Let Him Call You Sweetheart

This wins for biggest non-story of the day.

AMC,Really? Really?

"Or if McCain saying the same thing would read the same way."
McCain called his wife the "c" word. Did that get you worked up?

Ana Marie - I do not think that an equivalent situation would be HRC calling a black reporter 'boy'. I may not be qualified to weigh these terms but I am quite certain that 'boy' ranks right up there just below the N-Word as terms of insult. And I know many young women who do not mind being called 'Sweetie'. And, face it, if McCain called you 'sweetie' you would find it endearing.

For that matter, you can call me whatever you like - just as long as you call me.

:P

I think it's pretty clear that despite the whisperings and rumors Obama will never do joint town hall Q&A meetings with McCain. He's remarkably bad at answering hard questions off the cuff.

That being said, I concurr with Terrapinion that the comparison to calling a black reporter "boy" really is a bit of a stretch.

Ana,

you mean they are still trying to push negative Obama stories? I figured they would either be resigned to losing, or at least wait to push a story that could actually sink him. Have you seen a decrease in the amount of emails or calls with the goal of painting Obama in a negative light? I'm just trying to get a feel for how her campaign may have changed, if at all behind the scenes.

Thanks

Terra is right about "sweetie". I wonder if we can find a better comparison to "boy"

Sen. John McCain told reporters, "I hated the gooks. I will hate them as long as I live."

He He
We suppose that AMC has been with the campaign for a while.
To all earthlings, never ever call AMC "sweetie" or "honey" or "buddy" or "girl" or "pal" or "friend" or "madam" or "earthling" even...
[Can it be that she is pouting because Sen Obama forgot her name?]

Reminds me of another of AMC blog with my response below:
-----
Rose wrote:
"..Clinton campaign has been repeatedly unfairly accused of racism, while the Obama campaign has never had to deal with a media storm on sexism, even though it has played the gender card. Can you think of a single example where the MSM unfairly criticized Obama or his campaign of sexism?.."
Campaign of sexism?
Let us consider some shining examples of sexism:
1) A surrogate of which campaign accused Hillary, wife of Monica's Billy, of having "testicular fortitude"?
ANSWER: Hillary's.

2) A surrogate of which campaign accused Hillary of having more 'gonads' than Barack?
ANSWER: Hillary's.

Should Team "O" take the blame for stupid exuberance rampant in a floundering Sen Clinton's campaign?
--
A devil named "Angel"? A fibber called "Straight-Talk"? A conservative named "Maverick"?
"I've never done any favors for anybody — lobbyist or special interest group — that's a clear, 24-year record." - John McCain
---
Lowell Paxson, Keating 5 / McCain '08, WRONG for America

First off, good for putting up the video. He was clearly brushing her off and that was more than enough reason for her to be pissed, but the swettie clearly ticked her off.

That's inappropriate. And the context didn't help at all. For the young candidate, he seemed really old right there. That's the kind of thing you expect to see in guys McCain's age.

I'll have to think about the "boy" comparison...

gator_fan - You wrote: "...but the swettie [sic] clearly ticked her off."

I cannot think that there are many young women who would enjoy being called 'sweatie'. I mean, even if she had some kind of weird perspiration problem - it is just wrong to bring that up! Just don't go there!

just kidding

Let's see...John McCain calls his wife a "c*nt" and a "trollop" and the traditional media hushes it up.

Barack Obama calls a reporter a "sweetie" and it is a full-blown scandal.

I think the media is too busy writing stories about how Obama is a media darling to realize why nobody believes them anymore.

Let the obsolescence of the traditional media continue!

I personally would never use that style when speaking to a younger woman I didn't know in an office setting or some other scenario while engaging her as a professional, simply because I'm terrified of being That Condescending Guy (tm) --a social retardation that hits educated or professional men especially woefully as they age.

That said, I'm sure that we should not be looking to minesweep Barack Obama's every sentence in every circumstance for its harm or assistance to alleviating social injustice.

Maybe that's just the first word that came to the man's tired mind.

Why, that's a terrible thing. I don't know how many time I've told those boys, never call chicks "sweetie."

All journalism-related Weird Al Yankovic movie quotes aside, though, he shouldn't have said that.

