Actually Senator, Ma’am Is Fine
by Big Dog on Jun 18, 2009 at 18:58 Political
Senator Boxer was questioning a General today and he kept answering her by using the word ma’am just liked he answered the males sir. Boxer did not like that and asked the General to call her Senator because she worked hard to get that title. Talk about petty little things and power complexes. The General was displaying courtesy and he was not inappropriate. Reminds me of COL Jessup in A Few Good Men. Address me as Colonel or Sir, I think I earned that.
“Could you say ‘senator’ instead of ‘ma’am? It’s just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title. I’d appreciate it.”
The general’s response? “Yes, Senator.” Politics Daily
She might prefer to be called Senator but the General did nothing wrong. The Army Training and Doctrine Command states that Sir or Ma’am is an appropriate form of address for a Senator:
How do I verbally address a Senator or Congressman or a Congressional staff member?
“Sir” or “Ma’am” works for most everyone, but more specifically —
House: Congressman or Congresswoman; Representative; Mr. or Ms., Sir or Ma’am
Senate: Senator, Sir, or Ma’am…
So it must have been an ego thing where Boxer had to let the General know who was in charge. Inside I know he had to be laughing at what must have appeared as a bloviating fool.
Someone commented that they should take that soundbite and use it in the commercial for whomever runs against her. They can ask questions and each time have her saying ‘call me Senator, I earned it.’
This was a prime display of an elitist mentality. It was also a display by a person who needs to be replaced.
[tip]If you enjoy what you read consider signing up to receive email notification of new posts. There are several options in the sidebar and I am sure you can find one that suits you. If you prefer, consider adding this site to your favorite feed reader. If you receive emails and wish to stop them follow the instructions included in the email.[/tip]
Tags: ego, ma'am, senator boxer
A senator asks to be referred to as “senator.”
How inappropriate. What a “bloviating fool!”
D.
The part that came after that was the clincher. I don’t expect you to understand that she was inappropriate to the General, a man who has served this country in much better capacity than Boxer, and I don’t expect you to understand how petty and elitist it was.
You are the water boy for them. You statists are all alike.
When you run out of argument, throw an insult! It’s worked so well before.
Incidentally, “Barbara Boxer holds the record for the most popular votes in a statewide contested election in California, having received 6,955,728 votes in her 2004 re-election over her Republican opponent.”
So she probably worked pretty hard to be a senator in the largest (by far) state. There is no reason to think she had to kiss any more bottoms than the general did to work his way up.
Oh, and when you are a senator, it’s never inappropriate to ask to be called “senator.” Never.
Must be a really slow gossip day on the Drudge/Fox/Newsmax smear sources?
D.
The fact that she is a senator has nothing to do with her being rude or ignorant. The Army uses Maam as an honorific of respect, and all she had to do was to say, “General, I prefer to be called Senator.” – no snide little ” i worked very hard to get here” BS- that shows a complete lack of class.
She did not work as hard to be a Senator as he did to be a general. She just had to buy votes.
If the role was reversed would you call him a bloviating fool that needed to be replaced?
I get that it was somewhat rude the way she phrased it but I find your response as distasteful and petty as you would make her out to be.
You’ve summed up her career as simply buying votes to get where she is? Get real. Boxer is an accomplished, high ranking, United States Senator. The way you write that off is just kind of sad.
I’m not sure where your level of objection comes from. Is it because he is a military man like yourself, or that she is a liberal Senator, or because you have a problem with women in positions of authority? Or is it something else I haven’t thought of yet?
Adam, if the General had said the same thing to Sen. Boxer, I would be the first to say he was rude and classless. There are ways to correct someone without looking snotty- she chose snotty, because liberals do snotty really well.
Well, despite your attempts to paint it otherwise, I have no problems with women in positions of authority so long as they got there on merit and not because they are women.
She was condescending. All she did was get elected over and over. Her career is not stellar.
He is a high ranking military officer who deserved to be treated better. She is an idiot, an elitist, a moron, and a snob.
Did I leave anything out?
You left out the part where you make up some excuse for your obvious sexism. You just can’t help yourself.
Why does the General deserve to be treated better? Are you so sure he got where he is on merit and not simply because he’s a white man? Please tell us, since you’re obviously an expert at detecting who has earned their authority and who has just been handed it.
