Thursday, June 18, 2009

Barbara Boxer: CALL ME "SENATOR"

Don't call Barbara Boxer "ma'am." You'll be sorry.

Brigadier General Michael Walsh made that mistake when he was being questioned by Boxer.

Walsh uttered the unthinkable. He called Boxer the M-word and proceeded to answer her question. She interrupted Walsh, chastising him.

BARBARA BOXER: I would... You know... Do me a favor. Could you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am'? It's just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title. So I'd appreciate it. Yes, thank you.

Oh, good grief.

That rebuke was completely uncalled for. Walsh was not being disrespectful in any way.

Boxer made a fool of herself. She didn't have to work too hard to do that.




(h/t Charlie Sykes, Hot Air)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sir and the female equivalent: "Ma'am" are terms of high regard and respect that are taught in our military schools nationwide.

Perhaps the Senator needs a lesson in military ettiquette.

Unknown said...

"Brigadier General, Please, I prefer to be addressed 'senator'. Thank you."

So much to be read in this exchange. Am I wrong in thinking Generals are referred to as "Sir"? Isn't ma'am Equivalent?

Boxer touting her hard work to gain her title .vs. a Brigadier Generals?

I have always found Babb's irksome.

Anonymous said...

Instead of Senator, how about dumba$$ or idiot? Both are "titles" she has worked hard to get as well.

Mary said...

Boxer seems to be suggesting that Walsh was dissing her.

That's absolutely ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

What an ignoramus. A corrupt one too.

Joe said...

In addition, Chris Matthews said this on his June 18 program: "I guess the question is this: Had he said "sir" to a male senator, would that senator be correct in correcting the general? There is a history, however, and let us not forget, of male-female condescension in the U.S. Senate. Just recall the Anita Hill testimony of not too long ago. That just might encourage a woman senator to insist on the title, senator. That being said, an Army spokesman later today says "sir, ma'am, or senator" are all deemed appropriate under the protocol when addressing a U.S. Senator. That's their story.”

So the General is clearly guilty of male-female condescension, Mr. Matthews? Maybe you should do what I did and actually research the story before commenting. I checked out more of the hearing at http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Choose&Hearing_id=c7026be1-802a-23ad-4fa3-4c8ed0b6d074. Was the General treating her Highness differently and more deferentially than the other senators? I randomly started at about 46.00 and ended around 1.09.00. In that time period Gen. Walsh addressed Sen. Vitter as "sir" 14 times and as "Senator" twice; he addressed Sen. Landrieu as "ma'am" 6 times and as "Senator" twice (and once as "sir" which he quickly corrected to "ma'am"). Neither Sens. Vitter nor Landrieu apparently had a problem with the polite and respectful way they were addressed – even though they had ‘earned’ the same title as her Royal Senatorness.

The only thing Boxer and her blind lackey Matthews have earned is my sincere contempt.

Anonymous said...

I have high regard for someone who actually works for a living (military) and continue to give people like Boxer the opportunity to "work" hard to get where thet are. I think very little of people who live off society and have money to buy an office and title!

Anonymous said...

I wonder how many times she addressed the officer as General? I am willing to bet he worked harder than she did to get to the position he is in.