Don't call her Kamala, call her Harris. Or VP Harris.

[Hamlette]

Everyone refers to Donald Trump as Trump and Kamala Harris as Kamala. It is dismissive.

When I started practicing law in 1976 I was one of the first women in the courts. The judges called the men Mr. So and So and they called me by my first name. I pulled my favorite judge aside and told him it bugged me. He was kind and recognized it was dismissive and no judge in the district ever did it again (he told them all).

[2naSalit]

1. Agree...

She needs to be shown due respect. I noticed that the hosts on msnbc, that I watch, have been calling her by the appropriate titles lately.

Glad you brought that up, it bothers me too.

[Skittles]

2. I refer to him as Donald Fucking Trump

and her as.....VP Harris

[madinmaryland]

63. Similar here, except he is "that fucking guy".

[BrianTheEVGuy]

3. She is distributing campaign signs that say "Kamala"

I think it's part of her brand now.

[TommyT139]

4. Yeah. Another clear difference

She is asking us to join her in the work. There are times to call her by her titles or employ honorifics, but - unlike Trump - she isn't using those conventions as a barrier. Most of us can all tell when someone calling her "Kamala" is disrespectful.

[ShazzieB]

18. Cool.

I've been calling her Kamala myself ever since Joe stepped down and endorsed her. I debated how to refer to her at first, but I call the president Joe, so it felt right to me to follow the same pattern with her.

I call the guy who tried to steal the 2020 election Trump a lot of the time, but sometimes I call him Donald or Donnie, and other times I call him TSF or the Orange Hellbeast, depending on the context, my mood at the time, etc.

If I ever was lucky enough to meet Joe or Kamala, I'd address them more formerly, but I don't feel the need to do that when I'm shooting the breeze at DU.

[mopinko]

70. the yard signs say harris walz.

[BrianTheEVGuy]

71. Some do

My neighbor's yard sign says "KAMALA" with a red KA, white MA and blue LA.

[mopinko]

75. the 1s in the official store do.

but lotsa ppl make signs.

[Ms. Toad]

5. Harris, herself, sells Kamala gear.

If she uses it, it isn't disrespectful to do the same.

I find titles, and addressing people by their last name, part of a classist system I find offensive - and it is also against my religion. In my faith, even small children address elders (even titled ones) by their first names.

For years, I have resisted the prodding from my employers to use Esq, Dean, Director, etc. as part of my name - and most of the urging was from female employers who believed it necessary to encourage people to give me the respect I've earned. My perspective is that if I haven't actually earned the respect, no amount of titling in the world will generate it - and if I have earned it the title isn't important.

That said, I try to respect the feelings of others - of students (for example) who are uncomfortable calling their professor by her first name. I don't object to them tagging on Dean or Professor because I don't want my discomfort with the class structures to make them more uncomfortable. Similarly, if someone else feels their title (or last name) is important to them, I try to use it.

As for Harris - since she is selling Kamala gear, I expect it is not something she feels particularly strongly about.

[mopinko]

25. actually, i looked at the store the other day,

and there r more that say harris. the lawn signs and buttons say harris.
it’s mostly t’s that say kamala.

it’s a thing. women candidates tend to emphasize their 1st names. they make yard signs w their 1st name in much bigger type. i hate it. when i work for them, i refuse to do it.

[Ms. Toad]

56. Why do you get to override their choice

As to how their name appears, or i used?

[mopinko]

67. if they hire me, they're hiring my judgement.

if they dont want that, i dont work for them.
standards.

[Ms. Toad]

78. There's standards, but how an individual chooses to be identified shouldn't be up for

So from my perspective, if anyone I was interviewing for publicity purposes tried to tell me how I had to identify myself they would quickly be shown the door.

[mopinko]

80. i'm not telling them how to identify themselves.

i’m telling them how to PRESENT themselves for public office. and how not to let their gender b a barriers to even getting on the ballot.
u do u. my candidates win.

[Ms. Toad]

84. If presenting themselves mean altering how they identify themselves to the world

then yes - you are - telling them how to identify themselves, and you not representing them is no big loss.

And, frankly, it was Clinton's willingness to mold herself into what others wanted of her, or her presentation, that made my vote in 2016 a vote against Trump - rather than one for her.

[mopinko]

87. i also advise them not to wear certain colors, and help them pick their headshots.

i buff up their copy to make it stronger and more precise.
it’s the job. and i’m good at it.
it’s never any skin off my nose if they dont hire me.

but deflecting misogyny b4 it starts is an important part of women running for office.

