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Political EtiquetteIs the American Media Too Informal With Some Public Figures?The tendency of some journalists to use first names of some politicians might be a tip off.
Chris Wallace, host of FOXNews Sunday, recently laid down the law to the show's panel of commentators. They would no longer refer to Senator Clinton, he ordered, as "Hillary." Walace insisted calling the first major female presidential candidate by her first name was sexist. Journalists on other networks don't seem to agree. George Stephanopoulos, for example, regularly uses the H-name. By insisting on the use of titles, however, Mr. Wallace may be doing the right thing for the wrong reason. American culture has become more informal over the years, and that informality has influenced the mass media. Television's ability to bring people of all sorts into homes across the nation, allowing politicians and others to connect with the public in ways not possible before, has aided in the loosening of public life. Entertainers and athletes of both sexes are sometimes known by a single name. Generally, that seems to be by their choice. Calling a celebrity by that celebrity's first name, therefore, is not unprecedented. Mr. Wallace might argue political leaders should be in a different class than actors or basketball players. Fair enough. To support his sexist interpretation, however, someone would have to show female political leaders are called by their given names more than males are by the media. That may or may not turn out to be true, but the facts are that former U. S. House Speaker Gingrich is often called simply "Newt" by television journalists in round table discussions, just as former New York City Mayor Giuliani is regularly referred to as "Rudy"-- not even "Rudolph." Sexism cannot explain Newt and Rudy, at least not from male correspondents. Pervasive informality probably explains part of the practice. President Clintion prefers Bill over William, after all; former vice president Gore favors Al, not Albert; and it's Chris Wallace, not Christopher. Public figures can prefer to be seen as just another person. There is potentially another political angle to this name game, though. Entertainers and professional athletes are not generally seen as especially serious people. Athletes are generally young adults. Entertainers who develop more serious public images generally only do so after years in the public eye, and serious, mature adults in our culture tend to have two names. The singers Bono and Sting might be the exceptions to prove that rule. Referring to Senator Clinton as "Hillary," therefore, might not be sexist, but it might be dismissive. It could also suggest national political reporters have relationships with Hillary, Newt, Rudy, and others that they should keep out of their reporting. Either way, the instincts of Christopher Wallace were probably correct.
The copyright of the article Political Etiquette in American Affairs is owned by Gregory Arthur Anderson. Permission to republish Political Etiquette in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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