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Sweetie?
At least he figured out he'd better get on record as having apologized.
My mind boggles at the thought of the "What if Hillary had saids" we could make out of that "Sweetie."
And Obama has a habit of calling people Sweetie?
I wonder how Axlerod and the other guys feel about being called Sweetie?
I wouldn't mind it myself, as long as he patted me on the ass when he said it.
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Comments (403)
It just pisses me off. Imagine. Just imagine. Where is the progressive blogosphere on this one? The reader blogs proclaiming him a misogynist?
May 15, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're reading one. Except that Billy has a sense of humor and doesn't "proclaim" a lot.
May 15, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Be informed, watch the news clip, and judge for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4STLISLdxi4
May 15, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ouch. It gets worse every time I see it.
There's a consequence of all of this that I pointed out below. A consequence that other Obama fans are apparently not ready to face because they're just too gripped with fear over what this scandal could do to the Obama campaign. But face it we must.
This ends any hope of getting Hillary to run as Obama's veep. As a champion of feminism, Hillary can't afford to have herself tainted by being associated with a man who doesn't respect women.
If Obama gets through this with no worse consequences than losing the chance to have Hillary as a running mate, he'll have gotten off easy. He'll have gotten off easy indeed.
May 15, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just hope that the concession speech he gives over this will bring all the sweeties in the Democratic party together.
May 15, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are rabbitsmorgasbord and presidentraygun the same person? You sure look alike.
May 15, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not that this should be a big deal, sweetie. It's just that it isn't a big deal when Hillary having a sneezing fit on TV sets the blogosphere aflame.
May 15, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
"hardworking white Americans" is not a "sneeze". It's representative of a concerted effort to marginalize Obama as the scary black guy, going back to her surrogates before NH.
Show me where Obama has made a concerted effort to demean and marginalize women voters -- ever.
Frankly, feminists should be more outraged over "obliterate Iran" than "sweetie".
That's the opinion of this 58 year old, white female feminist. Who has been more appalled by Hillary's tactics, race-baiting and overt use of her affirmative action attached to her famous name.
May 15, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Happy birthday, Sweetie! We'd better get that name changed. Wouldn't want people to think you're lying about your age.
May 15, 2008 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Happy birthday.
May 15, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, the laugh you provided to me, 57andfemale. You are one of the most reactionary posters on here!
May 15, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm female, almost 60, wildly feminist and totally in agreement with you. He apologized, it's over.
Someone further down mentions having daughters and being used to using names like honey etc. I've certainly found myself doing that with the main people I work with who happen to be young, smart, ambitious and totally wonderful women. It's embarrassing, but luckily, they just laugh and forgive me.
I'm more focussed on what Obama does while in office than what he calls a reporter. If I see policies that go against equal rights for women, then you'll hear me start yelling.
May 15, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama was the one making phony charges of racebaiting primarily by proclaiming that gaffes of middleaged white men were part of a deliberate campaign plan by Hillary. This in the face of the fact that such a strategy was an obvious loser in the Democratic Primaries. I guess he thought that Hillary got to Biden really early.
About the sweetie remark -- it is what is known in poker as a tell -- involuntarily revealing what the speaker is actually thinking.
Sweetie an affectionate diminutive used by men to women, women to men, women to women, and adults to children. It is not used by men who respect women to an adult professional woman doing her job. And if it is used, any apology must recognize that it caries this implied infantilizaiton of the professional woman involved. Obama's so-called apology shows that he simply didn't get it.
Did he really expect us to believe that he uses that term for all sort of people? Men, for example?
Go back and read his book the Audacity of Hope -- you will learn that he thought it was really cute that his wife gave up her big career plans to marry him, that he left the burden of running the household to her even though she decided to continue her career (understandably she got very angry -- he reprots eing baffled as to why)that he began his courtship of her by inducing her to violate her law firm's norm of not having supervisors involved with their underlings (Does anyone know if that law firm made Michelle an offer or not? Did he wreck her chances there?) and that there are three references to women's issues in the index and then you are referred to the entries for family.
What outstanding stands did he take on women's issue you ask?
p26: [Obama was talking to an old codger who had]"airbrushed out of the picture... the absence of women and minorities in the halls of power."
p27: "Beyond that the party cultivated a certain
live-and-let-live philosophy: a philosophy anchored in acquiesence toward or active promotion of racial oppression in the South; a philosophy that depended on a broader culture in which certin norms -- the nature of sexuality , say, or the role of women -- were largely unquestioned; a culture that did not yet possess the vocabulary to force discomfort, much less political dispute, around such issues.
p36: "The victories which the sixties generation brought about -- the admission of minorites and women into full citizenship, the strengthening of individual liberties and the healthy willingness to question authority -- have made America a better place for all its citizens. But what has been lost in the processs, and has yet to be replaced, are those shared assumptions -- that quality of trust and fellow feeling -- that brings us together as Americans."
He can lip synch -- it is not at all clear that he can walk the walk -- he's just not nice enough.
May 15, 2008 6:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting comment, AJM. Thanks for putting it together.
I don't think I've ever seen anyone pull out quotes from one of Barack's books. I haven't read his books, but I see he's the master of the run-on sentence in writing as in speaking. At least in these passages.
I find it curious that Barack isn't particularly feminist, yet he was raised by a single mother who had a career, and who was named Stanley because her father had wanted a boy.
May 15, 2008 11:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't read them either, but it seems both his mother and his grandmother were the really strong people in his life, yet he eulogizes the missing father and his grandfather. Someone who's read more can tell me if I missed it with this synopsis.
May 16, 2008 7:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
And at least Obama apologized to the reporter. Clinton has yet apologized for her "working, HARD working white people" remark. The closet she came to an apology was agreeing with Rangel that it was a dumb thing to say. That's not an apology.
May 15, 2008 10:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
**Awwww. Sweetie. That's so cute. It's also a consequence of having two small daughters. (Of course, I won't admit to doing it because I can't remember their NAMES.)
May 15, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have two small daughters and I'm much more prone to using overly cute names because of them. Imagine a Potions Professor adding "ie" to basic words such as "brush", "drink", .... it's pathetic!
May 15, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am a mom and not so long ago my boss said something to me and I said "What hon?". I apologized and he knew that I wasn't being inappropriate. I'm very used to frequently using terms like hon, sweetie, boo, etc.
For Chrissakes, it's not like an all out lie or anything.
May 15, 2008 10:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm also the dad of two young girls, just a bit younger than Obama's. If anything, I think him slipping and calling someone sweetie (who it looked to me that he was pretty distracted when he said it) could even be example of a Dad that is actively involved in the parenting of his kids. Which is what feminists (male and female) have been fighting for - equality and parity of the sexes in all of life's responsibilities and rewards.
I can understand how women over 50 might here a man use the term Sweetie and think it harkens back to a time when secretaries, waitresses, and stewardesses were eye candy for the male power structure. But for a dad of Barack's and my generation, especially one who is married to a woman with a successful career, I think the most reasonable explanation is he often uses the term as an active parent to his two wonderful daughters (Obama 51, and Obama 52?, ala Bush 41 and Bush 43?)
May 16, 2008 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ironic, coming from an Obamanaut.
May 15, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
:) I have to go, gasket. Don't let them comment behind my back.
May 15, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Got ya covered.
May 15, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, I saw the clip. I almost laughed when I first heard about it. I was raised on a farm and my father had a very large operation with about 30 hired hands in the summer. He worked very hard to not lose his temper with the young men so one of the things he would do was call them "honey" when he was getting annoyed. He also did this with his children. I got really amused when I found myself doing the same thing later in life. And the term is not gender specific. As I have gotten older I have learned there are much more important things to fight about than people calling me sweetie. But I am glad he apoligized.
May 15, 2008 11:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, he is the most evil, horrific sexist in the history of the United States and the press should be covering this 24/7 to the exclusion of all other stories because if Hillary ever called anyone "sweetie," that's certainly what they would do.
May 15, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean like Rev. Wright?
May 15, 2008 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah - a real misogynist. I guess he keeps Samantha Power around to grab her sweet Irish ass whenever he feels randy.
May 15, 2008 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, all of us have certain mannerisms and sayings we unconsciously use in our everyday interactions. John McCain is always saying "my friends", for example. Hillary likes to strongly nod her head whenever she makes a point she wants you to agree with.
Other people like to place their hand on your shoulder or arm when they taking to you. It doesn't mean they are sexually harassing you. Its just a mannerism.
"Sweetie", is a term of endearment, or of informal cordiality. You obviously are hoping that it instead betrays some kind of sexist condescension by Obama.
Is this really to be the last refuge of Clinton supporters, intimating that sexism is the reason behind her losing to Obama?
May 15, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't really see a huge difference between this and Clinton's recent "white Americans" gaffe. They both misspoke (and have both admitted it), and they need to be more careful with their words.
Like it or not, but calling a female "sweetie" will get you in trouble in a lot of places.
May 15, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
From my experiences travelling throuh the Midwest, it's Midwestern diner talk. It's what truckers and waitresses say to each other, you know, the common people. This is another example of Obama getting slammed for being a regular kind of guy by the elitists.
Next week in some unforseen incident, probably for coming off as cold and aloof and too formal to some service industy worker, Obama will again get slammed by the common people for being an elitist.
May 15, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I'm aware of that. It's just midwestern-diner speak that he needs to avoid. As Desidero points out, we wouldn't care for a casual usage of "boy" towards Obama, even though it can also be used in an innocent manner. We all need to be conscious of how what we say can be taken the wrong way, and that goes doubly for politicians.
May 15, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ben, maybe so. But I hope that you recognize this for what it is, in this case. A last ditch attempt by Clinton supporters to rally her female base by suggesting sexism by Obama.
May 15, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, blame Clinton for it. She forced Obama to call the reporter "sweetie", she forced the reporter to run the comment on the news and she is the one who hasn't reported on it in the national news.
May 15, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
BevD,
Do you have a reading comprehension problem? I said Clinton supporters. Such as, Billy. I did not say Clinton.
May 15, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't get your panties in a wad, Sweetie. I'm wondering what the Obama Senate Office is like. Sweetie here. Honey there. Get me a cup of coffee, Sweetie. Who knew Obama would be capable of that kind of patronizing talk to a member of the press? And as far as desperate goes, we're not going desperately low yet. We can go a lot lower when our desperate backs are against the wall. We can start resenting those Midwestern comments. What are you guys saying? We cling to our terms of endearment?
May 15, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who does Obama think he is? Charlie Wilson?
May 15, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. And I don't know if it's true, but the best moment for me in the film about Charlie's war is when the women suddenly turn out to be super competent and kick ass professional in a crisis. Looks and brains. That's what's gotten me by all these years.
