This diary is not intended as snark. I am someone with a long standing concern about the problems of sexism, racism and homo and trans phobia. It is becoming apparent that Hillary Rodham Clinton's prospective presidential candidacy is going to be a very controversial topic, much as our Dear Leader seems to want to make it a settled matter 32 months in advance of the actual election.
Traditionally public political figures are referred to by their last names. If one wants to be formal about it the name is proceeded by a title. In the general casual world of the media titles get dropped and we talk about Reagan, Carter, Bush and Clinton. The use of a first name only can be taken to connote disrespectful familiarity and in the case of nick names such as Slick Willy and Junior a bit worse. The issue has come up in regard to President Obama and implications of racism.
Feminists have long complained about the way that women have been treated as perpetual children in terms of language such as girls for adult women and treating them as persons of lesser importance and consequence than men. We now have a fair number of women in politics. It seems typical that most of them are referred to either by first and last name or by last name, e.g. Nancy Pelosi/Sarah Palin or Pelosi/Palin.
So what's up with Ms. Clinton? One problem is that her husband remains a prominent political figure. Use of Clinton alone could refer to either of them. There have certainly been many comments about Ms. Clinton over the past 22 years that have been blatantly and offensively sexist. There will be more. However, there are gray areas that get mixed with the heat of political debate. Is calling her Hillary one of those?