President Obama misquoted the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, ever so slightly, while making a point Tuesday about America’s enduring alliance with France and his contested plan to accept Syrian refugees.
At a White House press conference with French President Francois Hollande, Mr. Obama said the statue — a gift from France to the U.S. — is a symbol of welcome to those seeking a better life in America. Then he said Lady Liberty bears an inscription of “words we know so well.”
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free,” Mr. Obama quoted the inscription as saying.
Actually, the inscription on the Statue of Liberty reads, “masses yearning to breathe free,” not “be free.”
Mr. Obama noted that France has agreed to accept 30,000 Syrian refugees, while the House has voted to delay his plan to take in 10,000 refugees.
The president said of the Statue of Liberty’s message, “That’s the spirit that makes us Americans. That’s the spirit that binds us to France.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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