Barack Obama takes oath of office for second term in public ceremony
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Buy SPH photosWASHINGTON (AFP) - United States President Barack Obama issued a impassioned call for national unity and equality on Monday, warning political “absolutism” must not thwart change and renewal, as he was inaugurated for a second term.
Obama was publicly sworn in for another four White House years before a crowd of hundreds of thousands on Washington’s National Mall, and delivered an inaugural address steeped in poetic power and broad hints of his new agenda.
The 44th president repeatedly used the “We the People” preamble to the US Constitution to suggest how to reconcile America’s founding truths and the current discord and dysfunction of its embittered political system. “For now, decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay,” Obama said.
“We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect,” Obama declared.
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US President Barack Obama is sworn in by Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, as First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters, Sasha (right) and Malia, look on during inauguration ceremonies in Washington. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) (left), US President Barack Obama (centre), first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden pay their respects at the Martin Luther King, Jr statue in the Capitol rotunda during presidential inauguration ceremonies in Washington, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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US Army Military District of Washington Major General Michael L. Linnington, Commander JFHQ National Capitol Region (centre) is flanked by US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (left, side) and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden as they review troops during inauguration ceremonies at the US Capitol, Washington DC, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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US Army Military District of Washington Major General Michael L. Linnington, Commander JFHQ National Capitol Region (centre) is flanked by US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (left, side) and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden as they review troops during inauguration ceremonies at the US Capitol, Washington DC, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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The Inaugural Parade begins along Pennsylvania Avenue following the US Army Military District of Washington Major General Michael L. Linnington, Commander JFHQ National Capitol Region (centre) is flanked by US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (left, side) and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden as they review troops during inauguration ceremonies at the US Capitol, Washington DC, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERSinauguration of US President Barack Obama on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
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President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk down Pennsylvania Avenue during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade on Monday, Jan 21, 2013, in Washington. -- PHOTO: AP
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US President Barack Obama shares a moment with House Speaker John Boehner as first lady Michelle Obama applauds at the Inaugural Luncheon in Statuary Hall on inauguration day at the US Capitol building on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington DC President Obama was ceremonially sworn in for his second term today. -- PHOTO: AFP
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US President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama wave as they walk down Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk along a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue along the Parade Route during the 57th Presidential Inauguration on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
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The US Army band marches down Pennsylvania Avenue en route to the White House, on Monday, Jan 21, 2013, in Washington. Thousands marched during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade after the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama. -- PHOTO: AP
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US Vice President Joe Biden and Dr Jill Biden walk the route as the presidential inaugural parade winds through the nation's capital on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. Mr Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term as President of the United States. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Men in traditional colonial garb perform as US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Spectators take photos and wave as they watch US President Barack Obama going by during the inaugural parade in Washington, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A spectator watches US President Barack Obama go by during the inaugural parade in Washington, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: People watch as President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are driven past crowds during the inauguration parade on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Obama was ceremonially sworn in for a second term office during a public ceremony at the US Capitol building. -- PHOTO: AFP
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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: People hold aloft posters of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, altered to appear in African dress, during the inauguration parade on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Obama was ceremonially sworn in for a second term office during a public ceremony at the US Capitol building. -- PHOTO: AFP
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President Barack Obama, right, and first lady Michelle Obama watch the Inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue with their daughters, Sasha, left, and Malia, second from left, from the presidential box near the White House, on Monday, Jan 21, 2013, in Washington. Thousands marched during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade after the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama. -- PHOTO: AP
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Spectators watch as US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's motorcade travels along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Spectators watch as US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's motorcade travels along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Spectators watch as US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's motorcade travels along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Spectators watch as US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's motorcade travels along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
US President Barack Obama is sworn in by Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, as First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters, Sasha (right) and Malia, look on during inauguration ceremonies in Washington. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) (left), US President Barack Obama (centre), first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden pay their respects at the Martin Luther King, Jr statue in the Capitol rotunda during presidential inauguration ceremonies in Washington, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
US Army Military District of Washington Major General Michael L. Linnington, Commander JFHQ National Capitol Region (centre) is flanked by US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (left, side) and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden as they review troops during inauguration ceremonies at the US Capitol, Washington DC, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
US Army Military District of Washington Major General Michael L. Linnington, Commander JFHQ National Capitol Region (centre) is flanked by US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (left, side) and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden as they review troops during inauguration ceremonies at the US Capitol, Washington DC, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
The Inaugural Parade begins along Pennsylvania Avenue following the US Army Military District of Washington Major General Michael L. Linnington, Commander JFHQ National Capitol Region (centre) is flanked by US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (left, side) and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden as they review troops during inauguration ceremonies at the US Capitol, Washington DC, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERSinauguration of US President Barack Obama on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk down Pennsylvania Avenue during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade on Monday, Jan 21, 2013, in Washington. -- PHOTO: AP
US President Barack Obama shares a moment with House Speaker John Boehner as first lady Michelle Obama applauds at the Inaugural Luncheon in Statuary Hall on inauguration day at the US Capitol building on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington DC President Obama was ceremonially sworn in for his second term today. -- PHOTO: AFP
US President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama wave as they walk down Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk along a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue along the Parade Route during the 57th Presidential Inauguration on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
The US Army band marches down Pennsylvania Avenue en route to the White House, on Monday, Jan 21, 2013, in Washington. Thousands marched during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade after the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama. -- PHOTO: AP
US Vice President Joe Biden and Dr Jill Biden walk the route as the presidential inaugural parade winds through the nation's capital on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. Mr Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term as President of the United States. -- PHOTO: AFP
Men in traditional colonial garb perform as US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
Spectators take photos and wave as they watch US President Barack Obama going by during the inaugural parade in Washington, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A spectator watches US President Barack Obama go by during the inaugural parade in Washington, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: People watch as President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are driven past crowds during the inauguration parade on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Obama was ceremonially sworn in for a second term office during a public ceremony at the US Capitol building. -- PHOTO: AFP
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: People hold aloft posters of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, altered to appear in African dress, during the inauguration parade on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. President Obama was ceremonially sworn in for a second term office during a public ceremony at the US Capitol building. -- PHOTO: AFP
President Barack Obama, right, and first lady Michelle Obama watch the Inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue with their daughters, Sasha, left, and Malia, second from left, from the presidential box near the White House, on Monday, Jan 21, 2013, in Washington. Thousands marched during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade after the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama. -- PHOTO: AP
Spectators watch as US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's motorcade travels along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
Spectators watch as US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's motorcade travels along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
Spectators watch as US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's motorcade travels along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
Spectators watch as US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's motorcade travels along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th US president on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
