Friday, June 26, 2009

Boxer demands fealty, not respect

Proper etiquette once invited respect and using “Sir” and “Ma’am” was considered reverential. The insult arose when the words were warranted but not used.

Within the military structure referring to a ranking officer as “Sir” or “Ma’am” still represents proper protocol. In fact, it’s mandatory. For example, a subordinate can use “Sir”, “Ma’am”, or rank while addressing a superior officer and remain soundly within the realm of civility.

Such courtesy once worked in the Halls of Congress, too. That was before self-absorbed lords such as California’s Barbara Boxer assumed royal authority in Washington.

Boxer chastised Brigadier General Michael Walsh during a recent Senate hearing. The video is everywhere and you can see it for yourself. However, to summarize for clarity, Walsh addressed Boxer as “Ma’am” instead of “Senator” and you’d have thought he called her the “C” word.

She promptly informed the General that she preferred to be addressed as Senator Boxer because she had “worked so hard to get that title.” How can anyone simultaneously be so arrogant, narcissistic and insecure?

Mr. Walsh showed proper respect for both Boxer and her office with the term “ma’am.” “Ma’am” is a contraction of “madam” and refers to a woman of refinement. It’s a compliment. And it’s arguably more than Barbara Boxer deserves.

Boxer must be extraordinarily insecure in her person and inordinately proud of her power to have taken offense. She just couldn’t resist calling attention to herself and shoving her credentials in someone’s face. It’s a trait of outward arrogance that also indicates inner weakness.

Maybe her insecurity arises from the possibility that becoming a Democratic Senator from California isn’t overly difficult. Daffy Duck could run as a Democrat and defeat a Republican in a state-wide race. It’s just no great trick for a Leftist to win a general election in California.

Even winning the Democrat primary isn’t as monumental a task as Boxer claims. How hard is it to promise more government, more spending and more of everything to 51-percent of the population at the expense of the other 49-percent? And whatever your Leftist opponent may promise, double the offer. What’s so difficult?

Who is Boxer to claim that she “worked hard” for what she has anyway? Americans work hard to attain success everyday. They use their talents to please their neighbors, customers and clients. Yet Boxer has no qualms with disrespecting such commoners, or with redistributing what they’ve earned. They are, after all, the winners of life’s lottery.

Now she has the gall to demand acknowledgement of her hard work? Forget it!

By the way, the silver star Michael Walsh wears doesn’t mean he’s the Marshall of Dodge City. And he didn’t get it from a Cracker Jack box. In fact, I’ll wager that Walsh worked harder to attain the rank of Brigadier General than Boxer did to win a Senate seat. I’ll also wager that he wouldn’t be mortally offended if a subordinate called him Sir.

Boxer’s condescending attitude is born from an odd marriage of inner weakness and insecurity with an outward sense of royalty and unmitigated authority. It’s time her highness faced the reality of her contradictions.

No one is forcing women back to the barefoot, pregnant, cookie-baking days with the use of ma’am. Boxer’s offense at this traditional term of respect reflects both a hollow personality and a shallow intellect.

Attaining a Senate seat is a rare accomplishment; there are only 100 Senators at a time. She can be proud of her office. But public office grants her no right to demand fealty from another American citizen, especially a Brigadier General. Barbara’s panties were wadded over nothing.


Boxer’s childish demand didn’t enhance her authority nor command anyone’s respect. She merely proved that arrogant insecurity isn’t an oxymoron and that she’s undeserving even of the obeisance she received, much less that which she demands.

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