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Larry Downing / Reuters
President Barack Obama gets a hug from his daughter Malia as wife Michelle and daughter Sasha looks on in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington, Jan. 20, 2013.
President Barack Obama was officially sworn in Sunday for his second term as president of the United States, ahead of Monday's public events.
In a small and succinct ceremony at the White House, Obama recited the constitutionally mandated oath of office for the third of four expected times during his time in office.
Embracing his children after the oath, his younger daughter Sasha was heard to whisper “good job, Daddy!”
"I did it!" he responded, before she observed "You didn't mess up."
Sunday's official swearing-in, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, was the 57th inauguration of a president in American history.
This time, President Obama and Justice Roberts got the words right. The oath took 32 seconds inside the White House. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
Wearing a dark suit and blue tie, Obama repeated the directive to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." He was joined by First Lady Michelle Obama and his daughters Sasha and Malia.
After thanking Roberts and waving to cameras, Obama and the first family left the White House's Blue Room. He will deliver his public inaugural address Monday on the west front of the United States Capitol.
During the brief swearing-in Sunday, the first lady -- who wore a dark blue dress -- held the family Bible upon which Obama laid his hand to swear the oath. According to inaugural officials, the Bible was a gift from Mrs. Obama’s father to his mother in 1958.
When Obama first took the oath of office on Jan. 20 four years ago, he and Chief Justice John Roberts tripped up over the wording, raising concerns about whether the constitutional requirements were fulfilled to the letter of the law. Roberts went to the White House the next day and administered it again in full.
The short Sunday ceremony was held because the constitutionally mandated inauguration date of Jan. 20 falls on a Sunday, so Obama will take the oath a fourth and final time on Monday before hundreds of thousands of observers on the National Mall.
America may be politically divided, but most Americans report really liking Michelle Obama, who counts helping military families among her key initiatives. NBC's Kristen Welker reports.
The Monday ceremonies will include the president's inaugural address, a luncheon with the president and members of Congress and the traditional inaugural parade and balls.
Ahead of the ceremony, the Obama family attended church at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington , a historic place of worship that also hosted pre-inaugural services for former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Albert Gore.
Vice President Joe Biden was officially sworn in at about 8:20 a.m. ET Sunday.
The small weekend ceremonies for both men are a bit of a historical quirk, although today's swearing-in was the seventh in history to take place on a Sunday. The last instance occurred in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan was formally sworn in for his second term in office.
Beginning with the second inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937, new presidents and vice presidents have been sworn in on Jan. 20 due to the changes laid out in the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.
(Before that, inaugurations were typically held on March 4, as directed by the 12th Amendment. But controversy over the length of the lame duck period forced that ceremony to be moved up by law).
Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images
Festivities for President Barack Obama's second inauguration.
RELATED: More Inauguration Day content from NBCPolitics.com
In addition, eight vice presidents have been administered the oath of office upon the death of a president. The hastily planned ceremonies have taken place in hotels, homes and -- famously, after the death of John F. Kennedy -- aboard Air Force One.
The oath of office for the president is set out in the Constitution.
Article II, Section 1, states as follows "Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation: -- "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."
Traditionally, two minor changes are made. First, the president taking the oath says his name after the first word ("I, Barack Hussein Obama"). And second, the phrase "so help me God" is added at the end.
NBC's Pete Williams and Shawna Thomas contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
I missed the swearing in is the oath like the military oath were you swear to defend the Constitution. I think it would be nice if he actually tried to do that.
You do know that there are other parts to the constitution than the 2nd amendment?
If you don't know, than why does it matter to you. A little research could answer your own question; and then you wonder why people think those opposing the president are uneducated, low information voters. You aren't helping the cause with your post.
The answer is: yes, it is to swear to uphold the constitution, and you can catch a repeat swearing in with the oath tomorrow. Again, Reagan's inaugural fell on a Sunday, and the public swearing happened on Monday, just like Obama's. The constitution states the official swearing in has to be done at noon on January, 20th after the elections; with the public celebration happening on Monday, not Sunday.
Yes and they are being regularlly abused too.
