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bernbart, addressing me specifically: I don't see why any president should have to take an oath on a bible. This is a Democracy, NOT a Christian nation.
I didn't say any president should have to take an oath on a Bible. I said that Obama could have taken an opportunity in this ad in which he was "reintroducing" himself to the public to address the rumor about his being a Muslim, and do so without repeating the canard. Presidents-elect typically take the oath of office on a Bible. I think all of them have done so. It's not required by the Constitution; it's a tradition. I acknowledge the tradition. That doesn't mean I approve of it. My point was that as long as presidents-elect are routinely taking the oath of office on their Bibles and Obama will too if he's elected, why not take the opportunity to say "when I take the oath of office" in a slightly different way that might assuage some people's concerns?
As for "This is a democracy, not a Christian nation," that might be a non sequitur given that, I don't believe, "democracy" and "Christian nation" are mutually exclusive. It probably depends on how one defines "Christian nation." The nonsequitur aside, however, I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment.