Never mind Boxer’s nearly 25 year record in politics. No, no. Boxer’s just bought votes and given what she has because she’s a woman. Right. Not sexist at all, I mean…what am I talking about…
Wow- you would think you were female, the way you protest- Dog has not been sexist, despite what you keep insinuating- just like a liberal puke to keep hammering away at innuendo, hoping a baseless charge will stick. This was all about manners- the General had them, Boxer did not.
I don’t know if insinuated as much as I just outright said it. Big Dog is being sexist, again.
I missed the part where Boxer being rude gives Big Dog an excuse to imply her entire political career has been given to her because she is a woman and because she has bought the votes.
I like that you think that I’m acting like a female because I’m pointing out sexism. Stay classy, Blake.
There was no sexism, just your wrongheaded perception of something that exists only in your lil’ punkin head- you and Biden- is it in the water?
This has been about a lack of manners on Boxer’s part, not that of the General, but you libs just love to jump on the military.
don’t know if Boxer got where she got with or without kneepads- don’t really care, but she could have shown some class here, and did not.
I haven’t seen anybody jumping on the military or blaming the General in anyway, so save your stereotypical labels. Point out where somebody did and I’ll take this back.
A liberal getting elected in a liberal state, yea I can see how that’s -real- hard. Please go watch a clip of her comment and it should become very clear that she came across as condescending and rude.
BIGD: “She was condescending.”>>
DAR
She asked “a favor.” And that was, if she could be addressed by her title, which is, senator.
BigD: “Did I leave anything out?”>>
DAR
Yeah, the part about him working for her. Our civilian government rules the military.
Best to say “senator” when you address Barbara Boxer. No biggie. He knows now.
Talk about a bunch of mindless, fake, outrage again.
D.
Technically the Chain of Command works as:
General Walsh answers to the Army Chief of Staff General George Casey who answers to the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen who answers to the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates who answers to the President (aka, the Commander in Chief). Adm Mullen also can talk directly to the CiC in cases that would be prudent.
Darrel, there is a way to do things. If she were calling him by his first name and he did that to her she would flip.
There is such a thing called tact. I earned it looks petty and elitist.
I know you can’t see it because you are the water boy.
I don’t suppose you see the irony of *you* accusing someone else of being a “water boy.”
Ain’t irony if its true, Darrel. You and Adam really need lessons in manners, chain of command, and reality, not necessarily in that order.
You’d argue with a can of beans- talk about someone who can’t admit they are wrong.
As you’ll notice above I said it was rude the way she spoke though she was right to ask to be called Senator. So I don’t really think I need a lesson in manners or any of that jazz.
All I’m asking is that when you talk about a high ranking US Senator that you don’t sum up her career as being unsteller and imply she didn’t work for her status in government just because she was a little rude.
Yes Adam it was her tone, and that’s the whole point- she could have done all of this in a much classier way, but she did not, and probably doesn’t even know how snotty she came off looking like- and that’s the problem. It comes off looking like she was seeking a confrontation, or she was unsure of her position, neither of which is a good thing.
Generals must be confirmed by the Senate before they can be bestowed with even one star. They are only “handed” up to the rank of Captain (O3), the rest they have to earn and the higher up you go, the harder it gets.
Military Customs and Courtosies state that a Senator is to be addressed as “sir, ma’am, or Senator”. When House or Congress members are visiting a military community and are scheduled to have a sit-down meal with the local members, they have a list of expectations to follow which are then handed down to the military members so they know how to act around said official.
If Senator Boxer wanted to make sure she was called the appropriate title, she should have let the General’s people know beforehand. Generals do not like being corrected by anyone and I guarntee you he had a few words for his executive officer and secretary when he got out of there. Seeing as how I worked for a total of 8 Generals and countless Colonels, this is my area of expertise.
I don’t find Big Dog being sexist, I find him being a former military man a little miffed to find that a Senator would treat a General so rudely. She could have worded it, “General So-and-so, I feel I’ve earned the title of Senator, just as you’ve earned your rank, and I’d prefer that opposed to Ma’am.” Of course, it would have been more appropriate to make it known before the meeting ever happened. It’s just a thing…
aMUM: “She could have worded it, “General So-and-so, I feel I’ve earned the title of Senator, just as you’ve earned your rank, and I’d prefer that opposed to Ma’am.”
DAR
What she actually said:
“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.”
D.
She interrupted him as he was answering a question she posed to input that little bit of trivia. She could have shown him the respect she expected out of him. It’s just common courtosy.
Allow me to share with you what Gen. Walsh could have retorted with:
But he didn’t, and I commend him for that!
