ABC Launches PC Investigation Into Obama 'Sweetie-Gate'

On Friday's "Good Morning America," various ABC reporters fretted about the political implications of Barack Obama referring to a female reporter as "sweetie." GMA co-host Diane Sawyer nervously asked, "When do 'honey,' 'sweetie,' cross the line?" Guest host David Muir introduced an investigation into "the debate over what words we can use and can't use when we're talking to members of opposite sex."

To further examine the issue, GMA even dug up previous clips of the presidential candidate using what has become the other S-word. So, only two days after "Sweetie-Gate" broke, the morning show had already provided detail and background on the case. This stands in stark contrast to how GMA (and ABC in general) covered a much more serious subject, Obama's relationship with indicted political operative Tony Rezko, a man that raised money for the senator and was also involved in a questionable land deal related to the purchase of Obama's home in Chicago. In 2006 and 2007, ABC only mentioned Rezko once. Apparently Rezko and the senator's dealings don't measure up to the sweetie story.

For the sweetie controversy, however, Harris intoned, "[Using the word], apparently, is a habit. We dug into our tape library and found these moments." He then played old file footage clips of Obama using the offending language: "Sweetie, if I start with a picture, I'll never get out of here. [Cut to second video clip.] Sweetie, If I start doing autographs, I just won't be able to-- I'm really late."

Harris also attempted to explain the rules of using such terms around women: "It's who says it and how they say it, I think is what it comes down to." Sawyer made an effort to defuse the whole issue. "Don't you think it's going too far to care about that stuff," she complained. The ABC host then added that she saw no reason to turn the subject into "a federal issue." However, could this just be a case of defending a liberal politician? After all, GMA, in October of 2007, featured a segment on a similarly superfluous matter, Hillary Clinton's cackle. In that case, correspondent Kate Snow sprung to Clinton's defense. She marveled at the candidate's ability to disarm "her critics with a gleam in her eye and a roar straight from the belly."

A transcript of the segment, which aired at 7:31am on May 16, follows:

7:20am tease

SAWYER: Coming up on "Good Morning America," how do you feel? A presidential candidate says he's sorry for calling a reporter sweetie. When do "honey," "sweetie," cross the line?

7:31am

DAVID MUIR: But first here this morning, the debate over what words we can use and can't use when we're talking to members of opposite sex. The recent flap over Senator Barack Obama calling a reporter sweetie got us thinking about it. And ABC's Dan Harris is here with more. I'll simply say "Dan."

DAN HARRIS: Hey, pal. Good morning. You know, we've consulted the political experts about this. And apparently Sweetie-Gate is not going to pose a mortal threat to Obama's campaign, but it has sparked a heated little national debate. The incriminating moment came at this campaign stop in Detroit, when this reporter, Peggy Agar, posed a question to Barack Obama. Take a listen to her report.

ABC GRAPHIC: The Sweetie Problem: Campaign Faux Pas or Nicety?

PEGGY AGAR: Senator, how are you going to help the American auto worker?

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: Hold on one second, sweetie. We're going-- We'll do a press avail.

HARRIS: Hours later, Obama left the reporter a voice mail apologizing for not answering her question and for calling her sweetie.

OBAMA: That's a bad habit of mine. I do it sometimes with all kinds of people, meaning no disrespect. And, so, I'm duly chastened on that front.

HARRIS: It, apparently, is a habit. We dug into our tape library and found these moments.

OBAMA: Sweetie, if I start with a picture, I'll never get out of here. [Cut to second video clip.] Sweetie, If I start doing autographs, I just won't be able to-- I'm really late.

HARRIS: Obama's use of the word sweetie has become fodder for chat shows and bloggers.

WHOOPI GOLDBERG [Clip from "The View"]: And what he meant to say, I believe, was with no disrespect, because I call everybody sweetie to if I don't know their name.

HARRIS: In movies like "Nine to Five" or "Anchorman." when men throw out words like "Sweetie" or "honey" or "girl," it's portrayed as supremely condescending.

[Brief "Anchorman" clip]

HARRIS: GMA workplace contributor Tory Johnson says if you don't like someone calling you sweetie, call them on it. But don't assume their intentions are bad.

TORY JOHNSON: I think in general, whether it's in politics or in a workplace, when we start policing spontaneity, we're in trouble. And we should not assume the worst when somebody uses a word like sweetie.

HARRIS: Here's something interesting. As for the reporter herself, Peggy Agar, she did not seem offended about this at all. She said, I felt more offended that he didn't answer my question. Spoken like a true reporter.

MUIR: Yeah. Good sport. She should get the next exclusive with him though. Dan.

HARRIS: She should. She should.

SAWYER: Don't you think it's going too far to care about that stuff? I mean, I understand if you just want say, well, back you to, darling or something like that, but, but to care about it? To make it a federal issue?

HARRIS: It's who says it and how they say it, I think is what it comes down to.

MUIR: But, like Tory said, don't assume bad intentions.

SAWYER: Yeah.