Hey, did you hear about the fact that the Pentagon and the administration worked to get softball interviews on TV with people who would "carry [their] water"? And that we injected people we were deporting with psychtropic drugs? And that we're jailing visitors to this country for no reason?

Not everything need be OMG SERIOUS all the time, but this sort of gaffe-esque coverage is pretty non-awesome.

I have this same (unfortunate?) tendency to call people of all genders "sweetie" when I am trying to think while they are continuing to talk. I don't do it in any other instances, but when I am trying to cap off a thought or finish a sentence (spoken or thought) and someone is talking at me at the same time, I'll say something like "hang on a sec, sweetie..." Kids, peers, old folks, any gender, strangers or friends. Occasionally it seems to irritate people, but it is, for me, some kind of verbal tic and the only thing I can do when confronted is to apologize and try to explain that it was unintended ...I am never offended when someone calls me "dear" or similar terms. I usually think (and sometimes say aloud) "if they really knew me, that isn't the first term that would likely leap to their minds..."

What Stuart said.

AMC,
Don't worry your little head about this, sweetie.

Terrapinion : And I know many young women who do not mind being called 'Sweetie'

-----------------------

No you don't Terrapinion. They are just too polite to tell you to "f**k off."

No one should address a professional woman trying to do her job that way.

Contrary to most of the views above, this was not a good thing. I can think of no better way to PO a woman than to call her sweetie. In my neigborhood this would be followed by "I'm not your sweetie, I'm not going to be your sweetie, and I'll thank you to stfu. I guarantee he's going to hear from Michelle real soon now. That being said, it isn't as bad as it might have been. Hey, Sugar Pie would have definitely been worse.

ireneinmass wrote;
"if they really knew me, that isn't the first term that would likely leap to their minds..."
And then maybe it would.
For it is said, in typical sexist jargon, that for every jane there is a john.

On the other hand, the people probably don't mean much by the term. It is like saying "How are you?" to a total stranger: We don't expect a complete rundown of the person's medical condition. In fact it would be unwelcome.
It is more like a social thing - an etiquette.

[Much like Rumsfeld shaking Saddam's hand. Call it a "Rumsfeldian handshake" ..]

Trollop? C-Word of Endearment for Woman? / McCain '08, WRONG for America

He could have been trying the 'common' touch, but thats just a little too common. He had better watch it or he might get slapped for it someday.

"Maybe that's just the first word that came to the man's tired mind." - stuart, maybe that says something. It is quite similar to the "tea" and the periodically down comments in that he isn't showing hostility, just condescension that could be seen as going all the way to contempt. Personally, I don't cut people a lot of slack for comments that appear sexist or racist, and I'm not going to make an exception in this case. Especially since it's not the first time he's said something like this; it's just the first time he's not been talking about HRC.

RKA, Cindy is very tough. I'm not sure that should be a story, because it's a personal conversation between a married couple; we have no idea how they typically speak to each other. (although I do think anyone old enough to use the word "trollop" is probably too old for the Presidency) Obviously if he had said that to someone else, it would be completely different. Tolerating the b---- comment deserved to be a story.

Anyway, the biggest consequence of this is that it just became harder to push Hillary Clinton out of the campaign. There are going to be a lot of feminists who will not consider ending a campaign against a guy who says something like that.

TeresaKopec, well said.

TeresaKopec - You wrote: "No you don't Terrapinion. They are just too polite to tell you to "f**k off."

No one should address a professional woman trying to do her job that way."

You could be right. I should have specified that this does not take place in a professional setting and it is not me who is doing the name-calling.

But I think that my point still stands - it is not the same (or even close) as calling an African-American 'boy'.

My larger point is that these types of non-issues are enormous time-wasters and a distraction.

Considering the media's lack of interest in McCain's excesses, this reporter would probably be at ease if while covering Sen McCain's "Straight Talk" campaign, Sen McCain were to refer to her as "trollop" or "C-word".
--
Breaking News: No White House Wedding for Chelsea.
--

Perhaps this is why Obama was in a particularly good mood on that plant tour:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/14/1748/15010/948/515690

Rose, so I understand, as a Clinton supporter you are more offended at "sweetie" ( I don't cut people a lot of slack for comments that appear sexist or racist, and I'm not going to make an exception in this case)
Than "C*nt" (I'm not sure that should be a story)
You may want to double check where that "personal conversation" took place.

