A swearing-in with a point

[BlueJessamine]

Source: Boston Globe

President Obama took the time today to hold a second, purely ceremonial, swearing-in for Attorney General Eric Holder, reinforcing his pledge to enforce the law and uphold the Constitution without regard to politics and ideology.

"There are few more important jobs in our nation's government than that of attorney general," Obama said. "As president, I swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution....And that's what's always distinguished this nation -- that we are bound together not by a shared bloodline or allegiance to any one leader or faith or creed, but by an adherence to a set of ideals. That's the core notion of our founding -- that ours is a 'government of laws, and not men.'

"But today, as we install the man charged with upholding our laws, we are reminded that the work of translating law into justice -- of ensuring that those words put to paper more than two centuries ago mean something for all of our people -- that is a fundamentally human process," Obama added. "That's why I sought to appoint an attorney general who understands that justice isn't about some abstract legal theory, or footnote in a casebook -- it's about how our laws affect the daily realities of people's lives: whether they can make a living and care for their families; whether they feel safe in their own homes and welcome in their own nation.

"I sought someone who recognizes the very real threats we face, but has the wisdom, in those hard-to-call cases, to find that fine balance between ensuring our security and preserving our liberty. And most of all, I was looking for someone who believes deeply enough in the American people's cause to serve as the American people's lawyer. And taken together, I think that's a pretty good description of our new attorney general."



Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/03/a_swearingin_wi.html

---

The President Obama's full remarks are here:

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/03/a_swearingin_wi.html