There’s much said lately about Sen. Boxer telling Brigadier General Walsh to call her “senator” and not “ma’am.”
If you don’t know to what I’m referring, see this:
It sparked debate online and on television.
The reality: it’s a non-issue.
Sen. Boxer’s contention was that she deserves to be called “senator” because she worked hard to achieve that status.
Well, [most] military officers also work hard to achieve their rank.
Military officers, too, demand to be called by their rank. It’s law, in fact.
Hell, some military spouses LIVE vicariously through their husband/wife’s rank.
It’s a non issue, unless you’re trying to spark partisan controversy.
Could she have said it nicer? Yes.
Was it an ignorant thing to do? Yes.
Has a military officer (or NCO) done the exact same thing to me (though with far less courtesy)? YES.
Seriously people, grow up and move on.
BG Walsh isn’t in the Chair Farce; this was not the toughest thing he’s ever encountered.
BG Walsh’s BIO
Sen. Boxer’s BIO
As they say you can’t fix stupid!
I’m not a miracle worker; I NEVER EVER claimed stupid could be fixed. After the military, a stint with several Fortune 500s, and my time in start ups, I’ve come to know that stupid is well-entrenched, pandemic, and chronic.
She is arrogant and stupid. She acts like he was insulting her by calling her ma’am. What has she done for her country other than get paid to stuff her fat face?
Dave,
Arrogant and stupid? I won’t disagree with that as a characterization of her actions; however, I think you may have missed the crux of my post. BG Walsh is a career soldier. This is small potatoes. If he allowed himself to be ruffled by this silliness, it would say more (negative) about him than it does/did Sen. Boxer. In reality, “ma’am” is an acceptable salutation for a Senator. But, then again, in the military “sir” is acceptable, as is “Lieutenant.” Some officers -in my experience- required me to call them by their rank, rather than “sir.”
The point being: some military officers are not better and do the very same thing. In fact, this incident is so often repeated throughout the military that it’s comical it is getting so much media attention. I do not know if you ever served, but this is a case of absolutely nothing being caught on camera and transformed into something. Secondly, the situation made Sen. Boxer look foolish and arrogant and made BG Walsh look professional.
Don’t let the media whip you into a frenzy of nastiness. Meaning, your closing comment, “What has she done for her country other than get paid to stuff her fat face?” This is why I included her bio. Sen. Boxer, despite her arrogant and foolish comment, has been a champion of notable cause: the environment, HIV/AIDS, education, women’s rights, economic reform, etc. I’m not condoning her actions or defending her, just illustrating that one media-hyped misstep can make someone like you negate all of her positive service. Service, regardless of the uniform, is service.
actually Gen Walsh was not being disrepectiful or incorrect in any way whatsover – per DoD guidelines, ma’am is a perfectly acceptable form of address, sufficiently respectful, etc. for a female member of the senate. In other words, he was just trying to do his job. this was a non-issue for sure – the senator was in the wrong, but i won’t hold my breath for her apology. i’m just glad that i no longer live in ca as the state is just full of people of character such as the sen – but, for the record, i can honestly say it’s not my fault as i never voted for her. based on my experience there, i can report that ca has the senator they deserve in ms. boxer, ma’am. i agree that Gen. Walsh has too much class and professionalism to care one way or the other what the senator said – it’s all part of the job. i’m sure he has had to do much more distasteful jobs than dealing with this self-important “servant of the people.”
Sorry for the delay on approving this response; I never received an e-mail about a pending comment.
I concur. And, I am certain that the professional soldier agreed to her request on camera and, off camera, explained to her that her behavior and request were childish and inappropriate. Civilians do not realize how much bs a solider swallows for the sake of professional demeanor and decorum. This is only a significant, media frenzy-worthy issue to a) people looking to make it such, and b) civilians.
thanks for the comment; and, again, my apologies on the delay.