Rep. Westmoreland (R-GA) calls Obama "uppity"; UPDATED w/ audio
By SilentPatriot Wednesday Sep 03, 2008 3:15pm
Not even trying to hide their racism anymore, I see.
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.”
From the C&L vault: Westmoreland co-sponsors bill on the Ten Commandments and can’t even name them
UPDATE: Listen to the audio and decide for yourself.
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So is Westmoreland saying that Barack is gay?
how is "uppity" a racist term?
Just think, there are people out there who voted for this LOSER!
Anyone who doesn't like the way things are right now is totally uppity and doesn't love America.
That guy is dumb as rocks.
Well, nice to see a Republican who actually has the balls to use the word instead of dancing around like all the others have been.
Maybe if Mr. Obama wore a nice red jacket and sharp white gloves they'd find him easier to accept in the White House.
Straight out of the McCain camp's talking points memos ...
Gergen: McCain Using Code Words To Attack Obama As "Uppity"
Oh, wow, the grammar in Westmoreland's sentence is tortured. Has the guy been hanging around Dubya too long? ("Is our Congresscritters stupid?")
A racist pig like this honky is downity. How low can the thugs in the republican party go? Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater, and Dwight Eisenhower would all be Democrats. None of them would have been racist pigs and reichwing fascists.
burnt @ 2:
Are you kidding?
burnt @ 2:
Just like lynching is a racist term.
Born in the south, raised in the south. I know what "uppity" means. For all those redneck, trailer trash fools with confederate flags hanging across their bar, return to the 21st Century-you lost the damn war.
burnt @ 2:
Your right...so when I tell you to go fuck yourself, i am not being hostile or rude.....so go fuck yourself!
I think the kindest thing I could say about rep westmoreland is the he seems very stupity!
burnt @ 2:
You must be new to humanity. Welcome.
burnt @ 2:
Because it's long been used with another word that is very popular among white racist assholes.
It's a Civil War we are in.
cubiclegrrl @ 7:
Yeah, I can't even tell whom he's referencing. Or what he's talking about at all.
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.
Who's a member? They're a member of an individual? Who thinks who's uppity? What the hell?
Oh man...you just KNOW that behind closed doors the "N" bomb is gettin dropped left and right by this fucker.
kasinca @ 8:
Nixon was a racist, anti-semitic pig.
cubiclegrrl @ 7:
yeah - he's from Georgia. They don't believe in much edumacation.
lmab @ 12:
amen!
burnt @ 2:
Call the next big black man you pass by "uppity". Your ignorance won't be an excuse to save your dumb ass.
What did you you expect from a southern redneck good ol boy. He's part of elitist class called idiot politicians. Yeah, idiot politicians.
Uppity?
Who's running against this clown?
I don't care who's in his district they deserve a better rep than this ass clown.
11. Thou shalt not be uppity if thine skin is dark.
Duncan James @ 9:
He's got to be.
Bet the right wing punk wouldn't say that to Obama's face.
burnt @ 2:
Connotation vs. Denotation.
Though the rest of the "you've got to be kidding" responses are better. :)
Duncan James @ 9:
no?
and I just googled "uppity racist" ... not much there either. hmm. I grew up in a small town, used to hear the term all the time. usually in reference to city folks, and/or rich folks.
Mr. Anon @ 4:
Only if they're minorities. White folks who think like that are traitors, who don't love Murka...
Scy @ 16:
It is a battle for the soul of the country. It is about what america could be and should be. Obama had it just about right.
I am just afraid that the wrong side is going to win.
someguy @ 26:
He's not.
http://justmoreofthesame.com
http://barackobama.com
Rob (Formerly) In Toronto @ 31:
Evil always wins the battle but not the war.
Ohhh! Uppity! Ouch. Where are we? In the playground? Sounds like a childs retort,"Your uppity!", The reply,"Am Not!"
Any bets on which politican (and which side of the isle they're on) gets caught using the "N" word?
Clearly the guy did not mean 'uppity' in racist terms. The dictionary defines 'uppity' as "snobbish, arrogant, or presumptuous".