We have all gone around the bend.

Anyway, a woman who is called sweetie by a man while carrying out her professional duties should simply reply using the equally condescending term mannie and settle accounts then and there.

Are we really going to be this sensative? What if he had called her buddy? I mean really this is beyond the pale. He calls people bitter - he's arrogant. He calls a female reporter sweetie - He's condescending. Mean while did anyone ask the reporter is she was offended? Because if she was maybe she should say so and everyone else can get off their perfect high horse after that.

Terrapinion: You could be right. I should have specified that this does not take place in a professional setting and it is not me who is doing the name-calling.

But I think that my point still stands - it is not the same (or even close) as calling an African-American 'boy'.
------------------------

I agree with you there, but I think that Obama needs to be careful. Every once in a while he comes off as a bit cocky and condescending and it ain't pretty.

BTW, I think the "c" word -- if in fact used by McCain -- is disgusting as well. My husband knows better than to ever, ever let that pass his lips or he would be sitting out on the curb. I just have a hard time believing this anecdote to be true since there is no other evidence of McCain using this kind of language about women. (Not saying he isn't a jerk, but maybe not a sexist jerk.)

GySgt213: Mean while did anyone ask the reporter is she was offended?
------------------------

Are you kidding? I think when she signed off by saying, "This 'sweetie' never did get an answer to my question," you'd have to be pretty dense not to get that she was pissed off.

Know what would be especially rich? Seeing MSNBC's Chris Matthews getting a major case of the faux vapors over this.

Comedy gold.

I'm pro-Obama (and a man), but this is clearly a brain cramp / mistake / bad thing. If you don't remember a woman's name, you call her Ma'am. Sweetie is fairly demeaning if you use it in place of a name. It may only be appropriate if it is used sarcastically ... like if the reporter asked him a snotty question and he responded by calling her sweetie. As irony, it works. As a dimunitive, it is obviously demeaning.

Does "buddy" or "chief" to a male reporter cause the same concern? Probably not...but they aren't diminutive.

"Boy" to a black reporter (or "homey" or some other Michael Scott-type reference) is clearly worse.

I would like a link to the whole McCain calling his wife the c-word thing...I had not heard that and that is extremely disturbing. Quite honestly, even if I used it in jest talking about another woman, that word would get me a couple of nights on the couch and probably a kick in the balls.

Why are there 32+ comments to this post, when we can all go over a few threads and yell at Scherer for doing a bad job?

"Chief" can sometimes be offensive - I learned this after moving to the southwest.. but I picked it up in the Navy. So I definitely mean in it the friendly nautical sense of the word..

Native American guy at a bar got all bent out of shape when I asked to squeeze up to the bar and said, "thanks chief". We made peace after the misunderstanding but he was a one big hombre, I'm glad I was able to appeal to his reason while drunk.

Man - this is deja vue all over again. I remember telling Rose a week or so ago how I used to get offended when a well-meaning guy held a door open for me (this is 40 yrs ago). The guy who takes my money at the dump now calls me dearie, and I find it endearing. Barack shouldn't have done this, but I don't suppose he meant it to be offensive or condescending, and we probably ought to give it a pass. Besides, some of you would argue that nearly anything goes from a reporter, so it's probably difficult sometimes for candidates to remember they're dealing with a professional.

I can't listen to the video at the moment (my cat ate through the speaker wires), so I don't know what was said. Any chance he was trying to defuse a tense situation?

TeresaKopec - Not to belabor the McCain-sexism issue, but here is the source of the C-Word incident:

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/McCain_temper_boiled_over_in_92_0407.html

And, I agree, Obama should be careful. But I still do not think this is a big story. Good for the reporter for getting the last word on it; hopefully it will be the last.

Please.

Terrapin: I've read the McCain C word story and I don't buy it. First of all you are talking about anonymous sources. Second of all, I don't believe that a journalist would not print something that juicy because of worries about a family newspaper. We sure got to hear all the nasty Monica details. And those guys certainly would be writing the story today themselves -- not passing it on to another writer.