May 15, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
**Whew. I thought you'd put up a bigger fight. Wimpy white guy.
May 15, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is one of the most trivial threads yet, and that's saying something this year.
May 15, 2008 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's the calm before the storm.
May 15, 2008 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
It isn't anything like "midWestern diner talk". It was a dismissive remark made to shut her up, it was insulting, he apologized for it and I am pretty damned certain he won't do it again. Let's not make it into something it is not.
May 15, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm guessing that you haven't bothered to watch the actual video clip.
May 15, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes I watched it. That's why it was so insulting. It was dismissive and condescending. I didn't like it, the reporter certainly didn't like it, and obviously the station she worked for didn't like it either. Obama apologized, which he should have done.
May 15, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good, then you saw how rude and presumptuous the reporter was being as she tried to interrupt Obama while he was trying to pay attention to his hosts that were showing him the car that the factory had produced. Color me unsurprised that you would take the side of the rude and angry woman, though.
May 15, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a reporter's job, for Christ's sake! You're so used to a docile, roll over press who phones it in that when a reporter is aggressive you think it's "bad manners". It's no wonder the Bush administration has gotten away with the shit it's pulled for eight years.
May 15, 2008 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
**You guys have much better ears. I couldn't hear the "sweetie." Just the snotty remarks by the reporter. I'm not saying he didn't say it, I just couldn't hear more than "sshhweee."
May 15, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't bring myself to watch it. If I watch it, I'll have to admit I saw it. This way I can always say I know Obama has said some controversial things, but I never heard them myself.
May 15, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
How could you blog here 16 years and never once hear anything like that? If it had been my blogmaster, I would have gotten up and walked out. Unless I was Blue Dude, then I would have kind of slithered or skated. You are the same as Blue Dude, right? Oh wait, no, you're the same as me. This is confusing, my head will explode.
May 15, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
It kinda looks like it already has.
May 15, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I was a "Midwestern" waitress (not sure what Midwestern has to do with it, it's national in my estimation, but if you require it, that's where I was) part time for 9 years in my misspent yud, in a pretty rough after-hours joint, because it was good money.
If people really want to get into the sophisticated linguistics of waitress-talk and "hon" and "sweetie," rather than just spout the usual p.c. on such stuff, I'd be interested.
It's about power. When you're in the restaurant, you're seated, the waitress sees it like this: is standing and in full control of what you get, you are on her turf, you're like the baby, she's like the adult. You only think you have power over her and only think she is a servant. She calls you "hon" or "sweetie" to let you know this in an underhanded sort of way, a way it's not easy for you to get mad about, because it has double-meaning.
It's not for nothing that this sort of talk is not sanctioned in better restaurants. In better restaurants, waitpersons must act as servants, and the customers are the clear masters.
I don't know what was in Obama's mind when he used it, but it's pretty clear he recognized this meaning afterwards.
Big picture, though, this is a silly post as to presidential politics, Billy Glad, because it's no big deal, because he is bound to get ornery and much more outrageous with some press persons in the future, all presidential candidates and presidents do, it's a foregone thing, it's going to happen, the press baits and baits and the target finally gets angry, and even the most outrageous examples are forgiven because it's expected. Reagan was the only one I can think of that escaped a lot of this because he avoided half of the chances by acting deaf, and for the other half he would babble in a friendly manner, not really answering any questions directly--one devious old coot he was.
May 15, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've reached an age where waitresses and sales people call me "dear" and what you're saying sounds true.
I don't know if it's silly or not. I think the silly thing is we're about to turn the country over to a freshman Senator who spent his first term running for office. So I count as his experience college, law school, some neighborhood organizing, running for the State Senate, serving in the State Senate and running for US Senator before running for President. And we really think this person is ready to govern America. I call that silly.
May 15, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome to the new paradigm Billy. Obama is Google, Hillary is Microsoft. In the new world, experience isn't all it's cracked up to be. An upstart teenager in a garage can change the world nowadays and being an expert in the old ways of doing things is a handicap. Vision, innovation and competence are key. Obama is rebranding the Democratic party and leading the party in his direction while Hillary is still using the same messages, like a retired general always fighting the last war. He may have spent his whole career “running for office” but he has run an effective campaign and bested Hillary Clinton at that game despite her numerous initial advantages.
If I remember, George W. wasn’t vastly experienced but didn’t exactly lack it. It was conveniently forgotten that his experiences were often tinged with failure. Unfortunately, Hillary is that candidate in this election – see healthcare.
May 15, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry about the double posting sweetie!
May 15, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's not a problem. But I'm going to sneak something serious in here, hoping you'll be the only one who notices. Nobody makes it without a mentor. I've had a couple. One of them was Bob Bullock, who was also a mentor to you know who. So you know who really did have a lot more experience governing when he ran for President than Obama has had. And he had, in my opinion, some very first rate mentoring. When I look at Obama, I can't quite figure out who his mentors are. Any idea? I think a list of Obama's mentors would be a very fascinating list. Here are some possibilities. Axelrod, Daschle, Jackson, Kennedy, Kerry, Wright, Michelle Obama.
May 15, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
So obviously you realize that one can fail spectacularly despite experience and mentoring...
Being community-focused rather than individual focused, I don't think Obama is really a mentoree but more of a liminal figure. Obama has a special kind of experience with his background as a community organizer. If you really think about the skills developed in that role, tell me that might not be exactly the skills that America needs in their president to make it a better place. Obama is a risk, but isn't that what it's all about - if we didn't dare to take risks, that would make us conservatives, by definition.
May 15, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I might agree if I didn't think the executive branch was so badly broken.
May 15, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
What Bush and Rove were very good at was using the office to extend the power of the office and the power of the candidate. But, while they learned that from a Democrat, they used it as Republicans, to politicize and destroy that part of the executive branch that knits and mends the social fabric. Until 9/11, Bush and Rove were headed for a one-term smash and grab Presidency that knee-capped as much of the Democratic program as possible while enriching the Bush base of wealthy Americans as much as possible. But 9/11 made it possible for Bush to play President in the only role sanctioned by the Republican orthodoxy: Commander In Chief. Suddenly, he had a real war to fight. For a Republican bent on destroying social programs, nothing could be better. As Reagan demonstrated, you can use the defense budget to destroy social programs. Getting the government of the United States back into business is going to take skill and perseverance. I imagine someone like Lincoln would be up to it. About someone like Obama, I'm not so sure.
May 15, 2008 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, I've just figured it out. You're really the Big Dog, aren't you? Ha! Posting here to defend the wife and have a chance to blast Obama anonymously.
You rascal, you. That's pretty cool.
May 15, 2008 7:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome to the new paradigm Billy. Obama is Google, Hillary is Microsoft. In the new world, experience isn't all it's cracked up to be. An upstart teenager in a garage can change the world nowadays and being an expert in the old ways of doing things is a handicap. Vision, innovation and competence are key. Obama is rebranding the Democratic party and leading the party in his direction while Hillary is still using the same messages, like a retired general always fighting the last war. He may have spent his whole career “running for office” but he has run an effective campaign and bested Hillary Clinton at that game despite her numerous initial advantages.
If I remember, George W. wasn’t vastly experienced but didn’t exactly lack it. It was conveniently forgotten that his experiences were often tinged with failure. Unfortunately, Hillary is that candidate in this election – see healthcare.
May 15, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're confusing campaigning with governing, not that some of the marketing tricks might not carry over.
May 15, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're confusing campaigning with governing, not that some of the marketing tricks might not carry over.
May 15, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
ha!
May 15, 2008 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
ha!
May 15, 2008 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
As in, "more coffee, hon?" If you've ever waited tables, you know that everyone is "hon" and "sweetie." Everyone. But outside of $25,000 a year or 12 years old, it's insulting.
May 16, 2008 12:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
It was a gaffe, for sure. And most importantly, it's the only new thing they've got going for them that might sway the superdelegates toward Hillary. The same old bogus arguments projecting from primary results to general election results haven't swayed the superdels. The bogus demographic arguments based on ignoring margins of error, over-generalization, and general hyperventilating expressions of "concern" haven't swayed the superdels. Rumors that Obama is a secret muslim (I take him at his word that he isn't, as far as we know) didn't do the trick. The Wright spectacle didn't derail him, not even the second time it somehow came up. Wins in Pennsylvania and West Virginia didn't slow the flow of superdelegates to Obama, much less turn things around so she has a chance at winning the race for pledged delegates.
But it's not over. They now have sweetie-gate.
In the interest of giving Hillary every possible chance, I've rec'ed every post so far that mentions sweetie-gate in the title. It was clearly a gaffe, a moment of political incorrectness, and there's no point in hiding it.
Obama supporters need to face up to this. Do we want a presidential candidate who would call a reporter "sweetie," who admits that this is a bad habit (we don't yet know how long he's had this habit, but I'm sure the press will hound him until we get the answer we deserve to that important question), and most importantly, for all we know might slip up again in the general campaign and call someone else sweetie?
If this is the issue that gets the superdelegates to swarm to Hillary, then so be it.
May 15, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe Obama has a secret Muslim sweetie!
May 15, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't she "misspeak" about this more than once; and hasn't McAuliffe said the same thing?
BTW, I believe the MSM has been more than kind to Hillary. They have ignored most everything from the Clinton years related to Bill and cover ups.
May 15, 2008 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm. I thought Hillary did that when she was telling a lie.
Seriously, "Sweetie" would not be offensive in much of the USA; and it certainly isn't ANYTHING like talking about the importance of WHITE voters over other voters. I'm a white voter; but I was offended by that one.
May 15, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
When you are in a diner/restaurant/cafe and the waitress brings your coffee/pie/lunch and says "Here you go, hon" (honey), does that make you mad, too?
May 15, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm reminded of a guy who was referred to a lawyer for some legal matter and when he came to the office he asked the woman who met him at the door to bring him a cup of coffee. She pleasantly brought him one, and being the lawyer billed him $500 for her services. But yes, I think you're right - in strip clubs they also use "honey" and "sugar" quite a lot. Why get bitter?
Hey, just think, if Hillary is the VP candidate Obama can give her free backrubs. Bush only got to do that with Rice and Merkel.
May 15, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's the same type of language that is used in urban restaurants, like those on the South Side of Chicago. I'll bet that when Bill-O went to that famous restaurant (Martha's?) in Harlem, he got called "sweetie" or "hon" as well. You guys are piling on Obama for using the common language of regular people. Congrats.
May 15, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Even regular people know that there's a time and a place. If they were on the campaign plane, and Barack said, "There are more seats in front, hon," that's not dismissive. "More seats in front, sweetie" . . . still not dismissive, though this time I'd hope that Michelle is on the same plane.
