Obama says he's sorry for ‘sweetie’ comment

Democrat leaves voice mail for TV reporter saying he meant no disrespect

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Obama apologizes for 'sweetie' remark
May 15: Senator Barack Obama apologizes to a reporter for calling her 'sweetie.' Msnbc.com's Dara Brown reports.

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updated 11:54 a.m. ET May 15, 2008

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. - Barack Obama apologized Wednesday to a Michigan TV reporter after he called her "sweetie" and dodged her question about autoworkers.

WXYZ-TV's Peggy Agar shouted a question to the Democratic presidential candidate during his appearance at a Chrysler LLC plant in this auto-making suburb of Detroit.

Agar asked Obama what is he "going to do to help American autoworkers."

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"Hold on one second, sweetie," Obama replied. "We'll do a press (availability), thanks." He did not reply to Agar's question.

On the air later Wednesday, the station played a voice mail message Obama left for Agar. In it, Obama apologized for not getting back to her. He also told her he has a bad habit of calling people "sweetie."

Obama then said: "I mean no disrespect, so I am duly chastened on that front."

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Was Obama's use of the word 'sweetie' offensive?

The New York Times reported Thursday that the senator had used the word "sweetie" once before when addressing a female factory worker in Allentown, Pa.