Rep. Westmoreland says he was clueless in making 'uppity' comment about the Obamas

Heretofore little-known Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia was born in 1950 in Atlanta and was raised in one of its surrounding communities.

Which means the Republican grew up at a time when the racial divide in the South was stark, a time when Jim Crow laws helped enforce a segregationist credo that limited opportunities for blacks, a time when -- as an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article puts it today -- "uppity" was "a word applied to African-Americans who tried to rise above servile positions."

But to hear Westmoreland tell it, he had no clue he was using a racially tinged word when, as reported by The Hill newspaper, he said in Washington this week: "Honestly, I've never paid that much attention to Michelle Obama. Just what little I've seen of her and Sen. [Barack] Obama, is that they're a member of an elitist class ... that thinks that they're uppity."

The remark, the Journal-Constitution reports, quickly "zipped around the Internet, causing Westmoreland’s office phones to ring off the hook."

That furor, in turn, prompted the two-term congressman to issue the following statement:

I’ve never heard that term used in a racially derogatory sense. It is important to note that the dictionary definition of ‘uppity’ is ‘affecting an air of inflated self-esteem -- snobbish.’ That’s what we meant by uppity when we used it in the mill village where I grew up.

The Ticket finds it amazing that someone with such a sheltered upbringing could achieve such success in life.

-- Don Frederick

Photo: Associated Press

 

Comments

[Kimbo]

It boggles my mind to think why any American Black person would want to support the Republican party, whose white members continually insult Black people and Black culture. Republicans do not want American Black people or American Hispanic people or American Asian or any other American except caucasian.

[Dylan A Price]

It's highly unlikely that he grew up in the South and did NOT know the true derogatory meaning of this word. I'm white
and grew up in the North and I know! His remark reflects his own deep seeded fear and insecurity. His reACTION
to someone else's success says alot about him.
Isn't Obama's story the American story? And his
remark is HIStory!

[Brendan M.]

It truly is amazing. Unbelievable, even.

[Robert Scroggs]

Okay so how does pulling out a use of a word from 40 years ago that is something other than the dictionary meaning of the word and then ramming it down the country's throat with a racial bent make gas any cheaper or produce jobs?

I think the dems need to take account of their own actions before they start picking fights.

I'm tried of the media and the dems making everything racial. If you don't vote for Obama because he's a socialist and elitist, you're a racist. That in and of itself is a racist attitiude. Manufacturing racism where it doesn't exist is racist.

[anonymous]

This is pretty funny. Obama looked soooooo uppity riding his bike around with his kids. Oh yeah, let's not forget their uppity upbringing either. Sheesh!

[Dave Atkins]

Being born a melanin-deprived person in the mid-50's, i have no idea what calling Rep. Westmorland a "cracker" could mean, besides a braggart, as defined in dictionary.com

[Didyouknow?]

He and Sarah Palin have a lot of in common; they both have Red Necks!

[Jeugenen]

OBAMAPHOBIA

Israel and the Diaspora, hysterically Obamaphobic, have been screaming for the bombing of Iran as she steadily grows in economic and military power. But now, since instigating the bombing of Iraq, no one hears these screams of the damned.

Why is it taking President Bush and Prime Minister Brown so long to again don their beanies and head for Israel, to renew their sacred vows of undying allegiance to Israel? Is it possible that these political prostitutes have betrayed the honor entrusted with them?

Why is it taking Supreme Mullah Khamenei so long to call for a fresh flood of Iranian blood, a great martyrdom that would lend credibility to Israel’s Obamaphobia? It is possible that the Iranians and Arabs have finally grown wise to Israel’s Neo-Marxist tactic of inciting mortal strife between Muslims and Christians?

Europeans, wildly Obamaphilic, have been cheering for peacemaker Obama and sneering at warmonger McCain. Is it possible that they condemn Israel’s land robbery and war crimes against the Palestinian People and instigation of the Iraq War, enabled by their sustainable parasitism on the wealth and blood of the American People? Is Obama their hope for a friendlier and safer World?

Why do the Russians and Chinese have loaded nuclear weapons pointed at the head of Israel? Is it possible that Israel’s arsenal of 150 nuclear weapons is a threat to some of their vital defenses?

Are Israel and the Diaspora inherently incapable of realizing that Nemesis eternally determines their special fate? What do these Judeofascist Land Robbers not see when they look in the mirror?

[Republican Folly]

You would be hard pressed to find a Republican who openly admits to their racist attitudes. Most Republicans make their snide comments amongst small circles of friends so that they can present an air of tolerance.