If she's asking a question, it's a professional context, and it's not the place for the same language.
May 15, 2008 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'll agree that it's not perfectly PC, but have you watched the video? It's hardly an earth-shattering utterance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4STLISLdxi4
May 15, 2008 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not earth shattering? Not earth shattering??? You're whistling past the graveyard, my friend.
Not a single superdelegate has endorsed Obama since the "sweetie-gate" story broke. I think they're all holding back to see if he can survive it. Edwards must be kicking himself right now for having such unfortunate timing with his endorsement.
This is it, friends. If Obama survives this scandal, he'll have the nomination easily. But if not, then ... well, some things are just too depressing to think about.
If he does get the nomination then one consequence is that Hillary will be unable to accept the veep offer. She can't afford to have herself tainted by being associated with a man who doesn't respect women.
May 15, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait a second . . . my snarkdar is tingling.
I would agree with both of y'all that it's not a huge deal.
May 15, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I mean, it's not like starting a war of aggression against a nation of brown-skinned people.
But I will say, it sounded kind of flippant and obnoxious.
May 15, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought it was likable enough.
May 15, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah yes, the scandal the Clintons have been waiting for: Sweetie-gate.
Hey Billy, I'm getting ready to go on vacation next week. Long road trip. Memorial Day is just around the corner, and I see gas is up to about 4 bucks around here. How's that gas tax holiday coming?
10 days and counting...
May 15, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Depends on which state you live in. Some states are enacting a gas tax holiday for the summer.
May 15, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm referring to the temporary lift of the federal, not state, tax that was proposed recently.
May 15, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know. I thought it was unnecessarily obnoxious.
May 15, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can forgive her if she tells me what that body of water in the background is. Maine? Pacific Northwest? Looks cold and dreary. Looks like she's just turning away from the beach as the Obama and its crew of Obamanauts sails away toward the edge of the world. What is she thinking?
May 15, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're right, Billy. I was harsh. A gaffe on my part. Gimme her phone number so I can call and apologize.
May 15, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Could be she's on the deck of the Titanic trying to remember the words to that damn Celine Dion song. Or else trying to spot dolphins off of Santa Catalina. What the hell, how can people tell so much from a 64pixel picture - "she's stressed, her car needs a tune-up, she once went to a carny and dreamt of being a trapeze artist, there's still remnants of an oil spill in the distance, she should have taken more dramamine and she laid out her lobster traps wrong". Am I close?
May 15, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
If it's the Pacific North West, she might be digging for gooey ducks. I hope it's Maine, though. She could be a pettycoat whaler.
May 15, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
You nailed the trapeze artist bit.
May 15, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
1 out of 6 ain't bad, I think.
May 16, 2008 1:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
It might be the Sound. I think I recognize the slope of Long Island in the distance, but it really could be anywhere.
May 15, 2008 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
She just seems lonely. Like the Obamanauts sailed without her. And a cold front or a storm is coming in.
May 15, 2008 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I sent myself on the deep open sea
with only a boat and that small troop of men,
my friends, who never had abandoned me.
(26:100)
May 15, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, it's definitely not Jones Beach. Not enough pepsi cans.
May 15, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like a Pacific sunset along the northern California coastline to me, maybe Northwest coast?
May 15, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm thinking PNW or Maine. Hoping to hear it's Maine. Those women know what it's like to wait for the men to come home from a dangerous voyage.
May 15, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
She seems so vulnerable. It makes we want to call her ... you know .... Sweetie.
May 15, 2008 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nah. Ship's anchored in the bay. They're unloading it now. Storm passed us and blew out to sea. Sun's rising on a new day. I'm not turning away, but turning to greet you. Took you longer to get there since you came by land. Those are tears of joy in my eyes. I wasn't sure you'd make it.
May 15, 2008 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
And then you notice the limp and the incisions where the kidneys used to be. I've seen this movie too many times - still gives me the willies. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning....
May 15, 2008 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Priceless Billy. I've always thought her avatar was not an actual body of water, but rather a backdrop from a feminine hygeine product commerical. My feminist principles always prevented me from going there, but screw it! Who cares about condescension and demeaning and sexist rhetoric coming from the democratic nominee for president. The reporter is just lucky she did not encounter John McCain with his C**T comment.
May 15, 2008 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yawn. A Hillary shill to the bitter end, hon.
May 15, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, dijamo, you would be well served if you could somehow regain your sense of humor (if you ever had one to begin with). Bitter really doesn't serve you and you just sound nasty and mean-spirited all of the time. Everything in life is not a tragedy - Obama calling someone "sweetie" certainly is not. Lighten up, for your own sake.
May 15, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hate to break it to you but my sense of humor is very much snarky / sarcastic so it is intact. I find it hilarious that you are lecturing anyone about decorum on TPM. Gimmie a break!
I apologize if I've offended by likening her avatar to a femine hygeine product ad. This is much more accurate if only it was in color:
http://www.gazette.uwo.ca/2000/October/17/photos/yanni_cd.gif
May 15, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a larf - a friend who watches too much TV now assumes women wear white because they're on their period. I guess it's a logical misunderstanding - wonder what else our conditioning gets wrong.
May 15, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Funny. When I first read this, I thought you were saying that a gas tax holiday was unnecessary and obnoxious. It made me laugh really hard.
May 15, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your laugh is contagious. ;-)
May 15, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
sweetie
noun
a person loved by another person [syn: sweetheart]
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
The nerve of that guy.
May 15, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
What does WordNet have under "boy"?
May 15, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
My definition is; a male human that has not reached puberty.
Why do you have some other preferred usage?
May 15, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Props.
Concise and correct.
May 15, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Or even worse when Bill Clinton had the nerve to call Obama the new kid on the block and people in the Obama camp and Donna Brazile blew a gasket on CNN accusing Bill of being usually racially demaning language and demaning Obam. Never mind that Bill was dubbed the comeback kid. nevermind that in 2004 Edwards was the new kid on the block. Bill Clinton using the word kid in the context of talking about Barack Obama is RACIST!
Barack Obama calling a female reporter sweetie is A-OK and not sexist at all.
May 15, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone recall on which side Billy Glad landed druing the whole "Don Imus Ho-gate Scandal"?
May 15, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was still about 50 years in the future when that happened. Didn't he get fired or something?
May 15, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean like was it a) more racist than sexist, b) more sexist than racist, c) equally both, or d) none of the above?
May 15, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course Obama has a habit of using "sweetie".
As new10 said, it is a term of endearment.
Don't forget, he has two young daughters and a wife.
I'm sure he uses "sweetie" all the time.
May 15, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess some people just prefer the "f*** you" vocabulary of Dick Cheney and his crowd. Telling...
May 15, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't tempt me.
May 15, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess some people just prefer the "f*** you" vocabulary of Dick Cheney and his crowd.....
May 15, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
May 11, 2008 3:53 PM:
May 11, 2008 3:57 PM:
I'm sorry, what was your point about Dick Cheney?
May 15, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! You got me! Touche.
May 15, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
STFU does mean Stop Talking Falsehoods Unfairly, doesn't it?
May 15, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
At least we can see your panties aren't in a wad. :)
May 15, 2008 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's one of the advantages of having a flat, feathered penguin backside!
May 15, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
hahaha!
May 15, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah yes. It would be one thing for McCain backers to make an issue of this, but for Clinton supporters its laugh out loud funny considering Bill Clinton's extramarital history and Hillary's history trying to clean up these messes virtually by any means necessary.
May 15, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Like what? What did she do to "clean up these messes by any means necessary"? It is exactly this kind of shit that pisses off Clinton supporters - it isn't true, it's a smear and it is unnecessary.
May 15, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dont worry, Bev, by "extramarital history" they mean all the thigh rubbing innuendo and fantasy they get into when they think anything about sex.
See, they're Maxim branded dudes - they think the only way to have sex is by insulting and demeaning women. Adult consenting sex is so 60's to the post-boomer generation. Not that Red Bull and vodka laced with Rohypnol makes an especially bad drink...
May 15, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ahhh...yes. Blame Hillary for her husband's affair. We're back to that one? I'll take a jab to the stomach with that kick in the face.
May 15, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, how do you "Blame Hillary for her husband's affair" into Jonze's statement? that's a pretty far reach. You're better off attacking the "clean up after her husband" suggestion. Which she did, by the way.
May 15, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
And how did she do that?
May 15, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jonze? You put it out there.....
May 15, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Earth to fellow Obama supporters:
He has admitted it was a gaffe. So we can too. It was a gaffe.
Would it be different if it had been a young male reporter, and Hillary had called him "hon"? "Hold on a sec, hon."
Afraid so. That would be sorta-funny-dismissive instead of gratingly-dismissive. Sorry, but till sexism disappears, this sort of pat-on-the-back stuff is going to read differently depending on the gender of the speaker and the addressee.
May 15, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
May 15, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry. That bad tag was a gaffe.
May 15, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
ha!
May 15, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I think people would be completely unbothered by Hillary calling a young male reporter "hon", if anything. It's just not quite the same.
The rest I agree with. It was a dumb thing to say, Obama knows it was a dumb thing to say, and he did what you're supposed to do when you say something dumb.
May 15, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
And evidently I misread your comment, since I actually agree with all of it.
May 15, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
No! The Obama Borg will continue to insist Obama is perfect no matter what he says, they must continue to counter every doubt about perfection, even if it requires ridiculous rhetorical knots. The Borg must issue at minimum 50 countering blog posts across the internet every time there is the slight possibility something negative might accrue to The Obama Borg, no matter how minor. Admitting error is weakness! Mistakes are never made! Don't listen to the single entities Senator Obama or his campaign staff, The Obama Borg knows better!
May 15, 2008 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, get over yourself, would you? Unlike some Hillary supporters, most of us Obama supporters can and do admit when our candidate makes a mistake, and we do NOT think he is infallible. Just stop. Having said that, this is a minor gaffe and it will fade from memory in the next day or so. All of this manufactured rage on the part of Hillary supporters is fine because it gives them an outlet for their grief and anger over her losing, but it is manufactured and it will pass.
May 15, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't see where artappraiser endorsed either candidate - the criticism is aimed at Obama borg, there and rightfully so. That doesn't however mean that at no time does artappraiser believe that Clinton supporters are not borglike, or that omission is exclusion. Get over yourself, you're not the only borg in town.
May 15, 2008 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now that is funny.
Unless one is part of a, er, the collective..
I'm glad "hive mentality" is passing out of the vernacular.
May 15, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Careful, you'll start Allsborg on another contest, and he's been monkeying around with this format way too much already.
May 15, 2008 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Collective, combative, ideological. It's the avant garde! Coming soon to a thread near you.
