When Being Called "Sweetie" is a Bad Thing
Published May 15, 2008
I felt minor annoyance when I learned about the brouhaha. Everyone and their uncle is talking about the “sweetie” incident. Tongues are wagging all over the state. On my way to an appointment this morning, I heard a couple of radio pundits dissecting the “sweetie” exchange with as much gusto as when the Twin Towers fell. Since when is being called “sweetie” a bad thing? When did tossing about meaningless terms of endearment automatically lower a person’s standing to axe murderer or lecherous lout? I mean, for God's sake, he didn't call her the C* word, the T* word, the S* word or the L* word. All of this over “sweetie” is going way over the top.
Personally speaking, I wouldn’t mind it if Barack Obama called me “sweetie.” In fact, if candidates Clinton and McCain wanted to hand me the “sweetie” moniker, I’d not only welcome it, I’d cherish it. I’d revel in it. I’d post the sound bite on my MySpace page and invite all my peeps to experience the wonderment. Someone, anyone calling me “sweetie” would be a damn good reason to break out the champagne and have a party.
You see, in my business, I’m on the phone all day long, and have long suffered a deluge of name calling from many a faceless customer. Also, I’ve been alive a long time; I’ve been called plenty of things, many of which are not acceptable in mixed company. There was a time when I might be irritated at being “Ma’am”ed by people, but I’ve since mellowed out. Believe me, I could be, and have been, called much worse.
My advice to Peggy Agar is simple. Smile. You’re in the news biz, but this is your fifteen minutes of fame. Maybe you can parlay the attention into a book deal. You know, "I Was Sweetied by Barack." Anyway, it turns out you’re not so special. It appears that Barack Obama calls everyone “sweetie.”
- When Being Called "Sweetie" is a Bad Thing
- Published: May 15, 2008
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Politics
- Filed Under: Politics: Elections and Candidates, Culture: Society, Culture: Celebrity, Politics: U.S.
- Writer: Joanne Huspek
- Joanne Huspek's BC Writer page
- Joanne Huspek's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
Have to agree with Nalle.
Despite my loathing for Obama this is not an issue and in no way should be used to contrue Obama as some type of sexist.
C'mon there are plenty of other things to go afte rthis hack on.
I'm thinking it's an incredibly slow news day in Detroit.
If you want to know the effects of the use of that word on a professional working journalist, just look at the smirks on the faces of the men surrounding Obama, and listen to their snorts of enjoyment at the put down. That's all you have to do. This isn't imaginary. Look and Listen to the men around him.
I guess they got tired of covering all the murders and gang violence.
Obama's opponents must be feeling the way Democrats used to feel when trying to nail Reagan for one of his scandals. They've tried digging up all manner of mud, but nothing sticks...
They must be getting pretty desperate if this is the best they can come up with now.
...I've just had a horrible thought. I think I called my wife 'babe' last night. Alas, this means that I must therefore resign from my job and enter a monastery.
Hey, at least Barack didn't call her "Babe." Just for the record, he can also call me that any time he wants.
Oh my, I call my husband sweetie every day. He might even think that's his name. If Obama said sweetie within earshot of him, my husband would probably ask what he wanted.
Dr.D as long as you didn't call her Babe, right after watching the movie by the same name, you are probably safe.
Would it be an issue if someone called Michelle Obama "Sweetie" on national TV?
Arch: in a word - no.
How about if I called you sweetie?
:-D
Cindy: No, although I can see how that might be an issue...!
I have accidentally called her by my ex-wife's name once or twice. Now that wasn't pretty...
"Arch: in a word - no.
How about if I called you sweetie?"
Well would you be willing to bet a year's salary that Michelle Obama and the Obama people wouldn't try to make it an issue if she was called sweetie by a reporter from Fox news dreadful.
Yes... now.
Who's to say that they mightn't have before, if Hume, O'Reilly, Cavuto or some such numbnuts hadn't opened his cakehole and said that to her. But after this little incident - no.
And besides, trying to turn something into an issue doesn't make it one.
As someone (you?) observed: must have been a slow news day yesterday.
So basically you're saying the only reason the Obama camp wouldn't make someone calling Michelle "sweeie" an issue now is because her husband just did it but if he hadn't and someone caleld her that they would have made it an issue? Doesn't that seem a little hypocritical?
All supporters of different politicians take offense when you attack their guy/gal but the Obama cult is over the top. They whine like impudent little children anytime someone says anything that could even be remotely contrued as barely negative about Obama. IE ...if is said I didn't liek Obama's haircut I'm sure the cult members would be all over me.
Oh and I'm sure if John Mccain's wife had said she was never proud of this nation until her husband ran for president the Obama cultists would have told us all to leave Cindy Mccain alone becaus eit was a non-issue right dread?
So basically you're saying the only reason the Obama camp wouldn't make someone calling Michelle "sweeie" an issue now is because her husband just did it but if he hadn't and someone caleld her that they would have made it an issue? Doesn't that seem a little hypocritical?
Yes.
And I only said they might have reacted that way.
And only because you asked me if I'd bet a year's salary on it - which I feel absolutely safe doing at this particular point in time.
And Arch - lighten up. You're in danger of disappearing up your own hypotheticals. This is all moot anyway - as you yourself observed in comment #2 on this thread.
"And Arch - lighten up. You're in danger of disappearing up your own hypotheticals. This is all moot anyway - as you yourself observed in comment #2 on this thread."
Hey if you want to talk trash about Mccain hypotheticals I'll join in with you. I really hope he doesn't already have it in his mind that he's going to start a war with Iran but who knows.
He's old, he's angry, he's got a chip on his should r and he has something to prove.
McCain hasn't really done anything to make me want to talk trash about him. As I've said before, he was the one Republican candidate the thought of whom as President didn't fill me with dread, so I'm glad (perhaps 'relieved' would be a better word) he's the presumptive nominee.
The saber-rattling is troubling, though.
I have to wonder why you're intending to vote for McCain though if you're that unhappy with him. You live in New Hampshire, a state with (correct me if I'm wrong) four electoral votes? And as such, highly unlikely to have any influence on the final outcome of the election, even should it come down to the wire again.
So I see no particular reason why you shouldn't vote your conscience and write someone in (or even vote for Bob Barr!), especially if McCain doesn't pick your guy Romney as his Veep.
Well it hasn't been decided whether or not I will vote for Mccain.
If he picks Romney I'm definitely voting for him and then waiting for him to take a fall downa flight of steps or something.
4 electoral votes is huge considering how close 2004 was and how close this oculd be.
"Voting my conscience" isn't going to help Barry Hussein Obama from turning this nation into some leftist socialist, utopia that they have been dreaming of.
Is a utopia ever a bad thing?
Can a bad thing (socialism) ever be a utopia?
Who are "they"?
NEWSFLASH
It has just been reliably reported that Senator Obama had waffles for breakfast this morning. It's all over the internet.
My Gracious, what a story. Don't you people see the cataclysmic significance? What's wrong?
Dan
Gee, Dan, I'm usually right on top of non-news items. I'm surprised this has gotten by me!
"Is a utopia ever a bad thing?"
One man's utopia is another man's hell, so yes it can be a bad thing Bennet and the they I referred to is Obama and his far far left supporters.
Dan,
It will be news tomorrow, when it is revealed in a Los Angeles Times exclusive that on top of the waffles Obama had lingonberries, not mere blueberries.
More elitism!
Arch, I guess the key is to be on the utopia side of the equation.
Ah, the "they" that makes up 5% of his total supporters.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/76918)
Why anyone thinks this is an issue is utterly beyond me.
Dave