Jackie
I did miss the swearing in. My question is does he know or belief he should uphold it. The last 4 years he seems to have had little respect for it
Crow,
Do you have any specifics that you can state? I believe it has been proven that he is a lawyer, and taught constitutional law, plus went to an Ivy league school; plus was a state senator and a US senator. What specifically has he done or said that gives you the impression that he doesn't respect it.
JackieK, independent
Again, nothing in the constitution states that religion is part of being president....just the opposite; separtation of church and state.
Really, jackie indie
Can you show the "text" of the constitution where is states separation of church and state?
Here i'll help you
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.\
I just can not find it at all separation of church and state? nope not there
I beg to differ:
Article VI, paragraph 3 of the constitution,
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
This has been the interpretation for decades, and upheld in the last several elections. I will accept your criticism with my wording of "separation of church and state", and concede that I used the wrong phrase. Thanks for pointing it out, I stand corrected and posted the above portion of the constitution that does pertain to religious test and the presidency.
covenient, of course those exact words aren't in there. If you can't understand general concepts, that is your problem. Jefferson didn't seem to have a problem with it.
Why does he swear to uphold and support a constitution he doesn't believe in?
Acutally? more than any other RebubliCON President before him ... he does belive in OUR Constitiution! AND is "TRYTING" to Up Hold IT, as far as the RepubliCONs will let him.
None and Done Willie!
O and JOE ... FOUR MORE YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!
He kicked Myth RomMany's @ss. That's all that really matters now! LOL!!!!!!!
myth, none ... and done!b
stupedaso- Your avatar says it all...."he does believe in our constitution". Um...NOT!!!!!!!!!!!! Re-election by using re-named deceased folks, presidential orders circumventing all votes and all say by voters, twisting our health care system into an unsustainable mess that no one fully understands, taken away medical savings that benefitted so many including thousands of middle class folks. This does not bring to my mind that the Constitution is the basis of his beliefs.
Don't get me wrong, the Republicans have damaged this country just as much. They won't listen to reason and have gone far off-track and far away from listening to what their voting public wishes. They have power pretty much only in their own minds and are out of touch beyond reconciliation.
Democrats, however, are appearing more and more irrational and reactionary. They frighten me a whole lot more; sadistic, intelligentsia-style brainwashing, misleading, and propaganda likening to the Nazi party forming in Germany. Their target, however, is much more difficult to see....it is freedom. They wish to divide and then allow some sort of "other" organization to take over.
I have my doubts whether there will only be four more years of Obama leadership. And that opinion scares me more than anything else.
I am NOT a Republican. I am NOT a Democrat. I AM AN AMERICAN!! I am not a liberal, progressive, regressive, conservative or any other label. I think for myself, don't watch NBC or FOX, other than both and all other news networks. I understand that all have their own agendas and I don't trust any of them. I am a peaceful person, who has no intention to get involved with any sort of "anti-government" activity. I am NOT paranoid, but realistic that I don't like the way this country is going. I didn't like it under Bush or Clinton, either.
You're welcome to leave, no one is stopping you.
starbuck49- it would be nice if the extreme liberals and progressives would happily go join their bretheren in socialist countries in Europe and allow us to get back to real democracy. I'm still trying to figure out where the far right would feel comfortable... AS for me, I believe in the Constitution. I think it is very valid, but we have strayed very far away from the founding beliefs.
Also funny, when I left out anyone there was absolutely nothing intelligent in the response. A childish "if you don't like it, leave" was the best that could be had...that's actually pretty funny!
You lost, get over it!
starbuck- you seem to have issues with reading comprehension. Wow. I am not a Republican! I am not a Democrat! Both parties are worthless and completely destroying this country and it's ideals from the inside out!!!
"I did it!"
With lots of help from NBC and other press media interests.
bbs428 when speaking of grammar you should learn how to spell the word you moron.
Congrats Mr President. You stood up to the party of hate, the party of divisiveness, and the party of irrelevancy!
We are proud of your record, and promise to deliver to you the House of Representatives in 2014 so that the work of the People can resume.
The hatred, bigotry, and selfishness of the party that nearly destroyed our country has been exposed and will no longer interfere. This country will never allow these horrific people to do us harm through illegal wars and white collar theft.
