"Mr. Bush" not "President Bush"

NBC Today Show | 1/7/04 | NBC Journalists

[websterdog]

Reported this morning on the Today Show, in the segment about the illegals working in this country, the regulars (Matt, Katie, Ann & Al) go to the reporter in the field and our president is referred to as "Mr. Bush" not "President Bush".

[websterdog]

Reported this morning on the Today Show, in the segment about the illegals working in this country, the regulars (Matt, Katie, Ann & Al) go to the reporter in the field and our president is referred to as "Mr. Bush" not "President Bush". I've seen this on the increase recently as the election is heating up. Has anyone else noticed? I think their disrespect is alarming and biased since they will refer to a competitor as "Presidential hopeful Howard Dean. And certainly any reference to Bill Clinton is always President Clinton. Is this going on in other networks too?

[ladtx]

I believe either is proper.

[Az Joe]

They probably think calling him "Mr" Bush is a sign of respect after what they call him off camera.

[demlosers]

I don't remember hearing them say 'Mister Clinton.'

[Steve_Seattle]

I don't think I ever heard the press refer to President Clinton as Mr. Clinton.

[Maceman]

Well, it's not like Bush was really elected or anything.

(Just KIDDING!)

[EllaMinnow]

I first noticed it back when it was "Mister Carter" and I've heard it for every president since.

[Camachee]

Actually, if you listen to so-called conservative talk show hosts like Hannity and Rush, they often just call him just "Bush" in discussions. It's just a general incivility and lack of protocol and doesn't belong exclusively to the left. You'd think our side could do better.

[dangus]

Give six months, and it will be "Nominee President Dean [or Clark]," "President Hussein" and "Dictator Bush."

News story references:
*BBC, Reuters, ABC, etc. refer to Hussein as President Hussein, even though he seized power by violent coup and never faced a contested election. Meanwhile, it's "Dictator Pinochet," even though he was democratically elected, re-elected, and then unelected.

*Gallup says Clark closed the gap on Dean, going from 22 points down to an insiginificant 4 points down. Now, everyone expects Dean to win New Hampshire, probably Iowa; If Clark then takes any of the states the next week (SC, AZ, NM, OK, MI and two others), he will have be in a tie nationally, will have momentum, and Dean will have fired his ammo.

[doug from upland]

A reporter will always start a story using the designation "President." After that, it is typical protocol to use "Mr."

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The AP Stylebook gives "Mr.---- or President ---- as proper.

[Dave S]

I don't remember hearing them say 'Mister Clinton.'

I do. The terms are used interchangably. However, if you are talking to Mr. Bush, you refer to him as Mr. President.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I propose "Senor Bush". From today, onward.

[Steve_Seattle]

What if Edwards wins in SC? Will the press then seize upon him - an affable, photogenic Southern Democrat - as a winnable alternative to Dean? Will Edwards suddenly become the talk of the town?

[kegler4]

This is absolutely proper and has been used with every president I can remember. They might not respect him but this is not proof of it.

[reagan_fanatic]

Peetah Jennings on ABC refers to President Bush in the same manner. I don't think they mean it in a respectful way.

[steveo]

MR Ducks

[Catspaw]

dfu, the stylebooks (AP is the one that's usually used, although there are others), it's "President" on the first reference, "Mr." used on the second and all subsequent reference.

[7thson]

The first time I noticed this was during the 92 debates. Clinton continually refered to President Bush as Mr. Bush - to his face! It was a obvious and predetermined sign of disrespect! One of the first reasons I could not stand Clinton.

[Diogenesis]

Using the words "President Bush" has as much traction on NBC as did Matt's habits
when they broke synchronously with Rush's.

[Lancey Howard]

I liked at the last convention during Bush's acceptance speech when he referred to George Washington, "....or as his friends called him, 'Dubya'...."

[Iron Eagle]

Personally, I believe the correct formal reference to the President should be "President Bush."

Having said that, it has long been accepted journalistic practice to refer to Presidents as "Mr. ____" The New York Times has been doing it for years. (In fact, they are often the targets of this type of question.)

I don't have a problem with it, as long as they are consistent. It would be folish to call George Bush Mr. Bush, while calling Bill Clinton Mr. Clinton. And, it should be the standard practice. That is, if NBC is going to call him Mr. Bush in the morning, its other anchors and shows should do the same.

In the end, it would be easier if we called the President either "President _____, or "the President."

In my mind, the rule should be: what would you instruct your children to call him if they met him? "Mr. Bush" or "Mr. President" or "President Bush."

[theDentist]

They try to avoid "President" because, after all, Bush stole the election and illegitimately holds the office. {/sarcasm}

[LandofLincoln]

Maybe they are getting used to his new title. Anymore legislation like the crap he has done this far, and I will do ALL I CAN to make him Mr. Bush. How is that for conservative?

