[Hildy]

I know this won’t be popular, but I think people who use endearments to strangers tend to be very nice people, comfortable in their own skin.

[Red Badger]

Some “endearments” can be very condescending.........

[y6162]

I agree, Saying just a minute sweetie is much more pleasant than just a minute whoever you are

[mthom]

This is not a big issue really. However I dont think it was really sweetie that was the problem. It was the dismissive tone. A tone Obama seems to take whenever he is not in a highly prepped photo op situation. He even used the same tone in the “apology” call.

[Graybeard58]

I think people who use endearments to strangers tend to be very nice people

I agree snookums.

[rawhide]

I seem to remember George W Bush said something similar to a female and got racked over the coals for it? And nobody came to his defense

With that being said, there is no excuse for what he said. It was wrong and it was definitely condescending, imo. Obama, as a man, was talking down to her.