Wow, such a big deal over such a nothing deal. Who gives a flip? If the the Senator had said “sir” to the General and he had requested to be called “General” instead who would give a flip? None of you, that’s who! So what’s the big deal?
The General is used to being called “sir” – it’s a sign of respect. She called him nothing, just interrupted him.
ts all about respect, Tamara- They both have worked to get where they are now- the General called her Maam- an honorific that the Army is taught to use-perfectly acceptable, but if Boxer wanted to be called Senator, that’s fine too- but she didn’t need to be snotty about it.
I know a woman so classy, that she can cut you to ribbons with her tongue, and you won’t know you’re bleeding until a day or two later- but she rarely does that because she assumes that people will give her her due, and a mistake is just a mistake, and not mean- spirited politically.
The General had no reason to dis her, so why so whiny?
Adam, Adam. You see sexism or racism in everything. Boxer bought votes and did nothing because she is a politician. I don’t care what her sex is, she is a politician. They ensure that our tax money is used for projects in their states and they tell people how wonderful they are to get elected.
They all do it and if it had been a guy I would have said the same thing. You are just a narrow minded statist who looks for racism or sexism in every statement.
Yes, that General worked harder and so did the female Generals, just to keep you from whining racism. They go through combat training and any number of other tough and demanding training courses (not to mention actual combat) to get promoted. It is not a popularity contest.
So keep your narrow minded comments to yourself until you can learn to see things as they are without injecting phony sexism into them.
So what’s with the word statist? Is that some new word you learned because I’ve seen it more in the last few days than in the last few years.
Funny. You always get that wrong. I don’t see sexism and racism in everything. I just see sexism and racism in a lot of the things you write on here.
Well, that seems to be your fallback position, seeing sexism and racism in anything we say- try to argue without that weakness- you might find yourself liberated from that old class- warfare way of thought.
I won’t be lectured about pointing out sexism or racism by people who write things that might be misconstrued as sexist or racist. It’s as simple as that…
No, like a child, you will go off and pout, rather than reflect that Dog might be right. As far as misconstrued context, you seem to be the only one who believes this. Could it be you?
I don’t recall ever going off and pouting over one of Big Dog’s subjects, but if that’s the image of me you like then keep it.
Darrel, he does not work for her, he works for the President. The military is part of the Executive branch. She outranks him.
If she had said that she preferred to be called Senator it would have been different but she added that working hard and all that whiny elitist stuff.
If I were being questioned by her could I call her Barb? She works for us so I could just tell her that I would call her what I wanted, that be OK?
NO Darrel, you miss the obvious stupidity of saying something like that. The guys were fine with the completely appropriate address of sir and the address of ma’am was completely correct as well.
She should have waited until a break and then spoken to him quietly.
I can’t imagine what names they have for her back at his office…
No Darrel, I don’t see an irony. If you had read here long enough you will notice that I have been critical of the people in my party for the things they have done that I do not like. You have never had one bad word for your messiah or his minions.
You carry their water. I am interested in my country. I have been on the cases of plenty from my party but obviously, conservatism is my point of view so I will find fewer things wrong than I will with statists.
Maybe you should define statist for us since when I look up the word I can find no strong similarity to my political philosophy.
BIGD: “You have never had one bad word for your [insult] or his [insult].”>>
DAR
I still waiting for him to make a boo. Pat Buchanan gave him an “A” because he’s run a pretty flawless show so far. Sorry about that. When he does err, I will be really rough on him. I am after all an independent. It’s all right down the middle with me.
BIGD: “I am interested in my country.”>>
DAR
You are interested in your country failing, to soothe your failed ideology. It isn’t going to work because nothing is going to save your failed ideology.
BIGD: “I have been on the cases of plenty from my party…”>>
DAR
Obviously. How could you not? It’s filled with hypocrites, child humpers and crooks as has already been shown.
Hey, guess which states watch the most porn?
D.
——————–
“Porn in the USA: Conservatives are biggest consumers”
“Those states that do consume the most porn tend to be more conservative and religious than states with lower levels of consumption, the study finds….
The biggest consumer, Utah, averaged 5.47 adult content subscriptions per 1000 home broadband users;”
New Scientist
LOL
I just love a good whiff of the stench of republican hypocrisy in the morning!
I guess it beats the stench of liberal STDs you all spread around with abandon. I feel sorry for your goats.
BLK: “I guess it beats the stench of liberal STDs you all spread around…”>>
DAR
Which reminds me. Hey Blake, guess which states and which areas have the most STD’s getting spread around with abandon?
