Democratic Superintendent Does Not "Hate the Bible"
The Claim
Democratic Superintendent of Arizona public schools Kathy Hoffman hates the Bible so much she swore her oath on a Dr. Seuss book.
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Emerging story
On August 20, 2020, Twitter user @RealBasedMAGA posted a picture of Kathy Hoffman, Superintendent of Arizona public education, getting sworn into office. The text claimed that she hates the Bible so much that she swore her oath on a Dr. Seuss book. This tweet was then reposted more than 13,000 times on social media.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar has discovered that while many public servants have been sworn into office holding a bible, there are no rules requiring that a bible be held even for the highest offices. According to the Congressional Research Service regarding the swearing in of members of congress, “Many Members choose to hold something meaningful in their left hands. These objects have often been, but are not limited to, a family heirloom or something else of special significance. Nothing, however, is required. It is up to the Member to determine what, if anything, he or she holds.” John Quincy Adams also knew this to be true. He was the only president known to be sworn in with something in his hand other than the Bible. Adams took the oath of office with his hand on a law book.
Hoffman chose to be sworn in with her hand upon the children’s book Too Many Moose by Lisa Bakos, according to radio station KJZZ. As a former teacher, this was a book she used in her classroom. According to Hoffman, “This has a lot of sentimental value to me because this is my students' favorite book.”
Hoffman spent her entire career working in public education, first as a pre-school teacher and then as a speech-language pathologist. While Hoffman did swear into her position holding a children's book, it was not a Dr. Seuss book. Further, her choice of what to hold in her hand did not reflect her religious beliefs.
