I feel that Obama should be able to say that in his oath. It's his oath, for crying out loud.


Atheists want God stricken from inaugural oath

Wed Jan 14, 7:54 pm ET

WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama wants to conclude his inaugural oath with the words "so help me God," but a group of atheists is asking a federal judge to stop him.

California atheist Michael Newdow sued Chief Justice John Roberts in federal court for an injunction barring the use of those words in the inaugural oath.

Newdow and other atheists and agnostics also want to stop the use of prayers during the inaugural celebration.

Newdow, who lost a Supreme Court battle to get the words "under God" taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance, has failed in similar challenges to the use of religious words and prayers at President George W. Bush's inaugurations.

Roberts' attorney Jeffrey P. Minear filed a document in Newdow's lawsuit saying that Obama wants the words "so help me God" included in his oath of office.

The Justice Department and attorneys general from all 50 states have filed motions at the federal court asking for the lawsuit to be thrown out.

The oath dictated by the Constitution is 35 words long and reads: "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."

The National Archives says that George Washington added the words "so help me God" when he took the oath at his 1789 inaugural, and most presidents have used it since. However, some have argued that the first eyewitness account of a president using those words came at President Chester Arthur's inauguration in 1881.

Named in Newdow's lawsuit are Roberts; Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; and the two pastors invited to the event, the Rev. Rick Warren and the Rev. Joseph Lowery.

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton will hear arguments on Thursday.

I don't think this will go anywhere, since "So help me God" is required in the oath of all Federal Judges, including SCOTUS.

"So help me God" is nowhere in the oath of office. George Washington added it when he took the oath of office, at is has stuck.

The information below is courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol. It has been compiled by the Office of the Curator from contemporary accounts and other sources in the files of the Architect of the Capitol.

Each president recites the following oath, in accordance with Article II, Section I of the U.S. 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."


http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pihtml/pioaths.html



Seems like adding "so help me God" is a personal choice based on each individuals own feelings. Where is the problem?

That's the point that I was trying to make. It's his personal choice. They are suing to try to stop him from doing his own personal choice.

Obama is not pushing religion on people. It's his personal choice for his personal oath.

That applies only to the President and Vice President.......


Let me clarify what I am saying; If ALL Judges MUST use the words "So help me God" then why would they try to block OBAMA from VOLUNTARILY adding it, as is custom, to HIS oath?





It is in the Oath of SCOTUS and all other Judges in The U. S.




From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[www.gpoaccess.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 3, 2007]
[CITE: 28USC453]


TITLE 28--JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PART I--ORGANIZATION OF COURTS

CHAPTER 21--GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO COURTS AND JUDGES


Sec. 453. Oaths of justices and judges

Each justice or judge of the United States shall take the following
oath or affirmation before performing the duties of his office: ``I, ___
___, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice
without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the
rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform
all the duties incumbent upon me as ___ under the Constitution and laws
of the United States. So help me God.''

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 907; Pub. L. 101-650, title IV,
Sec. 404, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5124.)

Thanks, CircuitRider.

You're welcome My Friend... {{{Winx}}}

First they tried to make everyone believe he was a Muslim.
Now they dont want him to say "So Help Me God?"

Does anyone but me see the Irony in this?

That is ironic.

I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice
without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as ___ under the Constitution and laws of the United States.

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."


Notice at the beginning. I do solemnly swear/ or affirm.

Maybe I have a point here or maybe not, and not wanting to start wwIII here, but just curious...

Why isn't that enough. It seems I do solemnly swear is legally sufficient.

Does Obama adding 'so help me god' make him any more acceptable to the faithful? And if he chose 'not' to, wouldn't you be hearing it that he isn't godly enough? You know you would here just that, and heck you hear it already.

I remember people in a uproar about someone wanting to swear in the Quran, why swear on an object of any kind, why inject any ritual or God.

Why have any of the pretense? It seems to me that it only forces our leaders to be self righteous for the sake of appearances.

Forgive me but I just tend to see both sides, and it's a never ending battle that could easily be solved by swearing with out injecting any one's god.

Ok I expect an attack, so go for it, I'll go get my helmet...

Umm no it is not required.

Anyone appearing in court as a witness or when taking office may chose to either swear or affirm.

This topic has been covered here and elsewhere at length.

Please review the history of inaugurals and oaths.

Religious propaganda makes some think phrases like "So help me God" or "in God we trust" were the idea of the founders.

That is wrong.

It is a lie.

It is a persistent reinvention of history meant to steer the future.

It is a lie.

This idiot who started this lawsuit has been in and out of the news for years.He has tried to remove God from money to the pledge of allegiance and everything in between.He is a constant thorn in government and not surprisingly he has lost every case(which is no small number)he has brought to court.Some people say he is the most hated man in America.I couldn't agree more.Nothing would make me happier if someone kidnapped this moron,put him in a box,and shipped him to some remote island where we would never hear from him again.He needs to butt out of peoples personal business.

Thomas,

There you go endorsing violence again.

You have a good point there, Boo.

Ah there's the man that thinks he is living alone in the universe. How dare someone with a differing point of view challenge the powers that be. Only certain people have that right, right Thomas?. I dare say he might be the most hated many in the eyes of the conservative right, but there are millions of people out there, Thomas that do not share your views. Why is it only the few can share in the right to challenge the government. Interesting question...

If God were removed from all aspects of government, I would most likely expect that you or yours would be where his is fighting in the opposite... Then we would hear the same about you. That's what is so great about freedom, both sides can challenge..

Ah thomas...you are such a perfect champion of faith!

Just people looking for their own 10 minutes of fame. I should start mine, and sue everyone who shaves their head and call them racist.