I was just listening to Obama and Sotomayor on NPR and something stuck on my craw, when Obama said that one of the challenges the new judge would have was to bring to today's
A foundation (of law) thought 20 centuries ago...
I immediately did a double take. 20 CENTURIES ?!?!? The US is not that old!
Sure enough, Sotomayor mentioned that as one of her challenges:
Interpreting law that has been written over TWO centuries ago
So she got the date of our laws right. Obama didn't. He couldn't be talking about the founding fathers and the US Constitution. Could Obama have misspoken ? Or was that a nod to the 2,000 years of Jesus and Catholic faith ?
I find it hard to believe that "20 centuries" comment was overlooked.
Thoughts ?
Update [2009-5-26 12:15:38 by lostmypassword]:: Full quote below the fold
An inconsequential mistake ? A nod to fundies ? lostmypassword with wax in her ears ?
UPDATE: Thanks to poster Collideascope, the full quote
Of the many responsibilities granted to a president by our Constitution, few are more serious or more consequential than selecting a Supreme Court justice. The members of our highest court are granted life tenure, often serving long after the presidents who appointed them, and they are charged with the vital task of applying principles put to paper more than 20 centuries ago to some of the most difficult questions of our time.
As the commenter says
So it's pretty clear that President Obama merely misspoke and said "century" when he meant "decade". Either that or he actually thinks biblical interpretation is a task with which we charge Supreme Court Justices.
Yup, it hit me as a very strange thing to say... Surely a mistake, but how does a mistake gets into a presidential address ?