I was appalled after I read about how Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) decided to use her time at the podium to ‘dress down’ a member of our military.
[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryEGmkjv8R8]
First, General Michael Walsh used proper military protocol to address the Senator, “Ma’am” and of course “Sir” is the standard for addressing a superior. However, having read a number of blogs both for and against Senator Boxer, the argument that Ms. Boxer is somehow a superior to BG Walsh is absurd, and is in my opinion what is wrong with many of the members of Congress. The last time I checked, only the President of the United States and his cabinet fall within the Chain of Command. Ms. Boxer, although a Senator, is not the General’s superior in any form.
Which leads me to her last comment, about how hard she worked to get her title?
Let’s see how hard she worked compared to General Walsh:
|
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) |
BG Michael Walsh, U.S. Army |
| Graduated from Brooklyn College with a BA in Economics | Graduated from Polytechnic Institute of New York with a BS in Civil Engineering, MS degree in Construction Mgmt from University of Florida |
| Stockbroker, California | 2LT, Engineer Officer’s Basic & Advanced Courses, Basic Parachutist Training (Airborne School) |
| Journalist, Pacific Sun | Various Assignments from 2LT to CPT, deployed around the world |
| Marin County Board of Supervisors | CPT, Company Commander, 94th Engineer Battalion MAJ, Contruction Officer, 18th Engineer Brigade |
| U.S. House of Representatives | LTC-COL, Various Commands throughout the world, including Project Management Officer, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) |
| U.S. Senate | COL, Chief of Staff, Corp Headquarters, Washington D.C. |
| U.S. Senate, Chairman of Environment and Public Works | BG, Commander, Corps’ South Atlantic Division during Hurricane Katrina Commander, Mississippi Valley Division, President-designee MRC |
It’s obvious Ms. Boxer was able to successfully negotiate the political process and get elected, and was honored by the people with her respective titles; on the other hand BG Michael Walsh had to actually “EARN” his stars!
The ‘Junior’ Senator from California would do well to remember that when it comes time for election.
I have to agree with the prior comments on this. Just turn on C-SPAN and watch hearings in the House or Senate anytime, and you will see called witnesses refer to Congressman and Senators as “Sir” and “Ma’am”
Some of these witnesses are from the military, many are not.
Senator Boxer has a long history of being hostile to the military, this is just a recent example of it.
Sen. Boxer, like most of her ilk, find the military to be something not discussed in polite company. It is amazing that someone can reach the office of US Senator and be so blind.
Yes I heard that hearing, and was astonished and angered by her obvious distaste for the military (as well as her equally obvious distaste for Blacks, vis-a-vis Mr Alford). She is of the same stock (and from the same electorate) as the Speaker, or as TVNews likes to refer to her: Nancy Pelosi (Twit-CA).
In the end, when a self-impprtant servant tries to belittle a warrior, it isn’t the warrior who is belittled.
thanks EW, what infuriated me most was the fact that she had the gall to demand he call her “Senator” but she didn’t have the common courtesy to return the favor and call him “General” – instead she uses the familiar “you”
When Harry Alford, CEO of National Black Chamber of Commerce came before her, and called her “Ma’am” multiple times, I didn’t hear her complain to him.
This was in my opinion a way for her to show distaste toward the military, she is a typical Clintonite, and it shows. If you want to know what I mean by that, read, “Dereliction of Duty” by Lt. Col. (ret) Robert Patterson, USAF – the former “Football Carrier” for President Clinton. (It’s in my Reading List on the left)
Her title is not earned, much like mine it is honorific and given to us by the people, General Walsh’s title is something completely different.
It was disrespectful and uncalled for, as someone who is quite familiar with ‘Senate Baseball’ – this was a definite waste of time, regardless if she used her perogative as chairman, she should know better!
I certainly hope the residents of California do something about it in the next election!
Excellent comparritive analysis Jim!