May 15, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's really rich coming from someone who continually finds anti-Obama bias in Greg Sargent's posts to such heights of absurdity that they become humorous. From what I've seen of your commenting at Election Central, you're a poster child for irrational pro-Obama spin. Mho, you'd do everyone who wants the Democratic nominee to win a great favor by changing your user name and with that new user name affecting a more rational tone in your support of Obama.
May 15, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm very glad that I amuse you! ;)
May 15, 2008 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've never claimed Obama is perfect. And he has never claimed to be perfect. In fact, he points out regularly that he's imperfect and makes mistakes.
The key is, he makes mistakes, and then he tries to fix them and do better in the future.
No candidate is perfect. I do not fear an imperfect candidate. I fear candidates who will not admit to mistakes, who will defend mistakes until the bitter end (or until the video footage comes out). We've had eight years of a president who does that. We cannot take eight more.
May 15, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean like still defending your Iraq War vote?
May 15, 2008 8:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is that what dumping Rev. Wright was? "Fixing a mistake?"
Oh please.
May 15, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not the first time he's called a woman "sweetie," apparently. He did it to a factory worker in PA. It's a class thing.
At least he didn't call her "monster."
May 15, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Or, it could just be an interpersonal mannerism thing.
May 15, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
So break it.
I'm sure he doesn't call senators "sweetie."
May 15, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gasket already blown, eh?
May 15, 2008 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you Canadian?
May 15, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn Canadians.
May 16, 2008 1:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
How dare he? Misogynical pig! Rip off his head and spit down the hole! Crucify him! Obama thinks every woman is his own personal waitress! Sweetie! Dear God, what's next? Poopsie? The mind boggles...
May 15, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know everybody has agendas and I suspect the reporter from WXYZ's is against dismissive language. I really don't see why everybody is putting the blame for something the reporter decided to include in her piece and her own dismissive tone onto Hillary. Sure, you can surmise that the reporter is a feminist and that she may not be enamored by Obama, but what the heck does any of this have to do with Sen. Clinton?
May 15, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing.
This is a non-issue.
It was an inappropriate comment, and he apologized for.
Next?
May 15, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I beg to differ, workerbee. Obama's clearly playing the sexism card before the Kentucky primary.
May 15, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Was he tearing up?
May 15, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, he spit tobacco juice all over another reporter's shoes.
May 15, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well that tears it.
May 15, 2008 7:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not with Clinton. With her supporters attempt at exploitation. As can be seen herein.
May 15, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
What is with the American people and their acceptance of a docile press? It's her job to ask questions every opportunity she gets, if he doesn't want to answer, he's free to say he doesn't want to answer. What he said was demeaning and dismissive of her, has he learned a lesson? I'm willing to bet it won't happen again.
May 15, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh,no! I guess I'm no longer a feminst because of that time when I got all fuzzy inside after getting off the plane in London and the the custom's agent said "Hello, LUV, what ya here for business or pleasure?"
May 15, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Better than Ma'am.
That one always makes me feel old.. :)
Frankly, I can see why the reporter was offended, she's a professional, and the term was inappropriate in a professional setting. That said, it's not an offensive comment, and he apologized, end of story.
May 15, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
WB -
That's the most succinct, logical and fair description on this entire thread - or probably anywhere - since the onset of this whole brouhaha.
Thank you.
C
May 15, 2008 10:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Huh? Since when does TPM ever go for succinct, logical, or fair?
May 16, 2008 12:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why thank you. I made it before my avatar started drinking.
;)
May 16, 2008 12:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
That one always reminds me of Alex going, "No time for the ol' in and out, luv, I'm just here to check the meter." Of course the British say "boot" and "spanner" and think Shepherd's Pie is a food - down this path lies madness. Plus, a British journalist would have broken his nose.
May 15, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can not call people Sweetie, and you can not call people Bitterie, in the land that never shuts the fuck up telling the rest of the world that it invented freedom of speech. Sure it did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0eGf1RsyZQ
May 15, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
She was asking a question at the wrong time and place. The tour of the Chrysler plant was meant as a photo op meet and greet for the assembly line workers, not a presser for a lone local reporter who got out of line aggressively trying to make a name for herself.
She was informed there'd be a presser later where she says he never did answer her question. If she had asked her question at the presser he would have answered it but I suspect she had all the story she wanted by then and was on her way back to the studio.
May 15, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you listen to Obama's apology, a different reporter represented the station during the Q&A, so she never got another chance to ask her question.
May 15, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is what I understood in his apology.
What he did do was reveal that she was a crasher at the Photo op. That she was NOT the identified reporter from the local radio station scheduled for the press conference later.
She was an unprofessional nut.
May 15, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a great one-liner.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/05/obama-apologizes-to-reporter-h.php
:)
May 15, 2008 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, but calling her an unprofessional nut for these reasons is WRONG WRONG WRONG.
Limiting access to only to the "approved" or "identified" reporters is one of the biggest ways the current administration curtails our democracy and controls the narrative.
I don't know anything about her situation, but if she was denied access to the press conference and still found a way to ask a sitting US Senator and possibly our next president her question, I consider her courageous and professional and Senator Obama out of line for dismissing her no matter what he called her in the process.
If we had more reporters like her, I think we wouldn't be in many of the situations we are in.
May 15, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
She was not chose by the radio station that she works for as the reporter to be at the press conference.
She was a freelance nut.
Mayhill Fowler her ass for all I care.
May 15, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
And if you don't know anything about the situation nor researched into the "set up confrontation". Then why are you responding with such faux reflexive outrage?
What are you saying? "I don't know what I'm talking about but here goes".
May 15, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am so guilty of calling people "Sweetie" and I'm a 47 year old woman, born and raised in NYC. I don't mean it as a condescending, dismissive or sexist label...it just slips out because I LOVE people. I call men and women, children and adults, "Sweetie." I call my cat Sweetie-Pie. Sometimes it's "Sugar-Dumplin", or "Honey Pot" or "Dear Heart". It's all about love my friends, you know.
May 15, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Spoken like a real New Yorker. You can call me Sweetie, anytime.
BTW, In the Latin American community, mothers call their own children Mama or Papa. It's a very sweet tradition. The last time I went shoe shopping with my 77 year old mother, the lady shoe salesperson referred to my mother as Mama. It was very sweet.
May 15, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
One last look.
May 15, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Billy, Papa, come to Mama and vote Obama!
May 15, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
We're having beefaroni!!!
May 15, 2008 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
PS - if you recall the Elian incident you found out that the Latin community also thought unzipping their little hombrecito and remarking what a big man he was becoming was normal child's play, something that set many conservatives' hair on fire. Let's just say that politicians have to have a sensible limit on how far native they can go in any given situation.
May 15, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Desiderito,
Perrdoname pero no comprendo lo que estás diciendo.
May 15, 2008 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Desidero es muy inteligente y muy complicado a veces.
May 15, 2008 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hola, mi dulcita, solo quiero decir que una comunidad hispanica tiene costumbres diferentes de una comunidad ingles, y esos costumbres son diferentes entre su mismo - la gente puertoriqena, cubana, etc. En el incidente con Elian en Miami - cuando su madre se murio y todo el mundo regardo a esa batalle de dos paises - su abuela en su visitacion breve trato a jugar con el para calmarle, usanda los juegitos mas macho y sexual que es normal en la cultura blanca, pero absolutamente no abuso sexual en el sentido implicado por los conservativos como Jesse Helms o Bill O'Reilly.
Entonces qualquier candidato que cambia locaciones frequentamente necesita estar muy cuidado que no dice ni hace algo que puede dar ofensa. Pero eso se aparece mas extremamente i en la diferencia entre el mundo de finanzas y el mundo de obreros, algo que Obama descubrio con sus comentos de "amargos" y "aferrarse a la religion...". (No puedo imaginar la reacion a eso comentario en un contexto hispanico, y no recuerdo que uso el termino "Sweetie" a sus inversores).
(Disculpeme mis errores, ya hay mucho tiempo...)
May 16, 2008 1:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Desiderito,
No sabĂa que hablabas español. Muy bueno. Billy tiene razĂłn. Pero yo ya sabĂa que eres muy inteligente.
Yo no me recuerdo mucho de lo que pasĂł con Elian. En ese tiempo estuve en Alemaña. Solamente querĂa que volviera a casa. Pero estoy de acuerdo que todos tenemos costumbres diferentes. Y tambien fuĂ© mi respuesta un poquito en broma. Pero nada lo que dice ese puerco Bill O’Reilly me importa.
Sollen wir auf Deutsch nächste mal reden? Ich habe gesehen auf ein anderes gespräch das du auch Deutsch kannst.
Hasta luego
La chica del Bronx
May 16, 2008 2:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Peut-etre c'est meilleur que nous parlons en Francais - je me sens un peu intimide, tu as habitee a Allemagne et parles l'espagnole nativement, et moi? Je suis seulement un dilletante, comme un pied noir. Ou les langues slaviques, mais ceca c'est un peu eloignee - ces pays ne sont pas tres importants dans l'ordre nouveau.
May 16, 2008 5:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Would you two slow down? My Spanish isn't that good. I can't keep up.
May 16, 2008 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
But how's your German, Billy? Desidero's spanish is really too good for someone who isn't native. My spanish should be better for someone who heard it spoken at home from birth. Neither of my brothers speak a word. And because I lived in Germany, I think more in German than I do in Spanish.
What's goin' on here today? I'm up early after a late night. There seems to be a lot of deep philoshopical studies going on a TPM today. I just can't go there. We need some ideas Billy. You're the idea man on campus.... what's it gonna be?
May 16, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mais non, mon petit chimpanzé!
Francais est trop difficile pour moi, mais est le langue de mon rĂŞves. Maintenant je suis tres envieux. Est tu peut-ĂŞtre Polonais? Was fĂĽr eine schwere Sprache das ist. Ich schlage vor, eine neue sprache fĂĽr die neue Weltordnung-- eine mischung von alles!
Bis bald, criatura de quatro pies. Ciao. Ha un giorno piacevole.
See you on the board!
May 16, 2008 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mais non, mon petit chimpanzé!
Francais est trop difficile pour moi, mais est le langue de mon rĂŞves. Maintenant je suis tres envieux. Est tu peut-ĂŞtre Polonais? Was fĂĽr eine schwere Sprache das ist. Ich schlage vor, eine neue sprache fĂĽr die neue Weltordnung-- eine mischung von alles!
Bis bald, criatura de quatro pies. Ciao. Ha un giorno piacevole.
See you on the board!
May 16, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, Des, I hit the DAILY DOUBLE!
May 16, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
All I can think about this morning is peaches.
