"Pressing" Matters

By Sniffles

We cats noticed something interesting at this afternoon's press conference with President-elect Barack Obama. His questioners weren't sure what to call him.

Notwithstanding what that sign on the lectern says, we think only a couple of the journalists got it right today.

As Senator Obama has been careful to point out since his election, the United States only has one President at a time. Therefore, it was a little weird to hear the reporters address him as "Mr. President-elect."

We've consulted Miss Manners and even our much-outdated copy of Emily Post — in which all the dignitaries in the "Protocol" chapter are men, ha ha! — and we can't find any such form of address.

However, our research has led us to suspect that it's never incorrect to call an elected official by the title that he or she currently holds. So, until January 20, 2009 — and believe us, we are counting the hours — Senator Obama is still a Senator, and journalists should address him as that (or, as one reporter did today, by the ever-useful title of "Sir").

P.S. It was kind of nice that the reporters stood up when Senators Obama and Biden walked into the room, although that probably wasn't necessary either. Besides, we got thrown off a couple of laps, on which we were contentedly curled and purring. (See, we've felt mighty happy since Tuesday.)