Obama title

The Coffee Shop
1

I’ve noticed that a lot of news stations still call Obama, Mr. Obama. Shouldn’t they refer to him as President Obama?

Just wondering. I’m not really into politics but I thought it was kinda weird that they still called him Mr. Obama. Or, maybe its just KNX 1070.

2

I’m partial to Obama Claus…

3

They did the same thing with Bush. I don’t know why but it seems that they call him Mr. President or Mr. Obama but not President Obama.

4 
I had a friend named Orlando when I was a teenager, always called him "O"...can't help thinking the same in reference to Obama.  I try to use something more proper here, lest the chorus of worshippers screaming that I'm dissin' him.
5

*Herr Burgermeister *or is it the Hamburglar?

6

It’s still proper. The reps cried about it for Bush but there is no harm done. I like think this is America though and we gained our freedom from a land of titled leaders so I say call dip shit if you want he’s supposed to work for us.

7

i think dipshits would be offended it you compared O to them!

8

NPR commented on this a few weeks back (based upon a listener’s question/concern). They said that they refer to him for the 1st time in a story as President Obama, and every time there after as Mr. Obama. Did the same with Bush, can’t remember when they started the practice. Maybe its the correct way to do it???

9

I don’t know. I don’t think that Mr. Bush or Mr. Obama is disrespectful. I do think that if a reporter refers to the president without either Mr. or President in front of his name, that is disrespectful.

10

It looks like journalistically , the standard is 1st reference as President_Last Name, and then Mr._ Last Name. For everyone else its Title_last name and then only last name… Apparently it is in the AP Style Book (see last link).

I did a quick search and I found the following.

CBS

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/02/03/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4772225.shtml
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2006/12/14/couricandco/entry2265934.shtml?source=search_story

“It is CBS News practice to refer to the President and former Presidents on second reference with the honorific “Mister.”…Everyone else in the political universe is referred to on second reference by their last name.”

NPR

http://www.npr.org/ombudsman/2009/01/mr_obama_mormons_and_susan_sta_1.html

NPR has used Mister as the alternative term of respect on second (and subsequent) reference to the President of the United States for decades. I personally have been Washington editor for three presidents and we have done it consistently through this time. Just as consistent have been the letters, phone calls and emails from people who do not believe what I just said. They insist we always called the previous president ‘President So and So’ on every reference and that our alleged failure to do so with the current president indicates disrespect. It is difficult to convince people their memories are faulty, and even transcripts sometimes do not convince them. One nice thing about the digital age is that people can actually go on line, call up actual audio from earlier this month, or last month, and hear us saying Mr. Bush, which we did every day.

Heritage (interesting op-ed)

http://blog.heritage.org/2008/11/17/new-obama-style-suits-ap/

Random local station

http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/39404837.html

11

Thanks for the research. It appears they agree that Bush or Obama without President or Mr. fails to show the proper respect, at least in print and more formal disucussions. I am not bothered by Bush or Obama without any honorific in more casual conversations.

12

if its Ok with y’ all I will stick with some combination of : The Big O, Obama Claus, and The Clown in the Big White House
.

13

You don’t need my permission to do anything.