How appropriate: Obama to use same Bible as Lincoln to be sworn into office
Facing a nation divided, teetering toward civil war, President Lincoln used his first inaugural address to call for national unity, arguing that our Constitution was created “to form a more perfect Union.“ Now, 147 years later, President-elect Barack Obama is echoing President Lincoln’s call in words and in symbolism. He will be placing his hand upon the same burgundy velvet-bound Bible that was used by President Lincoln at his first inauguration as he is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.
Presidential Inaugural Committee Executive Director Emmett Beliveau:
President-elect Obama is deeply honored that the Library of Congress has made the Lincoln Bible available for use during his swearing-in. The President-elect is committed to holding an inauguration that celebrates the unity of America, and the use of this historic Bible will provide a powerful connection to our common past and common heritage.
Since Lincoln’s family Bible was still en route from Springfield, IL, at the time of his inauguration, Supreme Court Clerk William Thomas Carroll purchased a Bible for the swearing-in ceremony in 1861. President-elect Obama will be the first president to be sworn in using this Bible since Abraham Lincoln.
Hopefully Obama is a better follower of Christ then Lincoln was. I’d rather not see 6 million+ people die and liberty decimated on his watch. He’s got a good start unfortunately. Wanting to expand the Afghanistan war and no plans to take US troops out of all the overseas bases and being pro-wiretapping, pro-bailout, pro-Patriot Act, etc.
The fact there is so much pomp and circumstance around the swearing in of the president is disturbing too.
