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Senator Obama apologizes to a “sweetie” of a reporter
By Lauren | May 16, 2008
As the Democratic Party’s Presidential nomination process drags on, I’ve been waiting for either of the two candidates to make a personal gaffe requiring an apology. If the Presidential horse race has been tiring for the voters (and I know a great many of us are heartily sick of the whole thing), just imagine what it must be like for the candidates who have to stand up in front of hundreds of reporters and thousands of personal camera phones every day, all day, talking for hours without ever making a single mistake. I certainly couldn’t do it, and I admire anyone who’s courageous – or crazy – enough to try.
And Senator Barack Obama hit my trip wire most recently, when he called Detroit reporter Peggy Agar “Sweetie” as he put her off when she asked a question he wasn’t ready to answer. Not a great moment. This wasn’t some cute little kid from an elementary school paper. Peggy Agar’s an adult professional, and calling her “Sweetie” cast misogynist shadows that I’m sure Senator Obama, who’s contesting the Democratic nomination with the first viable female Presidential candidate America has ever seen, would have been happy to avoid.
Senator Obama responded by promptly calling Ms. Agar and leaving the following message on her voicemail:
“Hi Peggy. This is Barack Obama. I’m calling to apologize on two fronts. One was you didn’t get your question answered and I apologize. I thought that we had set up interviews with all the local stations. I guess we got it with your station but you weren’t the reporter that got the interview. And so, I broke my word. I apologize for that and I will make up for it. Second apology is for using the word ‘Sweetie.’ That’s a bad habit of mine. I do it sometimes with all kinds of people. I mean no disrespect and I am duly chastened on that front. Feel free to call me back. I expect that my press team will be happy to try to make it up to you whenever we are in Detroit next.”
All in all, it was a solid apology. Prompt, clear, no excuses, no shifting of blame, and including a promise to make amends for his mistakes. Not surprisingly, Ms. Agar seems mollified. She said she was “…surprised that he actually called me in person and I thought that was nice to follow-up, you know, with that call.” If Ms. Agar is satisfied, that’s good enough for me.
We all make mistakes from time to time, even those of us who are called to serve as the leader of the free world. The next President of the United States may well have to apologize at some point during his or her term for a mistake of judgment, a bad decision, or just a simple slip of the tongue. It’s nice to know that at least one of the candidates can do that pretty well.
Topics: Apologies, Presidential Campaign, Social Ethics |
May 16th, 2008 at 12:33 am
I finally decided to write a comment on your blog. I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Thank you for writing about this! I live in Kentucky, and I still hadn’t decided who I was going to vote for. This really has pushed me towards Obama. It’s good to know that there are politicians who are willing to make good apologies without being forced to.