Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, had to re-take his Oath of Office on Wednesday, because Chief Justice John Roberts mixed the words up in the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday.

Really all that happened was that the word "faithfully" was put in the wrong place. And reading the transcript, it was really the Chief Justice who mixed it up, not Obama himself. This is the oath as it appears in the constitution:

"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

Roberts: ... that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully ...
Obama: ... that I will execute ...
Roberts: ... the off -- faithfully the pres -- the office of president of the United States ...
Obama (at the same time): ... the office of president of the United States faithfully ...

The two got the rest correct, including the nonobligatory "So help you God?" "So help me God."




Which makes me wonder: Was it really that important? Fox News were wondering whether Obama was really sworn in as President with the Oath recited wrongly. It was a mistake anyone could have made. And I would bet that Obama and the Chief Justice were quite excited, standing infront of a crowd of millions on the National Mall (and billions infront of TV's all over the globe).
The oath didn't lose any of its significance, nor did the oath get distorted in any way that would make you think it is not valid. Yes, it's a shame that it got mixed up, but it is also a shame that this is apparently what the world press chose to remember about Obama's inauguration. Instead of concentrating on his (by the way excellent) speech; the fact that a black man became president or the hope he's given America, the one thing they focus on is a word out of order in his oath.