If another -- sourced -- story about McCain and his wife appears I'll rethink my position. Until then there are plenty of other reasons not to vote for McCain.

Holy moly....that c-word story from Cliff Schechter's book is disturbing on so many levels - the allegation is this:

(1) Cindy McCain was teasing McCain for losing his hair in 1992 (mind you, he was in his late 50's, not a strange thing);
(2) He shot back immediately, calling his wife a trollop and the c* word.

That really does raise disturbing questions not only about misogyny, but vanity (closely related to ego) and anger. It's a triple threat statement, and anybody who would say something like that to his meal-ticket, attractive wife (I'm assuming she was 16 years ago) is a real jackass. What happens when Putin Medvedev makes fun of his age? A nuclear exchange?

I've been in the tank for Obama from the beginning, but this was a gaffe. Not the end of the world. Not as bad as calling a black man "boy," but it is condescending, and I won't make excuses for it. It pisses me off when it happens to me, and I don't blame the reporter for being offended. That said, it's not an earth-shattering event, and I hope it doesn't get the Wright treatment, fer godsake.

If "sweetie" isn't sexist, it certainly isn't presidential. That's how diner waitresses address me.

Obviously this faux-pas negates any delegates Obama has picked up in the last, oh, two weeks. Advantage: Clinton.

Teresa: I was at work with no speakers so I could not hear the video. Now I have heared it she sounded ticked. But was it because he called her sweetie or never answered her question. If he had of answered her question would she have ended her report that way. I don't think so, but I don't know. Do you think she would have? At any rate, what's the harm with asking her which one ticked her off.

Posted by Rose | May 14, 2008 5:26 PM:

"Maybe that's just the first word that came to the man's tired mind." - stuart, maybe that says something. ...Personally, I don't cut people a lot of slack for comments that appear sexist or racist...

Rose:

I get what you're saying, it is possible that the man takes younger women lightly in a way that demeans individuals through stereotyping; maybe it does say something about Obama's attitudes or stereotypes about "rational men" vs "emotional girls".

But at some point, shouldn't we stop relying on whatever the latest words are that issue from imperfect human mouths, and worry about deeds as an indicator of someone's value in our common effort to make things better?

Why do you place such an emphasis on words? In my mind, offense isn't the problem, it's an unfortunate tendency to misjudge individuals via baseless mental associations with caricatures, and not personal merit or qualities. Why wouldn't we look at what a person does, the concrete and practical results of how they've conducted their affairs over time, the efforts that they've made throughout their lives to make this country a fairer and more equally opportune place for everyone in which to live and work?

If we're to judge character on the basis of words, it seems to me that we're using the worst possible, most easily misinterpreted, least effective metric that's available. Also, precisely because language isn't an accurate indicator of character, and yet the most easily available phenomenon to criticize, when the premium is on proper speech, and social or professional sanctions are primarily directed toward the superficial, evaluations of the effects of real attitudes are increasingly impossible, as the simplest course for everyone to avoid censure is less honesty and more silence.

The more we parse an increasing (due to exponential advances in information and communications technology) ocean of words for signals of improper thought, the more we lose track of what really should be giving us reason for censure in all of the noise.

To that last point, I couldn't possibly tell you what Barack Obama thinks about the value or capability of womens' intellects based on this incident, however unfortunate it seems to have been from the reporters' piece.

As far as action goes, I believe that I can tell you something about the guys who sold Curious George t-shirts with the words "Obama in 08" underneath a picture of the famous monkey peeling a banana.

May 14, 2008, 2:22PM

Georgia bar's T-shirt links Obama, Curious George

By ERRIN HAINES Associated Press Writer
© 2008 The Associated Press

MARIETTA, Ga. — The publisher of the popular children book's series "Curious George" is considering legal action against a Georgia bar owner for selling T-shirts that link Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to the inquisitive monkey.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is upset with Mike Norman, owner of a Marietta, Ga., bar, for selling the shirts which show Curious George peeling a banana with "Obama in '08" printed beneath the image.

Norman, who began selling the shirts in late April, has said they are not meant to be racist. He said he thinks the Illinois senator and the character "look so much alike."

