Reporter Obama Called 'Sweetie' Gets Interview

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Reporter Obama called 'sweetie' gets interview

By DAVID N. GOODMAN – 2 hours ago
DETROIT (AP) — He called her "sweetie," then apologized and promised the local TV reporter an interview the next time he was in town. On Monday, Barack Obama kept his word and gave WXYZ-TV's Peggy Agar what she wanted in the first place — an answer.

Agar had shouted a question about help for U.S. autoworkers to the Democratic presidential candidate during his May 14 appearance at a Chrysler LLC plant in the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights. "Hold on one second, sweetie," he replied. "We'll do a press (availability), thanks," without answering. Later that day, he left a voice mail message apologizing for calling her "sweetie" and not replying to the question.
Agar opened Monday's nearly nine-minute interview with the same question.

In response, Obama said he would work to save existing auto jobs, get retraining and new jobs for those out of work, strengthen trade laws, promote clean energy technologies and help rebuild a more fuel-efficient U.S. auto industry. "Well, what do you make of the whole 'sweetie' thing that happened between us the last time?" Agar asked next. "Well, you know, as I said, I called to apologize," Obama replied. "If it had been a guy, I would have called him 'buddy.' I didn't mean it in an offensive way, but I always want to make sure if anybody takes offense that I follow up as quickly as possible. So I think you got a call about a half hour later.

"The main thing I felt guilty about was not having answered your question," he added. "I'd assumed that we were going to give you an interview. So I didn't want you to think I was putting you off. I wasn't." Afterward, Agar said she was mostly relieved. "I'm glad it's all over," she told The Associated Press. Had she minded being called "sweetie?" "To me, it was not that big of a deal," Agar said.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hIW90xfiLVKzK0XgOE96h9P8RNSgD9129F1G0

[tularetom]

1. You can trust this guy to handle a situation like that in a classy way

[Pharlo]

5. True class

would have been not getting into that particular situation to begin with.

It was handled in a fashion to attempt to minimize damage after the situation had occurred - which is how a politician should deal with a situation like that.

[geomon666]

2. "To me, it was not that big of a deal," Agar said.

To anyone with some common sense, it's not that big of a deal but we don't live in that kind of world.

[Divernan]

9. She not only showed the video, she referred to herself as "this sweetie" in her on-air story

in a very indignant tone - which was unprofessional, because news reporters are never supposed to make themselves part of the story. It was also unprofessional of her producer to include her personal comment.

[Supersedeas]

16. selling it -- who is interested in buying?

[NashVegas]

13. If By "Big Deal" You Mean "National Controversy," Sure

Most of us would probably want to crawl into the ground to have to be in the shoes she was wearing.

But I wonder what she thought in the hours between "Sweetie" and going live with the story and the voicemail apology.

[msongs]

3. bill clinton likes to call people sweetie nt

[Doctor_J]

4. That's nothing. The woman that McCain called a c*nt is campaigning for him

:shrug:

[skyounkin]

6. As a current father and former husband

It's freaking ridiculous tha amount of times that you say Sweetie, or Honey off the cuff talking to other people.

That's all I saw it as with Senator Obama.

[underpants]

10. I agree

I say it all the time

[Igel]

14. I've never done it when not intending it to be an insult.

If I had done it growing up or if my ma ever found out I'd done that she'd have killed me. No trace of sexism was allowed to pass unstomped in our household.

My ma was a NOW supporter from way back and helped organize a chapter; she fought her steel-mill employer in a class action suit for back pay and equal rights for women. She put in 40+ hours of shiftwork a week and then spent most of her spare time at home typing depositions and other legal documents for the lawyer (who was doing it pro bono). It took years. She won. Then she helped fund-raise for a battered woman's shelter and took in battered women. She also helped do the books for her union.

Call her "sweetie" and you'd have to retrieve your nuts from the next county, 'cause that's where she'd kick them to.

Growing up, I learned how to address a woman in a business or academic environment in a manner that could only be construed as respectful and professional.

Some may find "honey" or "sweetie" professional, but it's open to interpretation, just as, "hey, wench", "yo, hot mama", and wolf-whistles are. Then again, I knew one guy who considered "rice-eater" to be a respectful term for Asians--he had been married to one and considered his progressive credentials to put him above all reproach; that was also a term open to alternative interpretations, as he soon found out, and his progressive credentials were badly tarnished afterwards. The boss I had as before my freshman year at college was sure "darkie" and "boy" were professional ("Hey, Igil--you too, boy!") until *her* boss set her straight.

[FrenchieCat]

7. He can call me sweetie.....then call me 30 minutes later.....

and grant me an interview a few weeks later anytime. I mean that. :)

[Javaman]

8. The return of class. :) nt

[ann_american2004]

11. I'd rather be called sweetie

than b*tch, lol. If he called me sweetie I think I would happily faint. *blushes*

*shakes self violently* *cough, cough*
Women's rights! Women's rights! equal pay NOW!

Obama '08

[union_maid]

12. I call people things like that all the time

I'm an older woman, not a man. When I was younger I hated when people I didn't know well called me honey, sweetie, dear - any of that. Didn't matter what the sex was. I just hated it. Now that I'm older I realize that you've been calling your kids, family members, your kids friends, your nieces and nephews, etc, endearments like that for so long that it just slips out.

[pop goes the weasel]

15. OK from someone older

As someone older myself now, I find it right irritating when people I deal with on the phone, nearly all of whom are younger than me, call me "honey." I've been thinking of responding by calling them "sugarplum." Maybe "liddlebit."