We applaud your efforts to rid our children of the fear of death through the tyranny of those bent on destruction through guns. We understand that through Executive Order, you will do what you can to protect our children. In return, you have our support to repeal the 2nd Amendment, a horrific, archaic, neanderthal-based piece of prose used by the gun nuts and terrorist within our borders as an excuse to wield weapons of mass destruction as replacement phalli. We understand their short-comings as ask you to be lenient as they transition away from reliance on guns as a source of esteem and power.
And most of all . . . we are proud that through all the rhetoric of the misinformed that you stay the course and stay committed to the people who brought you into office. Unlike the previous administration, you do not waiver from your tasks, simply to stock your bank account with millions of unearned money.
God Bless you, Mr President!
Congrats to the King Obama you are the greatest and I would drink poison if you told me it was the right thing to do. I know you really did not mean it when you said that it would be unpatriotic to raise the debt ceilng. I know that you made a mistake and now you are in favor of rasing it. Oh how you are the greatest thing we have ever seen. I hope you make it where you can run for King again in 2016. We forgive you for giving tax breaks to Hollywood NASCAR etc etc. We know that that was the right thing to do. Oh how wonderful you are and I would give you all my weapons if I owed any for I know we wil be much safer without them. Hail to the King you are the greatest.
I was with you right up to the point of appealing the 2nd Ammendment.
Do we need control over the types of weapons availible.....no question.
Some modification is required; but not abolishing the Amendment......Why?
Sure right now we Trust President Obama - what happens if we get someone the public doesn't? Like another GWB.
God bless America and our President. I pray for him and his family. As we can see here on this comment board, there are a lot of wackos our here. Even though they don't quite grasp this fact, they are completely free to insult, denigrate and lie about our President as much as they like. Though they accuse him of behaving like a dictator or a king, they have been getting away with this despicable behavior without this "tyrant" sending out guards to throw them in the "dungeon" and send them to the gallows. Instead our President has stood by during his 1st term and borne the insults and ridiculous accusations without blinking and with the kind of humor and dignity we will never see from those who've attacked him. He is first and always a Statesman of the highest caliber. He is a wonderful human being. He has shown how much he cares for the people of this country. He has put his country first. After all the evil we've witnessed orchestrated against him and his family just because they are black and he has a Muslim sounding name he still believes in the American way and the American people. I am happy he is going to serve again though I would not have blamed him if he had just walked away rather than running for office again. There has never been an American President so maligned in our nations history. God bless President Obama! Stay strong dear President!
"dear President"? Seriously???? Invoking our "dear Leader" like North Korea...can you hear yourself???!!!
I just wonder what is going to happen in 2016 when the country is circling the bowl and we finally decide we @!$%#ed up in 2012 and elect a republican in, and the last 8 years will be completely removed from public record and this fools time in office will have meant NOTHING..............
Hillary will take it in 2016 with a democratic house and senate and the economy will be always improving from now as soon as we get the teabaggers out..
The rate the republican party is going, against minorities, women, and those who don't think like them...I don't think you have to worry about them getting elected in 2016. So far, the majority of Americans rank the republicans lower than most other occupations; and they are just above single figures on their approval ratings. The country is more middle of the road than left or right, and the republicans need to learn to talk and legislate to the middle to gain in elections.
Another traitor dreaming of the demise of America. Go sign a secession petition and buy another box of ammo.
Congrats, to our president. I pray God will watch over him and guide him through the next four years, as he embark on the difficult task ahead of him. As for those with all the negative comments; I pray for you too. I pray for the troops and ask that God bless America. For those who truly love America, stop all the hating and replace it with LOVE.
I'm proud to be an American and I am proud of my president. Yes. That's right. He is my president whether I voted for him or not.
Those who can not abide by the democratic choice of a free people -- they do not believe in democracy. The flag I fought for stands for freedom and democracy and a nation of laws above men.
I can abide by the lawful choice of my fellow citizens even if it was not my choice. That's what make me an American.
To those who's hearts are filled with hate and who's minds seethe with rage. You have my pity.
For you it will be a long and bitter four years.
Hail to the king GOD bless King OBAMA for he is the greatest.
