Don't Call Me Ma'am: Senator Boxer

California law maker bristles at general's greeting

By OWEN THOMAS

Updated 8:28 AM PST, Mon, Jun 22, 2009

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Brigadier General Michael Walsh, a top-ranking officer in the Army Corps of Engineers, is a veteran of the Iraq war. But he's never been fired on like this.

Don't call me ma'am, Senator Barbara Boxer (D.-Calif.) barked at him as he started to explain delays in repairs to New Orleans's levee system.

"Do me a favor," she continued. "Could you call me '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."

The Hot Air blog points out that Walsh had addressed Senator David Vitter as "sir," not "Senator," in the same hearing.

What do you think? Is Boxer being oversensitive? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

First Published: Jun 18, 2009 1:18 PM PST

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{"comments":[{"body":"No, absolutely not, Owens (a right wing commentor-journalist), Boxer was correct. Brig General Mike Walsh should treat female senators the same as male. He was wrong, Senator Boxer is correct. Its either president, congressmen or Senator but not maam or baby!\n\nJust another example of the right wing mentality. Not a big deal, but she was right to correct him. If he chooses to be rude, disrespectful, cras, start swearing, whatever then its for the world to correct him, and ultimately judge him and people like him.\n\n","createdAt":"2 Aug 2009 22:14:32 GMT","fromUserId":9541952,"isDefaultUserIconUploaded":false,"isDisabled":false,"isVisible":true,"messageId":520516,"pathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","reviewed":true,"updatedAt":"20090802060805","username":"Neutron"}],"media":{"isPublicTaggingAllowed":false,"uploadToAkamai":"","categories":"","pathToMedia":"391809_48547222","adminTags":"ct_article,sid_391809,sid_392094,sid_392099,sid_392114,sid_392119,sid_392134,sid_392139,sid_521477,sid_521507","uploadedByPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg?t=1248875781749","views":2989,"uploadedByName":"nbc_editor","isAdultContent":false,"updatedAt":"5 Aug 2009 13:36:07 GMT","country":"","pathToPreview48X48":"user/defaultAudio_48x48_C.jpg","inappropriateFlagCount":0,"isRatedByMe":"F","tags":"furious","originalFileFormat":"","isFavorite":"F","userId":7918858,"name":"Don't Call Me Ma'am: Senator Boxer","description":"Brigadier general faces barrage over formal address","createdAt":"2 Aug 2009 22:14:28 GMT","isVisible":true,"postalCode":"","title":"Don't Call Me Ma'am: Senator Boxer","isPublicCommentingAllowed":true,"stateOrProvinceName":"","author":"","reviewed":true,"updatedBy":7918844,"city":"","pathToPreview":"","type":"externalMedia","uploadToLimelight":"","votes":0,"averageRating":0},"payload_type":"json","status":"1","error":""}