Barbara Boxer: Call Me 'Senator' (VIDEO, POLL)

UPDATE: More fall-out from Sen. Boxer's insistence last week that the military officer she was questioning call her 'senator,' instead of 'ma'am.' Chuck DeVore, a Republican running for Boxer's Senate seat in 2010 called it "the latest liberal-military confrontation." He went on to bring up her participation in Vietnam War protests and ask on his website: "Why do some liberals apparently despise our military?"

Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina was also disturbed by the nomenclature request, calling the Senator "a loose cannon" and an embarrassment to her party. From McClatchy's write up of the kerfuffle:

Republican critics in the blogosphere and elsewhere are excoriating Boxer... "I just can't put up with that kind of thing when people think too much of themselves, and we see a lot of that in Washington," DeMint told Fox News Channel.

UPDATE: John McCain poked fun at fellow senator Barbara Boxer on "Hannity" Thursday.

"Thank you for calling me 'Senator' and not 'sir," McCain said to the host, grinning.

* * * * *

Yesterday at an EPW hearing, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) asserted herself. A military officer testifying began to respond to one of her questions by calling her ma'am. But Boxer interrupted: "Do me a favor," she said, "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."

Fox News actually reported out this story by calling up an Army spokesman to ask if it was disrespectful for the officer to call Boxer ma'am. Their conclusion: no big deal! What do you think?

Watch it here and scroll down to take our poll.

Quick Poll

Was the officer out of line?

No, Boxer is way too sensitive.

Yes, he's rude, and possibly sexist.

Maybe he meant it as a term of respect, but he's talking to a Senator!

Who cares?

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[philipparker]

BARBARA BOXER'S RECORDED HYPOCRISY
??? Don't call me ma'am, call me cutie ???

DON''T CALL ME MA'AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp-4HTToYHE

CALL ME CUTIE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDjVrOqBPaQ

How sad and clueless
http://scaredmonkeys.com/2009/06/20/brilliant-dont-call-me-maam-senator-barbara-boxer-meets-dr-evil/

[BigBagel]

I think I can sum things up for everyone. She's a self important, narcissistic boob.

[UltraClassic]

Her tantrum speak volumes about her and those who support her.

[bobusmc]

Henceforth, I shall call her madam.

[DrDemon]

Senator Boxer:

I think you are GREAT... and that's all that counts! :-)

[SARGE1]

The The General Was Correct And In Accordance With Official Protocol

"The Official And Proper Protocol For Congressional Activities Is Outlined Here":


US Army Training and Doctrine Command - Congressional Activities Office.
http://www.tradoc.army.mil/cong/faqs.htm#11

11. How do I verbally address a Senator or Congressman or a Congressional staff member?
Back to Top


"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

Committee Chair: Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairman, Sir or Ma"am

Ranking Member: House: Congressman or Congresswoman;

Mr. or Ms., Sir or Ma"am

Senate: Senator, Sir or Ma"am

Staff Member: Mr. or Ms., Sir or Ma"am

This is not a Republican or Democrat Issue it is a Protocol Issue let's not be Ideologues and research The Truth and Facts Only !

Please before you start issuing out what you believe to know to be fact, check for the facts 1st.

You have Factcheck.org Goggle, Ask.comk.com, The Whitehouse website and Congress's website

-Sarge

[cinesimon]

Yep, absolutely NO indication that a senator ought to be called a senator in the senate!

I wonder if their are protocols suggesting the right wing take massive umbrage to a simple request that a senator be massively attacked when she requests to be called by her title when in a formal hearing.

UG UG!

[SARGE1]

Well since Ma'am or Senator are correct and since she is actually The Chair of the Committee Madam Chairman would be within Official Protocol also. The Issue is Proper and Official Protocol only. I truly hope you are not assuming I'm some sort of Right Winger when I am only stating what is the Appropriate address for her. I only thought NEOCON jumped to blind conclusions and disregarded the Facts and Truths.

Please do not become your Political Opponent because they do not research or support facts, well versed and intelligent individual do.

-Sarge

[JoeJokester]

"That's GENERAL Jockstrap to you, Senator Boxtop!", replied the erudite soldier.

[jus1drun]

the mind numbed forager exclaimed "that was a load of manure to go through to finally get to the heart of it. well done!"

[cinesimon]

Still not banned you filthy little child?

[JoeJokester]

... suh? May I please 'ave anotha bowl of porridge? It's a hard luck life for us filthy little children...

[starsnsea]

Senator Barbara Boxer is a fine senator, thank you. She has ethical standards, knowledge of policy and law, shows that she cares, has the courage to follow through when the going gets tough. I do not always agree with her, but she is often willing to stick her neck out to align with her principles.