May 16, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
And I thought I was just seeing double. Mon Dieu, 371 Sweetie postings and climbing.
Billy, I think you've started a movement - either we take over the party or we open a chain of family diners offering a Sweetie-free safety zone. We can call it Momi's or Peaches and have Bronx girl use her German and Italian to make sure the griddles run on time.
May 16, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Et non Polonais, mais je peux comprendre un peu. Meilleur la Russe, Tcheque et Serbo-Croatien. Et un peu de Turq pour le gĂĽle gĂĽle laughing laughing bit.
May 16, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Desidero, est tu vraiment? C'est nest pas possible? You're here. I've only just discovered that you can keep going on a thread once it has slithered off the screen. Finding you here is hysterical. I just did a test on an old post of mine and VOILA!
I wondered if you'd seen my answer to you earlier. I left you a message this morning on the Comic relief thread, but then IT disappeared.
Anyway, if I could come back in another life, I would definitely speak Russian. The MOST beautiful music. I have a good enough accent but not the rest...
I'm afraid today is a total bust at TPM. Sad day-- no Billy. But you can't blame him.
I tired of all the same old stuff.
Here I am hanging out in the "enemy camp." That's gotta tell you something.
Buenas noches. Gotta go to a concert. I'll check in later just for the hell of it.
Ciao
May 16, 2008 8:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are certainly the most charming person in the cafe. Don't get bored and leave.
May 17, 2008 12:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I wasn't being coy or anything. When I leave, there will be no hints, just gone. But thanks for the sweet words. You must be a "sweetie honey bee."
May 17, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course I'm here - I'm everywhere ;_)
The best way to stalk people is to check their profile and find out where they've been posting. Gotta run.
May 17, 2008 3:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Eureka, you ARE everywhere. I'm just trying to keep my head above the miasma of bullhsit around here.
Bis später
La chica del Bronx
May 17, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
HONOUR is so sublime perfection,
And so refinde; that when God was alone
And creaturelesse at first, himselfe had none;
May 15, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, thank you Darlin'! I just moved to Washington Heights by the way--so a shout out to you!
And isn't it also common in the Latino community for adults to refer to each other as "Mommy" or "Poppy"? I've started calling my S.O. "Poppy" when no other word will do...
May 15, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
this was meant for girl from the bronx
May 15, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know, Sweetie. No problema.
May 15, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, I had just mentioned that above. My mother says Mama but you can say Mami or Papi too! Good catch.
Enjoy the Heights. Take a stroll through the Cloisters for me.
May 15, 2008 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a femaie Bronxite as well. How come you didn't mention the trend of Latina store cashiers here calling female customers "mommie" for at least the past year? :-) Mho, it's not like waitresses using "hon" or "sweetie," there's no power thing going on with it, I take the meaning as merely one of kindly intent. But I must admit I am not an expert of all parts of Latina culture, and some hidden putdown could be going way over my head.
May 15, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you're talking to me, I already did spoke of this up thread. And yes, it is completely meant as a term of endearment in the Latin American community.
May 15, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now that I had time to think on it more, there is some interesting semiological differences going on here. "Hon" and "sweetie" in pink-collar working class white world is often used to indicate a relationship of parent to child. The user is the parent. It can be used to be condescending, as I think a lot of waitresses use it, or it can be an endearment, like in a beauty parlor. Certainly it's condescending when used in "hon, get me some coffee" in the white collar world.
But what I (and acquaintances) have noticed is that Latinas in service jobs over the last year have begun to use it when they speak to non-Latina female customers. But it comes not from a parent to child condescending relationship, but just the oppostite, child to parent! Not just a term of endearment, but also of respect. This is very smart customer service, if nothing else. :-)
(I would add to Billy Glad that yes, service people calling a man hon or dearie when they didn't before, I think you are correct to feel some neutering there, clearly they see you as over the hill, as in, need help crossing the street, you poor old man? :-))
May 16, 2008 12:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
oops to be clear, an edit to one sentence above:
But what I (and acquaintances) have noticed is that Latinas in service jobs over the last year have begun to use "momi"
May 16, 2008 12:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the reason it's become so prevalent in the past 5 years or more is because of rap music. So it's spreading through the culture.
May 16, 2008 3:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
In the Italian culture (at least in New York), mothers and grandmothers call their children and grandchildren "mommy" - I know I do that with my 3-year-old granddaughter sometimes, and she looks at me strangely and says "Nana, I'm not mommy" - it's really funny!
May 15, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, that's interesting.
Maybe it's a Mediterranean thing. When I asked my mother about the origin, she didn't have much to say. All this talk about it has gotten me curious, though. I'm going to see if I can track it down.
May 15, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, Baba, (grandmother) is a term of endearment to any old Russian woman, I think maybe it's a widespread practice. Maybe an old time one.
May 15, 2008 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Careful, Baba is grandmother, but the nicer term is the dimunitive Babushka or Babichka depending on the language - abuelita en vez de abuela. "Baba" spoken directly comes out "witch", such as the infamous Baba Yaga.
May 16, 2008 1:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Arrrgh, I made an contradictory statement.
I meant that the term wasn't an "offensive" term, like bitch or 'ho.
It was "offensive" in that it was a slight to her professionalism. I talking degree of offense, here.
I hope that makes more sense.
May 15, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
This was one of Obama's dickish moments, as when he told Hillary that she was likable enough. I am sure we'll see more of them.
May 15, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL. Please define a "dickish moment" so I can recognize one when I see it...
May 15, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope so.
May 15, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was dumb.
And yes, it's exactly like if Hillary had called a African American man "boy." Because back when I was working my way through college at various restaurants, not only did lots of my fellow female employees call me "honey," "sweetie," "baby," etc. -- and vice versa -- but we also all referred to the black guys as "boys."
Jesus.
This Edwards endorsement sure has you HRC supporters salty, doesn't it?
May 15, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
The "boy" comment came up because someone said "sweetie" couldn't be offensive because of its dictionary definition. Calling a black man "boy" would seem to be an extra layer worse, but names like "sweetie" can be quite professionally demeaning, as in this case.
May 15, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
What about intention? Does anyone really think he intended "sweetie" in a degrading manner like "hey macaca"???
May 15, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, it was Obama's "macaca" moment.
May 15, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, he just meant it in a dismissive manner like "hey, you sack of potatoes" or dumpling or whatever.
May 16, 2008 1:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
(Pssst, Desidero: You know I'm joking, right?)
Suddenly I'm craving pierogies.
May 16, 2008 3:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
No dice, Obama has the lock down on Chicago and Michigan no longer counts, and these are the only places you'll get them good stateside. (Actually there was a pretty nice Ukrainian restaurant downside in Manhattan, they should still be friendly to the Hillary club). I'll see if I can dig you up some from here, but nowhere near as good as the other side of the border.
May 16, 2008 5:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd rather make my own. Machine made pirogies always toughen the dough.
That Ukrainian restaurant ? In the East Village? Odessa/
May 16, 2008 8:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ayup, though my last ones were in Kiev, so I'm spoiled.
May 16, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I had my little ol Kiev Baba teach me. Did you take a lil ol river ride in Kiev? Raving about the food? That's rather odd.
I know, I know the flour is different.
Baba said ours is better.
:)
May 17, 2008 12:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
**You ARE kidding, right? Calling a female Sweetie (often an endearment) is the SAME as calling a black man BOY (often NOT an endearment)?
May 15, 2008 6:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've amplified the audio on that clip, and it's clear that Obama did not say 'sweetie' -- he said 'seenie', which is short for 'senorita'.
May 15, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now we know how the first Iran/US summit will go. Now we need to talk about those nukes and Israel, Sweetie.
May 15, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Sweetie" is so much more of a threat than "obliterate".
David Duke to Hillary Clinton: You had me at White Americans.
May 15, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
But what if in Persian it means something kiss the sole of my boot?
May 15, 2008 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
THAT'S GOOD, Billy! I'm good for another day with that one. Thanks.
I also understand that there are many foreign words now banned from the Persian language. "Pizzas" for example, is now known as "elastic loaves."
I imagine "sweetie" is also banned. Perhaps the subsitute should be "nectar blossom" or "whiff of peach" or "my little saffron sherbert" or ...
May 15, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
All I've ever wanted to do is put a smile on your face. :)
May 15, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
With your German background we could do "Meine KĂĽchen" oder "Meine Mauschen", or a Czech dumpling would be "Muj knedlik". I think there's a rule that says it's not sexist if it's in a Central European language, right?
May 16, 2008 5:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
And I can only imagine how quickly "my little whiff of peach" would get someone thrown out of a US workplace.
Back to politics, I hear that in Persian, "obliterate Israel from the map" is translated "encouraging respect of Muslim peoples", but it's not a language I'm any good with so I take other people's word for it.
May 16, 2008 5:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I suggest "my little taste of pineapple." Probably sounds better in French, though.
May 16, 2008 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Billy, you ARE here. And now I have to go!
Later
May 16, 2008 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or is this it in Spanish?
Mi poco gusto de la piña.
May 16, 2008 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the best choice would be:
Sabor de piña
poco gusto would mean more like small amount of taste.
but we mean taste as in flavor, so sabor is the better choice.
Now, if we put the ie of sweetie on it, then it would have to be: saborcito de piña.
Yep, that's it.
Well, that was a fine group project.
Now I can get some rest.
Sweet dreams, sweeties.
May 17, 2008 12:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
After all this time, hanging around TPM has finally paid off.
May 17, 2008 8:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Billy, you made it to 400 comments. Is that an all time TPM record?
May 17, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shhh, don't disturb him - he's floating in the wafting scent of piña. You've made his journey, time travel is much more difficult than people assume. The biggest problem is tomorrow he has to wake up and go back to killing, but for now everything is okay.
May 17, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, fellas. The griddle cakes are hot! I have Piña Coladas ready just for Billy and his pineapple passion and a wonderful French Merlot for Desiderito. It's party time! But for dessert-- a game of truth or dare!
May 17, 2008 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, Billy, now you're getting a little ridiculous. You think Obama will do any worse than the asshole we have there now who gave Germany's Chancellor Merkel a shoulder massage????? Come on, let's not get absurd.
I was not happy when I saw that clip - I think Obama was being a bit condescending and dismissive, and I react viscerally when a woman is called "sweetie" (I work with labor unions and I get that kind of treatment all the time, and it always rankles me). But he apologized and you can be sure he won't do it again. I think we can move on, although Hillary supporters (and nut-jobs like Taylor Marsh and her ilk) will try to play it for all it's worth. No matter - he's going to win the nomination and this too shall pass.
May 15, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Only a little ridiculous? I'm losing my touch. I'm more worried about the massages Obama is going to get than the ones he's going to give.
