There are far worse things going on in the world than Barack Obama referring to a reporter as "sweetie." And since he does so well with apologies, I'm beginning to wonder, anyway, whether he is offending in order to benefit from subsequently being contrite.
In my persuasion classes I talk about patterns. Some people push arguments farther than they need to go so they can apologize. This is especially the case if they've been rewarded for apologies.
We attribute characteristics to others based on how we perceive what they say and do. But we don't do this in isolation from past experience, expectations and patterns. Barack doesn't want to be perceived as an elitist, so referring to a journalist as "sweetie" has the added advantage of making him just a guy who slipped. You know, verbally clumsy.
It's highly unlikely that Barack intended to insult the journalist. His comment falls, at worst, in the offensive range.
But I've been at this persuasion stuff for years and unlike some who think Barack's use of "sweetie" necessarily belies a patronizing sentiment toward women, I'm going with the politician frame. They aren't mutually exclusive, but consider this.
Very little of what politicians do publicly is accidental -- especially when the stakes are high. It is conceivable that he used "sweetie" on purpose to achieve "one of the guys" status, preferable to elitism, and because apologies are good for people who seem at times to be insensitive to women.
Surely this strikes more than a few as one of those feminist things or just what those Hillary supporters in denial say. And, indeed, it may be giving more political savvy credit than is due. But, if we don't even suspect when politicians are managing our perceptions, we abdicate choice and become lemmings. If we accept only the most obvious explanation, we cheat ourselves. Personally, I prefer rhetorical vigilance.
In any event, we could look at it this way. He didn't say, "Listen sweetie" in the derogatory way this word pair is usually used. And I guess that's something.
Dr. Reardon also blogs at bardscove
.