Rethuglicans are imploding and they still have so much air time - if they were mine, I would throw them out as humiliating and so embarrassing. They make utterly clear what they do care about: retaining and expanding only the ill-gotten wealth of old, excessively rich white men, and then screw everyone else who might need anything.

Remember principles, rethugs?? Last time I saw some of those in your party was in Eisenhower's administration when I was five - and that is a very long time ago. They are digging themselves a very deep grave, and they just keep digging away.

Let 'em dig - we got our work to do bringing our country back from the precipice they took us to and almost over.

[JoeJokester]

ReTHUGlican -- is the opposite anything like a limberger-al, a Demo-carp (except exchange the "a" and "r"), or a Senator Boxtop?

[springsm]

I think the Party of Non Compas Mentus is melting into itself..like slugs do. They can''t come up with one intelligent item so they attack on a personal level anybody who speaks out. I just can't see how people can support these poor sad excuses for statespeople for the USA. My gosh. How embarrassing they are. 'boring too actually. Not creative at all...Nursery school kids can do a better job if they were so inclines..which they are not usually.

[BlueStateMensch]

"whosyourdaddy"....

HONEST.... are you a vet?

Your question to me about my disability percentage sounded like you might REALLY be.

If so, brother... kudos for your service, &, all silly dialogue aside.... respect.

[whosyourdaddy]

30 yrs AD, 100% P&T retired CSM

Want to talk VA. We can get real specific.

[BlueStateMensch]

No need.

Mea Culpa.

[LMKay66]

Blue and whosyourdaddy, thank you BOTH for your service.

[daedelus]

It's paper-shuffling gasbags like him who've been keeping our country safe and secure for the last 30 years.

[Hopeington]

And we care what they said on Focks News because......??

[Danvanh]

Don't be ignorant, seriously. I don't like Fox news, but not everything they say on there is bad or untrue. What Boxer said was offensive. I live in California and have always admire her, but her arrogant comment will make me think twice the next time I vote.

[dadd]

I'm having a Boxer day tomorrow. I'm going to refer to every hard working American by their job description.

Good morning Dennys waitress Nancy. Could I have 10.00 of regular Gas attendant Al.

[BlueStateMensch]

Are you having a seizure, "TR0LL whosyourdaddy"?

[LMKay66]

I'm still waiting for him to list where he spent his time in the service. I read yours, btw, and I'm from NJ and have been by that fort many times. Small world. :-)

[dadd]

...and we would have universal health care.

Think the Post Office.

[HeavyHitter]

Oh, you mean the organization that will deliver a letter from one coast to another for 44 cents? I would be very happy if our health care system became that efficient.

The US spends nearly 17% of its GDP on health care, more than any other country, and yet Americans die younger and have more preventable health problems than in virtually any other first world nation. Even some of the former communist bloc nations have healthier populations than the US does.

In The Netherlands they spend only 9.5% of our GDP on health care, which is even more remarkable given that their population is older than ours. They not only enjoy nearly universal coverage, but are healthier in just about every meaningful way. A typical monthly premium is $150 and nobody can be denied coverage, even if they are sick.

In other words, they get more by spending less. And that 7% difference in how much GDP they pay for health care amounts to a tax on the US economy that does nothing at all to make America better off - or healthier! - excepting those in the insurance and pharmaceutical industries who siphon off many billions of dollars each year in the form of private sector "profits".

That the republican party continues to fight for the status quo in the US health care system is proof positive that you can convince people to act against their own best interests.

[HeavyHitter]

I know this: if we had 100 Boxers in the Senate, we would not have lost over 4,000 brave soldiers in a senseless war and we would have universal health care. She doesn't give a hoot about what sore-loser, war-mongering, corporate toadies think and for that she has my everlasting respect and gratitude. Oh, and by the way, when the best thing you can find to criticize is a Senator asking to be called Senator, and cannot avoid vulgarity in doing so, you're coming close to rock bottom.

[BlueStateMensch]

Hear hear!!

[RedGinger]

Thank You, well said HeavyHitter.

[papa1893]

I loved the way She used to question Condi Rice. She works hard. Feinstein is the one I am not a fan about. The Dems. (Blue Dogs) better come on board for health care. If they do not 2010 will be the end of their free ride. We pay their salaries,health care,retirement and staff. Write,email,phone the whole lot of them as well as the Repubs.

[RJPasadena]

The entire Rethug party is an embarrassment. That Gen'l was being disrespectful. If he called the males "Senator" then he needed to show her the same respect. Don't worry, no one will be replacing Barb Boxer.

[poster1122]

He called the males Senators "sir". So no he wasn't being disrespectful. He was following proper protocol.

The military and Congress have actually established formal protocols for address. For Senators, officers are told to use either: Senator or Sir/Ma'am. That's actually part of the regulations issued by the Congressional Activities Office.