Barbara Boxer: 'Call Me Senator'
"Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was testifying on the Louisiana coastal restoration process in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He began to answer one of Boxer's questions with "ma'am" when Boxer immediately cut him off.
"'You know, do me a favor,' a piqued Boxer said. 'Could say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am?''
"'Yes, ma'am,' Walsh interjected.
"'It's just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I'd appreciate it, yes, thank you,' she said.
"'Yes, senator,' he responded.
People in the military are trained to refer to people higher in the chain of command as "sir" or "ma'am." It is certain that General Michael Walsh meant no disrespect to Senator Barbara Boxer when he referred to her in the same way that he would have referred to, say, a female Lt. General or even the President were the President a female. According to Hot Air's Allahpundit, General Walsh referred to the male Senators at the hearing as "sir" without receiving even a dirty look for any faux pas in protocol.
Allahpundit went on to ask, "Is Boxer's ego so fragile and her method so imperious that she'd publicly humiliate a guy whom she has no reason to believe is being anything less than respectful?"
It should be noted that the Queen of England, a title with a little more history and perhaps a little more exalted than that of United States Senator, is referred to as "ma'am" by anyone who is given the privilege to greet her, peasant or President. Nor does Queen Elizabeth get snippy at violations of protocol, such as the time First Lady Michelle Obama started to paw her as if she were an old sorority sister.
Of course one can respond that the Queen of England got to be Queen of England by just being born in the right family. Senator Barbara Boxer got to be a United States Senator by gulling a majority of the people of the state of California into voting for her; a task that may be harder than it looks.
Still it might add rather than detract to Senator Barbara Boxer's dignity if she were to behave more like a United States Senator and nor as a Senator of the Roman Empire. Unless she is carried out of the Senate feet first, such as Senator Robert Byrd and a few others are likely to be, Barbara Boxer will be a private citizen one of these days. Then she will have to work at being called "ma'am" and not a few other names that will not be mentioned in an article that may be read by children and more sensitive readers.
Sources: Boxer, the U.S. Senator, Chides Brigadier General for Calling Her 'Ma'am', Fox News, June 18th, 2009
Boxer gets snotty with general: Address me as "senator," not "ma'am", Allahpundit, Hot Air, June 17th, 2009
Michelle Obama Touches the Queen of England, Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, April 2nd, 2009
Published by Mark Whittington
Mark R. Whittington is a writer residing in Houston, Texas. He is the author of The Last Moonwalker, Children of Apollo, Dark Sanction, and Nocturne. He has written numerous articles, some for the Washington... View profile
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22 Comments
Post a CommentShe's a Nazi pig, always has been, always will be. The best thing for California would be for that old battle axe to die or retire.
How's 'bout we just call her "BITCH?" Works for me!
Before we vote any of these jerks out and replace them with more jerks, we better get a bill passed where they have to pay into Social Security like the rest of us do and not be making over $200,000 a year for the rest of their lives -- in office or out.
They need to live the way we do...not like royalty, then maybe they wouldn't feel so extra special... How did we get here and how can we go back or forward, even, to a better way for us all!
Amen Jackie!!! I got on her website and sent her an email letting her know what a pompous self important spectacle she made of herself. Hope her emails overflow with the disdain we feel.
Boxer you're a public servant. It would be nice if you could act like one! Your lack of respect for this member of the armed forces is disgusting.
Get over yourself Boxer!!!!
Boxer is a public SERVANT. And arrogant one at that. She should apologize immediately for her petty outburst. Yet another example of how truly out of touch and out of control congress is.
Ms. Boxer must be ONE spoiled child!
Excuse me Senator! the General has done more than you to earned respect. When he joined the miliatry he is putting his life on the line for you and me. You owe him an apology. He is following the rules on how to refer to his superiors as Sir and Ma'am.
I don't see the problem. I frequently as my students to call me "professor" rather than "Dr _" and not one has ever been offended. How is this any different? She prefers one title to another, what's the problem?