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  • Boxer's opponents capitalize on 'ma'am' exchange

    Boxer's opponents capitalize on 'ma'am' exchange
    By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer Kevin Freking, Associated Press Writer Mon Dec 14, 9:01 am ET

    WASHINGTON – The widely played video clip of U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer reprimanding a general for calling her "ma'am" is the gift that keeps on giving for the two Republicans hoping to challenge her next year.

    Republicans Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVore are trying to capitalize on the exchange by making it a key ingredient of their fundraising efforts and attempts to recruit grassroots support. Both campaigns say the video revs up a GOP base that already has long-standing animosity toward Boxer, among the most liberal members of the Senate.

    Whether it will have currency beyond next June's Republican primary, when the winner will have to appeal to a much larger and more diverse audience, is an open question.

    During a hearing last June, Boxer interrupted Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh of the Army Corps of Engineers in mid-sentence: "Do me a favor?" she said. "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."

    Boxer said the general was not offended by her remarks, but many in the GOP clearly were, including the two Republican challengers.

    Former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina thought the exchange was so memorable that it prompted her to create a Web site titled CallMeBarbara.com, which she uses to raise money and keep in touch with supporters.

    Campaign aides said they could not quantify the site's appeal, except to say it has received thousands of hits and led to thousands of dollars in donations.

    The campaign of state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore juxtaposed the Boxer clip with an Austin Powers movie frame showing the Dr. Evil character upbraiding those who dare refer to him as "Mr. Evil." The 30-second video has generated more than 108,000 clicks on YouTube. It's been one of the campaign's most popular tools for reaching out to potential supporters.

    Barbara O'Connor, professor of communications at Sacramento State University, said the use of Boxer's comments from the hearing will no doubt fire up the GOP base during the primary campaign but probably will not hurt the third-term senator in the general election. Jobs, health care and other bread-and-butter issues are expected to take precedence.

    "It's not the kind of thing that plays well in California," O'Connor said, referring to the type of criticism Fiorina and DeVore are leveling at the Boxer video. "I think the economy is the sole issue that people are thinking about."

    Registered Republicans represent less than a third of California's electorate. Women, who vote in greater numbers than men in California, may well see Boxer's statement as a demand for equal treatment.

    "I think many California women resonate to the request to acknowledge their accomplishments," O'Connor said. "How you address someone is often a window to how much credibility you feel they have."

    Leisa Brug Kline, the campaign manager for DeVore, expects that the Boxer video will be useful after the primary election because it illustrates the senator's regard for others. The popularity of the Dr. Evil video proves that people were upset by the exchange, she said.

    "I don't know if it will be a huge issue, but it will be one because it boils down to demeanor and respect," Brug Kline said.

    She said it's not easy to quantify the video's effect for the DeVore campaign: "It is more subtle than that. People view it, share it, sign up to our e-mail list, and eventually contribute. A large number of activists have seen the video, and they view it as a measure of our campaign's effectiveness."

    Fiorina's campaign is focusing on the exchange because it exemplifies the tone voters have come to expect from Boxer, said Julie Soderlund, a spokeswoman for Fiorina.

    "A member of the military calling somebody ma'am or sir certainly isn't something that's unusual," Soderlund said. "Most people who see the video recognize that and recognize the level of arrogance that Senator Boxer brought to the situation."

    The Department of Defense has no official policy dictating how service members should address members of Congress, said Cmdr. Darryn James, a Pentagon spokesman.

    Boxer said her opponents' focus on the exchange says more about them than it does about her. She's not about to apologize.

    "Once in 17 years that I've been a senator, I asked a witness to call me senator, because we were having a back and forth and I kept saying 'general' and he kept saying 'ma'am', and it went general, ma'am, general, ma'am. And I thought, you know what, this is one of those times we ought to call each other by our titles," she said in an interview.

    Boxer's strategy for dealing with the fallout is simple: Let her opponents talk about the exchange while she focuses on talking about jobs and other priorities. It's her way of conveying to voters that she is focused on the issues they care about while her opponents are focused on petty issues.

    "If this is what she thinks is the most important issue as people are struggling to get jobs, and housing, and health care, it's fine," Boxer said in reference to Fiorina.
    Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved
    To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

  • #2
    Boxer is a hag and a wench. Since I'm not as respectful a man as the Gen, I would be happy to address her as Senator Asshat anytime. Thing is, those who would vote for her probably don't see why the rest of us are appalled at this. She doesn't deserve to be in the same room with such a man.

