This story did not lead the evening news like I remember back in the day when Dan Quayle misspelled potato. But the president of the United States made an error in trying to use Aretha Franklin’s famous song to honor the legend of Motown. He needed to buy a vowel.
Before a concert at the White House to honor women of soul music, Obama delivered some remarks. He hit a sour note when he tried his hand at spelling Franklin’s famed “respect.”
“When Aretha first told us what R-S-P-E-C-T meant to her,” Obama said, adding an inquisitive tone as if he realized the mistake. But he kept going, even despite copious laughter.
“She had no idea it would become a rallying cry for African-Americans, and women, and then everyone who felt marginalized because of what they looked like or who they loved. They wanted some respect. Later, when somebody asked her why it had such an impact, she said, ‘I guess everybody just wants a little respect.’ Today, they still do.”
