Thread: Barbra Boxer needs to get over herself

Boxer, the U.S. Senator, Chides Brigadier General for Calling Her 'Ma'am'
The feisty California lawmaker reminds an Army brigadier general of her title after he has the apparent gall to call her "ma'am."

FOXNews.com

Thursday, June 18, 2009

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ShareThisIn case you forgot, Barbara Boxer is a senator.

The feisty California lawmaker felt the need to remind an Army brigadier general of that fact Tuesday during a hearing before her Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, where the military officer testifying had the apparent gall to call Boxer "ma'am."

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.

YOU DECIDE: Super Sensitive or Right On?

However, Walsh surely meant no disrespect, as military protocol advises that officers may use "sir" or "ma'am" when addressing anybody higher than them on the chain of command.

According to one guide, the Navy and Coast Guard typically use "mister" or "miss" to address officers below the rank of commander, and "sir" or "ma'am," or a specific title, to address anyone at that rank or higher.

"You can never go wrong by using 'Sir' or 'Ma'am,' but it is a nice touch if you can properly address a senior officer," says the guide, Military Protocol: Uniformed Services.

Tuesday's hearing was hardly the first time a military officer used those terms during sworn testimony.

The same day at a Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing, two Navy officials repeatedly referred to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., with the title, "sir."

"Yes, sir," Navy Vice Adm. Bernard McCullough said when answering questions.

Wicker raised no objections.

Click here to watch the Boxer-Walsh exchange.

I was born and raised in the south so I was raised knowing that calling someone ma'am and sir is a sign of respect.

I would say it's news because it shows her character. To interrupt him in that manner to demand he call her senator. This is someone who is elected into office and she's more worried about what she is being addressed by than what he has to say.

Originally Posted by littlebuggy

I would say it's news because it shows her character. To interrupt him in that manner to demand he call her senator. This is someone who is elected into office and she's more worried about what she is being addressed by than what he has to say.

did you ever stop to think that it could have been the way he said it....
ive had young men and woman yes ma'am me that i didnt mind , being from the south it is a matter of manners . but then theres been some that were so sarcastic in their manner of saying it it sounded insulting , and in some issues you have to have the respect of the person your questioning and it is a proper procedure to remind them of it,,,,,,,,,; no matter what we think it isnt wrong to correct this attitude,,,,,,,,,, lots of women get that in legal and military situations and need to stand up for themselves or they get the good old boy treatment.......... ive seen it toooo many times and either way what the hell ........ too many men have acted worse why take offence at her standing up for her rights ,,,,,,,,, she ' s earned her place .
sounds like some one has sour grapes to me to complain on this where there are more inportant issues to worry about .

Originally Posted by shadowcats

did you ever stop to think that it could have been the way he said it....
ive had young men and woman yes ma'am me that i didnt mind , being from the south it is a matter of manners . but then theres been some that were so sarcastic in their manner of saying it it sounded insulting , and in some issues you have to have the respect of the person your questioning and it is a proper procedure to remind them of it,,,,,,,,,; no matter what we think it isnt wrong to correct this attitude,,,,,,,,,, lots of women get that in legal and military situations and need to stand up for themselves or they get the good old boy treatment.......... ive seen it toooo many times and either way what the hell ........ too many men have acted worse why take offence at her standing up for her rights ,,,,,,,,, she ' s earned her place .
sounds like some one has sour grapes to me to complain on this where there are more inportant issues to worry about .

Most people would wanta to see the video before questioning a General's motives, but since you aren't one of those, I'll post this for everyone else.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vid..._not_maam.html

I post the link, you decide.....

Originally Posted by anothersta

Most people would wanta to see the video before questioning a General's motives, but since you aren't one of those, I'll post this for everyone else.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vid..._not_maam.html

I post the link, you decide.....

theres really not enough of the time before the episode to the end of this clip to see if he was or wasnt disrespectful ,,,,,,,,,,, i missed this broadcast so i cant really say what id think of her request to be addressed as senator , but she has earned her place and id give her the benifit of the doubt,,and i dont really know what she has to deal with day to day either with all the crappy newscasters and others she has to deal with and that also would make a difference in the way this situation would be looked at also , so as i said what the hell ,,,,,,,, let her live her life....... and let her deal with it, she has the right to be a b,,,,,,,,,, if she wants to....... we all do ,,,,,,,,
too much is made of issues like this,,,,,,,,,, there are more important things to worry about.......

Originally Posted by shadowcats

theres really not enough of the time before the episode to the end of this clip to see if he was or wasnt disrespectful ,,,,,,,,,,, i missed this broadcast so i cant really say what id think of her request to be addressed as senator , but she has earned her place and id give her the benifit of the doubt,,and i dont really know what she has to deal with day to day either with all the crappy newscasters and others she has to deal with and that also would make a difference in the way this situation would be looked at also , so as i said what the hell ,,,,,,,, let her live her life....... and let her deal with it, she has the right to be a b,,,,,,,,,, if she wants to....... we all do ,,,,,,,,
too much is made of issues like this,,,,,,,,,, there are more important things to worry about.......

As a northerner I have to say that the first time a teen called me ma'am I was highly offended.The teen was not at all trying to be rude though.It was all my issue at being shocked that someone actually thought I was a ma'am.I guess he is a southener and was trying to be respectful?I personally wouldn't have mentioned it if I were her,still don't know why people bother with silly news like this though.(not the op,I just wonder why in general we even know about this silly stuff)

In the military when you address a senior officer you refer to them as sir or ma'am. That's why I find it hard to believe that he was trying to be rude or condesending. I find it rude on her part that she interrupted him to demand he call her senator. If it was a big deal she could have waited until he was done speaking and mentioned it then. I guess this tipped me off because I'm really tired of so many people being so wrapped up in themselves that no one else on this planet matters. People need to start having respect, and being considerate of one another. This just seemed like another example of me, me, me.