execute the office of the United States faithfully” instead of “faithfully execute the office of the United States”. But of course it was Obama’s day, so it must have been Robert’s fault completely.

That was an unfortunate joke. But easy, Mr. President. Just joke about your own mistake. Say something like “I am sure our senior staff will do a good job of taking the oath.” I understand your eagerness to show respect for political adversaries like Roberts but you also have to lift up your political allies like Biden, too.

“Do all presidents take the oath using their first, middle and last names?”
Some have.
Some have not.
Its up to each President.

“No, he didn’t. He said that the VP is the president of the senate in the case of a tied vote.”
No. He stated the only duty of the VP in the senate is to vote in a tie break.
The role as “President” of the Senate has become almost entirely ceremonial (except for tie votes) with the President pro Tempore (the longest serving Senator) serving that role.
“The VP is always president of the senate, but only votes in the case of a tie.”
That was not the issue.
Caribou Barbie proclaimed the VP as in charge of the Senate helping to craft policy and then in the debate claimed the Constitution granted her the authority to do so.
Neither were true but she of course did not know that being an imbecile.

“How the hell did he get “Office of the President of the Unites States” wrong?”
I guess it was a mistake, pefros. Like someone not being able to spell “United” correctly, no?

Chief Roberts is an extremist of the ultra right and except the two other judges of the Supreme Court, he never had the chance to be face to face with a person of a different ideology, much less someone that is the President of the United States….Pardon him, please, he was very nervous, and behaved like a kid, JAJAJAJA.

“But you’re right, everybody makes mistakes. Of course, it was an inaugural oath for the President. I feel for him and it will be over with soon enough.”
I don’t agree with all of his political/legal positions, but I do feel sympathy towards him for that gaffe. Of course, no matter what else happens during his tenure as Chief Justice, he has secured his place in history by messing up the oath of office!

Prior to giving the oath of office, Chief Justice Rehnquist rehearsed the oath of office numerous times prior to the inauguration and brought a copy of the oath with him to the podium. Chief Justice Roberts is a meticulous man and has made few public missteps in his life; consequently, it is rather incomprehensible that he should botch his participation in one of the most important events in the history of this country.

Roberts is exactly one of the examples of the kind of brainless people Bush needed at the highest position of the Judicial Sustem to do all he wanted and put us in the critical situation we live now. Besides the unfortune of been seen before the eyes of the world as being governed by an incapable alcoholic for 8 years.

“Prior to giving the oath of office, Chief Justice Rehnquist rehearsed the oath of office numerous times prior to the inauguration and brought a copy of the oath with him to the podium. Chief Justice Roberts is a meticulous man and has made few public missteps in his life; consequently, it is rather incomprehensible that he should botch his participation in one of the most important events in the history of this country.”
Interesting comparison and observation.

Ryan C:
“”No, he didn’t. He said that the VP is the president of the senate in the case of a tied vote.”
No. He stated the only duty of the VP in the senate is to vote in a tie break. ”
What Biden actually said in the debate:
“And the primary role of the vice president of the United States of America is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there’s a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit.”
Note that
1. the Constitution dosent say explicitly or otherwise that a VP is supposed to give best judgment.
2. The Vice President is *always* the President of the Senate.
The only two functions of the office described in the Constitution are to take over as President and to serve as the President of the Senate.
Any actual executive jobs are assigned by the POTUS.
“Caribou Barbie” said that she was going to use the role to advance the President’s agenda in the Senate. By the way that was the traditional role of the early VP’s who had their office at the Senate.
That is also the role that Biden saw for himself as articulated at the debate:
“I would be the point person for the legislative initiatives in the United States Congress for our administration.”
So in essence Biden and Palin were proposing to play the same role as VP.

“one of the biggest days in American history”
Maybe top 100. The guy hasnt done anything yet.

Joe, do that again and I will lock you up in Guantanamo!
Signed,
ABE
P.S….Mr. President Obama, better put your emergency order in for a case of duck-tape. You are going to need it for your co-pilot, Joe.

OMG Biden was so funny that was awesome!

Lighten up people! Biden is known for making some serious wisecracks. Clearly he was trying to be funny and not insulting! I mean he makes a point!

Though I didn`t vote for him , President Obama is a class act as he kept a poker-face as Mr. Biden was making a stupid remark. Kudos to President Obama.

How can this phony Biden talk trash about John Roberts? He switched two words and he probably only did that because Obambi didn’t even let him finish the first sentence. Not much mention about that from the press though. God forbid they ever call out HIS mistakes.

President Obama and Cheif Justice Roberts are both human. As humans we make errors and should accept this as both men concerned did with dignity and humour.
God Bless President Obama and Chief Justice Roberts and God Bless the United States of America.
From Melbourne, Australia.

Why would anyone pillory Joe, William LePetomane? He is the most enormous source of unintentional hilarity we’re going to have for 4 years – the man has the worst case of foot in mouth disease ever, and he’s all ours for 4 years! I can’t wait for it!

In his inaugural address, President Obama quoted Scripture when he said “the time has come to set aside childish things.” Then all of the Obama supporters booed Bush/Cheney at the innaguration as Obama criticised the outgoing administration in a final shot of pure-partisanship. Now his “team” is making fun of a surpreme court justice. NICE. The Bush team, for whatever you think of them, was entirely classy & obliging to the incomming Obama team….this is the payback they get…Booing a man in wheelchair. Classy. To all of you who voted for Obama this is your team, your legacy.

Classless, no integrity and childish. Both of the Bidens need to be briefed on protocol. Mrs. Biden went on Oprah and blundered her way such that her husband had to shush her. Now the VP had to be shushed by the President. At least Obama had the decency to be upset by Biden’s comments on Justice Roberts and he had the guts to show it.

Hi from Ireland. Congratulations on your new President. I think you all should get over the oath thing. Justice Roberts is a good an honourable man. Let him be. Your new President is alos a man of integrity and honour who has taken this whole mix up in good humour without a comlaint. he has been gracious to Justice Roberts……God bless them both. Joe Biden is a different issue…….Let’s just hop God spares your wonderful President Barack Obama for many years to come. The thought of ‘President Biden’ gives me shivers!! God Bless you America

Who cares about Justice Roberts stumble? I for one am just overjoyed that we in America have a real President again and we will hopefully restore reason, rationality, and intellect to its rightful place. Good riddance to the Religious Right Republican neo-con Bush regime. Eight long years of HELL is finally over!

Say it isn’t so Joe!…May I suggest a few lessons in diplomacy, ethiquete and decorum and a few more lessons on professional respect. Thats right, and I am not even a democrat.

Right until President Obama chose to toss his ETHICS out the window, I just shook my head at the ignorance of Joe Biden’s comment, let’s add arrogance. It is business as usual in Washington.

Sarah Palin not qualified to be Vice-President? I seriously question Obama’s competence as President for picking that bungler. He is an embarrassment to this country, not just to Obama.

I know President Obama chose Mr. Biden for a reason. The media makes a mountain out of a mole hill… and so do a lot of you. Mr. Biden is who he is… It is okay to have a different personality… and Judge Roberts probably wasn’t offended by the comment. I think everyone is reading in to the small tap on the elbow… I think it just meant.. lets get on with it… we have a lot to do… nothing more. Barak is just a serious guy.. and probably a little tired. Just leave it alone already. It is not an issue. I am sure Joe Biden has a lot of great qualities… Barak wouldn’t have chosen some dummy. He may be rough around the edges.. whatever…

I don’t get it. He makes an innocent joke and people goes wild. What is this?