Congressman Lynn Westmoreland Calls Barack Obama "Uppity"

I'm sure you've heard by now that Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, who represents Georgia's 3rd district, when asked to comment on John McCain's pick of Sarah Palin for vice president and contrast her with Michelle Obama said: "Just from what little I've seen of her and Mr. Obama, Senator Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity." [sic] When the reporter asked if "uppity" was really the word he wished to use, Westmoreland said: "Uppity, yeah."

Last year, Westmoreland was one of only two members of Congress (422-2) to vote against a bill named after the slain 14-year-old African-American boy, Emmett Till, which would provide funds to the FBI to investigate killings during the civil rights era. He sponsored a bill to post the Ten Commandments in the House and the Senate but can't even name all ten of them by memory. He recently held vigil in the House with other Republican dead-enders demanding that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi call the chamber into session to appease their "Drill here, Drill now!" demands. Said Westmoreland: "This is about Nancy Pelosi versus the people of the United States. She's elected by the San Francisco mentality." Westmoreland apparently considers Californians "uppity" too because we don't want to sacrifice a $6 billion-a-year tourist industry that employs 2 million people so that oil conglomerates can rake in more record profits and good ol' boys in Westmoreland's district can pump gas into their trucks and hummers that is a few pennies cheaper in 10 years (while the planet continues to heat up).

The Honorable Lynn Westmoreland probably chose not to follow up the word "uppity" with the N-word when he was jawboning about Obama because he was in front of Yankee reporters on Capitol Hill and not at a Council of Conservative Citizens barbeque back home.

The "uppity" smear came at roughly the same time the Republicans were ridiculing Obama at their convention for being a community organizer as a young man in the impoverished South Side of Chicago. The whole tacky scene reminded me of 2004 when Republicans sported band-aids with tiny purple hearts on them to mock John Kerry's war record. Their attacks this time on community organizers were revealing; Rudy Giuliani couldn't even utter the words without sarcastic laughter. Given the fact that it was community organizers who established labor unions in this country and that Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr. and other Americans who are revered today for their heroic struggles against social injustice were also "community organizers," these barbs tended to undercut the Republicans' folksy homilies about health care, education, and economic relief that crept into some of their speeches. Sarah Palin even tried to pawn herself off as a "union" family member because her husband, Todd, the "First Dude," once belonged to one.

In between their acerbic attacks and sneers, the Republicans clucked on about helping the "common man" in language that made them at times sound like Democrats. It's an old trick. A gathering of the whitest, richest, meanest, most plutocratic, and fundamentalist delegates ever assembled under one roof sounding like Populists so they can squeeze out one more election victory and keep their corrupt gravy train rolling along for at least four more years. Call it "compassionate conservatism" without the compassion. After watching three days of the Republican National Convention I needed to take a long, hot, soapy bath to try to cleanse myself from the filthy hypocrisy I had been subjected to.

I heard Republicans invoke the inevitable applause line in countless affectations about Obama calling rural folk "bitter" who "cling" to their guns and religion. From Fred Thompson to Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin to John McCain, everyone seemed to want to level the "elitist" charge against Obama and the only arrow in their quivers to drive home this point came from the Huffington Post's own Mayhill Fowler who is immortalized for bringing the world that gem. I've already heard Republicans on TV using the "bitter" line to defend Westmoreland's use of the word "uppity," and in a bizarre redefinition of the word, Westmoreland claims that what he really meant by "uppity" was "elitist." I think the 2008 presidential campaign has now officially entered the crazy, irrational stage, which always serves the Republicans well.

Can a White Man Be "Uppity" Too?

Comments

[ajusthousewife]

lynn westmoreland was hired by bad builders to offer expert testimony for them in a multi-million dollar federal lawsuit in georgia--the people he worked for were bad people--they defrauded homeowners for many years and made millions on the fraud--their codefendants included public officials and local politicians and petty criminals-- unnamed co-conspirators included large banks and state level politicians as well as at least one convicted felon--this lawsuit is comprehensively documented in the federal archives in atlanta---at the time that mr. westmoreland worked for these people and testified UNDER OATH for them, he was a state rep for georgia---­concurrent to the lawsuit was an investigation of these people and their associates, by the public corruption task force of the justice department, FBI and IRS Fraud divisions--this unsavory and motley crew were wealthy and powerful and their primary adversaries were two lowly housewives--threats were made, people were hurt, millions were spent--the bad guys did ultimately lose--it was pyrrhic victory for the housewives and mr. westmoreland went on to Washington--so now you know how he got there

[Alkelly340]

Well its just the same ol politics from the last 8 years that are coming to play here and if they really want to play the who is an elitist game then why would you point a big middle finger at community organisers, people who work incredibly hard for the most non "uppity" people in america. Lets not forget that the elist vacation Obama took to hawaii is the same place McCain met his millionare new younger wife. Joe, if you want a great laugh watch the Daily Show episodes during the convention, id like to think you already have but the research the shows team did is priceless. 3 million views on the comedy central website about paulin is the best thing the show has done for america. They should be working for the Obama team!

[Angela Chen Shui]

In this time when McCain/Palin are 'change' agents, anything that proves that they are not should be repeated over and over. A community organiser's job is to make change HAPPEN.

Not sure why but Dems aren't saying 'Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr. and other Americans who are revered today for their heroic struggles against social injustice were also "community organizers,"'

Every time Repubs make fun of Barack Obama being 'only' a 'community organiser' they make fun of helping poor people and people who want to be active in transforming their communities. THAT is the key that should be shouted from rooftops! That should be called out and called out powerfully.

POUND the issues and stop being distracted w/ Palin or any other attempt to get away from the issues. Stop holding back if winning is important, Dems!

[edwcorey]

A petty point, but it's "barbecue," not "barbeque." Even some Repubmorons know that.

[wayneskrit]

Obama call himself the prophet of change and touts his plan to improve the lives of Americans in jobs ,education and living the American dream. My question is this: Is he planning to improve our dysfunctional education system or give us the resources to pay $20,000. per child per year to send our kids to the same school his kids go to.....? Public school isnt good enough for them. The only change I see is transferring them from expensive school in Chicago to expensive school in Washington DC. Things that make you go hmmmmmm.

[PATina]

What I find amusing... is the meme that African Americans DON'T respect education... yet, it's these white, good old boys (and gals) who were ridiculing people for being educated. It just confirms the old saying... if you're white, you're right. If you're a young black man who get's himself an ivy league education... you're elitist and "un-American". If you're white... drop out of high school, impregnate a class mate... you're a fine upstanding citizen.