Does Sen. Obama's "Bad habit" of talking down to Women reporters by calling them "Sweety" bother you

[Up2Late]

Does Sen. Obama's "Bad habit" of talking down to Women reporters by calling them "Sweety" bother you?

For those who missed it, during a Obama campaign stop last week, Sen. Obama brushed off a female reporter's question he didn't want to answer, saying "Hold on one second there, Sweetie," "We'll gonna' do, we'll do a press event, thanks"

And in a new recording of his telephone apology to that female reporter (that has now hit the airwaves and internet), he refers to his use of the term "Sweety" when talking down to her, as a "...bad habit..." that he needs to stop doing.

Simple question: Does his "bad habit" of calling working women "Sweety," which I consider only one step away from them "the 'b' word," bother or worry you?

Btw, her name was not Sweety, it was Peggy. Sorry if this is "old news" to some of you, I only heard this News today after hearing his telephone apology for his "bad habit," and yes, it bothers me a LOT, and I'm not even a "sweety."

[skipos]

1. Hillary called Chris Matthews "baby" in that whole

"men are obsessed with me" clip. Can you post a poll to see if that bothered anyone?

[Up2Late]

12. Men like it when attractive women call them baby, so no, I won't...

...but you can. Go for it Sweety.

Btw, I'm guessing it's O.K. to call All women that now, because when Obama does it, it' O.K., Right?

[cali]

18. He apologized. no one- particularly Obama- is saying it's alright.

you're simply making up stupid shit.

[anigbrowl]

39. Yeah, everyone knows that men are all the same

I don't object to baby or sweetie but you're basically making the exact same argument that you would complain loudly about if men said it about women.

[Window]

73. No. It's not alright. I want him to only call Michelle, his daughters and me "sweetie."

[babylonsister]

74. LOL! Me, too! Me, too! nt

[Window]

82. LOL! Okay, because I like your posts, but no one else!!

[kitfalbo]

79. Um.

Thats reverse sexism!!!!

Not sure i'd call Hillary attractive, but to each their own.

[MrsT]

89. Pathetic generalization. About as dumb as "she was asking for it"

I guess you smart enough to realize that not all men are the same, and not all men like being called "baby." I assume you are just going for the usual "my candidate rules and your candidate sucks" drama? Hilary's baby comment and Obama's sweetie comment are no different.

[TLM]

98. Yeah he was asking for it right?

Look at how he was dressed.


'Men like it when attractive women call them baby"

So sexist comment are contingant on the attractivness of the person making the comment?


LOL!!! What a hypocrititcal double standard.

[hokies4ever]

52. Sorry, but the double standard doesn't cut both ways

Seeing as how that won't benefit Hillary, of course the original poster won't do this. :rofl:

[hisownpetard]

76. You are the only person I've ever seen who's mentioned that - and, yeah, I thought that was highly

obnoxious and hypocritical of her, not only the way she addressed him but the tone and demeanor she demonstrated
at the time.

If someone had done exactly the same thing in reverse, she and her followers would be yelling "Sexism" for all to hear.

Glad to see that I wasn't the only one bothered by that.


:hi:

[dubeskin]

2. I thought we were over Sweetie-gate

But whatever. No it doesn't bother very many people. And personally I find it very far away from "the b word." Sweetie used to even mean something endearing quite a number of years ago.

[rucky]

3. It shows he's in touch with Waffle House waitresses. n/t

[Eurobabe]

lmao

that is so true! he connects!!

[VolcanoJen]

22. No kidding. If I were offended by all the "hons" and "sweeties" and "darlin's" I get...

... I'd have to actually find a real job. ;-)

[graywarrior]

4. No, but McCain's not remembering what he said 3 seconds ago bothers

the fuck out of me.

[Eurobabe]

5. I wish he'd call ME sweetie.

Jeannie Moos had a cute clip on CNN this afternoon, and not one person said they would mind if Barack called them sweetie, young and old alike. :hi:

[virtualobserver]

20. as a guy, I've been called "sweetie" many times by women and it never bothered me.

I've been called "buddy" or "dude" by men as well.

That being said, If I ever meet Obama, I'd prefer that he not call me "sweetie"....I wouldn't be offended....it's just my preference.

[Eurobabe]

25. LOL, just a dude'll do.

[Adelante]

6. I call people sweetie all the time

It doesn't bother me to be called sweetie, either. It would bother me to be called bitch, however.

