Mulligan

44 decided to pre-empt any small minds who might have seized on the inaccurate rendition of the Presidential oath to claim that he wasn't really President by taking the oath again in the presence of a camera and several witnesses. It wasn't clear who was ready to make the challenge, but like a careful attorney, he was leaving no room for an attempt.

There have been a number of lunatic theories advanced about 44 since he announced his candidacy. They have proliferated across the internet as fast as the so-called 9/11 truther websites, a 21st century equivalent to the JFK conspiracy theories. One of the more persistent rumors has been that 44 is not a natural born US citizen, that he was born in Kenya and his birth certificate was faked. The specific website at the link does not assert 44 was born outside the US, it only suggests that he may have been, the innuendo being more effective than an outright declaration in terms of creating doubt. The New York Times indulged in this sort of rumor mongering when it published an article that detailed hints and suspicions that Senator John McCain had a sexual relationship with a female lobbyist. No proof was offered by the article other than the allegation that some of his aides were worried about appearances. It was an effective way to smear the candidate without actually accusing him of wrongdoing, and he responded in anger, which was probably the goal of the writers in the first place. It's not likely the article had an effect on McCain's chances for election, although at the time (February 2008) he was still involved in the primary campaign and neither party had selected a standard bearer. The Times endorsed Hillary Clinton for the nomination before 44 used the Democrat's unique method of selecting delegates to sew up the nomination.