“Whatever you say Mr. President”
Two weeks ago posting on President Obama’s talk to America’s school children, I said, “The President is the leader of our Country and deserves our respect.” “When we disrespect the President, I said, “we disrespect ourselves.”
Then last Friday when reading a rather routine story in “The Washington Post” on national political fundraising I was shocked to see the following quote from none other than our Vice President who was speaking of possible GOP victories in the 2010 U S House election.
"If they take them back, this is the end of the road for what Barack and I are trying to do,"
Vice President publicly called him by his given name not the President.
The apparent lack of respect is not good for the Nation and not good politically for the President.
Extended Endbar (prompted in thinking about what the VPOTUS said) – Calling the President by his given name reminds me of the scene in the Aaron Sorkin written and Rob Reiner directed film (both super libs), “The American President.” The film is very engaging and great stagecraft for political junkies, despite their politics. The scene between the President’s Chief of Staff played by Martin Sheen (who plays a great Robert E Lee in Ted Turner’s Gettysburg – can we get anymore liberal?(Turner not General Lee)) and a President Andrew Shepherd played by Michael Douglas.
The COS: Good night Mr. President
The President: When we're out of the office, and alone, you can call me Andy.
The COS: I beg your pardon, sir?
The President: You were the best man at my wedding, for crying out loud. Call me Andy.
The COS: Whatever you say, Mr. President.
In another exchange prior to the one cited above the Chief of Staff also got off this exchange about addressing the President:
The COS: Nice shot, Mr. President.
The President: Nice shot, Mr. President? You won't even call me by my name when we're playing pool?
The COS: I will not do it playing pool, I will not do it in a school. I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam I Am.
Aaron Sorkin has reportedly dated Kristen Chenowith (a real talent and not too shabby) and New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. Dating Dowd is a little hard to understand but it must be that writer’s thing or something. Sorkin is best known for his work on television’s “The West Wing.”
Among Sorkin’s other credits are “Sports Night”, for both stage and screen the outstanding “A Few Good Men”, and most recently for his screenwriting “Charlie Wilson’s War.”
South Dakota Straight Talk
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Reader Comments (2)
I was fortunate enough to attend the Democrat Presidential Primary debate in Philadelphia between President Obama and Secretary Clinton. At the end of the debate they came out into the room to shake hands. I was sitting in the same row as Chelsea Clinton, so at the end of the hand shaking, Secretary Clinton was near me. Two twenty something women came rushing down the stairs, one of them shouting "Hillary, Hillary" hoping for a handshake and an autograph. The small group of us standing there were appalled at the lack of respect shown to the former first lady and then Senator. We all agreed that "Mrs. Clinton", if not "Senator" would have been more appropriate. (Of course, the candidate probably didn't care - she just wanted the vote.)
There are positives to the "casualization" of America - eaby allows people to go to work in their underwear- but I believe that respect for one another is still called for and lacking in our society, and the VP should more properly show that respect to the President by referring to him with his proper title.