[ej510]

7. When i approach some women I say...... what's up love?

I do not see the problem with it.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

8. I can't believe NARAL endorsed this misogynist!!!!11

:eyes:

[totodeinhere]

94. Sorry.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

95. I was being sarcastic.

[Debi]

99. I KNEW IT!

:evilgrin:

You ARE one of THEM!!!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

101. D'oh!

:hi:

[Warren DeMontague]

9. Not as much as Hillary's "bad habit" of voting for wars based on cheap lies

and then refusing to acknowledge said votes were a mistake.

[anonymous171]

10. It looks unintentional. So he's not purposefully belittling women, which would be bad.

[Gogi]

11. Honey,

I realize Obama is'nt from Missouri but here we call people honey, sweetie, etc. all the time.

[bowens43]

13. another ridiculous non-issue.

this is insane.; You would have to be an idiot to think this an issue of any importance. unfucking believable.

[Cha]

14. You know what bothers me?

Bitter Dead Enders like yourself.

[cali]

15. He apologized. So no. And he said he had the bad habit

of using the word sweetie rather indiscriminately; he does not have the bad habit of calling reporters sweetie. Had he done sorepeatedly, we'd surely know. Your thread title is misleading.

And anyone who considers sweetie to be one step away from bitch, needs serious help.

[JBoy]

16. Nice push poll - using the term "talking down". I call BS.

[AnneD]

17. Growing up in a southern influenced area...

It's not uncommon for me to call lots of folks sweetie-men, women, children, pets. I never really thought about it until folks started fussing about it. That's when I can tell I'm getting geographically closer to home....folks, esp waitresses start calling me sweetie. It may grate on some folks nerves, but it's music to my ears.

[Up2Late]

34. Well bless your heart...

...feels the same to me as "Sweety" does.

[AnneD]

85. You can say ANYTHING...

and I do mean ANYTHING insulting about a person, but the minute you follow up by saying bless her/his little heart, it's not an insult. :rofl: go figure.

[Ian David]

19. I was a little put-off when he called Helen Thomas "Honey-tits" though. n/t

[Garbo 2004]

30. LOL. DUzy? n/t

[WatchWhatISay]

21. The cute young man at Starbucks called me that the other day and I was charmed

Until he said it the 3rd and 4th time within about 1 minute

[A-Schwarzenegger]

HOLY CRAP!!!

:*

[BlooInBloo]

23. hahaha!

[Irishonly]

24. I Didn't Think Anything About It

I am a darlin person myself and my daughter is a hon person. My husband is the only one that doesn't use a generic term of endearment.

[Writer]

26. Here's the question I have: Would you be more offended if Obama weren't attractive? n/t

[krawhitham]

27. Old women call me sweetie all the time

why the double standard?

[davsand]

28. Hil lying about Florida and Michigan bothers the F**k out of me. Sweetie is a non issue.

Gawd. :puke:

Do you know what ONE question I have that just keeps coming up day after day?

When do we get to talk about the adult topics in this election?



Laura

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[virtualobserver]

35. you are seriously out of touch with reality

[EmilyAnne]

37. How the hell did you deduce that he rejected his upbringing? You are absolutely nuts here.

[OzarkDem]

41. He called his grandmother a racist, remember?

The same grandmother who raised him, cared for him, sent him to private schools and paid for his excellent college education.

He called her a racist.

[virtualobserver]

44. he told the truth about her feelings, nothing more

[EmilyAnne]

47. How does that equal a rejection of his upbringing? This makes no sense. My grandmother is

a racist. I still love her and I try to understand where she came from and what experiences formed her distorted (in my opinion) world view. Being thoughtful and honest about the people who raised you doesn't equate to a rejection.

[Doityourself]

64. He was talking about how she reacted to people of color outside of him..nice try..with your BS

[tridim]

40. Got a link for that bullshit accusation sweety?

[davsand]

42. Thank you, Dr. Frist.

[anigbrowl]

48. What a sad case of penis envy you have

Actually, I just made that up, but it's no more ridiculous that your source-free psychobabble above.

[earthside]

55. Sounds Like Projection

He harbors a great deal of anger and bitterness towards his own mother and the grandmother who raised him. His eventual rejection of his upbringing by his non-AA mother and grandparents has resulted in deep hostilities towards women in general and caucasian women in particular.

Any woman voter should be concerned about his problems with women.

Since we're playing amateur psychologist here ... I'd say your post indicates a projection of your "issues" onto someone else.

How do you really feel about your mother?

Sheesh ... give it a rest.