[Ms. Toad]

88. Those are all marketing, without changing identity.

I've got no problem with that.

Telling someone who chooses to use their first name not to do because of gender so is every bit as much misogyny as what you are intending to head off. Misogyny isn't just about breaking glass ceilings - it about not limiting people based on gender.

[mopinko]

89. yeah, i'm done here.

[dsp3000]

6. What is disrespectful by calling her vp Harris????

[question everything]

14. Nothing. The OP does suggest VP Harris

[ImNotGod]

7. I think its up to her and she seems to be behind her first name being used. Its an inclusive use of a beautiful first

name that helps draw people to her personality and campaign. Of course if she decides its not to use Kamala someday everyone but the fascists will stop using her first name.

[msongs]

8. it's how she is branding her campaign ... taking advantage of having an unusual (for many) name nt

[Imallin4Joe]

9. Studies show most humans love being called by their first name..

I don't think Kamala Harris minds at all. She is very human and hardened through her years of being a prosecutor.

I do not discount your career and your opinions learned from your career. I respect that very much!

Let's remember as Democrats that we are people first and first names are sacred!

Peace.

Go Harris/Walz 2024!!

[JI7]

10. Kamala is endearing like "Joe". But I think it depends on the context

If we are talking policy matters than VP or VP Harris is better.

If we are talking about campaigning and just motivating people than Kamala seems to work better.

[Abolishinist]

11. Oh please.

I'll call her whatever the F I want to.

[Cha]

19. lol... I was going to say.. I call her both

and will continue to do so.

That's just me.

[ForgedCrank]

77. Haha, that

was exactly my reaction when I read the title.
We see a lot of posts like this for some reason. I'm an adult and I think I know by now how to be respectful to other people.
And I seriously doubt that Kamala Harris is reading anything that I post online. If I met her in person, I would likely address her professionally as "Vice President Harris". But that's just me

[ecstatic]

12. IMO, it's based on clarity not necessarily gender

I will say Bernie over Sanders, trump over donald, and Biden over Joe for the sake of clarity (unless the context is really clear). There are dozens of Sanders and Donalds and Joes. But then you have people with two common names, like Mike Johnson. That's when I use a (disrespectful) nickname.

I can't think of a lot of people named Harris right now, so I guess her last name could be used, but her first name is more fun. I use both though.

[question everything]

13. Same with Pelosi. The only exception was Hilary for obvious reasons

[regnaD kciN]

15. Shades of "Trump versus Hillary"...

That one bugged me, too.

[BWdem4life]

16. Kamala Kamala Kamala

I pronounce it correctly, which is a sign of respect. After Nov 5 I’ll call her “President Harris” or “Harris” or “Kamala”, depending on the situation just like I call the current president “President Biden” or “Biden” or “Joe” depending on the situation.

I never once referred to DJT as “President.”

[Bucky]

32. Kamala!! Kamala!! Kamala!!

Gotta admit chanting Harris! Harris! Harris! doesn't have the same zip.

[pnwmom]

17. I agree. Many people won't take her as seriously if called by her first name. nt

[Kaleva]

20. Her campaign sells merchandise using just "Kamala"

[Kaleva]

21. I think it's up to Kamala herself to decide that

[Elessar Zappa]

22. She's using the name Kamala on some of the campaign gear she's selling.

[mopinko]

26. more of it says harris or madam vp.

[AkFemDem]

62. Indicating she likes both 🤷🏻‍♀️

[mopinko]

69. indicating someone on the campaign gets it.

that’s what they put harris or madam vp on the ‘official’ stuff like yard signs, buttons and coffee cups.
ppl like calling her kamala, so they buy the shirts.

i’m sure she doesnt hate it. but she commands respect, and shd get it.

[Irish_Dem]

41. Yes. Right now she doesn't care what she is called as long as people vote for her.

She can be given all the honorifics due to her when she sits in the WH.

[Prairie Gates]

23. Yes, I absolutely hate the "first name" candidate schtick

I think it hurt Hillary Clinton at the polls, too.

Dems seem to *want to* do it. It's a mistake.

[HeartsCanHope]

24. Excellent point!

Thank you so much for pointing this out. I will be sure to do this!

[Patton French]

27. No, it's not dismissive, at least not here.

I’d say it a term of endearment or affection. Do you call your friends by their first name?

[BeyondGeography]

28. Kamala is a beautiful name

Not only that, it’s three syllables, so it lends itself perfectly to chants. So, gird yourself, you’re going to see and hear it a lot.

[Irish_Dem]

42. It is unique and distinctive.

There are only a few women in the world who can go by their first name
and everyone knows who it is.

[Bucky]

29. It's terrible how people feel so much familiarity and affection for our candidate

Just joshing ya. People have always spoken of female candidates by first name. It's a cultural thing and implies no disrespect.

I usually alternate between writing Kamala and Harris

[mopinko]

81. it's a cultural thing, which is this country IS disrespect for female candidates.

they’re assumed to b less than, and they make themselves less than by jgoing by their 1st name.
there’s studies out there about this.
it’s fine to use it for the more lighthearted things. once ppl know u.
it’s bad to do that b4 they do.

[GreenWave]

30. Words don't convey the same everywhere,

Notice last name only can be insulting somewhere. First name can be friendly, like a family member..

[captain queeg]

31. I almost always refer to Joe as "Joe".

[Bucky]

38. And then look how they treated him!

I keed, I keed

[Xavier Breath]

92. Yep, I've referred him as "Joe" here often.

Saying "Biden" somehow seems a bit harsh, so "Joe" or "POTUS" both seem respectable. Like Grandad used to say, "You can call me anything but late for dinner."

[madaboutharry]

33. She passes out signs at her rallies that say KAMALA.

HILLARY did it too. So did JOE.

[mopinko]

83. hillary did it almost exclusively.

her signs always had hillary in larger type than clinton.
and she lost. cuz this is still a pretty misogynist country. hmmmm.

[madaboutharry]

85. Optimism is your friend, Mo!

I believe we are in a very different place than we were in 2016. My dim optimism tells me so!

[mopinko]

86. oh i do too.

it’s def not as bad. but it’s still wise of her to put herself forward w some dignity. she’s earned it.

[Passages]

34. I agree, the same happened to Hillary.

Some informality is fine, but I prefer to say Harris too.

[Cosmocat]

35. I mean, was it dismissive referring to Joe as Joe?

Cause that was a thing here and amongst me and other dems I know.

[FullySupportDems]

36. I totally see your point

In this case though, with her first name being mocked and casually or intentionally mispronounced by the UglyCons, I like to say her name. I LOVE to say her name. KAMALA! I'm so happy and thankful for her. President Harris sounds great too.

[Tommy Carcetti]

37. It rolls off the tongue nicely though.

If her name were say, Susan, maybe it would be different.

Then again we’ve frequently called President Biden “Joe.”

[Bucky]

39. How do you feel about just calling her "Mrs. Emhoff"?

I keed, I keed

[MineralMan]

50. Nailed it!

[Irish_Dem]

40. Your personal situation was completely different.

This is not a court of law. This is politics.
Two completely different worlds.

People call Biden "Joe."
So it is no different calling Kamala by her first name.

She distributes material with her first name on it.

We cannot control the world.
People are going to affectionately call Kamala by her first name.

I think it is good from a psychology standpoint.
It helps people bond with her on a personal level.

[Doc Sportello]

46. Great points

It is a beautiful name and as you stated, it does help people bond with her.

[Irish_Dem]

48. Yes. She is trying to win an election.

This is not about her personal feelings right now.

And it is a lovely and unique name, she should use that to help her.

[Ace Rothstein]

43. I keep getting emails from Kamala HQ.

I guess someone should let her know that it is dismissive.

[Vinca]

44. I tend to disagree. People call her Kamala because they connect with her, they like her and they

want to see more of her. Of course we should respect her position, but our candidate is now someone you want to invite to the family picnic and that's a good thing.

[prodigitalson]

45. Don't call him Ike....It's 'I Like General Eisenhower'

[LexVegas]

47. I love Kamala! nt

[MichMan]

49. El Conquistador

[JohnSJ]

51. Depends on the situation.

[samnsara]

52. i always referred to Joe and Joe...

[arlyellowdog]

53. I like Ike, Barack, Joe, Bill, Kamala (I didn't actually, but great name like Ike

Great names are a plus. Donald, John (McCain), and Dick are not cool names. Also, I have a elephant with Dick on it in Rhinestones

[Renew Deal]

54. No

[Happy Hoosier]

55. I'll disagree. It's a term of endearment. I also called Biden "Joe."

Generally, I say "Kamala" among friends, and "Harris" when dealing with the enemy.

[Self Esteem]

57. I frequently calles Biden Joe. I like Kamala.

[jcgoldie]

58. Are we not supposed to call him Joe either?

It is not dismissive.

[Gore1FL]

59. Call her Chuck, if you want. Just vote for her. nt

[TheProle]

60. .

[AkFemDem]

61. The opposite

We call Trump, Trump because we don’t like him; don’t relate to him, don’t find him to be someone we’d ever call “friend”. We call Kamala by her first name because she’s relatable, likable, and “one of us”. I need to find it, but I read something the day she announced Walz that the campaign put out that specifically pushed the Kamala and Tim label.

[mucholderthandirt]

64. Yes, I'm working hard to not call her by her first name.

Even though at her thing the first day they had put up signs that only said "Kamala".

But respect is due, I'd demand it for myself, so I'm doing it for her. Harris, VP Harris, Ms. Harris, Madam Vice President. She's owed the same respect given to any man, and more than most.

[AkFemDem]

65. Link

https://x.com/kamalahq?lang=en

[Jirel]

66. No.

That’s a whole sentence, by the way.

I have had similar experiences to yours. But none of that matters when:

* Kamala calls herself Kamala.

* Kamala is selling shirts, yard sign, etc. with “Kamala.”

* Kamala’s campaign and surrogates refer to her as Kamala. (Also by her official title and her full name obviously. It’s contextual.)

* “Kamala” bugs Dipstick Donnie.

This is an intentional marketing move on her part. HER name, HER choice, right?

Look, I get it. Been there, came out of a family of women who’ve been there. I still bite the head off any dinosaur who refers to me as “Mrs.” But times change and so does the way we express power. Kamala chooses to be relatable to her allies (just like multiple male politicians, including Joe, have done), and is unafraid of some idiots who’ll never show her respect anyway calling her the same.

[elocs]

68. Disagree. Kamala. n/t

[RidinWithHarris]

72. That's been my approach, and I'll stick with it, but if Harris herself is happy with Kamala...

...as the way she promotes herself in her campaign, then I'm not going to mind so much if other people refer to her that way.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

73. Calling Kamala Harris, KAMALA

makes her more one of US than someone on a pedestal to be admired. Nor is it a sign of disrespect.

Kamala is showing herself not to be above others, but WITH others. She remains grounded and personable.

Tim Walz has been a dear friend because he is grounded and on level ground with those around him. I can say things to
him in a manner that gets his attention and the respect he has for me and others, sets him apart from other politicians I have met over the years. Titles mean nothing to him because his actions speak louder than titles ever could.

People like that about Kamala Harris as well. Her compassion and how she treats others are to be commended. So to me, she is KAMALA.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

74. Intent matters

No one on DU is "dismissive" of Kamala.

[mobeau69]

76. Reminiscent of political correctness taken to the extreme. A lot of people we need to reach hate that.

I’m an old timer and it was Jack and Bobby to me and all who loved them.

I’m sure Kamala would say call me whatever you’d like but don’t call me and tell me you didn’t vote.

[ironman99]

79. Don't call her Kamala, call her Vice President Harris

I don't know VP Harris personally.

If I was to meet her I would greet her in this fashion, until told otherwise, Madame Vice President.

In my martial arts school, all students at Brown Belt or above are addressed as Mr, Mrs, or Ms when in uniform. As a 5th degree my students address me as Mr. so and so. Without the uniform, I give them my first name.

I would apply the same to VP Harris, President Biden or Governor Walz. It is common courtesy and respect. If I was in the military it would be SIR!!!!!

[lame54]

82. Tell this to the people behind her holding KAMALA signs

[ProfessorGAC]

90. Ummm.....

I've seen president Biden referred as "Joe" a several thousand times.
Your premise seems tenuous.

[Raftergirl]

91. I've always called TFG The Donald because that is what New Yorkers have always called him.

Now I’m more likely to just call him Donald.

On a site like this or in conversation I will call Kamala by her first name.If I ever get the chance to meet her in person I will call her Madam President. 😃

[Iggo]

93. Way ahead of you. That's a tough sell on this board, though.

I’ve been trying for years to get people to use women’s last names just like we use men’s last names. Again, tough sell.

[D23MIURG23]

94. I think we need less nitpicking about language.

Yeah language is important, but you don't win hearts and minds by appointing yourself the arbiter of appropriate speech and grammar. I don't know any story where the pedantic English teacher is a beloved character.

And by the way, this is from someone who calls her "Harris". You can look up my posting history.