Bush to Take ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ Oath
(2005-01-19) — In an effort to heal the wounds of a deeply divided nation, U.S. President George Bush has decided his inauguration ceremony tomorrow will include a blend of both the red and the blue oaths of office.
The hybrid, or purple, oath reads as follows: “I, George W. Bush, do solemnly swear 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 president’s decision to use the blended oath was seen as an attempt to change the tone in Washington, where 49 percent of legislators (almost all Democrats) think that the nation is divided and 51 percent (all Republicans) disagree.
Congressional Democrats immediately criticized the president’s decision, calling it “a cynical ploy designed to further divide the nation on the issue of whether Bush is really a uniter, not a divider.”
