I have noticed over the past few days on the “reputable” news sources -both television and print- referring to POTUS as Mr. Obama.  Now, I’m sure that the PRESIDENT has too many things on his mind (thanks to the mess that Mr. Bush left behind to clean up) to concern himself with such a small symbol of disrespect.  Many of us, however, are reading the paper and watching the news and we are not happy.

I will give you an out and assume that it’s just a subconscious faux pas.  Perhaps they were secretly McCain/Palin supporters. I don’t know. Honestly I don’t care.  Here’s the point.  The man who assumed office on January 20, 2009 at 1201p.m. is named  Barack Hussein Obama.  After he took the oath of office, the Chief Justice said “Congratulations, Mr. President”.  

In some parts of  some communities he is known as Big 4-4.  But in his face and in every paper in every identification concerning the man, he is called Mr. President.  President Obama. Is that so difficult to type? Let’s do it together.   President Obama. 

Many of the the African American community view the accidental use of  “Mr” instead of “President” as a blatant sign of disrespect towards our new leader. A leader who has the support of the majority of the nation if you look at the numbers.    Consider that when former President Bush had a 22% approval rating, he was still referred to as “President”.   In fact, in all of my research, I have yet to uncover an incident where he was referred to as “Mr. Bush” while he was in office.   Had we referred to the former president as anything other than president the backlash would have been great. We know that.  But Mr. Obama is okay?  I don’t think so.

Now many of you may think I’m being petty. Perhaps I am. But understand, that I have five children and that I have learned to set boundaries. I let them know from a young age just how far they can go. That way we don’t have this problem in the future because it’s already been addressed.  So seven or 8 days into the presidency, is a good time to lay down a few ground rules just to get us all on the same page.   Are we clear?   First on our agenda is POTUS is now and will heretofore for the rest of his life and after his life has expired be referred to as PRESIDENT OBAMA.

I’m certain that we will have other boundaries like we do with all children that we will have to address as this presidential era continues.  Since we have Rahm Emanuel keeping Congress in check, consider me his blogging counterpart.  I will bury you.  I too, am from Illinois and we don’t play. And where he Jewish and from Chicago.  I am a Muslim  from East St. Louis, Illinois.   We don’t play. Leave our president alone. Do not disrespect him.

To everyone, don’t get it twisted.   It’s MR. PRESIDENT.