In anticipation of President Barack Obama’s televised inauguration on January 21, the Presidential Inaugural Committee released its first promotional video on Wednesday.
Instead of saying anything new to inspire America, the promo video simply features clips of Obama’s 2009 inaugural speech in between scenes of Washington and its famous monuments. Although this wasn’t the inaugural committee’s intention, the video reinforces what everyone was already thinking – President Obama hasn’t made much progress since 2009 and we can expect the same unserious promises from him in his second inauguration and term as we got the first time. The end of the video urges the public, “In 2013 take part again.”
In 2009 a crowd of more than 1.5 million people showed up for Obama’s first inauguration. However, the D.C. public transit system is anticipating only half the number of riders as it did in 2009, indicating an acknowledgment on the part of Washington that Obama’s not as popular as he was four years ago.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VRc9BZhMKY]
Obama’s official swearing-in will take place in private on Sunday, January 20 and a ceremonial swearing in will on the steps of the Capitol the next day, Monday January 21. Obama’s official 2009 inauguration was also held privately after Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts flubbed the swearing in statement and Obama had to be re-sworn in. This year the public swearing in will take place on Monday because Inauguration Day – Jan. 20 – falls on a weekend.
After the public inauguration, the inaugural parade will take place on Pennsylvania Ave at 2:30 pm and will feature marching bands from across the United States, including the Punahou Band from Obama’s own prep school in Honolulu, Hawaii. Monday evening several official and unofficial inaugural balls will take place in D.C. A limited number of tickets to the official inaugural balls are for sale. Interested parties can sign up for mor information here.
Obama fans can also purchase items from the inaugural store online, which opened today. Beginning Jan. 11 D.C.’ers and attendees of the inauguration will be able to purchase items in person from a special inaugural store located near the White House. Proceeds from the sales will go toward paying for the inaugural parade and the various inaugural balls.