Nice try at a rational response Dennis, but delusional hate runs deep in these parts.
It's all they got Dennis.
I am not seething with rage nor do I hate the leaders of this country. I don't LIKE what is happening, but my dislike runs to all sides of the government "machine"; Republican and Democrat alike. I AGREE with Independents who call for returning to the Constitution, abiding by it, minimizing the influence of federal government intervention (not eliminating, but reducing). I love this country; it was founded on great ideals. Powerful innovation was a part of life, until partisanship (ON BOTH SIDES) caused focus to turn to infighting and seeing who could "win" the most laws. I don't agree with Presidential decrees taking the place, forcefully, of proper law-making. I hate the Patriot Act, NAFTA, and other laws that weaken our businesses in favor of more international debt.I believe that everyone should be able to marry the person they wish, legally. I do not agree with the interpretation of "separation of church and state" to mean that no one in the government can express their religion. So I'm complicated, yes, hateful, no. And I feel that I represent far more people than either side would like to acknowledge, but they ignore us at their own peril.
Obama repeated the directive to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
When is he going to start doing that instead of tearing our Constitution apart? Do any of you know about Agenda 21 and what the United Nations has to do with it?
.......President George H. W. Bush signed on behalf of the United States and President Bill Clinton established the President’s Council on Sustainable Development in 1993, which gives every government cabinet agency the green light to implement Agenda 21 provisions, including:
• The step-by-step abolition of private property, primarily through the implementation of the Wildlands Project and Smart Growth
• Education of youth to prepare them for global citizenship
• Control and ultimate reduction of human population.............
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT NOW?
I thought we talked about this at the meeting PJ. You just announced that you are on to them.
Hopefully you put on your tin foil hat before you posted. (That way they can't trace your post) If not, government agents will be showing up at your house within 15 mins. You exposed their plot, and I'm sure they will be hauling you off to Guantanamo Bay.
Yep you are funny inde.......................You may not think so when this happens. The United Nations we already know are trying to get control of our guns. Soooooooooo many things we have thought would not happen are happening. Do you really want to go there again?
/ Soooooooooo many things we have thought would not happen are happening
Like President Obama getting re-elected?
That for one inde.............But understand, I voted for him in 2008. I do not like what he is doing and that is my peragative. But as far as other things happening, it goes much deeper than that, people are just being blind to it.
A marvelous event in history. One of the greatest presidents ever amidst ignorant and flamboyant racists, to include many of you bloggers.
The only racist is the one that calls others racist.
A great man President Obama. Too bad that he is plagued with a group of obstructionists.
How true you are Obama is the first being to walk this earth since JESUS that can do no wrong. Obama is the 2nd coming and I just wish nobody would try to get in his way for he knows best. I have never heard of Obama being wrong are making a mistake of any kind. Its all the repuks fault with the exception of the killing of OBL that was all Obama. Hail to the king Obama for he is the greatest.
Wow, what have you 2 been smoking?
High rolla,talk to me tommorrow.
Hail to the King for Obama is the greatest and he can do no wrong.
"Traditionally, two minor changes are made. First, the president taking the oath says his name after the first word ("I, Barack Hussein Obama"). And second, the phrase "so help me God" is added at the end." +++++ The last part goes back to the late 1800's when the Republicans were putting God into the government. It's not so traditional. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln would have been shocked if someone suggested doing it.
Yes Mick I agree GOD should never be in anything. We are so much better off when God isnt involved.
BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! This Country was ROBBBBBBBBBED!!!!!IMPEACH the CROOK!!!!!!!!!!
hey phillykevin, I'll drink "tea" any day before I'd eat dog. By the way, Obama is no Lincoln. He's an Edsel, and we all know what a piece of crap that turned out to be. If you are to young to know what it is, and if you can read, look it up.
Wow- anyone paying ANY attention to the Newsvine rules??? Crossing the line doesn't even begin to cover....way over folks. Ignore the trolls.
Whenever I look at these characters, the saying "you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig" always comes to mind. All time ugliest first family, not to mention most embarrassing to the nation. 2016 cannot come soon enough.
