Code of Conduct and Senator Boxer

I am searching for my old military Code of Conduct book (it is somewhere in the basement) to properly cover this quick topic.  Once I find it, I will post the section regarding the proper way to address a politician during conversation.  Until then, if my memory serves me correctly, it is proper for a commissioned officer to address a Senator in conversation as sir or ma’am, rather than their position title.  This is obviously in response to gripe by Senator Barbara Boxer.

During a hearing today, “Senator” Barbara Boxer complained to Brigadier General Michael Walsh about him referring to her as ma’am.  Here is a link to the video.  In case you cannot view the video, the text of the exchange is as follows:

Senator:  Why has it been delayed?

General:  Ma’am, at the LACPR…

Senator:  (Interrupting) You know … Do me a favor.  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.

General:  Yes Senator.

I’m not sure if Senator Boxer was having an overly sensitive day.  Maybe she is like me and has not been sleeping well as of late, or maybe she really does have an issue with being addressed as “ma’am.”  However, the Senator should understand that it is proper for members in the military to address any superior as sir or ma’am.  In this case, the General was giving her credit as being in a position higher than his own.

On that point, I have to take issue with something the Senator said.  “I worked so hard to get that title.”  That sounds so bad.  While it does take a lot of time, effort, and energy to be elected as Senator, the position is that of servitude rather some higher position of status.  This is politicians are suppose to answer to their electorate, meaning the public is the superior and the politician the junior. 

Additionally, is it a double-standard that the General has to show respect to the Senator by addressing her by her position and the same time she interrupts him for “a thing?”  Respect flows both ways, ma’am.

Related articles:
Hot Air - “Boxer gets snotty with general: Address me as ’senator,’ not ‘ma’am’”
FOX News – “Boxer, the U.S. Senator, Chides Brigadier General for Calling Her ‘Ma’am’”
Politics Daily – “Barabara Boxer: Please Call Me ‘Senator’”

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