Thread: Boxer Offers No Apology for Rebuking Brigadier General

Sen. Boxer Offers No Apology for Rebuking Brigadier General Who Called Her 'Ma'am'
Aside from a briefly worded statement about a "friendly" conversation she had with an Army brigadier general after dressed him down a day earlier for calling her "ma'am," Sen. Barbara Boxer remained silent Friday in the face of growing criticism as to whether she owed an apology.



She may be a lady and a senator, but don't expect an apology from Barbara Boxer for making the distinction to an Army brigadier general this week.

Aside from a briefly worded statement about a "friendly" conversation she had with Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh after dressing him down for calling her "ma'am," Boxer remained silent Friday in the face of growing calls for her to apologize.

Walsh, with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, was testifying during a hearing before Boxer's Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works when he summoned the audacity to call the California senator "ma'am."

Boxer immediately interrupted him before he could answer one of her questions.

"You know, do me a favor," a clearly agitated Boxer said. "Could you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am?"

"Yes, ma'am," Walsh replied.

"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 answered.

But Walsh was following military protocol, which advises officers to use "sir" or "ma'am" when addressing anyone higher than them on the chain of command.

When asked whether Boxer would offer an apology, her spokesman, Zachary Coile, referred to a statement released Thursday.

"Senator Boxer called Brigadier General Walsh earlier today. They had a friendly conversation, expressed their respect for each other and talked about how they look forward to working together to protect our communities from natural disasters," the statement read.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06 ... lled-maam/

interesting poll result 95 percent of the people say YES she needs to apologize