Why are the male candidates called by last name, and the female by first? (McCain, Obama, Hillary)?

Any theories? Is calling her Hillary instead of Clinton a psychological thing, an inferiority thing, a subconscious form of differential treatment, or what? Or is it Hillary to distinguish her from her husband?

Why are the male candidates called by last name, and the female by first? (McCain, Obama, Hillary)?
Hillary has been promoting herself as "Hillary." She began with "H" followed by "The Hill," and uses "Hillary" in her sign, logo, and such. I'm not sure what the intended psychology is about it, but it began with her, so it not an inferiority thing.
Reply:It's to differentiate between Bill and Hillary. Whenever I talk about Bill Clinton, I say Bill Clinton. Whenever I talk about Hillary Clinton, I say Hillary. It's not inferiority, but calling McCain by "John" is just too ambiguous, because it could mean a lot of people. Kennedy? Edwards? Kerry? For Hillary, we know who she is instantly.
Reply:In many debates, or announcements, Hillary Clinton often say Hello, I am Hillary. She doesn't say Hello I am Mrs. Bill Clinton. Lots of people pick up on how she introduces herself to be just "Hillary" then call her by her first name. If she writes a check or a letter, she probably writes her full name. The reason she says her first name all the time,because she wants to show herself as her own person. In generally, most women use their first name like mine as Julie. I normally don't say to many people "Hello, Nice to meet you, I am Mrs. G". I often say " Hello, Nice to meet you, I am Julie", then sometimes along say," I am wife of John G".(if only my husband is present near me). I think it's very much true with American feminists these days, I think at least.





Maybe you shall ask the English women on how they use their first names. Some of them call by Lady with the first name.
Reply:I've seen this before. I was on a committee some years back and I was Dr. and the other men were Dr. or Mr. But the 2 ladies were both Doctorates and were called by their first names.





One day on of them called me aside and thanked me for calling her Dr. She said she encountered that a lot in settings with a amjority of men. She wasn't militant about it or anything, but obviously it bothered her on some level.
Reply:Um... her bumper stickers all say Hillary '08.


I'm thinking this comes from her attempts early in the race to make herself seem like a "regular guy" in spite of the fact that what she really is, is an absolutely brilliant, but totally stiff politician.





Now: taking the bumper sticker thing a bit further.





John: '08.


John who? John the Baptist? Dr. John and the day trippers? John '08 is not going to get John McCain elected. It will just send loads of folks to the rest room.





Barack '08.


Buh.. umm . Bah Rack? Bar.. I. umm. So McCain then...


Besides he has that nice rhythmic Obama Oh Eight going on. Lots of his PR media doesn't even mention his name. You get "Progress" or "Hope" and a picture of the man. A little Chairman Maoish, but admittedly gripping PR.





We do see some "Barack The Vote" stuff out there.





So yes.


Hillary is defining herself as both approachable and as Not BILL, by using her first name.
Reply:Honestly, I think it's to distinguish her from her husband. If you call her "Clinton" you can never be sure which "Clinton" is being referenced.





Also, it's what is on her campaign signs. Hers say "Hillary" while the others say "Obama" and "McCain" rather than "Barrack" and "John."
Reply:LOL, I've been noticing it for quite some time (and often point it out in my answers).





It probably IS because the more prominent Clinton was Bill.





But after all this time in this exaceberating race, you'd think people would be used to the idea that when people talk about the election and say "Clinton" they mean HER, not HIM.
Reply:Most usually when some says "Clinton"..there are referring to Bill Clinton. Since he is always somewhere's on the scene these days. Its much clearer to refer to Mrs Clinton as "Hilary".. everyone knows who "Hilary" is. just like in Texas, eveyone knows who "DUBYA" is.
Reply:It's to distinguish her from Bill Clinton. Remember in 2000 George W. Bush was often referred to as "W" to distinguish him from his father.


She has Hillary on all her campaign signs so I would think she is OK with it.
Reply:Because they don't want to confuse Hillary Clinton with former President Bill Clinton.





Whenever someone says Clinton, people think of Bill Clinton not Hillary Clinton, that is why her first name has to be used.
Reply:"Or is it Hillary to distinguish her from her husband?"





Yes.





Although I frequently see her listed as "Clinton".
Reply:Because there already is another famous Clinton so if you say Clinton you would have to say the first name anyway. Same reason Bush JR is called W





There is no conspiracy here I assure you
Reply:I try to refer to her as Senator Clinton. She deserves, at least, that respect.
Reply:For me I call her Hillary to differentiate from her husband, the big cheese Clinton...
Reply:It beats calling her sweetie!
Reply:Cher, Elvis, Ringo, Oprah....some people have become so recognizable they don't need a last name.
Reply:MY guess is to separate her from her husband.
Reply:It's to distance herself from Bill, can you image...lol!
Reply:I thought the same thing as you honestly.





People (even many women) subconciously hold women in a different respect.





I will go as far as to say; there are even women who will not vote for her out of jealousy.
Reply:Its a disrespectful way to talk about her.