May 15, 2008 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, you're not losing your touch. Believe it or not, I've always considered you among the more sane Clinton supporters here - reasoned and intelligent. Even though we disagree (sometimes vociferously), I've always enjoyed our interactions. ;)
May 15, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me, too. :)
May 15, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just drink the koll aid sweetie.
May 15, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly - more koll aid for everyone! They are drunk on koll aid - which tastes of BS (and crap!).
I think Gotalife would agree with me that any country that would democratically elect a man like Obamamamablabla is complete CRAP.
May 15, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
The koll-aid has left a bitter-sweetie taste in my mouth!
May 15, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry I stepped on this one. Didn't see it when I posted below. :)
May 15, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Which would be a vast improvement over Hillary's
(sound of cricket's chirping) and McCain Beach Boy songs.
May 15, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Think how those crickets are going to sound in January.
May 15, 2008 12:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, sweetie! When you call, I show up...
May 15, 2008 6:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, sweetie! You called?
May 15, 2008 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perfect.
May 15, 2008 10:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
She was a shitty journalist of the Mayhill Fowler degree of getting a story.
Then she tries to blame Obama for treating her like that nut in PA. All they did was crowd her out.
She's lucky she didn't get a throw down.
May 15, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
You need to get a grip and lay off of the reporter.
May 15, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
why?
She probably doesn't work there anymore. What's the harm?
May 15, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it just me that thinks it's freakin' hilarious that the HRC campaign's two biggest attacks on Obama to date are that he used the words "bitter" and "sweetie"?
May 15, 2008 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm so ashamed if that's the best we've been able to do. It certainly covers the poles, but a more nuanced attack, bittersweet, for instance, might have been devastating.
May 15, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been fighting the urge to post a reader comment with the headline:
For Hillary, A Bittersweet Campaign Season
But out of respect for your post making it to the recommended list, I'll defer and leave it behind here.
May 15, 2008 1:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know how they ever make it there. You people constantly hang out in my threads, hiding from the reality of Obama's impending defeat, and you never recommend my posts. I'm going to run you all off.
May 15, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't forget what happened to Ross Perot when he said "you people".
May 15, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey that reminds me, what's black and brown and looks good on a lawyer? Yeah, a doberman. I think Ross had a black helicopter as well, not sure which "you people" he was referring too, but they all got to his head at once.
May 16, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
She's behaving like Bill O'Reilly in blaming Obama for the reason that they had to be dismissed. They're importance is in their own minds.
May 15, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
*Their*
May 15, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
It put down the flowers, corrected its spelling, then picked up the flowers again.
May 15, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
They found little Annie all covered in ice
Still clutchin' her poor frozen shears,
Amidst all the blossoms she had fashioned by hand
And watered with all her young tears.
There must be a heaven where little Annie can play
In heavenly gardens and bowers,
And instead of a halo she'll wear 'round her head
A garland of genuine flowers!
May 15, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, now you're forcing me to use the ubiquitous and revolting LOL! I'll never forgive you for that.
Bad Billy! Bad Billy.
May 15, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Go tell that to your imaginary daughter.
The one that's made outta sock.
May 15, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I put it away until the inaugural.
May 15, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bad visual.
May 15, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would suggest that it's possible that he calls Michelle and his daughters sweetie a lot and sometimes it slips out when dealing with other people. I know I sometimes call friends that are girls some of the sweetie like names I use for my girlfriend.
A more interesting slip to discuss would be why Condi Rice used to slip and call George Bush "my husband" so much. The woman has never been married, so it doesn't make sense why she would say something like that period, let alone more than once.
May 15, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't know that. How interesting. I think Ms. Rice has a good chance now of becoming the first woman President of the US. I can hardly wait.
May 15, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I've pointed out before, she's quite likely a lesbian, which is not quite the core constituency of the Republican Party. Not to mention her job rating hasn't been very high of late.
May 15, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know, but she was so beautiful when she worked for George HW. The first woman President and the first lesbian Prisident? Sign me up!
May 15, 2008 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stay on task - you didn't come back through time to put Condi in the White House, no matter what perverse joy it might give you. (And if you think I'm going to spill the beans on the 12 monkeys, you've got another thing coming).
May 15, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think Hillary is in a good position to criticize a man for calling a woman sweetie. It will only remind us that her husband has a sweetie tooth of his own and that he acts on it. This is a ridiculous issue to even be talking about. In Baltimore, everyone calls everyone, "hon." No harm meant, it's a term of endearment. And to equate "sweetie" with "boy" is utter nonsense. Sorry, women have always been treated better than black men. You'd have to have awfully thin skin to be insulted by someone calling you "sweetie." Good lord.
May 15, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm. Then why did he rush to apologize, I wonder?
May 15, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because she was offended, and he was being a gentleman, darling.
May 15, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't call me Darlin', Darlin'.
May 15, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whenever there has been a misstep, gaffe, or remark that causes unintended offense, Obama has sought to address it immediately, and not let it hang out there in the press for days or weeks. He's learned from Kerry's mistakes.
May 15, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
What about his sins of omission? I don't think he thanked his West Virginia supporters yet.
May 15, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hahaha!
May 15, 2008 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's not.
But we are.
May 15, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I sent myself on the deep open sea
with only a boat and that small troop of men,
my friends, who never had abandoned me.
(26:100)
May 15, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you do that again, I'm going to get the blue man in here to deal with you.
May 15, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry. That somehow appeared in two places. The bug in the code isn't a poet but a policeman. Most unfortunate.
May 15, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't get down on Levi too much - he's just trying to find a place for his Jason and the Argonauts theme, but he's getting dashed against the rocks. May be that squall that Hilarym99 is watching roll in, but I think it's more to listening to the sirens. Wax, that's the secret. The amazing life of bees.
May 15, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't get down on Levi too much - he's just trying to find a place for his Jason and the Argonauts theme, but he's getting dashed against the rocks. May be that squall that Hilarym99 is watching roll in, but I think it's more to listening to the sirens. Wax, that's the secret. The amazing life of bees.
May 15, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't get down on Levi too much - he's just trying to find a place for his Jason and the Argonauts theme, but he's getting dashed against the rocks. May be that squall that Hilarym99 is watching roll in, but I think it's more to listening to the sirens. Wax, that's the secret. The amazing life of bees.
May 15, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cool, I hit the trifecta.
May 15, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Life is amazing.
Hadn't you noticed?
May 15, 2008 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
It just so happens I have 2 daughters a Girlfriend & 2 sisters that ALL at one time or another get called sweetie. Yes I've slipped & called a couple people sweetie out of habit. beats the hell out of C***... Say it. NONTROVERSY...
May 15, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know all this outrage over "sweetie" just blows me away.
George Bush hung the most demeaning nicknames all over the press, his cabinet, even foreign heads of state: Pooty Poot, for god's sake.
and sensitivity suddenly got so high that "sweetie" is offensive?
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 15, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ahhh...the queen of all reactionary commenterss has decided to join in and tell Hillary supporters not to react to an offensive comment!
Priceless.
May 15, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
You tell 'em, Sweet Thing.
May 15, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry. Make that Sweet Thang!
May 15, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's no wonder that the GOP has been able to hang the "spineless, milktoast, wimp" sign around the Dems necks for so long.
May 15, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena - come on now. When if a judge or opposing attorney called you sweetie in court you'd have no issue with it?
May 15, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was called "honey" by a federal judge when I was arguing a motion once. I won my motion, so no harm done.
In fact, I found that gender discrimination from other women ("I gave up having a life to get where I am, and so should you") was more problematic in terms of real-life impact.
May 15, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you'd lost the motion, I'm sure it would be a different story. I guess it also depends on how familiar the person is with you, but in my opinion "sweetie" in the workplace is demeaning particularly when someone is dismissing your question or issue.
On a side note, HyperRevue called me adorable on TPM once. He's still on my $hitli$t. :)
May 15, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hell, I have girls call me sweetie and baby from time to time, not in a sexist or demeaning way, but in a friendly way, they mean nothing by it. Obviously Obama didn't call her sweetie in an attempt to subjugate her or make her feel inferior, it was just a more friendly way to address her. I can't believe people are really trying to make something of this.
The same people didn't seem to mind when Bill Clinton referred to Obama as "boy", which carries a huge racial dimension. No, then it was all "that's just how he talks, he didn't mean anything by it" (even when taken in the context of all of his other adventures in race baiting). Yet now Obama is a sexist pig? LOL, right.
Listen, I'm a straight male, and Obama can call me sweetie if he wants. It would be the best day of my life :P
May 15, 2008 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is the worst from Obama.
He called a local TV reporter "sweetie."
OUTRAGE!
Seriously, it's about two on a scale of ten. But he better be careful -- there are so many out there willing to pretend that such a one word slip-up means it's over, he hates women, he hates America, etc.
What am I saying, "Out there?" Right here we've got the wailing and raging.
May 15, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, Bat Guano, if that is your name. It can't be much of crime to whack a surly reporter now and then.
May 15, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
In response to Billy Glad, the Winner of the First Annual Brad Pitt Look-Alike contest, me presiding:
Above, Billy wrote:
Yeah, just like Lincoln. Actually, Obama has more experience and better credentials than Lincoln had, which is part of why Gary Willis, the noted historian writing in the The New York Review of Books, compared Obama's speech on race favorably to one of Lincoln's speeches that also sas an attempt to halt a slide into a more severe American divisiveness. To call the support for Obama "silly," seems silly. Everyone who has related personally to him says the same thing, that he has the temperament, the judgment, and the unique intelligence to set up an Administration that will substantially unite us in the service of lasting and substantial progressive change. That's why so many non-silly, also intelligent and more experienced politicians, like Chris Dodd, ardently favor him over the queen of self-defeating arrogance and demonization of opponents.
May 15, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
We've come a long way since Lincoln, Sweetie. The bar is a lot higher now. We even have more states! And cars! And planes! And radio and TV. And don't forget electric lights, silly. We can't afford to let just anyone be President anymore.
May 15, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, we now have 50 states, although the Democratic Party recognizes only 48.
May 16, 2008 12:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
47 - they just realized West Virginia is full of white people. They mistook it for the Rwandan highlands where I'm from. Actually I'm waiting for it to be made a commonwealth and replaced with Puerto Rico, but it kinda leaves a hole in the heartland. Maybe we can have it towed to Newfoundland, probably pretty cheap docking fees.
May 16, 2008 6:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like Obama chucked another state. Since Kentucky is a commonwealth, it's not technically a "state" anyway. Poor Kentucky is having a rough spring this year.
So no more red state-blue state strategy. Andno more 50-state strategy. Obama is definitely redrawing the map.
May 17, 2008 8:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Ouch. It gets worse every time I see it."
