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

[Joey Solini]

The progressive policies of L. B. Johnson had mostly driven out the cancerous tumors of our society into the Republican Party.

Rep. Westmoreland of Georgia offers a clear representation of what has befallen the party of Abe Lincoln under the racist Dixie rats.

When hatred filled cancerous tumors, like Westmoreland of Georgia are allowed into office to lead and legislate, the moral value of our society is greatly diminished and it is glaringly reflected onto our national political discourse, policies and priorities.

Westmoreland‘s action probably represents the actions and thoughts of the people who voted him into office.

[Jose]

I was born in Virginia in 1957. My mothers parents were both born in north Georgia, in the area that Westmoreland is from.

This is a family publication, so I will only say this:

That dumb as dirt cracker is a lying sack of something smelly.

[Adrienne]

I knew that someone would try to spin this that the word 'uppity' doesn't mean what it used to mean and one of the people who posted a comment before me did not fail to sink to that level. Look, I understand that for many people in America it would be nice if we pretended that American was ALWAYS a land of justice and that the civil rights movement was ALWAYS supported by the majority of Americans but it's not so. It would also be convenient, particularly for the Republicans, if we would all pretend that 1968 was something that happened sometime around the Cambrian era some 500 million years ago but, again, that's not the case. To the gentleman who said that uppity doesn't mean the same thing that it did in 1968, I would ask only this; what is my motivation, as a black woman, to forget my own life, the lives of my parents and my older siblings and cousins and pretend that that which DID happen occurred so long ago that no living person has ever even MET someone who saw segregation and that America magically changed one day such that code-words that were used recently no longer have that meaning?

Can you explain that to me?

[Rich]

What a country this has become. Mention any word and there is a truckload of people ready to take offense to it. I personally did not know that "uppity" meant anything other than being "too big for one's britches", but if that were said, a truck load of weight sensitive people would be offended and demand that there be an investigation of myself. Maybe I could say a person has a "big head", but then I would be accused of being insensitive to those that have been inflicted with an abnormally big heads. Where does it end?

[Christoper London]

The Racist is out of the closet. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland is delusional if he thinks that any logical person finds his explanation credible.

[Ray]

Next they'll start saying Obama should Know his place

[Richard/NH]

Does this guy think we are ALL ON DOG FOOD? Of course he knows what it means.

[pati b]

I was born and raised in NY/Chicago and have lived most of my life out West.
I haven't been in this part of the country that long, and I know exactly what "goes with" uppity down here.
Little weasel, isn't he.

[lex]

Westmoreland is an idiot!!! If that fool had the type of educational background that the Obamas have, he would be confident too - when did good credentials become a thing to be ashamed of? What a stupid idiot and these are the people in power.

[lex]

Westmoreland is an idiot!!! If that fool had the type of educational background that the Obamas have, he would be confident too - when did good credentials become a thing to be ashamed of? What a stupid idiot and these are the people in power.

[CL Pasm]

If Westmoreland's office had scrolled down a little further on the dictionary.com page (where they clearly found their definition for "uppity") they would have seen this: uppity
1880, from up; originally used by blacks of other blacks felt to be too self-assertive (first recorded use is in "Uncle Remus"). The parallel British variant uppish (1678) originally meant "lavish;" the sense of "conceited, arrogant" being first recorded 1734.

This makes them look even dumber and more ignorant.

[J B Scott]

Give me a break! I live in Georgia and I know that this man fully understood what he was saying. If he's that clueless then why does he need to be in elected office. The fact of the matter is now that Miss Moose conservative to the right of Atilla the Hun is dragging McCain by her skirttails these closet racists think it is ok to come out and let their true colors be known. Well I have news enjoy it for a few days because Americans aren't that stupid and the tidalwave of backlash to this bigotry is coming!

[D. Osborne]

Sorry folks,I to grew up in the south I am 70 yrs.old and did not know uppity was a racial comment.

[Zedalis]

REDNECK

"It is important to note that the dictionary definition of... " REDNECK is " white person regarded as having a provincial, conservative, often bigoted attitude."

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.

[FLAREPWOMAN]

I was struck by the diversity at the Democratic convention as opposed to the almost all white Republican convention. Westmorland's comments are no surprise. I will vote for Obama.

[Jamal Johnson]

he's obviously lying. doesn't anybody believe this troglodyte ever read a dictionary?

[3Bees]

Rep. Westmoreland was not "clueless." He was just plain crude. Traditionally, "uppity" was an adjective followed by the "n-word." Surely he knew that.

[DW]

It's a slur, Mr. Westmoreland. Sort of like calling you Gomer. But I would never do that, because it's low class, and it sorta makes me sound like a Gomer my own self.

[Oh, Please.]

Is this guy up for re-election any time soon? I'll send a check to his opponent. We took down Maccaca, we can take down this guy too. Obama represents the beginning of the end of America's racist past. We're not taking it any more. There is no place for these people in American society or politics. Most Democrats today do have an extra $25 to send to bring this guy down. We are the party of the smart people. Go ahead Westmoreland, call me uppity, too.

[Grant]

Is have great respect for Rep. Westmoreland for calling the Obamas "Uppity". It is the first non-hypocritical statement I have heard from the Republican party about them. Instead of using veiled codes like "elite" or "exotic", this is one Republican willing to say what the rest of the party is hinting at and "call a spade a spade." I do get it. As a white man myself, I can empathize with the old guard worried that this brilliant, judicious man of color might end their monopoly on the reins of power. The old always fears the new. The intolerant must fear the inclusive. So go ahead and say what you mean! You should stand by your principles... and be judged accordingly.

[John]

He probably denies Klan membership as well (kind of like Palin's denial of AIP membership). It's funny how people don't want others to know they are members. They attend the rallies, they give speeches, they yell and cheer, but they deny membership. But the winks, nods, and smirks are proof enough. This guy is a racist, plain and simple. McCain should renounce and denounce his statement.

[Diane]

Westmoreland is up for re-election. Georgians can do their state--and the country-- proud by voting this idiot out of office. He's an embarrassment to Americans.

[unstuffedshirt]

It's bad enough that he's a bigot, but he's also too much of a sniveling liar to stand up and own his own racism. Nice combo: a prejudiced coward.

[toni]

yes he said it and he ment it... the sad part is that her is a rep of georgia and i quite sure he knows what that words means/meant so thats why he choose to use it.. but what pisses me off even more is when african americans are on the same playing field as any other elite race the are now called elitst or "uppity" what the hell isntr the whole purpose in life is to do better than you may have had.. hell i thought that was part of the us as a whole

[Name Withheld-Miami, FL]

Liar!