WASHINGTON — At a Wednesday Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on New Orleans levees, Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) insisted that Army Corps of Engineer Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh address her as "Senator" instead of "Ma'am." A 17-second videoclip of the exchange has now become the latest Internet fodder to emanate from Washington.
The general is 100 percent correct in responding to members of Congress with "Sir" or "Ma'am." The senator, on the other hand, is also correct, though probably everyone now agrees that this should have been handled differently, if at all. There are far more important issues facing America — from national security to the proper care and treatment of veterans, military servicemembers and their families — and this difference of opinion in salutations is not one of them.