"Second Lady"? Excuse me, but isn't

[Ilsa]

the vice president's spouse more correctly referred to as "The Vice President's First Lady"? "Second Lady" sounds more like a harem term. Judy Woodruff had "Second Lady in Training" as the caption for Elizabeth Edwards.

I think CNN ought to know better.

[LSdemocrat]

1. Actually, I don't believe the vice-president's spouse has a title

[skypilot]

2. I think she is referred to as the Second Lady.

If there's a First Lady there would have to be a Second.

[comsymp]

4. You'd think so, but no

Only the First Lady has a title.

[tom_paine]

8. Nope. "Second Lady" is a legit apellation.

http://www.fact-index.com/s/se/second_lady_of_the_united_states.html

[Ilsa]

10. It says it is a colloquial term.

It is informal.

[comsymp]

11. If you consider "colloquial" terms to be legit...

then I ain't gonna argue wit' ya. ;)

[Cyrano]

3. If a woman becomes VP, what will we call her spouse?

Second man? How about Cain, since Adam was the first man.

[skypilot]

5. Actually, "The Vice President's First Lady"...

...kinda sounds like part of a harem. Think about it, does the Vice President have a Second Lady? A Third...?

[Ilsa]

9. I see your point, but it

Seems to me that the same logic would apply to the president, then.

[skypilot]

13. Unless I'm mistaken (I often am)...

...I think the President's wife is simply referred to as the "First Lady" not "The President's First Lady". Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

[comsymp]

14. Is she not The First Lady of the US (FLOTUS)?

(as opposed to FL of the POTUS?) Kinda like the Chief Justice, etc.

[skypilot]

17. That sounds about right.

I'll settle for that. I'm getting confused.:crazy:

[yvr girl]

6. I've heard 'Second Lady' before....

It isn't used very much. When the discussion is theoretically about the Vice President's wife, it is Second Lady. When they are referring to a specific VP spouse, it is generally Mrs. X.

[SheilaT]

7. All too often she's referred to as

Mrs So-and-so as if she didn't have a name of her own.

Still can't understand why women change their last name when they get married. Or at least not in the last thirty years or so.

[Chovexani]

12. I plan on changing mine when I get married

But only because I hate my last name and like my SO's much better.

Sometimes it's just a matter of preference.

[Solly Mack]

15. Why can't she just be Elizabeth Edwards?

She doesn't strike me as someone who should be stuck behind any title. Seems limiting for a women that isn't at all limited in her abilities..

[Sallyrat]

16. FYI

I work in Warsaw, NC. directly behind our office is I40, between the HWY 24 and HWY 117 exits is where John Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards'son was killed. A gust of wind flipped his jeep and he was killed instantly. After burying their son, they build a Computer Learning Center at his HS in Raleigh (ENLOE) and Mrs. Edwards worked with the kids and John Edwards closed the law office and with his own money financed his successful senate bid. They know the value of life and want to give back to this nation to help this country make a difference in the lives of our citizens in the USA and around the world. I am so looking forward to hearing their daughter introduce her mother and Elizabeth introduce our next VP. This is one tar heel that is very proud of the Edwards family. I have registered two new voters and told them this story. They are from Warsaw and didn't even know this story. Not many people do, but maybe tonight we will get a glimpse of how this changed their lives,,,,to make a difference.

Sallyrat.....

[Ilsa]

18. Welcome to DU! Great post and congratulations

on registering two new voters. You're making a difference, just like the Edwards! I knew Wade had died in a car wreck, but I didn't know the details.

I need to convince my father-in-law to get registered. He's PO'ed at * about stem cell research. He has Parkinson's Disease, but I can't get him and his wife off their butts to register and vote!