Boxer's 'ma'am' moment sparks criticism

WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- The California man planning to run against Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., criticized the senator for correcting an Army general who called her "ma'am."

Boxer was called "ma'am" by Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh of the Army Corps of Engineers during a Tuesday meeting of the Environment and Public Works Committee after he called several male senators "sir," the Washington Times reported Friday.

"Do me a favor, can you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am'?" Boxer asked the general. "It's just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title, so I'd appreciate it. Thank you."

"Yes, senator," the general responded.

State Republican Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, who is planning to run against Boxer in 2010, said the senator "dressed down" the general who was following Army protocol, which gives service members the option of referring to members of the U.S. Senate as "sir," "ma'am" or "senator."

"So, General Walsh was simply following longstanding tradition," DeVore said.