Obama's 'Sweetie' Problem

U.S. News & World Report ^ | April 4 2008 | Bonnie Erbe

[Winged Hussar]

If the media truly are not more gender than race biased, then Barack Obama's remarks on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania this week should get as much coverage as Hillary Clinton's remark about Martin Luther King and Lyndon Johnson.

While flirting with female factory workers in Allentown, he called one "sweetie," a paternalistic way to address a woman if there ever was one. It might have worked had he been trying to do his best imitation of Lily Tomlin's Ernestine, the telephone operator, but this was no spoof. This was Obama trying to relate to working-class women in a way that went directly south.

[Winged Hussar]

We need to circulate Barack Obama's sexist language as widely as possible to let female voters know about his patronizing attitude toward women.

God BLESS America, McCain 2008

[albie]

I’m sure it’s been said a million times already but...imagine McCain saying this. He’d be a heap of ashes right now.

[RockinRight]

Wait till we know Obama’s the candidate.

Then...unleash hell.

[MrB]

And, as in all things that the left gets up in arms about, they’ll give him a pass on this because he favors killing babies.

[InvisibleChurch]

i didn’t know that was wrong to say

[woofie]

At least he didnt say “Pook-ums”

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

I heard it yesterday. Didn’t sound odd to me. But of course these days you’re not supposed to.
Unless you’re a Dem, then you have Democratic immunity.

[Retired Greyhound]

I think it depends. McCain may be able to get away with it because of his age and relationship with the press.

What is funny is that the reporter was NOT flattered. Obama is no Bubba.

[y6162]

“While flirting with female factory workers in Allentown, he called one “sweetie,” a paternalistic way to address a woman if there ever was one.”

Bitter feminist complaining that race trumped gender.

[albie]

Actually, here in Richmond, Va I here “sweetie” all the time. Also, “Honey”, “Sugar” and “Sh%&head”. (Actually, Tim Kaine got the ball rolling on “Sh%&head”)

[fish hawk]

I wonder what he calls his sweetie sugar lips wifey? I imagine “Sir” .

[aposiopetic]

Ask Linda Chavez whether Bonnie Erbe occupies the moral high ground.

[Enterprise]

At least he didn’t say - “Dayum girl. You sure got some lovely lady humps.”

[workerbee]

At least he didn’t say “yo b1tch!”

[fish hawk]

My brother in law used to work for SBA who followed FEMA into disaster areas. He was called to the south after Katrina. He calls almost all women “sweetie”. My sister has warned him about it many times. As he was talking to a gal in the South who was going to work with him when he got down there he called her Sweetie. Big mistake. She turned him in and when he got there he had to attend a special seminar on how to conduct yourself with women. It was mandatory by the Government. Moral: never call a bitch sweetie.

[Biblebelter]

imagine McCain saying this.

I cannot imagine him or Andy Rooney saying such a thing. Misanthropic old curmudgeons like those two just do not have "sweetie" in their vocabularies.

[RepublitarianRoger2]

So now he’s done it twice? I saw this one previously, to a female reporter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4STLISLdxi4

Translation: STFU honky biatch, I don’t want to answer that.

[CougarGA7]

The reporter seems shocked that he didn’t answer the question.

Of course he didn’t answer it! He’s an empty suit.

[Ronin]

Unless they are talking to pre-teen granddaughters, or any little girl in a stroller.

[piytar]

Why? Who cares if Obama wins. McLib will do just as much damage, only conservatives will (wrongly) be blamed for it.

Screw the GOP. Let the braindead voters of this country suffer under four years of actual Marxism. Maybe that will wake them up...

[Sgt Joe Friday 714]

Consider the possibility that Obama has a successful 4 or 8 years. It’s not a sure thing that to the average person, the Obama presidency will be something to suffer through.

[Norman Bates]

Consider 12 or 16 years with a “successful” follow-up vice president. Sheer folly. Take McCain for 4 and then move on intact.

[taraytarah]

The Great Question Evader:

"Senator, how are you gonna help the American Autoworkers?"

"Oh, hold on one second, Sweetie, we're gona blah, blah, blah......Can't I just eat my waffle?!"

[muleskinner]

The best I can say is that at least he didn’t say “toots”.

[nickcarraway]

Intact? After the McGovernization of the GOP?

[School of Rational Thought]

Obama struck by the jungle fever.

[Norman Bates]

Then choose Obama and get the McGovernization of America.

[Polybius]

I didn’t know that was wrong to say

It is!!! And it goes both ways.

I punched a waitress in the nose the other day for calling me "Honey".

Do we really want to play this ridiculous game?

[Sig Sauer P220]

We need to circulate Barack Obama's sexist language as widely as possible to let female voters know about his patronizing attitude toward women.

Isn't it normal for Muslims to treat women as chattle?

[John Williams]

Are you serious?

I’m still looking for the sarc tag.

[Levante]

That’s how Oblama/Osama/Omama Hussein refers to his harridan, racist SCUM wife.

[arasina]

I heard it yesterday. Didn’t sound odd to me.

To call a woman sweetie who is not truly your 'sweetie'---is condescending. We like it when our loved ones call us that, but not some politician trying to make like he is one of our loved ones. Gotta earn the right to use affectionate terms.

[gingerky]

My husband calls women “girls,” and I keep warning him he’s going to get it one day. Of course, he gets a big blank look on his face like he can’t fathom why that might be offensive. He does not get it.

[Polybius]

I didn’t know that was wrong to say .... InvisibleChurch

It is!!! And it goes both ways. I punched a waitress in the nose the other day for calling me "Honey". .... Polybius

Are you serious? I’m still looking for the sarc tag. ..... John Williams

Of course I'm serious! The week before that, I also had to beat up a handicapped guy that had the nerve to park in a non-handicapped parking space! ;-)