I'm a democrat, but get a grip guys. This is just stupid.
You've got to remember that these are just simple conservatives. These are people of the red states. The common clay of the new Republican party. You know... morons
Wait. What? So going to Harvard makes you an 'elitist'?
Karen @ 17:
Not to mention that the word "individual" should take the pronoun "who," not "that."
A very common error among the dumbed-down American populace.
Illiterate, indeed. And very, very insulting. The hell with this Westmoreland cracker.
"Ni@@er" is coming for sure next.
Vlad Rudy practically called Obama a "fa@@ot" last night too.
kit wilson @ 11:
Yep I was born and raised in the south too and I heard my racist father and mother use that word in a phrase followed by the "N" word more times than I care to remember.
His nervous system terminates at the basal ganglia.
burnt @ 29:
go read Gone With the Wind and then come back and comment.
GLAD OBAMA DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN A "high pitched hysterical shrill screech"
The republican party is full of rich people and those that mistake being unrefined as being genuine and a good American. This is anti-intellectualism at its worst. Again, Thomas Frank's book about Kansas is spot on. Here's a brief example of this anti-cultural elitist slant among repubs. I frequent a traditional archery site that is mostly republican, as far as I can tell. A guy was posting about how wolf reintroduction was a bad idea in a certain area, mostly he demonized wolves. I, as a biologist, tried to give him a few counter-arguments. He actually said about me to the forum (I paraphrase from memory) "it may seem that [my screen name there] is being very logical and using a lot of impressive words, but he is just justifying how he feels. It is all just his feelings wrapped in reasoning." How can you win an rational debate with these people when they don't really believe that reason is possible?
Semper FLY @ 38:
Spending years raising a family while paying back your college loans makes you an elitist. Yeah, I'm sure that's what he meant.
And you know I'd agree that he's clearly being racist if that sentence even made sense.
Is english his first language? Because it sounds very much like he remembers which talking point he's supposed to be using but can't quite get the grammar down.
That's how we does thins' down in jeeogia.
Bah now!
burnt @ 29:
You didn't look too hard. This was the first thing that popped up in my google...
You know, 'uppity' - as in a black person wanting to move up in social class or standing out of the ghettos and slums where the racists think they should stay.
Mike @ 36:
Again, connotation vs. denotation.
If he weren't being racist, he had no idea of the historical connotation of the word when applied to African Americans. That's an issue in and of itself. Like the California Assemblywoman who offered to "Jew down" a price, having no idea that the term actually insulted Jewish people.
The denotation is not merely snobbish or presumptuous; it includes "assuming airs beyond one's station." Historically, the term was used in the last century to connote uppity blacks who think they should be allowed to vote / hold office.
Amalink @ 43:
or just say it to the next black guy ya see.
RACIST!!!!! I'm surprised that he's not upset that Obama is half white, the same color as him. Hmmmm?????
Scy @ 16:
Definitely and to many Dems in leadeship see these right wing demonic freaks as the people we can work with and not the enemy.
Unil we realize these freaks are the enemy Dems will continue to lose.
motorfingaz @ 33:
Sorry, I see no evidence of this. It is a nice turn of phrase but it just ain't true.
Truth does not always win out.
The good guys do not always win.
Nice Guys often do finish last.
The "pushback" on this has been weak from Obama's camp. His spokesman said "I see no racial context". I am sorry but that aint gonna cut it. This wasn't even a dogwhistle, it was blatant and unrepentant because he was asked to clarify and he repeated it. If these buttwipes cannot be called out when they are being obviously racist then what is the point of even trying?
This country has had twenty plus years of the republicans projecting its own thoughts and ideas onto the opposing party. I'm tired of it. The only uppity people are the hypocritical republicans and this cracker Rep. Westmoreland.
In westmorelands defense, he can't be as stupid as he appears. No one could be that stupid and live, could they?
I wish to nominate him as eternal poster boy for brain death.
http://uppitynegronetwork.wordpress.com/
Rep. Westmoreland is a frequent contributor.
