Barbara Boxer's Ignorance (Wizbang)

If you didn't hear about it, Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh was testifying in front of a Senate committee when he responded to a question by Senator Barbara Boxer with "yes ma'am." She took that as a sign of disrespect so she asked that he address her as "senator" because, as she put it, she worked hard for that title.

Senator Boxer showed her ignorance of the military when she did that. Milbogger Blackfive explains:

As a former Army Officer, if one of my soldiers called me "Lieutenant", instead of "el-tee" or "Sir", I would know that he found me lacking. Calling me by my job title or rank is only done because it is the lowest requirement of respect.
The. Lowest. Requirement. Of. Respect.

If one of my soldiers called me "Captain", without using my last name behind it or "Sir", I would know that he found me substandard.

BG Walsh was showing Barbara Boxer respect by calling her "Ma'am" instead of "Senator." Believe me, the title "Senator" does not really hold a whole lot of credibility in the US military. It's a job, and a Corporal leading a team in Baqubah has more honor than most of those holding that title.

Sir or Ma'am is showing Barbara Boxer respect that doesn't have to be shown to her. BG Walsh can call her Senator all day and night. Instead, the general called her "Ma'am" - a term in deference to her and to show respect for what she earned.

But if she wants to be associated with that den of corruption and incompetence, be my guest.

So, what Senator Boxer actually said to BG Walsh is "please call me by the lowest requirement of respect."

Well, Boxer said she worked hard to get that title, and I have to say I agree with the her.

Comments (20)

Recently the Army decided t... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by epador | June 20, 2009 10:32 AM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)

epador:

Recently the Army decided the Soldier is to be capitalized in all print. (I think they are jealous that Marine gets capitalized, albeit without a general order). How about we start decapitalizing all those who are decapitalizing our treasury? senators boxer, pelosi and reid would have to improve the budget WITHOUT new taxes to get their capital letters back.

Posted on June 20, 2009 10:32

she is an utter embarrasmen... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Justrand | June 20, 2009 10:36 AM | Score: 18 (18 votes cast)

Justrand

she is an utter embarrasment, and obviously knows how insulting she was being.

I don't know why the General didn't just omit ALL titles when addressing her. I would have.

She and our rulers continue to heap contempt on those that protect us. this is not a viable long-term strategy! tic...tic...tic

Posted on June 20, 2009 10:36

I hold the title Senator an... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by MichaelR | June 20, 2009 10:42 AM | Score: 14 (14 votes cast)

MichaelR:

I hold the title Senator and Congressmen in contempt. Boxer is a pathetic excuse for an elected official serving the public. She only serves herself. California deserves Boxer, Feinstein, and Pelosi. All are laughing stocks.

Posted on June 20, 2009 10:42

"Whoever you are, I have al... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by DaveD | June 20, 2009 11:20 AM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)

DaveD:

"Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." "Could you please, call me Senator?" Blanche (Babs) Dubois-Boxer

Posted on June 20, 2009 11:20

Boxer is the poster child f... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Mac Lorry | June 20, 2009 11:26 AM | Score: 16 (16 votes cast)

Mac Lorry:

Boxer is the poster child for the reason why non-veterans shouldn't be allowed on committees that have dealings with the military.

Posted on June 20, 2009 11:26

"Barbara Boxer's Ignorance"... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by proof | June 20, 2009 11:56 AM | Score: 13 (13 votes cast)

proof:

"Barbara Boxer's Ignorance". With a title like that, I expected this piece would be...longer!

Posted on June 20, 2009 11:56

Why is anyone surprised by ... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Michael | June 20, 2009 12:29 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)

Michael:

Why is anyone surprised by her arrogance? Liberals are the most arrogant, intolerant creatures on the planet. It is all about them. Their lives are wrapped up in the totality of themselves. They don't care if they destroy the lives of Americans as long as they are the ones doing the destroying. It is ironic how libs want to tell others how to live but usually there own loves are utter disasters...but that is liberalism.

Posted on June 20, 2009 12:29

"Barbara Boxer's Ignoran... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by JLawson | June 20, 2009 12:56 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

JLawson:

Not if you're showing stuff she actually has knowledge of...