[Adelante]

58. Nutz nt

[hisownpetard]

78. That's a bowl-stuffer.

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[jbnow]

32. Gosh you'd think he has daughters and a wife or

something and calls them sweetie a lot and so it slips out sometimes.

When I had little kids and I'd be at work and somewhat distracted terms I'd use as a mommy would sometimes slip out, but what's his excuse?

But I'll tell you what. Since now I know those terms are bad the next time a waitress sets down a cup of coffee and says "Here you go hon" I will know that I should throw the coffee in her face or at the very least file a complaint for her talking down to me that way.

[tridim]

33. I hope we can get our language back when the Republicans are finally gone

Words like sweety, Liberal and intellectual are not negative by definition. It's the Repukes that made them bad words.

[Doityourself]

36. Nope. Not at all..as the boss and being a female, I say it to both men & women that work for me..I

mean no harm when I do...not looking down on them, at all.

[VolcanoJen]

38. File under "Department of Distractions and Nontroversies."

:eyes:

[DesEtoiles]

63. that's all Hillary has left. What a loser she is.

[Oleladylib]

43. not any more than any other power hungry chauvanist...they are all at the bottom of my list.

[Faygo Kid]

90. "Chauvinist." You are welcome.

[anonymous171]

45. He hates women so much, I wonder how he lives with his two daughters and wife?

[DesEtoiles]

57. THANK YOU - EXACTLY! ***************************************

[jgraz]

69. Are their names Hillary Clinton? No? Then they don't count.

Only women named Hillary Rodham Clinton count as actual women for the purposes of primary season spin.

[Warren Stupidity]

46. THIS IS HUGH!

[jgraz]

49. Let's see... Obama calls a reporter "sweetie" and McCain calls his wife a cunt

I think we'll win on this issue.

[AspenRose]

61. Thank you!

Word!

[SoFlaJet]

50. I use the expression myself a lot

and never have I had a lady protest to me about it-ever. It shows he has a good heart by choosing to look at a stranger's better side

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

51. It only bothers me in the sense that some people actuaully take it seriiously.

At best, it's a "gotcha" moment indicative of the desperation level the campaign that Hillary is running.

At worst, it's indicative of how some people insist on being supposed victims at any price.

[hokies4ever]

53. Sweetie one step away from the 'b' word?

Are you serious? :eyes:

[DesEtoiles]

54. No way-this man has a brilliant outspoken wife, and two wonderful DAUGHTERS

Plus he was raised by a single working mom.

Not. a. sexist.

So cut the shit, 'kay?

[DesEtoiles]

56. hey - cut the shit, 'kay? what a big, deliberate lie you are telling. reflects on you as a person

[A-Schwarzenegger]

62. YOU ever find the link for this big, deliberate CHARGE?:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6014678&mesg_id=6014678

[DesEtoiles]

84. again, for the slow learner, CUT THE SHIT.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

86. Get help

or not.

[DesEtoiles]

96. you first

[Tribetime]

59. It's probably what he says to his daughters a lot

[DesEtoiles]

60. now the OP is trying to call Obama a bad father

[DeschutesRiver]

65. Maybe I am too old to give a shit anymore

but I have more important issues on my mind that are real and hurting people, than to spend much time being easily offended any more. No, I don't consider "sweetie" one step from "bitch."

My Canadian family heritage left me pronouncing some words kind of funny, like "about", and my Lousiana/Oklahoma heritage left me calling people "sweetie, honey, hon, baby, doll, hey, good-lookin', kid" and "big guy", even to little guys. What 50 years on the planet has taught me is that no, we don't all have to always think the same or even "get along" - and that people who wig out over "hon" and other things when delivered without malice or sexism or any bad intent whatsoever, are people I wouldn't get along with for many reasons. I completely blow off any such complaints as not worthy of my short days left on earth. Same thing I do with people who think I should care about religion, esp. theirs, and many other examples. I have plenty to occupy myself with, and a healthy ego that isn't going looking for things to shriek "I am offended" about - probably because I had mother that preoccupied an entire long lifetime doing that, and I can tell you, it was a waste of an opportunity at a balanced happy life.

So, with that caveat, no, I care not a whit, and consider it the activity of soft and idle minds, who need to apply themselves to the plentitude of true horrors, injustices, and inequities that exist. And nope, don't even like Hillary, but don't care at all that she kept calling someone "baby". Fine by me.

[Undercurrent]

66. Your premis is wrong.

You state that Obama is "talking down to Women reporters". This is not the case. To me it has absoultly nothing to do with "talking down". It's not sexist, but actually a term of respect in many parts of the country, where "hun", and "dear", are also rather common. From the bagger at the grocery, to the teller at the back, in small town American, especially the South these terms are frequently used. I've been called them many times, and I didn't feel "talked down" to at all.