[Deleted. Beyond offensive-Sitemonitor]
"what little i've seen ... of obama"? is he kidding?
do the people in his district understand what a shockingly low-information rep they have?
Gotta disagree with ya, Mike @36. This isn't about political correctness. Hopefully this is Westmoreland's "macaca" moment. Since when is it out of line for a Harvard grad for aspire to the Presidency? Or do you have to be a skull and bones alumni from Yale to qualify?
Remind me again, which party is "elitist"? I keep forgetting... [/snark]
burnt @ 29:
Try googling "uppity" followed by the N-word to complete your understanding.
Hopefully some "uppity" person, or persons, will find out where the good Mr. Westmoreland lives, and pay him and his family a visit in order to clarify exactly what that term means, and how he might apply it more judiciously in the future when granting interviews.
Now that would be a most excellent thing.
burnt @ 29:
We'll YOU certainly aren't uppity. Maybe you should grab a history book some time....and ask someone to read it to you....it might spare you an ass whipping.
From the online etymology dictionary: www.etymonline.com
uppity
1880, from up; originally used by blacks of other blacks felt to be too self-assertive (first recorded use is in "Uncle Remus").
Now go see if you can find usages in the "Song of the South" books.
This is reasonably racist, but Guiliani last night was totally off-the-hook racist, or else he only wants to stop Muslim terrorists and not care about domestic terrorists.
Guiliani :"Why won't democrats talk about Islamic Terrorists?" - um, because their religion doesn't make me hate them anymore? I guess hating people for the sole reason that they're different from me is not something I'm about. Hating terrorism? That, my friends, is something everyone can get behind, no matter the perpetrator's religion.
Mike @ 36:
I dunno.. I don't personally immediately react to 'uppity', since I guess I've lived relatively sheltered from racists. (is that really a bad thing?)
But: It would appear that those more versed in racist lingo and in particular that of the South claim it does have strong racist connotations to them.
It does have a negative and racist connotation. Even if he didn't mean it in a racist way, he should know better.
Things are flying too fast. Where's the Reverend Al? Is this another Macaca Moment? Put it out there fast and have McCain comment.
This shouldn't be dropped but I bet the MSM considers this small stuff and won't cover it.
Proof to retards who don't know that the words uppity and one or more references to black people have been used together as an insult. I googled "uppity negro"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=GGLR%2CGGLR%3A2006-23%2CGGLR%3Aen...
and got over 61,000 listings. Sure, he might've just meant snobbish in a racially-neutral way, but most mature adults steer clear of this type of speech because they anticipate how could be EASILY misinterpretted.
Amalink @ 43:
hmm... guess you learn something new every day.
I don't want to read that crap book though. Rhett and Scarlett's reputations sound far too boring, from what little I know. before today, I would have even gone so far as to say they seemed "uppity".
lol... really? really?? its a racist term? huh...
see, I would have never figured Obama was "uppity" - the guy shoots hoops, the guy eats greasy food, the guy smokes cigarettes.
now - someone like John Kerry? oh ya, hell ya, we would have called him "uppity" for sure.
I don't doubt that Rep Westmoreland is probably racist, but - wow, I had no idea. well, I guess I'll be sure to remove that word from my vocabulary
In case anyone has forgotten... this is the rock-stupid fucktard who wanted to "protect" the Ten Commandments but couldn't remember what they were when asked by Stephen Colbert.
Come on, Westy, call him the n-word on national television. You know you want to. Don't hold it in. Let the world see you for what you are.
MrBigDog2U @ 63:
That's good. Here's the direct link:
Dale @ 66:
And the reporter gave him a chance to reconsider. He knew exactly what he was saying and exactly what he meant.
If this wasn't with racist intent then I guess that the only way that we will be able to say someone is a racist is if they drop the N-word on national TV.
"That uppity n@%#!!r went and hit me with a shovel. I sure would like it if you would hang him."
