Oh, my. It would appear that Barbara Boxer, Senator from California, is very, very emphatic that her elected title be used when addressing her.
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,” an irritated 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.
One could point out a simple few words from the Constitution of the United States:
Article I, Section 9, Clause 8:
“No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States…”
In other words, “Senator” is a job and a job title, not a patent of nobility. The honorific ‘ma’am’ is completely acceptable under military regulations, as the article points out.
America was founded specifically to get away from titled nobility. I find it more than a bit ridiculous that Barbara Boxer insists that her elected job title define her. No disrespect was intended, the general in question followed – precisely – regulations on the addressing of others and Boxer’s insistence to the contrary makes her look both small, officious and overly concerned with her “title”.
I can think of several “honorifics” that Boxer richly deserves. But none of them would make it past the comment filter.
I hope that her GOP opponent in the next election makes an ad using this clip, and says, “Do you get the feeling that Barbara has been in Washington too long?”
As a British civil servant I was instructed that when meeting royalty, you only use the full title the first time you speak to her.
In any further conversation, it is correct to address her as “Ma’am”.
Ms Boxer seems to think she is entitled to more ‘respect’ than an actual Queen. . .
good thing i am not the general
my reply would be
I will call you bitch, bitch
She also worked hard for the title of “pompous ass.”