GOP Congressman Calls Obama "Uppity"

The Hill:

Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland used the racially-tinged term "uppity" to describe Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Thursday.

Westmoreland was discussing vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's speech with reporters outside the House chamber and was asked to compare her with Michelle Obama.

"Just from what little I've seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity," Westmoreland said.

Asked to clarify that he used the word "uppity," Westmoreland said, "Uppity, yeah."

Read the whole story: The Hill

Comments

[RainDance33]

Why is America so backward when it comes to issues involving race? I do not live in the US and we all find the whole race debate in America like something out of the dark ages. It is very weird, I live in a multi-cultural country and although we have a few problems, they pale into insignificance when compared to the hateful bigotry in the US. If one of our politicians made a comment like that they would be dumped so quick it would make your head spin. And it is not that we have been consumed by some politically correct culture, it is simply because people find it ignorant and backward to hold those perceptions.

[aquarharris688]

Obama doesn't own 10 homes, he doesn't wear $520 shoes, nor does he resort to character assassinations when he has doesn't have issues to speak about that support the low and middle class, but McCain does. Obama believes that the government should help the people to improve their quality of living by helping to improve the economy, i.e....... early education, teacher incentives, college assistance, fair and affordable health care, assistance with the foreclosure crisis, reduction in taxes for those earning under $250, no privatization of Social Security along with little or no tax for senior citizens,ending the unnecessary war in Iraq, which has put us in this financially embarrassing crisis and giving health benefits, education benfits and financial support for veterans.
Wow, if this is being uppity then what the heck is McCain?

[NC2NJ]

Uppity= Southern word for "This N-Word don't know his place"..

[Arbereshe]

It is shameful that a Congressman would say such a reprehensible thing which would get most people fired from their jobs.

One of the posts on Ta-Nehisi's blog at Atlantic.com suggested donating money to Westmoreland's opponent, Stephen Camp.

http://www.stephencampforcongress.com/

From Wiki:

"As a U.S. congressman, Westmoreland cosponsored a bill to place the Ten Commandments in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Westmoreland also sponsored a bill that the Ten Commandments could be displayed in courthouses in a historical setting.[3] In May 2006, political humorist Stephen Colbert interviewed Westmoreland for The Colbert Report show segment Better Know a District. The congressman was only able to name three of the Ten Commandments he sought to legally put in public display."

You can see Stephen Colbert take Westmoreland to task here.
http://en.sevenload.com/videos/APAfFaS-Stephen-Colbert-versus-Lynn-Westmoreland

I think it's a marvelous idea to contribute to his Democratic opponent considering Westmoreland doesn't have clue that church and state are supposed to be separate...this is America after all.

[Fudgefase]

They just can't get past it, can they?

[indypete]

The true colors come out.

[wadda]

Westmoreland forgot to use the secret coder/decoder ring because too many of friends don't know what 'elitist' means.

There is a rumor going around he also periodically reverts to grunts and howls to indicate a non-white person is nearby.

[tuttlemsm]

"Westmoreland forgot to use the secret coder/decoder ring because too many of friends don't know what 'elitist' means."

They've given up on "elitist" to be code for the uppity overachiever.

Now they're using "community organizer" as code for street hustlin' con man, since people could see through the ridiculous "elitist" claim.

[GaiusLucilius]

This guy sounds like a parody of a low-information right-winger in his Stephen Colbert interview. Google it (the youtube ones have music in the background, so do "the google" instead.)

[Marsangusidaho]

I agree with several others here that given the very nasty and petty tone of comments by Romney, Giuliani, and Palin last night, the so-called "N word" seemed just at the tips of their tongues. It was clearly in the air, and I can easily imagine that it flowed more easily among delegates over drinks afterword. I've never seen a more right-wing, frightening Republican convention. Surely these people cannot be representative of a majority of American voters. Can they?...

[YunekFlava]

You bet, but that is not going to be enough. When you are out of a job, no health care, generations of your family have lost their homes, etc. This is not going to be a gender and party election, this is going to be a economic election. Period.

[babe41]

shame on the GOP. They need to put him in some closet far away

[AlphaDoc]

The Republican closets are way too crowded as it is.

[Witkacy]

This mentality is part of the god's-honest GOP mainstream! And let's still not let Dem pols off the hook for their racist crap, either: let's never forget Clinton's desperate turn to "white voters"

[jwatso7]

Maybe he can hide in Alaska with Sarah.

[VivaZapata]

yet another example of how the republican mentality is out of step and warped.

[janicegwashington]

TRANSLATION - JEALOUS!

[ggmome]

TRANSLATION: BETTER THAN HIM!

[Arguman]

Isn't this the guy who doesn't know the 10 Commandments, and yet wanted them in front of the House and Senate buildings. I think people just like saying "uppity".
It is a pretty fun word to say, I must admit.
Uppityuppityuppity.

[foreffectivegovernment]

Obama is an "Egghead", "an Intellectual", "Professorial" and "Uppity". All Elitists are.
ELITIST -
a. A group or class of persons or a member of such a group or class, enjoying superior
intellectual, social, or economic status
b. The best or most skilled members of a group.

egg•head / ˈegˌhed/ • n. inf., a person who is highly academic or studious; an intellectual.

[HerbTee]

Oh, I see now. An ignorant, low-class, uneducated hick from Georgia who lucked out and became a Congressman because his ignorance is surpassed only by those who voted for him. Well, I was born and raised in Glynn County, Georgia and I've seen and lived through the likes of Westmoreland before. Some people in Georgia will still vote for anyone if he's White and says the right "buzz words" to keep the Black folks in their place.