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

[MadJeffersonian]

Oy vey. What century are we in? Or a better question is, what century are the Republicans in?

[Roci]

is this man's name really "Taggart" by any chance? People like this could almost be as funny as a Mel Brooks movie, that is if it weren't so completely ignorant and unfeeling.

Roci

[Rutabaga]

I'm surprised it took this long to happen.

[nomobull]

me too

[jcwtts1]

The first group to use it was Salon.com

[esquire07]

For someone from Georgia, I can see why having a Brain may seem "Upitty."

[jackie2]

There are lots of wonderful, intelligent people in Georgia-Westmoreland just isn't one of them-

[repubsrbad]

I love it that he's so out of touch that when asked to clarify if he actually used the word "uppity"...HE CONFIRMED IT! The reporter's jaw must have dropped, just like mine is now....wow.

[bobo5]

The Republicans are uppity. They upped everything from inflation to unemployment.

[SpoxLogic]

I like that one. Send it to the Obama camp...wouldn't it be great to hear Obama say it as a response?

"THe Republicans are uppity. They've upped everything from inflation to unemployment."

SCHWEET!

[naijaman]

And yet the GOP denies being the party of racists and bigots. I'm donating $100 tonight to the Obama campaign.

[janicegwashington]

Uppity? Why? Because his parents and grandparents struggled to make sure he would get a quality education? Why? Because he's not supposed to be black, articulate, smart and pro-active? Why? Because he dared to dream and to bring America to a greater place in the world?

ANOTHER DONATION FROM ME IS ON THE WAY!

[valleygent]

It is obviously and attempt to drum up bigotry in this country...thoroughly disgusting and typical of his party.

[clearthinker2008]

It will work, it always does.

[SpoxLogic]

Hey now. You never know. Some of the bigots might vote for him once the curtain is pulled. It would be their little secret. Shhh!

[tuttlemsm]

A great quote from Keith Olbermann, reminding everyone that there is no benign interpretation of the word: "If we're playing password, and you say uppity, the word I'm thinking is racist."

[NewAmerican]

Thanks for the Uppity comment. Another $10 to the Obama campaign.

[Gdavid]

OBX thank you for the email address. I just added my voice to the onslaught his servers are probably experiencing now.

[MuseScavenger]

Feel like you can't win? Demonize the opponent.

[VSamuels]

The demonization took placed generations ago, Westmoreland was merely reminding like-minded white folks to connect Obama with the stereotype of a black guy who doesn't know his place, and who is attempting to do something strictly in their minds is set-aside for whites. Ironically, this is quotas, the same charge they make about non-whites. Here, they have accepted that they have a right to certain 'priviledges' based on their skin color, while offering up a well-worn argument that it is black folks who are trying to take something from them with Affirmative Action.

And, yet another GOP convention comes and goes; and the inept media fails to confront the all-whiteness of their effort or look at it from the standpoint that they do not resemble the changing demographics of the US. This same media however, doesn't seem to miss a chance to frame race from within its typical pattern of the black guy, however.

But, it does help to explain why many whites so quickly dismiss talk of racism or race, as they fail to confront the hypocrisy of having a 94% white convention, as if their numbers do not speak about race.

[GrkAm]

I believe that Michelle Obama's speech was hands above Sarah Palin's. What was impressive about Michelle Obamas speech was that she worked writing it for a month or so. It was a speech of eloquence and passion. It was a speech that spoke to issues of the country, as well as to being a wife and a mother. She presented herself with poise, intelligence and grace. A hopeful message for a nation and its vast diversity.

Sarah Palin came out in her speech as strong, bold and intelligent. She definitely hit a homerun considering this was her first public appearance of this magnitude. She was undeterred by the reported glitches in the teleprompter and delivered her VP speech with vigor and enthusiasm.

Of course, the VP nominee has a different task and speech than the wife of the Presidential nominee. First thought on her speech was that she had some real "stones"! As the speech progressed, it started to sound like a G W Bush speech. After doing research, I discovered that a male Republican speech writer wrote her speech. That explains part of it.

I do believe that NO ONE should sell this woman short! She is a force to be reckoned with and a quick study.

[Iamfedup]

We knew that it was just a matter of time before they came out and called him uppity, they can't help themselves. You can only hide that kind of hatefulness but for so long.
Be prepared because the N word is next or maybe even the J word/