Hold on a Second, Sweetie

The gold standard of YouTube gaffedom was given to us from former Virginia Senator George Allen, whose odd "macaca" moment almost single-handedly sank his re-election bid. Yesterday, another video-taped snafu occurred on the campaign trail. Some would have you believe that, this time, Senator Barack Obama is on the losing end of the "loose lips sink ships" dictum. Have a look:



Ouch. That's no way to address a female news reporter. Even if she's firing out inane, persistent questions during your choreographed visit to a Detroit automaker. So, drum roll please, does this mean that we've finally "peeled the bark off" Barack Obama? Has this stealth misogynist been exposed for the world to see once and for all? I guess it all depends on what the meaning of the word "sweetie" is. Did Obama use it in an affectionate or condescending manner? Or was it simply a repetitive slip of the tongue from a family man who regularly calls his wife and two daughters by the same term?

Yes, of course it was a glib, regrettable way to talk to a fully-grown woman he'd never met before. And whatever his initial motive (or lack thereof), Obama realized such pretty quickly, and apologized yesterday to the WXYZ reporter (seriously, X-Y-Z, as in "pretty darn quick!") via voicemail:

"Hi Peggy. This is Barack Obama. I'm calling to apologize on two fronts. One was you didn't get your question answered and I apologize. I thought that we had set up interviews with all the local stations. I guess we got it with your station but you weren't the reporter that got the interview. And so, I broke my word. I apologize for that and I will make up for it. Second apology is for using the word 'sweetie.' That's a bad habit of mine. I do it sometimes with all kinds of people. I mean no disrespect and I am duly chastened on that front. Feel free to call me back. I expect that my press team will be happy to try to make it up to you whenever we are in Detroit next."

No word on whether NARAL Pro-Choice America will be rescinding yesterday's endorsement over, Oh God, "Sweetie-Gate."

Here's Peggy Agar, the reporter in question, on what she makes of this whole tempest in a teapot, and Obama's apology:

"I've been called worse during interviews."

But any hard feelings?

"...surprised that he actually called me in person and I thought that was nice to follow-up, you know, with that call."

What a sweetie! Oh, right, sorry.