Speaking of "ugly" your comment is as monstrous as they come. Pick on the two adults (they will consider the source I'm sure) but have the decency to leave the rest of the First Family alone. Those two girls are beautiful young ladies and do not deserve your odious comments.
Two in a row; crossing the line here, folks, eh? Comment #967 totally out of line. I'm not a fan of President Obama, but let's not take it so very far with the attacks... The Way It Goes- thank you. I agree.
Best time for reminiscing.........Gov Romney when I'm President........
Republicans you can kiss.... The White House good-bye for the next 20 years..
I suspect you could be right. It will take about that long for you dimwits to tax all of the workers to the point that there is no more tax money to be had. Nice objective.
Can you say "Greece" BIGTIME?
GodBlessAmerica-3459608 - I've got something you can kiss you liberal twit.
Hey God Bless America, and you can kiss America "goodbye" after this piece of crap gets done with it.
"Republicans you can kiss.... The White House good-bye for the next 20 years.."
Well -- if Repubs don't find better candidates for president it may be linger than 20 years. I mean Republicans -- Michelle Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry ----- is that the best you can do??
Just wish he would stand by that oath and protect the people and all our country stands for. Forget pleasing the corporations and businesses that will always be in it only for themselves. Why shouldn't the rich pay more? If it wasn't for this country, they wouldn't have any of it. One doesn't need it all to live on so why not share that others may prosper too. The true basis for our country's existance.
This turd of a so-called president with his band of morons is destroying our country and we have to take 4 more years of incompetency. Tax tax and tax more and all you demo-maggots that voted him in to take our hard earned money to give it to all the low life losers of society is your fault and that is a selfish pile of chit...This moron is and will destroy this country. So now we have to pay for this morons swearing in and I know that presidents get this and this moron doesn't deserve a multi-million dollar PUBLIC joke to fill his ego at the cost of my money, which is a complete lie by him as he lies more than anyone in the seat!! Remember when he said that if you don't make 250k "your taxes will not go up" phucking lying pile of chit, we all will pay and people that don't even have jobs get a tax refund. This socialist, Marxist puke is out of line and most stupid leftist turds will never get it. Bend over as here it comes again...
Hey Philly and if you live in Philly, that tells the whole story as the eastern side of the US were shorted on brains at birth and you should be the poster child for the dumbas$ of the year, which is your 1st amendment rights, but not for long under Yo'Bama, as he wants to take that too..Crawl back into your illiterate hole and watch YO' destroy this country!!
Charlie- did you miss the extreme post by Philly? His act is off the rocker, and no one is calling the act in a calm, logical manner. It is pretty much the kettle and pot situation when you say that Republicans are using that language, when in the VERY SAME post thread, PhillyKevin did that and a lot more. Repeating that Republicans are "terrorists" over and over does not make it true! I don't like them either, but I don't go calling anyone a terrorist to prove a childish point.
Awww I feel so bad for all of u @!$%#t Romney supporters..
MY PRESIDENT IT BLACK AND MY ASS IS WHITE I VOTED FOR HIM AND U CAN KISS IT TONIGHT!!!!!!!
And I'm not on welfare I have a job of my own so suck it and watch our President be inagurated on Martin Luther King Day
Hey LewisG3, You are a moron, how about a piece of advice, go back to school and learn English, not "ebonics" as your comment gives a clear picture of who and why you and the rest of the idiots voted for YO'Bama...What a fool, English, that is what we speak, not ghetto 101
My President "IT' black, yea ok hubba head, smoke less crack before you try to type!!
And hey Phillyidiot and teapartysnuffer, how about you two morons go hold hands and find a high cliff and jump into the leftist, socialist give me money because you are losers!! The only people that want this puke in office is because your worthless hand is out asking for money. You are the poster child of the socialist party, "I’ve fallen and I can't get up because I am a dirt bag loser"!!
KEVIN ........ I hava to laugh every time I see some ...less than brilliant .... parrot of the left ask that question "do you know what a socialist is?". You see what the indoctrination in the public school system for the last two generations failed to inform you of is there are many forms of socialism. They gave you the candy coated utopia version that is impossible to exist. That version has always and will always collapse from mediocrity and economic failure.
