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Sheldon Cooper

(3,724 posts)

16. Wow, this is bizarre.

Reply to UnrepentantLiberal (Original post)

Tue Jan 22, 2013, 07:24 AM

Jan 2013

Are we required to genuflect as we say his name? The President is not God. It's okay to call him Barack, or Obama, or Barack Obama, or President Obama, etc.

Having said that, it is NOT cool to call him Barry - that's a dog whistle used only by wing nuts to express scorn for the president.

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Is it ever OK to refer to the President as Barry or Barack? [View all] UnrepentantLiberal Jan 2013 OP

no Skittles Jan 2013 #1

Barry only if you are a childhood friend. Barack only if you are close friend or family. Obummer... Tom Ripley Jan 2013 #2

Years ago he asked his family not to call him Barry onenote Jan 2013 #22

If you have a PERSONAL relationship (ex: childhood friend) and are having IdaBriggs Jan 2013 #3

What does his sister call him? mykpart Jan 2013 #4

Referring to the president as "Barry" is usually a sign of disrespect. Behind the Aegis Jan 2013 #5

EDITED: Exactly. It OFTEN IS a dog whistle. Heidi Jan 2013 #11

There is no greater supporter of the President than I am, among my peers louis c Jan 2013 #13

I appreciate your support for unions, your ward, and our president. However, Heidi Jan 2013 #14

Thanks louis c Jan 2013 #17

And yet there was a poster today who supported the president and got railed for saying Barry Bucky Jan 2013 #20

WELL said. narnian60 Jan 2013 #27

2nd that. IADEMO2004 Jan 2013 #37

I wasn't one of the DUers who harassed that member. Heidi Jan 2013 #38

I did just that and he doesn't. UnrepentantLiberal Jan 2013 #39

I searched, too. He's a big Feingold fan. Heidi Jan 2013 #45

I can attest to that Mdterp01 Jan 2013 #54

it's ok to disrespect the president Enrique Jan 2013 #28

And it's okay to voice dislike for disrespect of the president Lisa D Jan 2013 #47

And it's okay to dissent from voicing dislike for disrespect of the president Bucky Jan 2013 #60

I know! Lisa D Jan 2013 #72

No one said it wasn't. Behind the Aegis Jan 2013 #64

I just met an old friend and Obama admirer in Hawai'i who called him "Barry" KamaAina Jan 2013 #62

Which is why I used the qualifier "usually." Behind the Aegis Jan 2013 #63

Exactly. No different than "George" or "Shrub" Xithras Jan 2013 #67

anyone who won't call him by the name he's been given and asked people to call him is being an ass CreekDog Jan 2013 #6

Barry is too familiar for most people... AngryOldDem Jan 2013 #7

whenever anyone calls him that, it is usually condescending smear(like when Maureen Dowd does it) graham4anything Jan 2013 #8

How DARE you call him Jimmy. His name is James. Bucky Jan 2013 #23

President Carter called himself Jimmy when inaugurated. graham4anything Jan 2013 #32

President Obama is customary, or even better, quinnox Jan 2013 #9

Oh for pete's sake, he is a president, not a king or emperor. MadHound Jan 2013 #10

Barack is fine. Barry is not his "self admitted" nickname onenote Jan 2013 #24

Do we use the same name all the time, or only while we're diverting our eyes? OneTenthofOnePercent Jan 2013 #12

No. And An Additional "Fuck You" To Maureen Dowd For Recently Doing So. (nt) Paladin Jan 2013 #15

Wow, this is bizarre. Sheldon Cooper Jan 2013 #16

No, no "only" used by wing nuts. Bucky Jan 2013 #25

Gotta disagree, Bucky. Sheldon Cooper Jan 2013 #50

Is it OK to refer to Secretary Clinton as HIllary? ananda Jan 2013 #18

Some politicians invite familiarity. Barack is such a formal sounding name. I get the impulse. Bucky Jan 2013 #19

I usually call a president by their last name when speaking. When writing, I use President a lot. nt Comrade_McKenzie Jan 2013 #21

I've only referred to a President by his last name since Nixon, Art_from_Ark Jan 2013 #26

yes, and here are some other things that are OK Enrique Jan 2013 #29

Barry is not a King or Emperor or High Holy Man, people...I can call him Barry alcibiades_mystery Jan 2013 #30

in a country with a first amendment that ensures free speech. datasuspect Jan 2013 #31

"Barry" is okay only if the pizza guy is at the door and you need change for a tip. zonkers Jan 2013 #33

"Barry" is the name the wingnuts used in a mocking and derisive manner. MADem Jan 2013 #34

Barry is not a dog-whistle Enrique Jan 2013 #43

Yeah, it is. It's all part of the "He's not American" meme. MADem Jan 2013 #46

Get Real. It Most Certainly IS A Dog Whistle, And An Obvious One, At That. (nt) Paladin Jan 2013 #57

Maybe if... 99Forever Jan 2013 #35

Well it's the internet...rules and etiquette be damned! cherish44 Jan 2013 #36

If you greet him in person, you say "Mr. President" or "Mr. Obama" DinahMoeHum Jan 2013 #40

meh, I bet that is not the case quinnox Jan 2013 #41

Not to his face Orangepeel Jan 2013 #42

also, it's ok to call Bill Clinton "Klintoon" Enrique Jan 2013 #44

The right to call the president names Generic Other Jan 2013 #48

yup quinnox Jan 2013 #49

We all call the President by his last name. Think Bush, Raygun, Clinton are commonly used. Auntie Bush Jan 2013 #51

"Congress shall make no law..abridging the freedom of speech.." Even when it concerns politicians. Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2013 #52

No one is restricting anyone's free speech. UnrepentantLiberal Jan 2013 #55

Disrespect? In what sense? Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2013 #61

No, but we can call him by his wrestling alter ego. Arkana Jan 2013 #53

I wish that was my name!!!!! Iggo Jan 2013 #59

I will call my president what I want to call him bigwillq Jan 2013 #56

It depends on what you mean by "OK" -- but "barry" is almost always used derisively/dismissively fishwax Jan 2013 #58

On second reference, the NYTimes calls him "Mr. Obama." Sounds okay to me. n/t pnwmom Jan 2013 #65

His friends that grew up with him and called him Barry Rex Jan 2013 #66

Why don't you ask him yourself. Fearless Jan 2013 #68

Hmm...I think Barack is fine, but "Obama" just sounds more natural because that's how he's known NYC Liberal Jan 2013 #69

Barry is commonly used as a pejorative when referring to the president. Lone_Star_Dem Jan 2013 #70

IMHO - Barack Obama, President Obama or Mr. Obama. TeamPooka Jan 2013 #71