Obama, while campaigning in Michigan was asked a question by a female reporter.  Too busy to answer at the moment, Obama replied, "Hold on, sweetie."  (Cringe, right?)  It gets worse.  He never did actually answer her question.  But then it gets better.  

Apparently, without provocation, Obama realized his mistake and called the reporter.  He apologized both for calling her "sweetie" and for not answering the question.  Here is what he reportedly said.

"That's a bad habit of mine," Obama said in the message. "I do it sometimes with all kinds of people. I mean no disrespect and so 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," he added.

WHat a refreshing candidate!  Admitting his mistakes, personally acting on them, and seeking to make amends by offering later access.  We haven't seen that kind of personal responsibility from a presidential candidate at least since I've been paying attention to politics (late 90's and on).

My hunch is that Bush probably just would have done his dumb Bush chuckle afterward and then done something extra frat-guy-like.  What do you think Bush would have done after calling a reporter sweetie?