Does what I'm saying make sense to you at all, Rose? What is it about words that causes you to place such emphasis on their utterances?

UPDATE: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama has apologized to WXYZ reporter Peggy Agar for calling her "sweetie" during a campaign stop Wednesday in Sterling Heights.

Obama apologized in a voicemail he left on Agar's cell phone at 3:16 p.m:

"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 so 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."

http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=13d1f66a-488b-46d3-9d3b-6632e0a8f1f7

Hey, if you guys want to get some good Obama-parsing, you should read JNS's article on the front page about:

(You guessed it!)

Obama's American Flag lapel pin!

Please, for the sake of our democracy, go read the article and then tell JNS that she's doing a bad job.

Just a minute sweetie. I'm going to read it.

There is a bit of a difference in using Obama "sweetie" than when Kentucky Congressman Geoff Davis used "boy".

First off he didn't know her name. Im just wondering if miss or ma'am would have sufficed?

When the Congressman used "boy" he obviously knew Obamas name but chose to call him that.

"Just a minute sweetie. I'm going to read it."

....

And now I have an idea of what Rose and TKopec are talking about.

VAR: No, no, no, no, no. Never Ma'am. Always Miss, no matter how old (i.e., did you drop your dentures, Miss?).

GySgt213 - Great link. It reminds me of another Obama phone call where he apologized for getting in the way of a male reporter and his attempt to get a date with a woman at a campaign rally. I think he said something like, "I'm sorry for messing up your game." It was extremely funny and classy.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2006/11/2973_obama_to_report.html

And, I have to say, so was the way that Obama handled this incident.

Ana,

I hope you are going to post Obama's apology as its own blog because people may miss it otherwise.

The voicemail Obama left for the reporter:

"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 so 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."

"I can't listen to the video at the moment (my cat ate through the speaker wires), so I don't know what was said. Any chance he was trying to defuse a tense situation?" - Kathy, when I saw the post I didn't think it was a big deal, but I was surprised when I watched the video that the context didn't help at all. The reporter is asking a reasonable and fairly tough question in a very professional tone of voice, and his response seemed if not sexist, than at least unprofessional. I'm actually quite surprised. I expected that the whole think was much more joking than it actually was. I'm interested to see your reaction to the video. It was not what I expected; I know I've talked about the Obama campaign playing the gender card, but very few men of Obama's age and education use that word in that context. If you had asked me in advance if he would do something like that, I would have said definitely not.

"Does what I'm saying make sense to you at all, Rose? What is it about words that causes you to place such emphasis on their utterances?" - stuart, sorry for the late reply. I see where you're coming from. My own thinking is that the appearance of prejudice is usually indicative of actual prejudice. (I'm not saying that this thinking applies to this specific situation, just to the analysis of words in general) So if someone says something sexist or racist, I do think that they are probably at least a little sexist or racist. Especially if it's a pattern.

As for evaluating on the basis of actions, then yes that is clearly the best way to look at someone's character, especially when they are a powerful politician whose actions have enormous influence. But I don't think that means we should just disregard their words. A good example of the words-action divide is Joe Biden. He has a great civil rights record, but he does say some things where you think "I can't believe he said that." I really like Joe Biden - after Clinton and Obama he was my third choice in this election, and I think he was probably the most electable Democrat this cycle. That said, I believe his racially insensitive comments probably reflect something in his thinking. I don't believe that prejudice is generally spontaneously expressed without there being some underlying prejudice. Yet, his actions undoubtedly deserve to be praised. I doubt Joe Biden - a man I have great respect for - can be understood by words or actions alone.

"Also, precisely because language isn't an accurate indicator of character, and yet the most easily available phenomenon to criticize, when the premium is on proper speech, and social or professional sanctions are primarily directed toward the superficial, evaluations of the effects of real attitudes are increasingly impossible, as the simplest course for everyone to avoid censure is less honesty and more silence." - Well of course I think that language usually is "an accurate indicator of character." Especially when a professional writer is concerned. But even beyond that, is this really an issue of Obama being too honest? He's not speaking some uncomfortable truth in an untidy way.