Thomas Jefferson: A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49%
The most successful version .... "We are socialists, we are enemies of today’s capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we are determined to destroy this system under all conditions." Adolph Hitler ... did not end well for most everybody.
The most incredible form of government was the one the Republic was based on ..... small non-intrusive Federal government with clearly defined responsibilities and functions. That model worked to build the most amazing nation in the history of the world. Slowly and steadily eroded to repeat the exact same mistakes that caused the collapse of every Republic in recorded history. The Constitution was designed to prevent those mistakes but the "progressive" is patient and incapable of understanding history so the mistakes that lead to tyranny and oppression get repeated.
As for the last "election"? 51% of the popular vote is hardly a "landslide" (not that the popular vote is relevant or serves a function in the Executive branch election and hasnt since 1812). Nor is a "win" with a majority of 3 votes out of 538 possible a sweeping mandate. Doesnt anyone even try to understand the Constitution anymore? Or is anything that requires thought just to much for the simple-minded left.
I suggest first reading "The Federalist Papers" by Hamilton, Madison and Jay. Those names ring a bell? It has no pictures so it may be a little deep for those who blindly learn to ignore thinking on the left. Once you have gained a little knowledge I would also suggest reading "After America" by Mark Steyn ..... But I warn you, you will weep at what has been lost and develope an intense hatred for those who spoon fed you lies your entire short life.
John Adams: Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.
Dennis- best post on this story by a landslide! Thank you!
This turd of a so-called president that has changed the White House into a middle eastern palace with gold curtains and picture frames and the carpet to look like Iran, and what is this communists name again Barack "Hussein" O, Yo' abama!! Who doesn’t get this closet Muslim, he is the terrorist and he should take his pack of communists and move to the middle east with his phony birth certificate and go be the Muslim that he is....I and many now know why he is pulling all troops from all middle eastern country's as he doesn't want his relatives killed in a drone strike!! So many people have been lead down the path of stupidity by this moron and that is why our great country is so screwed up, demo-idiots, the dumb of dumb..
How Obama’s Signature looks like...... Haha Must see.
God Bless the United States and our duly elected leader Barrack Hussein Obama. Leader of all men and women in this Country. May God look down on you like he did in November and give you the strength to lead this Country to greatness again against the forces that want you to fail in that goal. We will pray that the rest of us can be as strong as you in that Patriotic journey.
Still at it the simpleminded inane childlike parroting are you willie? Rejoice in your ignorance fellow citizen. Hopefully the clown in the whitehouse that represents the end of the Republic has done all the damage he is capable of to date ..... doubtful though, the Democratic Party Agenda is very inventive in finding ways to erode the Republic and imposing tyranny and oppression. Not that the other party is any better at this point, but at least it somehow manages less damage to the overall economy. Rejoice in your ignorance fellow citizen. The Utopia of the Democratic Party Agenda of Universal Poverty, a society of mediocrity, where the bureaucracy of a large all powerful government is the only employer left and a society of slaves to the state is realised. Rejoice in your ignorance fellow citizen, the end of the Republic is near, not with a bang but with a whimper.... will the sheep even notice?
God Bless poor Willie. He is definitely a moron!
The GOP = Envy The President & Are Angry Because They Beat Themselves -- They Are Divided & Disfunctional Among Themselves With A Set Of Core Values That Are All Over The Map And In Conflict With Each Other -- Divided They Are So Divided They Fall.
The Swing Vote & Support On Issues To Date Went & Continues To Go To Obama Not Because They Fully Like Or Agree With Him But Because The They Don't Get What The Diivided GOP Is Selling With All Its Mixed Core Values. The Public Likes The GOP Less & Trusts Them Less Than Obama.
The Public Like The GOP Less & Trust Them Less So They Fall Back On Obama With More Consistant Core Values -- Not Perfect -- Not Much Better In Many Cases -- But More Consistant & Generally Acceptable!
Thomas Jefferson: "A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49%"
By co-incidence the current resident of the whitehouse had 51% of the popular vote. Not that it is relevant to the election, the popular vote serves no function in electing the exective branch. The real election in Dec. the current resident in the whitehouse was put in office by a majority of 3 votes out of 538. Hardly a sweeping mandate.