[Mary Carolyn Perry]

Another congressman who is stupid and the people in his district should throw him out...and be so ashamed. To call Obama 'uppity' is a thinly-veiled insult tp any black man and he needs to apologize. Must be envy..for Westmoreland will never be recognized for anything worthwhile...for he has his head not uppity but stuck in a part of his anatomy. He is also, the congressman who is wholeheartedly in favor of displaying the ten commandments in all Ga. courts...but when pressed...on the Colbert show...could not name them! God..what a dimwit. Up with Barack!!

[Mr. Independant]

Rep. Westmoreland is a closet racist and so are most of the people living outside the city of Atlanta. As an African-American who lived in the city I know first hand that you don't stray too far outside the city boundaries. You will be sent back to the Jim Crow south. It is the unspoken truth. The homes of the most racist ones are marked in the confederate flag as they wish quietly for the old days. They hate any black man or woman who achieves more than they have and this is the case of Westmoreland. He simply doesn't see why a black man she be so much more successful that he has ever dreamed of doing. I wish that the people of Georgia would know better that to put him in office but the sad fact is this may just make him more electable in the racist south.

[Mrs Daniel]

If anyone believes he did not know this was a racially charged word or met to belittle Sen Obama.

[Stevie57]

In denying that he has ever heard the term "uppity" in a racial context Rep. Lynn Westmoreland is either:

a.) Being economical with the truth

or

b.) So woefully underexposed and ill educated that he should really not be in any position of power at all in this country.

It is frightening the level of ignorance and bigotry that this election has revealed !

[Theywillpayforthesinsoftheirfathers]

Wow...So I guess calling people of his kind slave owning, indian killing, land stealing, easily burnt by God's sun, pale face, dog hair having, going to hell because of the sins of your fathers, Craker is'nt offensive either?

[DaCoach]

As a former Republican precinct chairman and candidate for the state legislature, I attended many many meetings and heard many conversations.

I can assure you that a sizeable minority had issues with the black community. Uppity was one of the most commonly used words to describe African Americans. Perhaps the most commonly used word, however, was "they". They want what they haven't earned, etc.

Westmoreland had a slip of the lip but I can assure you he knows all too well the meaning of the word.

[DaCoach]

As a former Republican precinct chairman and candidate for the state legislature, I attended many many meetings and heard many conversations.

I can assure you that a sizeable minority had issues with the black community. Uppity was one of the most commonly used words to describe African Americans. Perhaps the most commonly used word, however, was "they". They want what they haven't earned, etc.

Westmoreland had a slip of the lip but I can assure you he knows all too well the meaning of the word.

[David]

American Heritage Dictionary:
Informal Taking liberties or assuming airs beyond one's station; presumptuous: “was getting a little uppity and needed to be slapped down” (New York Times).

[George Frideric]

I am a white man who is almost exactly the same age as Representative Westmoreland, and grew up about 70 miles away from where he did. If he claims that he did not know that the use of the word "uppity" is a racial slur in the South, he either has Alzheimer's, is lying, or is one of the stupidest men on the planet. I'm guessing the latter, as he proved when he was on The Colbert Report touting his efforts to post the 10 Commandments in public buildings but could only name three of the commandments himself.

[GeorgianForObama]

The only think left out of his comment was "uppity N****R". This is the sort of politician we put up with in Georgia right now but Barrack Obama is helping us turn Georgia into a Democratic state again.......it's been a long time since 1964 and it's time we change this whole country............by the way, I am not black.....

[DoTheMath]

Once again, fellow Americans, our presidential election begs us to answer one central question more than any other: How stupid are we?

Are we stupid enough to believe the likes of Lynn Westmoreland, stupid enough to allow the politics of fear and division to distract us from the issues and entice us to vote against our own best interests? Again?

[Yolanda McKay]

In Mocrosoft Word's Thesarus, the only definition given for uppity is:
"behaving in a way that other people consider presumptuous and more suited to a higher social class or position"

[Martha Davidson Vancouver B.C. Canada]

I was born in 1955, grew up in Canada, and I know what it means. It was usually said "uppity n-word". If the Rebuplicans are going to keep this up, they might just as well hand over the presidency to Obama and be done with it. It is because of people like Rep. Lynn Westmoreland , that Americans are not just disliked, but vilified around the world. They have no idea how fragile the power, and influnce of the US has become. Like Nero, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland , will fiddle while the US burns.

[Debra]

What BS! I was born in Texas in 1952 and there is no question how "uppity" was used in relation to African Americans. The guy is not only a racist but he is a liar on top of everything. If Georgia had any guts, they vote this cracker out of office. I wonder if he knows what 'cracker' means?

[egeways]

*coff* mecca *coff*

[kestrel9000]

One word for y'all:

MACACA.

(He knew what he was saying, too.)