Don’t say, “You can call me Barack’

Don’t say, “You can call me Barack’

Recently, the Daily Herald published a photo of President Obama shaking hands with a person who had won an Obama/Biden Campaign contest titled “Dinner with Barack.” Frankly, I was somewhat taken aback, but I should not have been surprised.

Can you imagine a “Dinner with Abraham” event in 1860; a “Dinner with Franklin” opportunity in 1932; or a “Dinner with Dwight” soiree in 1952? I believe this casual use of Mr. Obama’s name is indicative of the lack of respect and honor with which the office of president is currently held by the incumbent’s own party and, dare I say it, even by Mr. Obama himself.

And by not being surprised, I mean this actually fits with the “celebrity” approach taken by the current president in his efforts to win votes. He would rather meet with the ladies of The View, trade Top 10 quips with David Letterman and sing (quite well actually), “I’m so in love with you ...” than meet with Prime Minister Netenyahu when the Israeli leader was on our own soil at a time of serious crisis in the Middle East given the threat of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

I can only hope that when the gentleman who won the contest sits down for that special dinner, the president doesn’t say to him “You can call me Barack.”

Tom Paulsen

Wheaton