Definition:
The journalistic practice of putting a comma after the name of a Conservative elected official followed immediately by an editorial description of that official that places them firmly in a defined Conservative box. This practice is only applied to Republican officials, never to Democrats and is aimed at limiting the appeal of that candidate to only the box in which the journalist has assigned the Conservative candidate.
Examples of the Comma Principle in practice are:
Lt. Governor Dan Forest, a favorite of social Conservatives…
Lt. Governor Dan Forest, a Tea Party Conservative…
Lt. Governor Dan Forest, candidate for Governor who is a favorite of Evangelical voters…
To be clear, Dan Forest is a man of faith, has no problem with the Tea Party movement and is both a fiscal and social conservative. However, here is an example of a Comma Principle that has never shown up in print, but that would be equally valid for use by the media:
Lt. Governor Dan Forest, former office President, Sr. Partner, part owner of a $50 million architectural firm, serial entrepreneur and technology firm founder…
The above description is an accurate description of Lt. Governor Dan Forest. But it violates the narrative desired to be put forth by the leftist members of the media. Such a description would violate their ability to keep Dan’s biographical appeal to anyone but a die-hard Conservative, thus it is not allowed.
As mentioned above, it is important to understand that the Comma Principle is NEVER employed in the description of a progressive candidate or progressive elected official. To do so, would put that candidate in a descriptive box that would limit their appeal to voters outside of that box.
For example, you will never see the following Comma Principle employed on Governor Roy Cooper, though it would be valid to do so:
Governor Roy Cooper, a favorite of the progressive leftist movement…
To be clear, the media is content with just referring to the Governor as Governor Cooper, as they should be. They likewise should extend that journalistic courtesy to Republican candidates, but they don’t and won’t.
Every time I see the Comma Principle in play, it reminds me of Dan’s mother and a similar situation she encountered when she was elected mayor of the city of Charlotte back in 1987. Sue Myrick was the first female to be elected mayor in Charlotte, and she was/is a Republican.
On the morning after her election, The Charlotte Observer wrote about her victory speech the night before and began the story by telling about the cut of her hair, the color of her dress and other fashion related editorial comments. In response, Sue called the publisher of the paper and requested a meeting for later that day.
During that meeting, she asked the publisher why with previous male mayors the paper did not describe the suit they wore or the color of tie they had on, or the style of their haircut when reporting on their victory speeches. The implication of her question was clear… that a double standard existed between the paper’s coverage of male candidates and the paper’s coverage of female candidates. Sue demanded that double standard be eliminated… and it was.
Perhaps one day, newspapers (if they survive) and other so-called mainstream media outlets will see the error of their ways in the editorialization of Republican candidates vs. their more nuanced coverage of Democrats. I doubt it. It seems quite apparent that in today’s media culture if there were no double standard, there would be no standard at all.