That is a key element of this sort of manufactured outrage. A single thoughtless offhand remark becomes ingrained in the memory as "something the speaker does all the time," simply because we have the technology to relive the offending moment over and over again. This is the story behind Obama's "Bittergate," behind Clinton's "hard-working Americans, white Americans," and a dozen other "gotcha" moments I could name.
They say young children were unable to understand, back on 9/11, that two planes crashed into two skyscrapers. Watching TV that day, they had witnessed it happen dozens of times. It is little different with adults -- rationally we know that no one actually goes around repeating their verbal mistakes ad infinitum, but emotionally our brains aren't wired to understand that.
So yeah: It will get worse every time you see it. I guess before you decide how many times you want to see it, you should decide how righteously indignant you want to become.
May 15, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm curious how many times reporters will want to talk about it. Since the press loves to talk about itself, my guess is we'll be hearing about it a lot, whether we want to or not.
Amazing how Obama stole his own thunder after the Edwards/poor-white-people endorsement. That's quite an accomplishment.
May 15, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
For what it's worth, I wouldn't take offense at Barack calling me "sweetie". Or "honey". "Darling," perhaps. Oh my... fans self... I think I have to go have a lie down. Excuse me.
May 15, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's the slap on the ass I look forward to.
May 15, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Provided he calls me "bitch boy" while he does it.
May 15, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about "white boy"?
May 15, 2008 6:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
♪ play that funky music ♪
May 15, 2008 10:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
You guys are all missing the big picture:
Will this help Obama get the redneck vote?
I doubt it. They have another name for women, and it ain't "sweetie"...
May 15, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was wondering what would have happened if he did this in West Virginia.
May 15, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
He dodged that bullet by not campaigning in West Virginia.
May 16, 2008 12:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Careful with your expressions.
May 16, 2008 5:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a parent, I often find myself having "automatic" reactions to certain situations, like a crying baby or a kid pestering me with questions. My dh is the same way.
That has led both of us to mistakenly respond in "parent mode" sometimes--like, seeing an adult stumble and fall and reacting "Honey, are you OK?" without even thinking.
I could sure see Obama reacting to the interruptions of a reporter (and come on, the press had plenty of opportunity to talk to him, it's not like he was ducking them, so why interrupt the hosts?) with a knee-jerk "dad" reaction...and if he's nice enough to call his kids "sweetie" when they're being pesky, that's not a bad thing, even if it is dismissive.
I'm sure HRC has *never* been condescending or dismissive, of course.
May 15, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sweetiegate.
May 15, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've watched the clip, and I'll admit I didn't really like the way he called her "sweetie" as he brushed her off. It's fine, a politician has to brush reporters off sometimes, but I'm sure if he'd been conscious of what he'd been saying, he would have chosen not to call her "sweetie" as he did so. (I doubt very much that the reporter took it all that personally -- she was probably delighted to get the scoop -- an Obama gaffe, woohoo!)
So he's not perfect. This is news? He's still a brilliant politician on the whole. He's apologized, and I just don't think it's that big of a deal. I very much doubt that this is going to start a stampede of women to the Clinton camp. This race is over; the nominee knows not to make that slip of the tongue again. I'm ready to move on.
The Clinton campaign can try to make a "sweetie"gate out of it, but the big story today is the cascade of superdelegates.
May 15, 2008 2:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry you are left to be a bitter sweetie. But you know it is what it is.
A bitter sweet adios to Hillary as well.
May 15, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, I just checked my homepage. Stories include: McCain giving a mystical speech imagining Bin Laden dead and suggesting a timeline for Iraq withdrawal, California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban, Obama accuses Bush of false accusation, CBS is increasing their media monopoly by buying CNet. And what do we have here? A FOUR-HOUR SWEETIE THREAD! What a trivial, misguided, partisan clusterfuck our political dialogue has become. Oops, sorry, gotta go. I'm off to stand by the peephole in my apartment door -- maybe something will happen.
May 15, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
And this is the engaged intelligencia. Imagine what the poor, dumb Appalachian hillbillies talk about!
May 15, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
They talk about Rev. Wright.
May 15, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sure it may seem like a long thread, but this is how general elections are won. By talking shit to each other at TPM Cafe.
May 15, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm, I dunno. I understand the entertainment factor -- like Grand Theft Auto for thinking adults -- but as a tool? I've been here for a few months now and the next mind I see changed by the dialogue will be the first. So how exactly is it winning elections?
May 15, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Calm down, Sweetie. We'll be all serious again soon. You go first. Go post something real serious, and we'll all come over there and comment on it. Seriously.
May 15, 2008 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually the Grand Theft Auto part doesn't sound bad - wonder how many minutes I can fit into my avatar. Though I think I'd prefer Bad Lieutenant.
May 15, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah cakaul, this thread is our ticket to the Whitehouse baby. Oops, I hope the press doesn't get a hold of that slip.
May 15, 2008 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
At last! This time we finally have him! He is dooooomed, doooomed, I say! At last, all these deluded Obama voters will finally WAKE UP! (TM) and see what a [pick one or more of the following: (fraud) (sexist) (elitist) (empty suit) (racist) (inexperienced naĂŻve incompetent) (snake charmer) (snake oils salesman) (muslim sleeper agent) (bad evil person misogynist of the male gender who is trying to stop America from electing the Only Woman in America Who Will Ever Have a Chance to Become President)] Obama is. The superdelegates will abandon him and flock to Hillary's banner. Buahahahahahaha!
May 15, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know, Steve Sweetie. We've had him before, but he slipped out of our grasp.
May 15, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's an oily one, that Oilbama!
May 15, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alright, Billy. You get the prize for starting the thread with the most responses to a non-issue.
May 15, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I say it's an issue, it's an issue. I'm going to have to ask you to sit over there with the serious guys, Sweetie. I'm sorry. I know they aren't as much fun.
May 15, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're blowing this out of proportion - he wasn't being sexist, he was treating her like his 7-year-old. Otherwise he would have called her his "love muffin".
May 15, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
At night, when he gets together with his friends, I hear he is just like Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet.
May 15, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hahaha
May 15, 2008 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's true. This Obama supporter acknowledges that he was dismissive to her and that he shouldn't have called her "sweetie."
But he called, and he apologized, and I find a willingness to 'fess up and apologize when one has screwed up to be a very good quality in a human being and a particularly rare quality in a politician.
May 15, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with you Phoebe Fay. I cringed when I heard it.
May 15, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actuallly, if Hillary wanted to add to her purported working class bona fides, she would drop the occasional "honey" or "sweetie" while out duck hunting in Martha's Vineyard. Sometimes it's a matter of context. I'm a senior citizen and a grandmother, so I can "sweetie" anyone I damn well please.
The usage can be arch if used by an authority figure in addressing someone of lesser rank. Or not. It can be sexist, but so often is not. I can remember in the early feminist days hearing a young feminist take umbrage when a working fellow at a nearby table in a restaurant said to her, "Could you hand me the salt on your table, honey?" When the young feminist severly castigated him, he looked genuinely hurt.
Like I said, it is often context. As a granny, I can disgenuously call younger men as handsome as Obama "sweetie" or "honey", and they won't take me seriously. Dammit!
May 15, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bittersweetie makes two gaffs for Obama to enough to lose and election for Hillary. I wonder how McCain will score.
May 15, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes not something to be proud of. I agree with Ben that its similar to the HRC :white" comment, yet I dont believe Obama a misogynist or Clinton a racist. But I do think Clinton's comments were prepared and eerily similar to the GOP southern strategy soundbites. Then again, maybe Obama was whistle blowing for the misogynist block with his off hand colloquislism.
May 15, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nah. Just being cocky. Overconfidence and inexperience are his achilles heels. He's got the nomination, and he's celebrating. He's a lot like Bush in some ways.
May 15, 2008 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Billy Glad:
So a man with Lincoln's character, judgment, and intelligence who was raised in our era would be a silly candidate. Perhaps we could get him to wear a propeller beanie and cite the Gettysburg Address while standing on one foot and blowing bubbles in a glass with a straw in his nose.
Oops! I guess you weren't really playing fair with the comparison. You were imagining the Lincoln raised in his era, not what the comparison called for, a lincolnesque person raised in ours. Really, Billy, you've got to watch out for those apples and oranges comparisons. They'll bite you, Sweetie. You might not feel it, but eventually the truth will seep into that Clinton-koolaid slopped brain of yours.
Signed, Experimenting With TPM Bloggers' Sarcasm
May 15, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, as someone who time travels myself, I would hate to see Lincoln have to come forward through time or for Obama to go back. Lincoln, of course, actually governed. It would be interesting to compare Lincoln's campaign speeches to Obama's. We are the change we have been waiting for. Hard to imagine Lincoln saying that. How do you like those apples?
May 15, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
oh mother dear, we're not the fortunate ones
May 15, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, I took it as the an automatic response as the fatigued father of two little girls. He's trying to focus on one this one thing, he's got this reporter off to the side and his fatigue-sodden brain translates it as "Daddy?Daddy?Daddy?Daddy?Daddy?"
I think something similar happened to Hillary with the "hardworking white people" brouhaha. She's running on autopilot. One part of her brain is trying to make her point that she's getting the working class white vote. Another part of her brain delivers the "OMG! Must alway call working class people 'hardworking' lest you be accused of looking down on them." Just a fatigue induced scramble of talking point imperatives.
Unfortunately for her, however, she used her "get out of gaffe due to fatigue" card on the blood-soaked plains of Tuzla. And Obama apparently feels unable to play his because he's now running against the really old guy.
May 15, 2008 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sweeties,
Obama must be giggling his ass off at the PC crap that pervades these comments. I like the deconstruction by the ex-waitress but think the larger issue is that, despite all our supposed tolerance, we're amazingly intolerant of anger, slights, and variants of them. Obama explained that he understood why white racists are pissed at black people. That's my model of an ideal America. It's where I want us to evolve toward. I want him to be understood for being whatever he was being when he said "Sweetie." Maybe while he was saying that elongated word, he was thinking, "Geez, I wonder how much Gloria Steinem's apoplexi will be unleased by my goof; maybe that will make all the PC bullshit I'm going to have endure worth it."
When you get serious, try to empathize with what people are saying and doing instead of trying to skewer them. When you feel like skewering people, go for it; judgments are the raw materials of genuine, legitimate complaints.
May 15, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gaffes are like scraps thrown to hungry dogs who don't know the next time they're going to eat.
May 15, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Best comment in this entire thread.
May 15, 2008 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I thought your funky music comment was pretty good, too.
May 16, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry. No terms of endearment allowed in our society. EVER.
