Westmoreland stands by ‘uppity’ remark: ‘It accurately describes’ Obama.
Westmoreland stands by ‘uppity’ remark: ‘It accurately describes’ Obama.
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) is standing by the remarks he made yesterday that the Obamas are part of an “elitist-class…that thinks that they’re uppity.” According to the AP, Westmoreland says that he was unaware that the word was offensive:
In a statement Friday, Westmoreland – who was born in 1950 and raised in the segregated South – said he didn’t know that “uppity” was commonly used as a derogatory term for blacks seeking equal treatment. Instead, he referred to the dictionary definition of the word as describing someone who is haughty, snobbish or has inflated self-esteem.
“He stands by that characterization and thinks it accurately describes the Democratic nominee,” said Brian Robinson, Westmoreland’s spokesman. “He was unaware that the word had racial overtones and he had absolutely no intention of using a word that can be considered offensive.”
As the AP also notes, last year, Westmoreland “led opposition to renewing the 1965 Voting Rights Act. He also was one of two House members last year who opposed g i ving the Justice Department more money to crack unsolved civil rights killings.”
Having grown up in Atlanta, very near where Rep. Lynn Westmoreland grew up, I can say pretty unequivocally that there is no way a native Georgian could not have known the racial context of that word. Georgia in the 60s and 70s was a study in black and white (it's much more diverse now), and racial subtexts were everywhere. I do not buy his defense.
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September 5th, 2008 at 1:48 pmWow. Loud and proud racist. Don’t see so many of those anymore.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:50 pmGuess the “Good ol’ Boy” stereotype is alive and well in Georgia. This hair moussed excuse for a man is about as slimey as Tommy DeLay or the Newter or Trent Lott.
They all have a large white sheet and hood dry cleaning bill, I would imagine.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:50 pmSadly, his views are more prevalent among the Right than elsewhere…
September 5th, 2008 at 1:52 pmGeorge Allen claimed that “macaca” was just a series of syllables he threw together, but was eventually exposed for the racist he is, and he lost his senate seat.
I’m only surprised that he was able to hold back what he was on the verge of saying along with “uppity.”
PEACE
September 5th, 2008 at 1:52 pmThe Right embodies bigotry of all kinds, no wonder so many morons support them.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:52 pmI wonder if he familiar with the term self-hating latent homosexual.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:53 pm“Corn-pone, in-bred, redneck, cracker, hillbilly trash.”
I stand by that characterization and think it accurately describes the Republican representative.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:53 pmWhen given the chance to retract his remark, Rep. Westmoreland remained uppity.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:54 pmHe didnt know the word was offensive. He is a liar, then again lets give him the benifit of the doubt MAYBE he had a bad reaction to the excesive starch them put into the sheet he wore to his last KKK meeting
September 5th, 2008 at 1:55 pmThen why didn’t he just say Obama had an inflated ego? Why didn’t he just say Obama was a snob? He said “uppity” and he knows all to well what that means to blacks. He knew exactly what he was saying. Typical republican response when you have nothing of substance to offer; insults!
September 5th, 2008 at 2:00 pmHere’s Westmoreland on the Steve Colbert Show earlier this year:
September 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pmhttp:www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videosId=70730
He’s as smart as a box of rocks!
Another white man who is terrified at the thought of a black man being President.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:02 pmThis is all scripted. KKKarl has a list of offensive words to use against Obama/Biden. Once dropped, the Repugnicant claims to have never heard of its illicit meaning.
They also have a list of words to use on McCain/Palin, the “all but Rocky” team. McCain looks like Mickey, Rocky’s trainer and Palin is dead ringer for wife Adrian in her glasses.
KKKarl’s list for the punchless duo includes maverick, reformer, takes on special interests, and has executive experience. Nevermind, they are a fictional narrative.
The candidate with the “most executive experience” is hidden from the media. That must be one rocky narrative. Duh! You’re not supposed to draw attention to Mickey/Adrian ‘08…
September 5th, 2008 at 2:02 pmOne reason I am hopeful this racist crap won’t work is a recent conversation I had with a farmer born and raised in “up in the hollar” in a part of Kentucky I’ve never heard of.
