Don’t you call me sweetheart

Like Cara, I don’t respond well to “sweetie.”

Obama has apologized to the reporter:

“Second apology is for using the word ’sweetie.’ That’s a bad habit of mine. I do it sometimes with all kinds of people. I mean no disrespect and so I am duly chastened on that front.�

Indeed, it appears to be a habit. Over at Broadsheet, Rebecca Traister explains why it doesn’t matter that he “meant no disrespect,” why it doesn’t matter that it was a spontaneous utterance, why it doesn’t matter that he uses this term with “all kinds of people.” It’s still sexist.

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