In addition, I actually want people to be more careful with their language. I support political correctness, but I just want it to be done right and with equal standards for everyone. The reason I am such a strong believer in reducing sexist and racist langauge is that when it's widespread and tolerated, real sexism and racism risk being more tolerated; The distinction between tolerating sexist and racist language and tolerating sexism and racism is not going to be clear to everyone.

As for why everyone is parsing the words of the candidates, it may be because many people feel that every vote the cast and speech they make is so carefully planned and consulted that their off-the-cuff remarks probably more accurately reflect their character. For example, I know many Republicans felt that Democrats were overly critical of Bush's verbal gaffes, which indicated ignorance and a disturbing glibness, but haven't those qualities been reflected in his Presidency?

Anyway, I'm not arguing that this shows Obama is sexist. It just shows that he can say sexist things (the plural is because of past comments). And, as I said in my earlier post, "maybe that means something."

P-NNTO, if Obama (allegedly) said the same thing as McCain in the same context, I would have the exact same position. I am probably a little extreme on my view of the irrelevance of a politician's marriage - maybe I've spent too much time in France... - but it is the same for everyone, of every political affiliation. It would be different if I thought a marriage was abusive, but this election involves three strong candidates and three strong spouses.

And if McCain had said what Obama said, I would be much more upset because - drawing on stuart's arguments - in that case his legislative record and words would be reinforcing each other.

And his apology was good. He seems to get it much more than some of his supporters...

Rose wrote:
" I'm not arguing that this shows Obama is sexist. It just shows that he can say sexist things (the plural is because of past comments). And, as I said in my earlier post, "maybe that means something."

That means what 'something' ?
What past 'comments'?

Is Sen McCain a 'sexist' in your books?
Would you argue that Sen Clinton and many in her 'soak-it-to-them sisterhood are sexist?

You are trying hard, Rose. Maybe we need to understand where you are coming from. Do you come from a world where titles like "Mrs." or words like "wife" or "husband" are taboo? A place where 'unisex' dress is the norm and all are addressed respectfully as "comrade"?

Rose have you at any time in your life said anything that could be construed - by a determined foe - as evidence of underlying bigotry or bias or prejudice?
[And I can't resist the following dig: Are you a christian who embraces the Bible? How do you navigate around the sexism expressed explicitly and liberally in the Bible?]

Sounds more like he was dismissing her and chose a non-professional term to make the point that it wasn't the time for asking/answering a serious question. I'm wondering what word would be best to substitute for sweetie?

Guys are not too good at picking the right term, any suggestions?

I also don't understand why this is sexist?

tomj wrote:
" .. I'm wondering what word would be best to substitute for sweetie?
Guys are not too good at picking the right term, ..
I hadn't noticed it before. This evening I saw a clip of Sen Obama walking from a function to his car. As it is the case most of the times, he was talking to a bunch of reporters who trailed him asking questions. Before he entered his car, he ended the conversation with reporters by saying, "Thats all guys. Nice to see you." I probably had been missing that affront to reporters all along.
Now:
1) There were girls (or is it "ladies" or what is the correct term?) among the reporters. Does anybody know if the ladies (who may not have 'testicular fortitude') file complaints about being called "guys" by Prof 'Hoops'?
2) Did the reporters (or is that "comrades"?) complain about being grouped with other (bitter) riffraff under the banner of "guys"?
3) Who are "guys" anyway? Is it a proper professional term to use? Can a president or presidential candidate refer to anyone as "guy"?

My! The silliness of this blog!
--
Dearest McFlimFlam,
Unguard!
You have been spoiling for a fight.
McFlipFlop, the Battle is now joined:
The longest 4 months of your long life
Or should we correctly say 'short life'?

http://gdaeman.blogspot.com/2008/02/mccains-paxson-problem.html
Vicki Iseman, Cindy McCain / McCain '08, WRONG for America

"If "sweetie" isn't sexist, it certainly isn't presidential."

...and Bill Clinton getting a BJ in the oval office was? You Clinton supporters and your self righteous hypocrisy make me want to vomit.

Rose - sorry I can't see the video yet. I think Barack's phone call to the reporter was classy, and ought to be the end of the matter. I think Stuart wrote a very insightful comment about words and what we are doing with them, at least what most of us are doing with the words our opponents use.

