Brennan's Symbolic Gesture: Oops

Public figures of all sorts will from time to time make grand, symbolic gestures designed not so much for their intent, but rather for the PR they receive in making them.

Such was the case when the White House related the nature of the oath taken by new CIA Director John Brennan:

Hours after CIA Director John Brennan took the oath of office—behind closed doors, far away from the press, perhaps befitting his status as America's top spy—the White House took pains to emphasize the symbolism of the ceremony.

“There's one piece of this that I wanted to note for you,” spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters at their daily briefing. “Director Brennan was sworn in with his hand on an original draft of the Constitution that had George Washington's personal handwriting and annotations on it, dating from 1787.”

That's nice, taking an oath on an authentic copy of the Constitution you are swearing to uphold and defend. But wait, there's more:

The Constitution itself went into effect in 1789. But troublemaking blogger Marcy Wheeler points out that what was missing from the Constitution in 1787 is also quite symbolic: The Bill of Rights, which did not officially go into effect until December 1791 after ratification by states. ...

That means: No freedom of speech and of the press, no right to bear arms, no Fourth Amendment ban on “unreasonable searches and seizures,” and no right to a jury trial.

Oh, the irony.

Word of advice to all who would try to make a grand gesture and then crow about it: make sure you do your homework and know your history, else risk sending an entirely different message than the one you intend.