'Call Me Senator' Quip Used in Ad Against Barbara Boxer, Directed by David Zucker

(Oct. 25) -- In politics, turnabout isn't just fair play -- it's standard operating procedure.

Locked in a heated race with Republican Carly Fiorina, California Sen. Barbara Boxer is now being forced to revisit remarks she made to Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, who testified before congress in 2009 and was scolded by Boxer after addressing her as "ma'am."

"Do me a favor, could you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am?' " Boxer told Walsh in an exchange that quickly went viral on YouTube. "It's just a thing. I worked so hard to get that title. I'd appreciate it."

Walsh responded by saying, "Yes, Senator."

As that clip made the rounds on the Web, right-leaning commentators had a field day with Boxer, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee used it to help raise money for Republican candidates.

A year later, it still resonates with Fiorina and her supporters, and is seen as epitomizing what they perceive as Boxer's arrogance. To wit, the clip has been cut into political ads this fall, such as the following spot made by Fiorina's campaign.

Another, more satiric take on Boxer's moment with Walsh was released this week by the 527 group RightChange.com, and ends by telling viewers, "We've called her 'Senator' for nearly 20 years. It's time to call her ma'am again."

If the style looks familiar, that's because the ad was made by none other than David Zucker, the director of such Hollywood classics as "Airplane" and "Naked Gun," the Los Angeles Times reported.

As the Wall Street Journal reported, however, Boxer called Walsh shortly after their now famous back-and-forth and the two "expressed their respect for each other."

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