Boxer scolds Army General for not calling her “Senatorâ€. «What got her most rankled was when she wasn't addressed properly. It seems that “ma'am†— a term deemed appropriate by a Military Protocol guide — isn't good enough for the senator. She demands the title “Senatorâ€. So much so that she interrupted his testimony to scold him for the apparent lack of respect. »
My previous posts on similar subjects would lead me to prefer "ma'am," because it is a courtesy that can be extended to any (female) member of the society.
I understand, however, that some women perceive "ma'am" as being sarcastic or a passive-aggressive way of disparaging a woman holding a position of authority.
Why not just "Ms. Boxer"? That would probably also annoy the senator, but so far as I am concerned, no holder of public office, whether a senator or a brigadier general should expect to demand deference.
Interesting. Boxer is my senator, and I wonder if there is any official protocol or guidelines for how people are supposed to address each other in DC. But then again, Boxer asks the General to "do her a favor," and admits that it's "just a thing." So, even if it's not official protocol, Boxer is expressing a personal preference, and I suppose that is her prerogative. It would have been funny if the General had, in turn, asked Boxer to address him as Brigadier General. But I guess that he didn't just have a thing about his title. Or maybe he didn't work as hard as Boxer did to get his title. 😉
I'm currently a little peeved at Boxer about a recent email she sent me (as one of her constituents, I get monthly updates from Boxer's office). As many of you know, California is in a bit of a financial pickle. Senator Boxer informed me that she is working hard on this:
I recently honored baseball great Rickey Henderson's upcoming induction into the Hall of Fame with a statement that appeared in the Congressional Record. You can find my statement below, and I am pleased to share it with you.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
The email contains the entire, long-winded statement, and I won't bother pasting it here. Somehow this doesn't seem so senatorial.
Grant Barrett said:
Boxer scolds Army General for not calling her “Senatorâ€. «What got her most rankled was when she wasn't addressed properly. It seems that “ma'am†— a term deemed appropriate by a Military Protocol guide — isn't good enough for the senator. She demands the title “Senatorâ€. So much so that she interrupted his testimony to scold him for the apparent lack of respect. »
Demanded or politely requested her proper title? And is it true that all the other (male) senators were being addressed properly? Help me, Martha!
I'm not sure there is anything "improper" about addressing a female senator as ma'am, unless there is something improper about addressing a male senator as sir. But if the same general addressed the male senators as senator, and Boxer as ma'am, then that is an entirely different matter. But something would be seriously wrong with the "liberal biased media" if that part of the story was left out.