Sources: Ryan to be called 'mister,' not 'congressman,' BY Moderator RADDATZ at debate [UPDATED]

[Tx4obama]

Last edited Thu Oct 11, 2012, 07:06 PM - Edit history (2)

Sources: Ryan to be called 'mister,' not 'congressman,' at debate

When Paul Ryan and Joe Biden take the debate stage tonight in Danville, Ky., the form of address the vice president is supposed to use with his opponent is "mister" instead of "congressman," two sources confirmed to POLITICO.

The form of address is part of the detailed memorandum of understanding between the two camps, according to the sources familiar with the document. Such MOUs detail specifics ranging from how footage of the debates can be used to podium placement, and so forth.

A Biden spokeswoman didn't imediately respond to a question about the MOU. A Ryan aide indicated it had been discussed but that it didn't appear to have made it into the MOU.

The sources did not spell out with precision why "mister" was preferable to "congressman," but it is almost certainly because of the low approval ratings overall of Congress.

-snip-

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/?hp=bh

Edited to add UPDATE

-snip-
The sources did not spell out with precision why "mister" was preferable to "congressman," but it is almost certainly because of the low approval ratings overall of Congress. And under the terms of the agreement, each candidate gets to tell the moderator, Martha Raddatz, what they want to be called by way of an introduction.

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly identified VP Biden as bound by the agreement; it applies to Raddatz.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/10/sources-ryan-to-be-called-mister-not-congressman-at-138168.html

[C_U_L8R]

1. Betcha Joe tweaks him on that

Congressman

[Drale]

2. He's trying to distance himself

from the do nothing obstructionist repukes in congress.

[tk2kewl]

8. yes he is

[Cosmocat]

12. No, forcing Biden to call him mister

as a means of raising Ryan's status in relation to Biden.

Biden looks stately, Ryan a geeky younger guy.

It just forces Biden to call him mister to elevate him in status.

[Drale]

25. Congressmen is more elevated than mister

Just as the title of Doctor is more elevated than mister and Mr. Vice President is above Congressman.

[Cosmocat]

36. Not in this case

and it is why Biden spend the whole debate calling him congressmen.

Ryan is a bookish looking twerp. It was meant to try to have someone who is older and more statesmanlike refer to a bookish looking little puke as a his life equal. And, as biden noted in the debate - his party's favorability in congress is in the single digits.

[Drale]

38. I still disagree

I still think Joe was trying to remind people that Ryan is part of the obstructionist congress.

[JaneQPublic]

18. He is one of the MAIN obstructionist repukes!

It is congressmembers like him and his ilk who have caused the U.S. Congress to fall into such disrepute, as proven by their 10 percent approval rating.

So Lyin' Ryan doesn't want to be associated with the sesspool he helped create? Well, doesn't that say everything we need to know about him.

[berni_mccoy]

3. I fully expect that Biden will use whatever term Ryan *doesn't* want

[tarheelsunc]

4. So Joe won't be calling him Dumbass Ryan?

I was under the assumption that dumbass was his proper title.

[KansDem]

7. Instead he'll be addressing him as "Mr. Dumbass."

Not "Congressman Dumbass."

[lunatica]

9. "My esteemed colleague Mr. Dumbass"

LOL

[Journeyman]

5. Could be the low opinion. Could be to make people believe Biden is disrespecting the Congressman ...

viewers unfamiliar with an "MOU" (or who don't catch the explanation if one is given at the top of the debate) will be left wondering why Ryan addresses Biden as "Vice President" while Biden doesn't reciprocate with his opponent's title.

Potentially, a sly yet effective pre-debate move.

[meow2u3]

6. Who the hell does Lyin' Ryan think he is?

He's only a congressman. Joe Biden is the Vice-President and Joe can call Paulie whatever he wants.

[lunatica]

10. A well placed "gaffe" would be nice, no?

[treestar]

11. There seems to be no penalty for breaking the rules

At least when it is Republicans that break them.

What is Mr. Ryan required to call the VP? Can I call you Joe?

[Panasonic]

27. Ryan is now required to call Biden - "Vice President Elect" Biden

as in winning November 6th.

[Maeve]

13. What a steaming pile....

Can he call him "Congresscritter" ?

[Tx4obama]

14. The news of Ryan not wanting to be called 'congressman' will be all over the net and Twitter tonight

... so I don't see the point of him making an issue out of it.

More folks will notice now than if the issue had not ever come up.

LOL

[Flashmann]

15. 'mister,' not 'congressman,'

Either is a term of,at least,some respect...Lyan deserves neither.....

[MADem]

16. Because of late "Congressman" is a synonym for "Sleazy"

The Veep--if the report is wrong and the prohibition DID make it into the MOU-- should refer to him as "The Representative" and get pretty much the same bite. Or say "Mr. Ryan sits in his seat in Congress...." or "Mister Ryan represents himself, not Janesville, in Congress..."

There are ways. Someone with one of those rigorous Jesuit educations will be able to find 'em.


FWIW, your link goes to a different story--this one I think is better:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/10/sources-ryan-to-be-called-mister-not-congressman-at-138168.html

[nykym]

17. That's because

he knows he is going to lose the presidential race as well as his congressional seat...so mister will be appropriate.

[progressivebydesign]

19. Ryan: "They Call Me Mister FIBS" nt

[Erose999]

20. I'd just call him "hairdo" as in "gimme a smoke, hairdo"

[gkhouston]

21. I guess he's not proud of being a Congressman. n/t

[demgrrrll]

22. Congress? I never served in Congress! nt

[smorkingapple]

23. Why the fuck would they agree to this?

Why not slime Ryan with his Congressional affiliations? This is his achilles heel!!!

If Biden doesn't come out strong tonight and somehow tar Ryan with his congressional record.... SMH....

[Tx4obama]

24. Martin Brasher on MSNBC is talking about this now :) n/t

[yellowcanine]

26. Joe should put just a little too much emphasis on "Mister" when he addresses Congressman Ryan.

[notadmblnd]

28. Release the Biden! go ahead Joe, call him congressman anyway

Let's see if little Eddie Munster cries for his Wolfie.

[defacto7]

29. His form of address sould not be mister,

It should be...

Lyin' .

[SingleSeatBiggerMeat]

30. If This Were Being Broadcast on HBO....

Joe could just call him "you little asshole."

Or is that too rough for the "Intellectual Soul of the House Republicans?"

[bongbong]

31. Ryan doesn't like "Congressman"?

Joe can call him "Eddie" and if Lyan Ryan asks him why, he can say, "I have a vague recollection of a TV character with that name that reminds me of you, but I can't place it exactly"

[grantcart]

32. Alright then, Mister Congressman.

[Cha]

37. lol

[Tx4obama]

33. UPDATE added up above to the OP - it is the moderator, NOT Biden, that will call Ryan 'mister' n/t

[TroyD]

34. Why should the Moderator have to put up with this nonsense?

She should refuse. Refer to him by his position - that's what he runs as, that's what he is.

And Biden should do the same.

Don't give in to these tricks.

[hrmjustin]

35. What a baby! I hope Ryan starts in if they call him congressman.