    Last edited by Blue; 14 Dec 09,, 22:08.

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    • #3
      "Once in 17 years that I've been a senator, I asked a witness to call me senator, because we were having a back and forth and I kept saying 'general' and he kept saying 'ma'am', and it went general, ma'am, general, ma'am. And I thought, you know what, this is one of those times we ought to call each other by our titles," she said in an interview.
      It is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove all doubt.
      "Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.

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      • #4
        The Gen should have came back with "I'd be happy to Senator. Could you please address me as Sir, which I am accustomed to, because I'm sure I worked harder for that than you did!"

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        • #5
          Won't affect things at all.

          This is California and the perceived disrespect to a male military officer has probably gained Boxer some points with her constituency.

          Registered Republicans represent less than a third of California's electorate. Women, who vote in greater numbers than men in California, may well see Boxer's statement as a demand for equal treatment.
          Boxer also makes a good point, frankly.

          Boxer's strategy for dealing with the fallout is simple: Let her opponents talk about the exchange while she focuses on talking about jobs and other priorities. It's her way of conveying to voters that she is focused on the issues they care about while her opponents are focused on petty issues.

          "If this is what she thinks is the most important issue as people are struggling to get jobs, and housing, and health care, it's fine," Boxer said in reference to Fiorina.
          I don't neccessarily think that Boxer can deliver on jobs, housing and health care (at least, not without robbing from others to pay for it...you know, socialism?) but at least she's saying the right words and that's all she needs to get reelected.

          Hell, she doesn't even need that much!
          “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

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          • #6
            I saw that Dr Evil Boxer you tube ... I enjoyed it :)

            I have no issue with Boxer asking to be called Senator, unfortunately it is her title. I did think she sounded a wee bit condescending but that might have just been my perception.

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            • #7
              Good thing it wasn't Col Jessup on the stand



              On a more serious note. She was within her right. She deserves to be called by her title. Just as the general does.

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              • #8
                Leave her alone you wackos.... :P

                Boxer to Fiorina: Don't Call Me Partisan
                Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina continuing to run against Senator Barbara Boxer's record
                By JACKSON WEST
                Updated 4:00 PM PST, Mon, Dec 14, 2009

                Print Email Share Buzz up! TWITTER FACEBOOK

                Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina trying to make political hay over Senator Barbara Boxer demanding respect is rather ironic.
                Getty Images

                Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina has been taking shots at Senator Barbara Boxer's record as the former campaigns for the Republican Party's nomination in next year's election.

                Fiorina has argued that Boxer has been one of the most partisan of Senate Democrats, and that Boxer has done little since taking office in 1992.

                It's all part of Fiorina's apparent strategy to essentially ignore that she has competition for the nomination -- namely, State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore -- preferring to assume the mantle of front-runner and run against Boxer's record.

                However, the San Francisco Chronicle points out that Fiorina's campaign has largely understated Boxer's legislative record by only counting the number of bills Boxer authored that made it into law unamended -- a relatively rare circumstance for anyone in the Senate.

                It could all work to Fiorina's advantage, as Boxer represents the left-of-center wing of California democrats, with senior Senator Diane Feinstein playing the role of centrist.

                But while Feinstein can count on moderate Republicans swinging her way on election day, it remains to be seen if Fiorina can convince moderate Democrats to, essentially, vote for more Feinstein.

                And Fiorina shouldn't assume that just because she's a woman, she can draw votes away from the Democrats -- trying to make an issue of Boxer demanding professional respect after being called "ma'am" by a general can't help Fiorina's cause with women who've similarly fought to be addressed appropriately in the workplace.

                And Fiorina still has to convince conservative Republicans to give her the nomination in the first place.

                Jackson West still think DeVore has a shot, since the last thing obstructionist Republicans seem to want right now is bipartisanship.
                Copyright NBC Local Media
                First Published: Dec 14, 2009 3:42 PM PS
                Last edited by troung; 15 Dec 09,, 06:18.
                To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Gun Grape View Post
                  Good thing it wasn't Col Jessup on the stand


                  Excellent :)):))
                  When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep? - George Canning sigpic

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                  • #10
                    Working for respect is fine, but if she really wants it from a larger audience then i think she needs to give it too all first. Fail!
                    Last edited by Panther; 16 Dec 09,, 06:35. Reason: Unhappy with the context within the original

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