You just have to step in the goat berries, every time you turn around!
Keep the softball’s coming.
D.
——————
“In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies.”
“Within the United States “the strongly theistic, anti-evolution South and Midwest” have “markedly worse homicide, mortality, STD, youth pregnancy, marital and related problems than the Northeast where …
secularization, and acceptance of evolution approach European norms.”
LINK
On that same day at a Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing, two Navy officials repeatedly referred to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., with the title, “sir.” Wicker, not being a liberal idiot, raised no objections; see Barbara Boxer: Call Me `Idiot`
No Adam, once again you see boogie men that are not there. She is a politician so she got her job by buying votes. When you promise something to be elected and then carry it out you buy votes. When you use federal tax money to prop up your state you are buying votes. I would have said the same if one of the men did this.
You see racism and sexism in everything. The problem with you statists is that you assume because the person involved happens to be a woman it is sexism. You think any criticism of a black is racism.
You have issues.
I say she is worthless not because she is rude. I say she is rude because she is worthless.
I won’t b lectured by people half my age who think they know what they are talking about…
I respect age and all, but plenty of people your age agree with me, so what is your attack on them? Maybe you should tell them they have the same opinion as some young puke you know from your website and they should really grow up a little.
Yes, unfortunately, there are many people who grew up idealistic, and stubbornly refused to admit that their “Philosophy” was wrong- I know several like that, too wedded to their beliefs to admit that the old hippie- isms were wrong to begin with, and they have wasted time on a failed set of beliefs.
BLK: “they have wasted time on a failed set of beliefs.”
DAR
When Blake talks about wasting time on a failed set of beliefs, it would be good to sit up an listen to him.
Wasting time on a failed set of beliefs is a specialty of his.
D.
Darrel, I am interested in my country succeeding and that means Obama’s agenda failing. If he is successful then we will not have succeeded. We will be a more expensive Cuba.
Obama’s agenda will only be judged a failure if America fails.
You can’t put enough lipstick on this pig to save it.
D.
If Obama succeeds in spending all the money he wants and succeeds in further bankrupting us with his health care plan he will have been successful in getting what he wanted done. America will suffer generations of poverty and a period of severe inflation with longer recovery from Obama’s economic recession.
Sorry, if Obama succeeds in getting his agenda then America will fail. If he is stopped then America will succeed. It is a simple concept.
Bigd: If Obama succeeds in [snip…] America will suffer generations of poverty and a period of severe inflation with longer recovery from Obama’s economic recession.>>
DAR
You call this Obama succeeding, yet this would clearly be him failing. You contradict yourself and equivocate with your use of the word “succeed.”
BIGD: if Obama succeeds in getting his agenda then America will fail. If he is stopped then America will succeed.>>
DAR
Well, I know that’s what your ideology dictates. But it makes no sense.
Let’s unpack:
If America succeeds, which will be judged by all the normative categories, then Obama is a failure.
But if America fails, which will be judged by all the normative categories, then Obama is a success.
I think I’ve got it! Except, it’s upside down and backwards.
D.
—————-
Reminds me of a story:
“There is no use trying,” said Alice; “one can’t believe impossible things.”
“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen.
“When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
-Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
I sure would like to see statistics to show that there are higher rates of homicide in the Midwest than in the northeast.
Since many northeastern states have severe gun restrictions there is more crime and more homicides. Those states in the Midwest where people can carry see less of those things.
In the list of top cities in crime and murder how many of them are the Midwest?
Bigd: “would like to see statistics to show that there are higher rates of homicide in the Midwest than in the northeast.”>>
DAR
I provided one link, here is another:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article571206.ece
It was published in the Journal of Religion and Society, a US academic journal.
Bigd: “states have severe gun restrictions there is more crime and more homicides.”>>
DAR
Some day we may tango on the gun issue. Roasting John Lott (aka Mary Rosh) and his ridiculous statistical games is one of my favorites. Very much a specialty.
D.
I bet you put lipstick on your goats. Is that how you get a date on Saturday?
You silly republicans. If it’s not the kiddies, you’re thinking about sex with animals. Bad form. Go to church or get some counseling or something.
D.
900% of all women I have ever heard complain about the word “ma’am” complain because it makes them feel old. “ma’am” implies old in our culture.
She should have said what she was really thinking “I work hard to not look my age. Call me anything but ma’am”
cause I’m sure thats what she was thinking.