Slim Pickens
"Blazing Saddles"
So basically he thinks Obama is not in the class of people he should be in? He thinks he belongs in a lower class? Is he threatened by Obama's intelligence and personality? Does it scare him for a black man to possess more knowledge than he himself possesses? If that should be the situation, whose fault is that?
burnt @ 29:
Indeed, you used to to describe people you believed had a self-image much greater then they actually were. So man X is "uppity"; Who does he think he is? He is just a city councilman, what right does he have to tell me how to run my farm?
Seems you are familiar with the usage just fine.
burnt @ 2:
Go call a black guy uppity and report back.
Aside from the racism (which is pretty obvious), I'm wondering why he was being asked to compare Palin to Michelle Obama? Palin is on the ticket to be VP. Michelle Obama isn't on the ticket, she'd be the first lady. Do you think they'll ask some random Democrat to compare Cindy McCain and Joe Biden?
burnt @ 29:
You're not from around here, are you? How old are you?
burnt @ 2:
Maybe you ask in ignorance so I will tell you. In the old South (and other parts of the country) a black person "knew their place". "Their place" was to serve "their white betters." A black person who spoke well or was educated or strived to better themselves was considered to be behaving "above their place" and was therefore called "uppidy".
In some cases, the word "uppidy" was followed by the word lynch.
Cindy McCain sits around in a $300,000 dollar outfit and Obama is elitist? WOW!
Dear God, this asshole was my Congressman once upon a time. When I moved away from Georgia, the state of my birth where my family has been for a couple of hundred years, I didn't just leave the state, I left the country. Sometimes I don't even think living in the UK is far enough away from people like Westmoreland (who, mark my words, doesn't in his heart believe he's done anything wrong - he's really that fucking stupid, and there are plenty more where he came from).
When I do go back home to visit, I feel my IQ starting to drop once I step foot out of the Atlanta or Athens areas.
Uppity is not exactly the way most of America sees the Obamas, Michelle included. The better terms would have been arrogant, elite, self centered, hateful, big-headed, full of themselves or possibly power hungry. That would have been truthful without being borderline racist. Not too many people would associate the word "uppity" with racism at this time in history since the word has lost that connection many years ago.
Are the Democrats falling asleep again?
I think Rep. Lynn Westmoreland has been hanging around George Allen too much.
A makaka moment, perhaps?
Born, raised, and currently reside in small-town Georgia. I've heard the word "uppity" used many times in my 25 years, and 99% of the time it has been followed by a certain derogatory term.
LibertyLover @ 78:
I just googled it and got over 250,000 references, you must not be able to read.
burnt @ 2:
It's not a racist term.
Taken from the dictionary:
up·pi·ty (p-t)
adj. Informal
Taking liberties or assuming airs beyond one's station; presumptuous
I see nothing to do with race in there.
The "fun" has just begun. While Obama and Biden talk about being "nice" and how they won't be attacking, the rightwingers are gonna pull out all the stops for the next two months. I expect much worse. More smears. More disinformation. It's already painful to watch the inability of our guys to respond effectively. You would have though that by now they would have learned from the Kerry experience. But noooooo....
motorfingaz @ 83:
No, we are just watching the Super Hockey Mom Tax Cutter Ethics Family Values candidate implode.
This guy along with all the self installed elected officials in Georgia, is one of the worst pieces of trash in congress.
He Tom Price, Saxby Chambliss, Johnny Isakson,Jack Kingston,Phil Gingrey are some of the worst pieces of trash to ever have graced our political system.
They are all heavely involved with corporate gangsters and they all need on going investegations into their involment with these corporations while using their political offices, that I am sure would lead to their arrest and convention.
I do hope that when we regain control of this country that people like these cheap bastards are dealt with according.
Redneck, cracker assholes with one set of grandparents otta be careful who they're calling 'uppity.'
Anyone want to donate to his democratic opponent?
Okay so uppity in the south is a racist term.
But in the rest of the world, its not.
I have a theory that a fair portion of the GOP's membership is comprised of men with sissy names who are overcompensating by acting like jerks.
I wonder if Lynn would agree.
Brutal selloff on Wall Street
Dow loses *345* points as mixed retail sales reports, weak job market news and an oil price slide add to fears about a global slowdown.