This guy said he couldn’t read that well and therefore didn’t have much education. However, he is smart enough to know the country can’t continue on the same path. He said, “I think that Obama guy might do okay as president.” He assured me he was going to vote for Obama.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:03 pmhttp://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=70730
September 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pmTry this address!
Right. And the pointy white hats are worn to honor the Pope.
BTW Lynn. I think what you were trying to say is that Sen. Obama is so much smarter than you that he frightens you out of your pitiful illusions of self-worth.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pmWow — not only is he an idiot, but he’s actually proud of that. Amazing.
But let’s for a moment ignore the fact that he used the word incorrectly (why would anybody think of THEMSELVES as “uppity”?), and let’s even give him the benefit of the doubt and pretend he really didn’t know about the racist meaning of the word (a stretch, I know).
What, exactly, gives him reason to believe that the Obamas are snobs? Why are they part of an “elitist class” when they both came from less-than-rich beginnings, worked hard for what they have, and only fairly recently paid off their student loans? And why are John and Cindy McCain NOT part of an “elitist class”, when Cindy inherited her vast wealth and John grew up the son of a four-star naval admiral?
Who was wearing $280,000 earrings at their convention? Who has their own personal private jet? Who owns multiple homes?
Painting the Obamas as out-of-touch snobs while the McCains are in the picture is just laughable. But that won’t stop these guys from trying to make the image stick.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:05 pmMr. Evil Says
September 5th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Why didn’t he just say Obama was a snob? He said “uppity” and he knows all to well what that means to blacks. He knew exactly what he was saying.
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Yeah, but he’s not smart enough to realize that such a remark will galvanize more black Americans into action than will light a fire under bigoted whites. I’d urge Westmoreland to keep it up, if it wasn’t such filth that hurts my ears.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pmThat’s ok. Redneck racist pig describes him.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:09 pmI’m afraid there will be a huge racist vote against Obama. Nobody talks about it, nobody admits to it, and the Republicans all exclaim “Mercy me, no!” when the subject is raised. But don’t kid yourselves. Tons and tons and tons of people, many of whom you know personally, will go into the booth and vote against the black man mostly because he is black.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:09 pmCount on it.
As Faulkner famously said: “The past isn’t dead. It isn’t even past.”
Westmorland in other words, “I’m a racist and proud of it!!”
September 5th, 2008 at 2:09 pm“He was unaware that the word had racial overtones…”
September 5th, 2008 at 2:10 pmAnd he thinks the KKK wears pink tutus!
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This should be Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) Mccaca Moment.
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September 5th, 2008 at 2:11 pmDammed nigras think they can do uppity stuff like run for public office!
September 5th, 2008 at 2:11 pmDidn’t they hear that the GOP in Georgia is looking for a few good nooses?
Don’t forget, this was the jackass who, a few months back griping about putting the 10 commandments on display in public places, was asked by John Stewart of the Daily show if he EVEN KNEW the 10 commandments, could only recite 3.
Now that’s a Georgia Republican for you!
September 5th, 2008 at 2:15 pmDoes that mean we can him a cracker? But any criticism of Palin, I am sure, is sexist, am I right?
September 5th, 2008 at 2:20 pmThank God McCain was wrong – we are not all Georgians.
PEACE
September 5th, 2008 at 2:20 pmTechnically, the definitions of uppity mean snobbish. In the definitions I looked at, the relationship to blacks was not mentioned.
Westmoreland should be more sensitive to know that uppity has been a derogatory term applied to blacks in the past, especially in the South. He should know better.
The voting rights opposition, I’m not so sure can be chalked up to racism.
The main opposition comes from pre-clearance. Implimented over 40 years ago to regulate only 9 mostly southern states for polling abuses of the times.
Here’s Westmoreland’s objection from wikipedia:
September 5th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I think it was Colbert.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:23 pmuppity and arrogant are both being applied to people with brains and information.
They would prefer, perhaps: Long live ignorance?
