2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBill Clinton Hints at Possible Title 'First Volunteer' if Hillary Wins the White House
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bill-clinton-hints-title-volunteer-hillary-wins-white/story?id=43055181First Gentleman may be the odds on favorite. But today at a campaign stop in North Carolina, Clinton said he might like to be called "First Volunteer."
"I dont care what they call me as long as she wins," he said with a smile as he greeted supporters on a Kinston, North Carolina sidewalk. "Ill be the First Volunteer. I hope to be the best free labor shes got."
During his 10 months rallying for his wife, he has also toyed with the idea of being called "First Dude" and even "First Laddie" paying homage to his Irish roots. But Hillary Clinton has said she likes the moniker "First Gentleman."
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unblock
(52,317 posts)awake
(3,226 posts)Hillary does not need Bill or any other "man's" help she can handle the job with out Bills medaling. I would love to see him continue to work for a nonprofit helping AID's victims in Africa, or helping doing charity work like most "First Spouses" have done. If one looks one will see that a number of Hillary's problems started with Bill and his friends.
moda253
(615 posts)I think it is absolutely evident that presidents have gotten a lot of valuable help from first ladies throughout history and I think this idea that Bill should just butt out and not interfere does a dis-service to those. I get the whole point of "she doesn't need any man's help" but I think it is misplaced and doesn't foster the end result we should want to achieve which is valuing both sexes equally.
awake
(3,226 posts)I do feel that he made a lot of bad calls as President that came back years later to bite us. I would like Hillary to have a fresh group of advisers with todays view, like many of the new people she has working for her now. I do not share Bills view of the world nor do I like the way he makes shady deals, or the way he seems to not have awareness how his actions will be seen by others. Hillary is quite capable of doing the job at hand. Bill like many many many First Ladies in the past does not need to be in the oval office, in my mind he can help her better with quite advice in private.
Txbluedog
(1,128 posts)He can be called whatever as long as she wins. First Gentleman would be traditional, but in has case he is a former President and will still be addressed as President Clinton. So, they will be President and President Clinton.
lame54
(35,321 posts)TlalocW
(15,390 posts)You're the First Dude.
TlalocW
getagrip_already
(14,837 posts)Mr. President when addressed directly, the former President when addressed with hillary as in (The President and Former President), and of course, just plain old Bill.
zenabby
(364 posts)Ofcourse, he might be called something else - Mr. President, or something else (Mr. President might be confusing). No body calls Michelle Obama by her "First Lady" title - it's just a title (and twitter handle). To me this is precedent. First Lady was supposed to be a serious job. The wife was supposed to leave all her other jobs and come and pick drapes for the WH and throw parties. He is not going get away with a frivolous name such as First Laddie and First Dude. I almost sense discomfort from even democrats to make him the First Gentleman with all the seriousness of a First Lady. That might be due to implicit bias.
Txbluedog
(1,128 posts)His being a former President trumps his being the husband of the President. So they will be referred to President and President Clinton. With The President and Former President used if a distinction needs to be made
zenabby
(364 posts)He can be addressed as President Clinton, but he is also the first gentleman. Why is that a hard thing for people to accept? Is being the First Gentleman somehow derogatory?
eShirl
(18,503 posts)zenabby
(364 posts)Daughter of the president is first daughter? and then we have Charlotte as first granddaughter?
karynnj
(59,504 posts)It sends a very nice sense that he is there to help the President and the country.