Swear-in switcheroo Biden can't tell left from right for Kirk oath of office

[Geee]

Chicago Tribune:

WASHINGTON — Joe Biden, the gaffe-prone vice president, strayed from tradition Monday at the swearing-in of Republican Mark Kirk, the new senator from Illinois.

Biden, who is president of the Senate, began by instructing Kirk: "Please place your right hand on the Bible."

Kirk, a Republican, did as instructed, putting his right hand on the Good Book and raising his left.

Oops. Here's guidance from "Traditions of the United States Senate," by Richard Baker, the Senate historian from 1975 to 2009: "Senators-elect affirm their oath to defend the U.S. Constitution by stepping forward, raising their right hand, and repeating the words spoken by the presiding officer. Some carry in their left hand a personal Bible or other sacred text."