September 5th, 2008 at 2:28 pmI’ve lived in the South for 25 years – 15 in Atlanta. Westmoreland knows what he’s doing and he darn sure knows what uppity means. (Just like he knows where to get the sheets laundered after a long weekend out with his honoring southern culture kin). Must be trouble a brewing, usually they stay a little quieter about their prejudices ’round these parts.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:31 pmbackup Says:
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., said:
“ Congress is declaring from on high that states with voting problems 40 years ago can simply never be forgiven, that Georgians must eternally wear the scarlet letter because of the actions of their grandparents and great-grandparents. … We have repented and we have reformed.”[10] ”
Some who think that this federal oversight is discriminatory to these particular states have proposed that the oversight be extended to all 50 states or eliminated entirely.[11]
September 5th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
________
Interesting. So if Georgians have repented and reformed so much since the 1960s, how can he possibly expect us to believe that he doesn’t know the racial connotations of “uppity?”
And if his objection is truly that the type of oversight mandated by the Voting Rights Act should be extended to all jurisdictions, I have to agree. The kind of electoral irregularities caused by techniques like last-minute changes of polling place are the kind of things that happened in Ohio and New Mexico in 2004. If, on the other hand, his argument is that “we learned our lesson, racism is over now,” then he’s either blatantly lying or flagrantly naive.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:32 pmI’m down with Uppity.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:33 pmDoes defending a racist mean that you, yourself, are a racist?
September 5th, 2008 at 2:34 pmbackup, considering the vast caging efforts by Republicans during the last few election cycles I agree with you partially. It may not be racially motivated, just another effort by the GOP to supress Democratic votes. If the GOP were successful in repealing this law, what would stop the local Republicans in these southern counties from changing voting venues unannounced at the last minute to locations that would make it more difficult for lower and middle income voters to ge to the polls? I believe they would pull every trick in their dirty little book to deny as many Democratic votes as possible to help their flawed candidate and I believe that this was one such attempt.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:34 pmevery one i’ve ever seen, the racial definition was right there with the general one…
pisspoor try there…
September 5th, 2008 at 2:34 pmyou beat me to it, toasterhead! Any trick in the book…
September 5th, 2008 at 2:36 pmWhat specific action(s) make The Senator from the State of Illinois ‘Uppity’ then Rep. Westmoreland?
Back up the talk, because at the moment YOU are the only one showing arrogance.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:37 pmI am a native to the state of Georgia. I live outside of Atlanta and my father’s family is from the 3rd Congressional District, “represented” by Westmoreland. There is NO WAY that Westmoreland didn’t know that “uppity” is a common slur against blacks, unless of course he’s had cotton stuffed in his ears since birth.
The “good old boys” down South knew EXACTLY what he was talking about. Don’t buy the denial; Westmoreland is a despicable liar.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:37 pmbut, for sure, he’s given everyone permission to use the word now.
that’s how it works…
September 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pmthat’s the principle behind hate radio and fox – give the tools and bots permission to be rude and hateful…
under the guise of being anti politically-correct…
Lynn Westmoreland is gay.
And by that, I mean lighthearted and carefree. That’s what the dictionary says. What? You say the definition has evolved over time? Go figure.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:40 pmOne more thing. The “elitist class” doesn’t think they’re “uppity”. Those who throw around that tired and misapplied label are the ones who think the “elitists” are uppity.
Sheesh….
September 5th, 2008 at 2:40 pmCan anyone really be surprised that a republican would think this? Saying it is another matter: most republicans are at least aware enuough to know that they’ll be known as racists if they say these things in civilized company. I’m sure there were plenty of folk in the excel center last night saying the same thing to each other, for instance, but to say it to reporters isn’t what “they” usually do.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:58 pmbackup Says:
Technically, the definitions of uppity mean snobbish.
In what context?
“Uppity” is a name used for those who act above their station in life: to be uppity is to take on the airs of a higher social demographic. Like a garbageman, driving an Porsche, and dressing like a jet-setter.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:59 pmI was born and raised in the south. There is no way that even a stupid cracker like Westmoreland could not recognize the racial connotation of that word. That doesn’t even qualify as talking in code. He was with his own (sheltered, white) kind and speaking his mind (such as it is).
