2016 Postmortem

smorkingapple

(827 posts) Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:11 AM Oct 2012

Why does Obama insist on calling Romney "Governor"?

Is this some dumb ass custom or has this been focus grouped that it won't come off well if Obama doesn't call him that?

Do we have to refer to Palin as Governor Palin from now until eternity?

I think this elevates Romney unnecessarily. I wish he would stop it.

19 replies

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Why does Obama insist on calling Romney "Governor"? (Original Post) smorkingapple Oct 2012 OP

Because our President is an class act unlike skeewee08 Oct 2012 #1

"Protocol" says you call the person by their last held title, NYC Liberal Oct 2012 #2

It sounds much better than 'Governor Shithead' Chipper Chat Oct 2012 #3

It's an accepted practice. Gidney N Cloyd Oct 2012 #4

It is protocol. Once you've been a governor or a senator or whatever The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2012 #5

Apart from the protocol, it's a good reminder of a Voice for Peace Oct 2012 #6

^^^^ this ^^^^^ TDale313 Oct 2012 #14

IMO the President addressing Romney as gov Romney is not elevating his position at all darkangel218 Oct 2012 #7

It's something that is done as deference protocol lunatica Oct 2012 #8

It makes it clear that Romney has political baggage UCmeNdc Oct 2012 #9

I've always thought he should call him CEO Romney tarheelsunc Oct 2012 #10

It was either that or liar liberal N proud Oct 2012 #11

Would it really be considered rude to just call him Mr Romney? smorkingapple Oct 2012 #12

Yes, it would be obamanut2012 Oct 2012 #15

He Calls Robme Governor Because It Robs Him Of His "Citizen Fix It" Arguiment DemocratSinceBirth Oct 2012 #13

I think it's the rules for this debate, but it's also common courtesy struggle4progress Oct 2012 #16

Yep he does JustAnotherGen Oct 2012 #17

Because he is able to resist the urge to call him "Bishop" Tom Ripley Oct 2012 #18

It's an ambiguous double-entendre rock Oct 2012 #19

skeewee08

(1,983 posts)

1. Because our President is an class act unlike

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:15 AM

Oct 2012

Lying Ryan during the VP debate that did not address Obama as President Obama.

NYC Liberal

(20,136 posts)

2. "Protocol" says you call the person by their last held title,

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:15 AM

Oct 2012

except for president (since there is only ever one "president" at a time vs many governors, senators, etc).

Official protocol says you call former presidents by their last title before president. Clinton would technically be "Governor Clinton", but it's fine for someone informally (in a speech or whatever) to call him "president Clinton".

Chipper Chat

(9,693 posts)

3. It sounds much better than 'Governor Shithead'

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:16 AM

Oct 2012

Gidney N Cloyd

(19,847 posts)

4. It's an accepted practice.

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:16 AM

Oct 2012

On edit, it seems like a much more recent thing to hear titles like "Leader Pelosi" tossed around. Or Gingrich being referred to as "Speaker Gingrich" instead of Congressman, some 15 years after he vacated the office.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,869 posts)

5. It is protocol. Once you've been a governor or a senator or whatever

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:16 AM

Oct 2012

you get to be called by that title even after you no longer hold that position. It's just one of those etiquette things like calling someone "Mr. __" instead of using his first name. And yes, Palin also gets to be called Governor forever. But it's no skin off my butt.

Voice for Peace

(13,141 posts)

6. Apart from the protocol, it's a good reminder of a

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:17 AM

Oct 2012

failed governorship of a state where he is now and
forever unloved; also a good reminder of Romneycare
& his pro-choice phase.

TDale313

(7,820 posts)

14. ^^^^ this ^^^^^

Reply to Voice for Peace (Reply #6)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:27 AM

Oct 2012

darkangel218

(13,985 posts)

7. IMO the President addressing Romney as gov Romney is not elevating his position at all

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:18 AM

Oct 2012

It actually put him in his place , which is former gov, and not letting room for any other possible title.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)

8. It's something that is done as deference protocol

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:18 AM

Oct 2012

It's pretty much a rule. You call your opponent or anyone else by their title. For example, all ex-Presidents are addressed as President.

Sarah Palin will always be addressed and referenced as Governor Sarah Palin unless she gets another title.

UCmeNdc

(9,601 posts)

9. It makes it clear that Romney has political baggage

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:19 AM

Oct 2012

Romney's record as Governor is not all that swift. Romney wants everyone to think he is just a business man. By calling him Govenor it reminds everyone he is a politician and what was his record?

tarheelsunc

(2,117 posts)

10. I've always thought he should call him CEO Romney

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:19 AM

Oct 2012

liberal N proud

(60,346 posts)

11. It was either that or liar

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:20 AM

Oct 2012

smorkingapple

(827 posts)

12. Would it really be considered rude to just call him Mr Romney?

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:23 AM

Oct 2012

I just think we're elevating this guy when he should be getting torn down..

obamanut2012

(26,142 posts)

15. Yes, it would be

Reply to smorkingapple (Reply #12)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:36 AM

Oct 2012

Unless President Obama was also addressed as Mr. Obama during the debate. It is fine to call a President "Mr. Surname, but it is considered rude in a protocol setting, just as it would be to not call Romney Governor. He has the right to be called that.

DemocratSinceBirth

(99,714 posts)

13. He Calls Robme Governor Because It Robs Him Of His "Citizen Fix It" Arguiment

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:26 AM

Oct 2012

And shows he's part of the mess...

struggle4progress

(118,356 posts)

16. I think it's the rules for this debate, but it's also common courtesy

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 11:46 AM

Oct 2012

JustAnotherGen

(31,907 posts)

17. Yep he does

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 12:07 PM

Oct 2012

That way we can see he doesn't have a long record.

4 Years in Office as a Governor
10 Years as a Pastor in the Mormon Church
25 Years 'balancing budgets of businesses'. - Note - No Tax Returns to prove he really had that job for 25 years and folks are saying he left in 1999 - so we can't really truly know this.

4 years as a Governor
10 years as a pastor.

Take the 25 years in business out since he refuses to prove it.

Keep on saying it President Obama.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/2012-presidential-debate-full-transcript-oct-16/story?id=17493848&page=10

I care about 100 percent of the American people. I want 100 percent of the American people to have a bright and prosperous future. I care about our kids. I understand what it takes to make a bright and prosperous future for America again. I spent my life in the private sector, not in government. I'm a guy who wants to help with the experience I have, the American people.

My -- my passion probably flows from the fact that I believe in God. And I believe we're all children of the same God. I believe we have a responsibility to care for one another. I -- I served as a missionary for my church. I served as a pastor in my congregation for about 10 years. I've sat across the table from people who were out of work and worked with them to try and find new work or to help them through tough times.

Tom Ripley

(4,945 posts)

18. Because he is able to resist the urge to call him "Bishop"

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 12:28 PM

Oct 2012

rock

(13,218 posts)

19. It's an ambiguous double-entendre

Reply to smorkingapple (Original post)

Wed Oct 17, 2012, 12:29 PM

Oct 2012

1) It is the proper protocol,
2) It's analogous to Romney using the term "Obama Care," trying to make it an insult. Which didn't work because Obama embraced it. If I didn't know Obama better I'd say he is rubbing shit all over Romney. Like if I called George W Bush, "Mr. President" (I'm sure you would be able to hear the sarcasm - the snicker would give it away).

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