I was surprised though, when I moved to New Orleans that people kept coming to my new house bringing sweet potato pies, and pecan cookies! But I'm not complaining. hehe

[Norrin Radd]

67. It's use is regional.

In certain areas of the Northeast, there are women and men who address everyone as "sweetie," often repeatedly and unconsciously.

Where I grew up in the South, it's common to be called "sugar" and "hon" by strangers.

[boppers]

68. Blatant Push Poll fails. News at 11. eom.

[Diane R]

70. The real question is how women feel about McCain calling his own wife a 'C***'.

[Faygo Kid]

71. The war in Iraq bothers me. The economy bothers me. Lack of health care bothers me.

Disrespect for the Constitution bothers me.

Right-wing judges bother me.

The collapsing environment bothers me.

Let me make this clear: Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, "sweetie" DO NOT BOTHER ME.

Hillary supporters who post trash here bother me, though, and I will be glad that it will soon be over.

[grasswire]

72. It's akin to Bush groping Merkel

It's demeaning for a powerful man to put his hands on a woman of less power in a professional setting, or to speak to her in a way that diminishes her status.

It was wrong. I hope he stops that. Ms. Merkel probably hopes so, too.

[babylonsister]

75. Yep,'sweetie' and groping are equivalent.

:eyes:

[grasswire]

80. read carefully now

I didn't say "equivalent" -- did I?

I said "akin to"

[BklynChick]

77. this is cultural, and a giant leap to say he's talking down to women reporters.

he said "bad habit" as in he probably grew up and is used to calling women sweetie or honey. my husband's the same way and I know lots of men like this. this is a non-issue.

[Occam Bandage]

81. It's not a "bad habit" of calling women sweetie, it's a habit of using the term indiscriminately.

[MrSlayer]

83. Are you insane? "Sweetie" is one step away from "bitch"?

And I don't see it as talking down to women either. He's just being nice. This is one of the stupidest things I've seen in this ridiculous primary.

[iconicgnom]

87. It's another nit-picking language police issue. A "gotcha" distraction n/t

[stratomagi]

88. I dunno if anyone else here works in a hospital but

whenever I interact with female patients, usually ones that are older 60 and above I do use sweetie when I talk to them, it is perceived as a friendly gesture, I have also noticed the female nurses using sweetie when they talk to male patients...thats why I'm having a hard time seeing what the problem really is.

[BlooInBloo]

92. They know there's no problem. They're just making shit up.

[Texasgal]

91. Sweetie

Is one step away from the "B" word?

Have you lost your mind?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

93. Your panties are in a bunch. Move on up to big boy briefs and

allow for some circulation. This is a non-issue. Seems to me you have a bad habit that you need to curtail.

[CakeGrrl]

97. "Sweetie" almost equals "bitch"

:wtf:

"Bad habit of talking down to women reporters"?

Again, :wtf:

Way to front-load a bullshit poll with your false claim that he talks down to FEMALE reporters.

:eyes:

[SoonerPride]

100. The public has spoken: you are a drama queen.

No one cares or is offended by this.

Shove your fauxtrage.

[sakura]

102. Is this really all you've got?

There were about ten Hillary supporters outside the Portland rally for Obama today, and they held up "Don't call me sweetie" signs, too. If this is really all you have left to run on, it's time to concede that it's over. Finally.

[Buzz Clik]

103. One instance of brushing off an annoying dweeb is a "habit"?

[Debi]

104. Wait, so when Mr. Debi calls me 'Sweetie' he really means I'm a .....

:blush:

[Thrill]

105. Only in a Presidential contest would calling a woman that be considered talking down

I found it hilarious when CNN was asking women on the street if it was offensive and they all said no. He can call me sweety. lol

[Duder]

106. Bitchin'...

First off, Peggy didn't mind, secondly, people in the South might think there's something wrong with a person bothered by this, and thirdly, I can see how you might get in the habit of using "sweetie" when you have two darling daughters.

Originally an early 18th century Scottish word for sweet edibles, "sweetie, in the sense of sweetheart, is originally American," dating to the late 19th century.

Personally I'm more bothered and worried about people that are bothered and worried about this.

[swishyfeet]

107. A granny behind me at the Portland rally was going to call him Sweetie if she got to meet him

She kept calling friends and telling them her intentions.

I'm not quite sure how she was going to get close enough in that mob...