< Back to Front Page Text size +

Biden gigs Roberts

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor January 21, 2009 01:33 PM

Vice President Joe Biden couldn't help himself.

Before swearing in White House senior staffers today, Biden said he had already forgotten that he had sworn in cabinet members.

"My memory is not as good as Justice Roberts', " Biden quipped.

The vice president has developed a reputation over the years for inserting foot firmly in mouth.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., of course, is taking some heat for flubbing President Obama's inauguration oath.

Obama has been more forgiving. "We’re up there, we’ve got a lot of stuff on our mind, and he actually, I think, helped me out on a couple of stanzas there. So overall, I think it went relatively smoothly, and I’m very grateful to him," the president told ABC News Tuesday night.

  • CommentComment
  • EmailEmail
.

Biden was spot on - Justice Robers is a travesty and so is Foon Rhee.

Posted by Sotweed Schnible January 21, 09 02:09 PM
.

President Obama did not appear to appreciate Biden's smart ass comment. He is a class act while the VP is not.

Posted by sunder1 January 21, 09 02:43 PM
.

Chief Justice Roberts stumbled upon repeating a Constitutional oath… This doesn’t bode well for an individual whose very job is to interpret the Constitution. But, hey, it might not have been a mistake - he was just interpreting what, in his mind, the oath was supposed to have stated.

Posted by Larry Linn January 21, 09 03:16 PM
.

At least Justice Roberts did't claim he had written the oath.

Posted by deirdre January 21, 09 04:07 PM
.

Uhmmm wait a second.... Obama is the one who first flubbed up the oath, which led both of them to make further mistakes.

Posted by john q public January 21, 09 04:29 PM
.

"gigs" ?

Posted by Medford Mickey January 21, 09 08:49 PM
.

OMG I loved what VP Biden said hes got a great sense of humour, We may have another Ronald Reagan on are hands!

Posted by robin January 21, 09 09:48 PM
.

I think, Roberts was not intentional so President Obama was very forgiving. While Vice President Biden did the right thing to point out the blunder (which should not have happened) occurred in such an important and formal inauguration sworn in.

Posted by Noah January 21, 09 11:41 PM
.

President Obama is a gracious person, even to those not sharing his politics. He'll set a tone for everyone else around him and maybe for the rest of the country.

Posted by Gary January 22, 09 07:34 AM
.

I can't believe these stupid, negative comments about either Obama or Roberts. How many times do you think this happens at weddings when people exchange vows? This was a first for both men and was no big deal. Two other previous presidents have repeated the oath because of similar issues, Calvin Coolidge and Chester A. Arthur, and the world didn't come to an end.

People in this country need to stop acting like childish idiots.

Posted by Tired of Political Pettiness January 22, 09 10:38 AM
.

to Uhmmm: no actually Obama tried to correct the Chief Justice's flub. Watch it again.

Posted by Mar January 22, 09 01:08 PM
.

No, Obama didn't try to help Roberts out right away. Obama began repeating his name before the first full statement was issued by Roberts. Then they were both off cue. It was not intentional and no harm was done. I'm more interested in Foot-Injesting Biden; how long before we see a Lip Stapler invented just for him? I was not an Obama voter, but I can see how he wants to handle his job with dignity. I think he will spend the next 4 years regretting his VP choice. Hmmm . . . Joe, why don't you go ride the train now and be a good boy!

Posted by Lesli January 22, 09 08:13 PM
.

more interesting that Roberts and the Supreme court are conferencing an Obama Citizenship Lawsuit tommorow (1-23).
That may be why Obama did smile when Roberts made the crack. Bad timing on numerous fronts.

Posted by Mikey January 22, 09 11:34 PM
.

Tired is right -- anybody remember Diana Spencer's wedding vows?

Posted by palepink January 23, 09 01:50 AM
.

Roberts should have issued an apology to the nation. Instead he performed a second oath in semi-secrecy, rather than fessing up. The oath should be in public in front of the nation because it is ceremonial and symbolic. You can be sure that Roberts is less forgiving and a big stickler when it comes to others when he hands down his decisions e.g. letting a woman sue for pay discrimination after 180 days. Roberts should apologize.

Posted by Ben Kaplan February 2, 09 06:37 PM
add your comment *(If you put a URL in your comment, it must be relevant )
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.

News from the Washington Bureau

In N.E. governors’ races, GOP sees a chance to build on gains

Invigorated by state house victories earlier this month in Virginia and New Jersey, Republicans are turning their attention to governorships in New England, where they believe the retirement of four incumbents and a competitive race in Massachusetts has created wide-open opportunities. (Globe Correspondent, 11/25/09)

Senators voice optimism on public option

WASHINGTON - Buoyed by their weekend victory on a vote beginning the health care debate, several Senate Democrats expressed optimism yesterday they could find a way to keep a government-run insurance plan in the sweeping bill. (Globe Staff, 11/23/09)

Health overhaul narrowly advances

The Senate narrowly overcame the first of two critical hurdles to passing sweeping health care legislation last night, mustering the minimum of 60 votes required to begin debate on the bill and opening a volatile floor fight likely to last weeks. (Globe Staff 11/22/09)

Latinos, blacks take harder hit amid recession

Latinos and African-Americans in Massachusetts and across the country are facing high unemployment rates that could spiral to levels not seen in decades as the jobless economic recovery drags on, analysts and urban community advocates say. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Some lawmakers push back Catholic church on health care bill

Representative Louise Slaughter has a consistent record advocating abortion rights. So the New York Democrat was stunned recently to receive, for the first time, a letter from a Catholic diocese in western New York, demanding that she explain her vote this month against a health care amendment prohibiting insurance companies from paying for abortions. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Support wanes for curbs on credit-card interest rates

Efforts in Congress to cap credit-card interest rates are faltering because of opposition from Democrats and a lack of specific support from the White House, despite growing consumer outrage over a rush by banks to impose rates as high as 30 percent. (Globe Staff, 11/19/09)

Obama domestic agenda largely a one-party effort

Despite early pleas for bipartisanship, President Obama is forging ahead with his domestic agenda with a largely single-party strategy, unable to corral more than a handful of Republicans on a wide range of major legislation before Congress. (Globe Staff, 11/17/09)

Beirut attack victims’ families face new hurdle

On Veterans Day, Christine Devlin stood in the cold in Westwood for the unveiling of a new memorial to local soldiers lost overseas, including her son Michael, one of the 241 servicemen killed in the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983. (Globe Staff, 11/14/09)

FHA runs low on cash, fueling bailout concerns

The Federal Housing Administration, which propped up the collapsing housing market last year, acknowledged yesterday that it has drained its cash reserves to dangerously low levels, heightening concerns that it might need a taxpayer bailout. (Globe Staff, 11/13/09)

Powerful health care groups offer optimism on overhaul

Two leading health care interest groups, representing insurers and big business, struck a more conciliatory, even optimistic tone on the health care overhaul yesterday, emphasizing their support of the overall goal of increasing coverage and containing costs even as they warned that the wrong bill could cause great harm. (Globe Staff, 11/13/09)
archives