Why? Because we are a bunch of P.C. curmudgeons whose insult-threshold is on a hair trigger.
May 15, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry. No terms of endearment allowed in our society. EVER.
Why? Because we are a bunch of P.C. curmudgeons whose insult-threshold is on a hair trigger.
May 15, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I find that comment deeply insulting, sweetcheeks.
May 15, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol! nice one there, Hoss.
May 15, 2008 7:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
At least he didn't call anyone a cunt like the old guy did!
May 15, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bingo!
May 16, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
No hijacking intended here, but I just watched Tweety administer a total ass whuppin' on Hardball. He was interviewing Mark Green and some loudmouthed Republican knucklehead.
Matthew's can be like a pit bull on some issues, and he absolutely chewed this Republican guy's leg off! If you missed it, watch it at the 7:00PM showing.
May 15, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow,
I can tell few of you have been in a hospital anytime in the last three decades I have been working in them. The number of sweeties, honeys, etc per minute is incalculable.
Speaking of health care. Where do I post something that would actually be worth all this effort?
Forget that, when I do, they get ignored.
Carry on. It's very revealing what people can say when they have the time to focus on what they are saying.
May 15, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you think you have something new to say about healthcare, post it to your blog here at TPM. I think people will read it and recommend it if adds something to the conversation about healthcare that's been going on around here for the last 4 months. If they think it is the same old stuff, maybe they won't. You have to take your chances.
Programs are informed by attitudes. This post was about Obama's attitude toward women. If you want to make it more interesting, you might speculate on the source of his resentment toward women. Or you might take the position that it's nonsense to say the attitude he displays toward women is resentment.
May 16, 2008 9:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Blue Dude never showed up to comment on this Sweetie Incident?
I'm starting to feel bitter again....
May 15, 2008 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Glad: "My mind boggles at the thought of ..."
Is there any thought at which your mind does not boggle?
May 15, 2008 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well I think you just did make it into something it's not...
Putting it as "It was a dismissive remark made to shut her up, it was insulting..."
I understand it could sound that way, it was a gaffe and he was right to apologize in case she felt the same way. If he often talked that way to women we could assume he was dismissive and insulting. Since he tends to treat people respectfully I will assume he was not.
They weren't taking questions there, that was already announced so I'm sure he was trying to "shut her up" which could also mean redirect her to where questions would be taken. Take out the sweetie part and he handled it politely. He took plenty of pres questions later and did a town hall nearby.
As the mommy of ex-little kids when my focus was elsewhere terms I used with my kids can simply fall out of my mouth in a work situation. I'm sure he calls his daughters sweetie on a regular basis. When I first saw this clip similar slips for me are what came to mind. He and Clinton must be so tired and running on reserves... so while dealing with one thing and trying to handle a diversion like a reporter butting in... well this is one of the more polite gaffes that could happen
May 15, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
You guys act like he called her a b##ch, I think you need to turn your misguided anger unto McSame.
May 15, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank goodness it's only the MSM that gives an inordinate amount of time to nonsense. Bloggers are much more intelligent. They realize the economy, the war, health care and education are the issues worthy of hundreds of responses.
Are your flag pins in place?
May 15, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Obama has apologized to the reporter for addressing her as "sweetie" and the next time he meets her, he promises to call her Sourie. I am sure that will make her very happy in a sour manner.
May 15, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
As long as he doesn't call her spicy or savory, it shouldn't be a problem.
May 16, 2008 12:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't go dissing Arnie. He was just referring to one hot tamale.
May 16, 2008 1:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of who said what, the GOP swiftboaters have begun the attacks on Michelle's "proud to be an American for the first time in my adult life" remarks, and Obama is hitting back hard. "This is a shameful attempt to attack a woman who has repeatedly said she wouldn't be here without the opportunities and blessings of this nation," said Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan. I think Hari is right. I've heard Michelle say that. The only problem is if I'm not mistaken, she didn't start saying that until after the "proud" flap first emerged. Oh well. Everyone is so sensitive.
May 16, 2008 3:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Very delayed response to Desidero's "I didn't read them either, but it seems both his mother and his grandmother were the really strong people in his life, yet he eulogizes the missing father and his grandfather. Someone who's read more can tell me if I missed it with this synopsis."
Best to read the books, then -- esp the forward to the re-issue of "Dreams From My Father" in which he acknowledges that when he wrote the book he had no idea that the truly important parent in his life, his mother, wouldn't be around for many, many years to come. Also, he doesn't "eulogize" his father -- the book is about his journey to come to grips with his father, not a paen to the man himself. To the contrary - esp. in contrast to the very strong, deep woman his mother was shown to be. And while it was clear that both grandparents were very central to his upbringing, his grandmother stood right beside (and sometimes a step or two ahead of) his grandfather. The first book especially is a very, very good work - forget who it's about, if you must, and enjoy.
As to the 'sweetie' comment - In 9th grade I was very tired one morning and in a heated discussion with some of my friends when our teacher said something 'cautionary' to me. And I responded entirely instinctively "yes, Mother" Obama has two young daughters who, I'm sure, frequently ask him questions or want his attention when his mind is on something else. Nuff said. I think we have to stop expecting our candidates for president to be super-human; I'd really prefer to have a real person being in the office. (Be a nice change, in fact.)
May 16, 2008 8:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh yes, my "yes mother" responses come out at the worst moments because it's when I'm most irritated, and guaranteed to require an apology.
Just looked through some excerpts and the intro to the book, doesn't really pull me in. However, it does make me wonder what all the bi deal was about his being labeled "the black candidate" when his intro goes on for some time about him being the black candidate, first African American this & that...
May 16, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think his hostility toward women is rooted in his feelings that his mother abandoned him. This can be contrasted with Bill Clinton, whose father also abandoned him, but not his mother. Clinton is all too comfortable around women. We should be all right with Obama. The chances that a woman will become the leader of Iran, Syria or North Korea are very slim. Then again, we still don't know who Obama's mentors are or what grudges he may hold against men because of his father. Some people carry their corners around with them. I wonder if Obama is one of them.
May 16, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
His bio makes it sound like it was his choice to go back, but it's still a bit weird, sending your 10-year-old off to your parents to raise. I just don't have enough info to understand.
May 16, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sadly, he rationalizes a lot.
May 16, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. I think he has lots of unresolved and deeply repressed issues. But having lots of issues seems to be a requirement for running for president.
May 16, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're not dissing my main man Mike Gravel, is ya?
May 16, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Would I do that? Mike Gravel makes life worth living. I love that guy!
May 16, 2008 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
His bio makes it sound like it was his choice to go back, but it's still a bit weird, sending your 10-year-old off to your parents to raise. I just don't have enough info to understand.
May 16, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Read and compare Lincoln at Cooper Union and Obama's "A More Perfect Union." (Word repetition is coincidence.)
You will find the speeches, each of which is hugely influential to their getting elected, are very similar.
You are trying to hold Obama's rallying speeches to sober Lincoln speeches like the Gettysburg address. Lincoln gave rah-rah speeches too, they're just not the ones we read anymore.
Similarly, Obama's stump speech won't make the history book while his "More Perfect Union" speech is already being taught in major college classrooms.
May 16, 2008 8:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
dammit, this was supposed to be a reply to this billy glad upthread...
"It would be interesting to compare Lincoln's campaign speeches to Obama's. We are the change we have been waiting for. Hard to imagine Lincoln saying that."
May 16, 2008 9:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks. I'll check the Cooper Union speech for something like we are the change we've been waiting for.
May 16, 2008 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Which Obama didn't say in the speech I referenced, which was the entire point of my post, which you obviously are choosing not to understand.
Oh well.
May 16, 2008 9:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah. But I gave you a pass on the proposition that Obama's More Perfect Union speech was highly influential in getting him elected.
May 16, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
That idea comes from Gandhi: You must be the change you want to see in the world.
May 16, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
A Gandhian principle cynically adapted for a self-centered American audience circa 2008. In other words, Obama's writers eliminated the "world" part of Gandhi's message. I find this depressing.
But psychologically interesting, when you consider Obama's mother was an anthropologist who had two biracial children fathered by men of two different cultures, and she chose to live in Indonesia. That woman was ahead of her time, although Obama describes her as naive-Midwestern.
I think Obama is extremely conventional. Ironic.
May 16, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
She wasn't tied down with a kid.
May 16, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barack and his mom were separated for a year when he was 10, but she left Hawaii for good when he was 14. So he was essentially an orphan by the age of 14. Imagine both your parents abandoning you.
I read this article about his mother the other night. Pretty wild circumstances.
May 16, 2008 9:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barack and his mom were separated for a year when he was 10, but she left Hawaii for good when he was 14. So he was essentially an orphan by the age of 14. Imagine both your parents abandoning you.
I read this article about his mother the other night. Pretty wild circumstances.
May 16, 2008 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I knew that would happen. TPM's server is totally screwed up today.
May 16, 2008 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Supposing he is elected, and I am and he will, won't that speech have been a defining moment? Watched what is it 6 million times on youtube?
BTW, Lincoln's reelection slogan was "Don't swap your horse in the middle of the stream."
Genius, huh?
May 16, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I seem incapable of replying properly this morning
May 16, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I seem incapable of replying properly this morning
May 16, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't change horse in midstream is easily understood folk wisdom. If Lincoln coined the phrase, it's terrific. If he appropriated it for his reelection campaign, ala Yes we can! it's very good, considering the state of the union at that time.
But maybe the real difference between Lincoln and Obama is a difference in their times. What make Bush's second term possible is the fact that American voters felt we were at war. What makes Obama's candidacy possible is Democrats now think we're not at war, or that the war is going badly and can't be won, or that it's a bad war and we shouldn't be fighting it. If Obama is nominated, we'll see in November whether or not a majority of electoral votes will follow that opinion.
May 16, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
It will be defined as a clever political speech that changed the subject from nationalism and patriotism to race. Marketeers and ad men should study it. Interestingly, his defense of Wright and his relationship with Wright have been nullified by recent events, including Obama's own rejection of Wright -- something he claimed he could never do -- leaving us with cliches about original sin and racial divides. But, as Paul Simon said: A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest. Neither of us is objective enough to make an objective argument. You have your view of Obama's stature, compared to Lincoln. I have mine.
May 16, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
hrebendorf, sweetie, you beat me to "Sweetiegate".
I swear, every time you think the American political system has gotten as infantile as it can possibly get, it jumps right up and outdoes itself.
May 16, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a man, and I've been called sweetie many times in my life, usually by older women. My reaction is usually to remain calm, act as if the comment wasn't spoken, end my response with "thanks, honeybunch", and then wait for their reaction. I've never been called "sweetie" twice by the same person, but neither of us were left offended.
May 16, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
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