The End of Etiquette?
No matter which side of the political fence you are on, your opponent deserves respect and civility. I’ve been amazed in both of this season’s presidential debates at the lack of good manners on the democratic side of the podium. We first heard Senator Obama do so several times during his exchange with Senator McCain. Often he referred to McCain as simply ”John”. No title. No last name. No respect.
I assumed that the press and blogosphere would be abuzz over this social gaffe. Not so.
Last night, Senator Biden employed the same tactic multiple times in reference to McCain. One can only assume that the democratic advisors assumed that if it worked once, it would work again. And work it did, serving to demean McCain.
I never liked it when my republican counterparts referred to President Clinton as simply “Clinton” or just “Bill” during his term in office and I don’t like it now.
Come on people, let’s show some respect.
Yes Kevin, but remember that Governor Palin also referred to Senator Biden as “Joe”. After asking permission of course… But I agree with your point.
Reverend Young,
They are both fellow senators – I think it was totally appropriate. What was obviously disrespectful to both Senator Obama and the American public is that Senator McCain did not look Obama in the face. I think more than anything else, Obama was trying to engage in a conversation with McCain, in which McCain refused to respond.
Nobody knows where Obama was coming from when he called him John. He may have been being disrespectful, he may have meant nothing by it at all.
But can you deny that it’s disrespectful to not look at the person you are debating?
Okay, one more thing
He called him Senator McCain 35 times. John – 17 times.