One of the points of my "door-opening" story is that offensiveness is very often in the ear/eye of the beholder, and not intended at all. That doesn't mean it isn't important; people who don't want to offend others need to learn what others find offensive. But their intentions really do matter.

Kathy, I hope your cat enjoyed the speaker wires! I'm lucky mine haven't done the same thing (yet).

Where I'm coming from on this is that I just don't see how Obama could have been unaware that this was a bad idea. If he were some 75 year-old who never really took the women's movement in I would not have the slightest problem. I don't mind an old man opening the door and calling me "sweetie." My first reaction was surprise, and my second was that he seemed way older than he normally does.

"One of the points of my "door-opening" story is that offensiveness is very often in the ear/eye of the beholder, and not intended at all. That doesn't mean it isn't important; people who don't want to offend others need to learn what others find offensive. But their intentions really do matter." - As a general rule, and in the door-opening situation, I absolutely agree with you. The difference is that in this case he's young enough and smart enough to know better. I'm sure he already knew this was a bad idea. He clearly just said it without thinking - I'm sure he didn't intend to give offense; he's running for President - but it's a little surprising that he didn't automatically know not to say that. Especially in that kind of situation. (we all have things we will just never say, even when we are not weighing our words carefully)

Certainly this doesn't need to be a major story, but I'm not comfortable with the general rule that an apology automatically excuses an offense. The Republicans will be using that argument a lot in the general, so I don't want to set a bad precedent. But I do appreciate his apology, which was as good as it could have been under the circumstances.

Anyway, the reason I think this matters is that first, the context didn't help. And second, a man of his age and education should - and does - know better.

Also, I just wanted to add to the comment in my previous post about the irrelevancy of politicians' marriages. More than spending some time in France, growing up during the Clinton years is probably responsible for my strong feelings on the subject. A ridiculous amount of time was wasted during the 90s analyzing the Clintons' marriage. And it was completely irrelevant. If we make this personal conversation between the McCains an issue, then we are going to have to spend a lot of time figuring out how they normally interact, how she speaks to him, and of course the whole thing will involve sorting through conflicting accounts. Wouldn't it make more sense to focus on actual issues?

What politicians say to people they professionally interact with does matter. So McCain deserved to be criticized for accepting that b---- question, but let's not make this election about the McCains' marriage. I'm sure it's not that interesting.

This coming American election is going to be another test of character for the American people where the main issue at hand will be if they can measure what is important and true instead of falling over themselves and their various tribal identities (femenists, white, black, working class, conservative, liberal, etc...)

2004 was a massive failure of character for the American people. My feeling is that their is a huge appetite to be serious this time and to stay level headed and not give in to manipulation and truthyness. Americans are shamed by the 2004 presidentail election and want to redeem themselves in 2008. This is why the story is not going viral. Americans don't want to get fooled again. One idiot President was enough.

M4V Converter free download center- ALL M4V conversion tools which help you feel free to convert M4V to MP3, AVI, WMV, MPEG, FLV, 3GP, WMA. And useful Guide on How to Deal with M4V files.
m4v converter
convert m4v
Ultra Quicktime M4V converter currently is the best M4V converter which can convert Quicktime movie M4V to AVI, MPEG, MP4, MPG, WMV, ASF and Vob. As we know Quicktime movie usually has the video formats of M4V, MOV, QT, MP4, and M4V, With this M4V Converter, you can feel free to Convert them all with fast speed and high output quality.
m4v to avi
m4v to wmv
With the fast and powerful QuickTime video decoder inside, Ultra QuickTime M4V Converter supports almost all MOV, QT, MP4, M4V files, even QuickTime Player has not been installed. Integrated High-speed MPEG-2 encoder which let you convert M4V to DVD-Video files(VIDEO_TS, AUDIO_TS) and VCD/SVCD image(*.bin,*.cue), so you can burn VCD/SVCD/DVD disc easily from QuickTime files by using third-party buring tools. It is a software program for converting video formats at fast speeds and high quality. Very user-friendly interface and Quality Profiles.
m4v to mpeg
m4v to mp4