[Arrowhead1952]

I think their disrespect is alarming and biased since they will refer to a competitor as "Presidential hopeful Howard Dean. And certainly any reference to Bill Clinton is always President Clinton. Is this going on in other networks too?

I hear this on every network, except Fox. I really get Po'ed when they refer to El slicko as President Clinton, not former President Clintoon.

[LandofLincoln]

Great call.

[eyespysomething]

I dislike how they refer to him as George W instead of anything else.

[LisaMalia]

I have noticed this in many instances with the press, and it just really has been a thorn in my side.
He should be addressed as President Bush. Anything else is a sign of disrespect, in my book.

[Lancey Howard]

There was a thread yesterday about the death of Teddy Roosevelt. It was from the New York Times and in the (fairly long) report, Roosevelt was referred to every time as "Colonel Roosevelt".

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

Ah, but kind sir, the national news media ARE following the dnc's latest faux fax sheet about honorifics and political titles:

IN EVERY recent story about Howard Dean, they have been using "Dr. Dean" ten-twenty times per story!

[RightFighter]

I thought when I was in school that they taught us that when referring to the President of the United States, it was appropriate to always capitalize the "P", so in a news story it would be appropriate to use "the President" but not "the president". However, I see news stories all the time where the p is not capitalized. Anyone know what is proper in this respect?

[New Horizon]

I don't think I ever heard the press refer to President Clinton as Mr. Clinton.

He still receives the old "Former President Bill Clinton" frequently.

[BlueNgold]

Have heard reports that he prefers to be called Mr. Bush unless it is in formal settings where protocol and respect for the office need to be highlighted. Not sure how true it is, but it came from a reliable source.

[So Cal Rocket]

LMNO Ducks

[trebb]

This has been a major gripe of mine for some time - Klinton, Carter, Gore, etc., are almost invariably referred to by their preisidential/vice presidential titles, while President Bush is mainly reffered to as "Bush" or "Mr. Bush". I hate to tell them, but he is more of a President than we've had since Reagan and refusal to use the title will not change that fact.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Just talked to my son in Seattle. He said he was one of two people to make it in to the office yesterday. Today, he's staying home...

[Camachee]

The AP Stylebook gives "Mr.---- or President ---- as proper.

That sounds right. My personal preference is "Mr. President". :)

[Conservomax]

I believe both are proper, however, they obviously made choice to say Mr. Bush.

[twigs]

I had no idea that was proper. Thanks for the info.

[AAABEST]

Mr. Bush holds our citizens and constitution in contempt with his un-American and socialist policies.

Forget respect, he should hang his blue-blooded head in shame.

[SaveTheChief]

I recall President George H.W. Bush receiving the same treatment from candidate Bill Clinton during the 1992 presidential campaign. He got away with it and was never called on it. Apparently this is now SOP for democrats and liberals everywhere.

[js1138]

I don't remember hearing them say 'Mister Clinton.'

But everyone referred to him as Bill Clinton, and to Carter as Jimmy Carter. I have trouble getting excited about all this. Elected officials are our employees, not royalty.

[LurkedLongEnough]

It is going on in my local paper.

Obnoxious letter to the editor titled, "What now, Mr. Bush?"

[beachn4fun]

I've heard many networks refer to him as Mr. Bush sometimes. And President Bush sometimes. I thought as long as he was President, proper address was "Mr. President."

[Cicero]

Standard practice is President George W. Bush for the first print reference, or President Bush for the first reference on TV (to save air time); then Mr. Bush OR occasionally President Bush after that.

Of course you're right. They say President Clinton every time they refer to the sleazebag, and I doubt whether you could find "ex-president Clinton" anywhere in a liberal news source. Maybe an occasional "the former president." It falls within the guidelines, but I'm sure a statistical analysis would reveal the usual bias.

[altura]

I sometimes do that in posting (say "Bush"). Sometimes I say Dubya. Sometimes I say The Prez. It's called lazy typing.

But as for the Today show, it may be a calculated effort to show disrespect.

[Cicero]

"Mr. President" is the correct form of second-person direct address at a news conference, but not when referring to the president in the third person in a news article.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Get over it.

He is called 'President Bush', 'Mister Bush', 'Bush' ' The president'. As long as they don't call him 'George' it's fine.

It's all in the journalism style-book and has been used for years.

No need to get your panties in a twist over something that is so minuscule. Clinton was also referred to as 'Clinton' or 'Mister Clinton'.

[Irene Adler]

" It was from the New York Times and in the (fairly long) report, Roosevelt was referred to every time as "Colonel Roosevelt".

After Roosevelt's presidency, he requested that he be referred to as "Colonel" apparently from his days as a Rough Rider. Eisenhower, likewise, requested that he be referred to as "General". When ex-presidents with a military background request this, their wishes are followed by the press and others.