Getting a Little More Formal

For John, BLUF:  Without debate it is hard to get out all the facts.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From USA Today we have this column ("Democrats sic identity politics on their own") from Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds.  Here is the sub-headline: "The left has handicapped its ability to debate policy, even among themselves."  And here is the beginning of the column:

They told me if I voted for Mitt Romney, we'd have a condescending president who looked down on his female critics as "little ladies" who didn't understand how the world works.nbsp; And they were right! I voted for Romney, and, well, keep reading.

Sure, we wound up with President Obama, not with Mitt.nbsp; But that didn't change how things turned out.nbsp; Just ask National Organization for Women President Terry O'Neill.nbsp; Right before Obama's trade bill cratered in the Senate last week, Obama complained that its chief Senate critic, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., didn't understand the real world.nbsp; O'Neill then chalked Obama's attitude up to sexism.

O'Neill told The Hill she took issue with Obama calling Warren by her first name during an interview with Yahoo News published May 9.

"Yes, I think it is sexist," O'Neill said.nbsp; "I think the president was trying to build up his own trustworthiness on this issue by convincing us that Sen. Warren's concerns are not to be taken seriously.nbsp; But he did it in a sexist way."

O'Neill said Obama's "clear subtext is that the little lady just doesn't know what she's talking about."

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, joined the chorus, also suggesting Obama's remarks were sexist, and then refused to apologize. Now some are tittering over Obama's supposed "seven-year history of sexism."nbsp; This caused Twitter humorist David Burge to joke:nbsp; "NAACP president:nbsp; NOW president's critique of Obama's critique of Elizabeth Warren is racist."

Read the rest at the link.

When being touchy is rewarded, the ability to be less than formal goes down.  I suspect we are headed back to the time when we used Mr and Mrs and other titles.nbsp; I expect Ms will remain as a useful addition.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff