Letters to the Editor

Hillary the prudent Democrats burning for the inspirational uplift of Barack Obama or the left-leaning edge of John Edwards may not be ready for an authentic moderate. By Walter Shapiro [2007-03-13]

• The Author Responds

  This is an answer to the letter-writer who laments:

  "Please, please, for the love of God, stop referring to her as simply `Hillary'! That is the most demeaning, patronizing thing, and everyone is doing it. Please, Salon, rise above it."

  The reasons that I do it and will continue to do it are as follows: 1). To avoid confusion with her husband, the former president; 2). Because she as a candidate has fervently embraced the single name with her bumperstickers and her website labeled "Hillary for President." and 3). It is the way that most Americans think of her, rather than reacting when the see the word "Clinton."

  If Denis Thatcher had somehow become Prime Minister, I would have followed the same guiding principle -- the first elected official gets the last name, the second in the family is known by her/his first name.

  -- Walter Shapiro
  [Read Walter Shapiro's other letters]
  Permalink Flag Monday, March 12, 2007 08:49 PM
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