Posted on June 20, 2009 12:56

For the Fairbank Report's t... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by Jonathan Fairbank | June 20, 2009 1:15 PM | Score: -4 (4 votes cast)

Jonathan Fairbank:

For the Fairbank Report's treatment of this issue, see .fairbankreport.blogspot.com

Posted on June 20, 2009 13:15

Vote on wheter or not Senat... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by Eye on the Law | June 20, 2009 4:51 PM | Score: -1 (3 votes cast)

Eye on the Law:

Vote on wheter or not Senator Boxer was rude to the general at:

http://eyeonthelaw.blogspot.com/

Posted on June 20, 2009 16:51

The lowest degree of respec... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by 914 | June 20, 2009 5:10 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

914:

The lowest degree of respect would be "cockroach".

Posted on June 20, 2009 17:10

To paraphrase Dan Aykroyd..... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by xiphos | June 20, 2009 6:39 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

xiphos:

To paraphrase Dan Aykroyd............Barbara Boxer, ma'am, you ignorant s**t!

Posted on June 20, 2009 18:39

I believe that Boxer thing ... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by Obbop | June 20, 2009 10:39 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Obbop:

I believe that Boxer thing adheres to the cult of diversity and multi-culturalism.

If so, if that Boxer creature ever questions an inner-city thug adhering to the "gangsta' culture" I hope that thug interacts with that disgusting (in my opinion) Barbara Boxer thing with terms such as "Yo, Ho" and "What be happenin' bitch" and other terms common with that thug sub-culture.

Posted on June 20, 2009 22:39

Actually, my experience in ... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by Rockeye13 | June 21, 2009 11:09 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Rockeye13

Actually, my experience in the military taught me that addressing an officer by their rank was almost always considered insulting. The only time it wasn't automatically an insult was when one officer (of higher rank) used that form. "Lieutenant, could you bring me that map?" as opposed to "Looky here Lieutenant, your shit is weak. Straighten up." Also it was NEVER appropriate for an enlisted soldier to address an officer by their rank, only 'sir' or 'maam.'

Posted on June 21, 2009 11:09

From this point forward I w... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by Oyster | June 21, 2009 7:49 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)

Oyster:

From this point forward I want to be called "Queen of the Friggin Universe". It's just a thing. I worked very hard to make it up. I'm sure you'll understand and comply.

Posted on June 21, 2009 19:49

From my experience addressi... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by SantaMaria | June 21, 2009 7:55 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

SantaMaria:

From my experience addressing a superior by rank only flew without insult if you were doing it to avoid confusion such as having 2 or more officers of superior rank in the room. Failing to follow up with sir and or their last name, was usually the signal that you were rally saying "Asshole", not "Major".
Let the Spaceballs jokes, BEGIN.

Posted on June 21, 2009 19:55

Army lifers do indeed live ... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by Craig Travis | June 21, 2009 9:50 PM | Score: -7 (7 votes cast)

Craig Travis:

Army lifers do indeed live in a little world of their own. I think it comes from rationalizing killing people. It's those terrorists that are evil because they don't kill people the same way we do. Their God is just bad too.

Posted on June 21, 2009 21:50

Can we catalog us a vocabul... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by Tammy | June 21, 2009 10:35 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Tammy:

Can we catalog us a vocabulary of other monikers that Brigadier General Walsh could call Senator Boxer that would give her a new respect for the address "ma'am"? Anybody? I would give anything to have been inside his head to know what he was REALLY thinking when this power-tripping a**hat popped off at him.

Posted on June 21, 2009 22:35

Travis What exactly ... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by maggie | June 22, 2009 1:28 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)

maggie:

Travis
What exactly is your point, other than commenting off the subject of this thread?

Posted on June 22, 2009 13:28

Travis, what about us Air F... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by LoadTheMule | June 22, 2009 4:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

LoadTheMule:

Travis, what about us Air Force lifers? I wanna be in a world of my own, too. Oh, and fyi, I don't need to rationalize killing people. Every one of those fuckers was doing his level best to kill me first... There endeth the lesson.

Posted on June 22, 2009 16:38