September 5th, 2008 at 3:03 pmIf truth me known this guy is not only a racist, he is a bottom feeding, knuckle, dragging, troglodyte on the reich…the lowest 23% we have to offer in this country.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:05 pmApparently he thinks everybody is as dumb as his constituents.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pm.
There is a definite difference between making an honest mistake and sincerely apologizing for it versus making a mistake, having it explained as to what the mistake was and it’s echoing effect it has had through generations, and choosing to stick to that misspoken moment.
Who would stand by ignorant and blatantly racist language once one is informed as to the racist overtones of that language… but a racist.
Yes, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) is racist. Why else would he feel his choice of language is dignified in the light of it’s history?
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September 5th, 2008 at 3:07 pmspencers mom Says:
Thank God McCain was wrong – we are not all Georgians.
PEACE
LOL !!!!
September 5th, 2008 at 3:11 pmThat Cracka f ucked up.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:11 pmKeep it up Westmoreland!!
The low information republican racist voters already know that Obama is black.
The low information black voters need to hear how much republicans such as yourself respect them.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:18 pmWhen Congress is back in session, Nancy Pelosi needs to introduce a censure resolution against this a$$hat. Can you imagine what the right would say if someone on the left called McCain a honky or a cracker or some other offensive term? They would go ape$hit and so would the MSM.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:19 pmWestmoreland has also found in the dictionary where trailer is something you pull and trash is another word for garbage.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:20 pmIs this stooge Son to the infamous ‘General Wastemoreland’?
That’s what we called him during ‘Nam. He coordinated carpet bombing, killing untold thousands of women & children. Then he lashed out at Americans who were against the Viet Nam war.
Bad flashback…must find beer…
September 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pmHe’s Cletis the slackjawed yokel-
September 5th, 2008 at 3:48 pm“Yew gotta take an uppity-box to the 5th floor!”
backup Says:
I think it was Colbert.
__________
Yes, it was Colbert, AND, he could still only recite 3 of the 10.
Now, in Westmoreland’s defense… perhaps he really is simply THAT stupid…
September 5th, 2008 at 3:50 pmShayne Says:
Westmoreland has also found in the dictionary where trailer
___________
Uh, Shayne?? Trail’er means “to follow behind her”.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:51 pmA real dope.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:53 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd239X4LPa4
Please don’t hit me people, but when I was growing up in the South, both black and white adults used to tell us kids all the time to “stop getting uppity with me”. It meant we children were sassing the elders and that they didn’t appreciate it one bit. And I spent the majority of my younger years between TX, OK, and LA.
This s not to say that I believe Westmoreland, because I don’t. I honestly believe he used it in a way that most people use the word. I’m just sayin’ is all.
September 5th, 2008 at 4:02 pmGive him the benefit of the doubt. Judging by his Colbert
September 5th, 2008 at 4:05 pmappearance he may likely be too stupid to realize the pejorative connotation of “uppity” when applied to African-Americans. It must give great comfort to the citizens of Georgia who voted for this dunce that he can be counted on to
intelligently pursue the important issues of the day.
Historically, there is some differences between religions (the ten commandments aren’t quite set in stone – pun intended).
But here’s the best I could come up with:
Only one God, don’t worship others
No idols
No God’s name in vain
take sunday (or saturday) off – (but don’t just slack around – go to church)
honor mom and dad
no killing
no sex out of wedlock
no stealing
no lying
and hardest of all, no coveting your neighbor’s wife.
Conservatives have at least as much trouble as anyone else keeping these, but no matter. If you respect the founding father’s intention of separation of church and state, the tablets don’t belong anywhere on or around a public building.
September 5th, 2008 at 4:06 pmDisclaimer: I haven’t read this link:
http://www.uppitywomenrule.com/
But, it seems that there using uppity relating to women (here positive).
I don’t think you can discount the history of the South and the fact that Obama is black in the context of Westmoreland’s comment.
But, I also don’t think it’s conclusive.
September 5th, 2008 at 4:22 pm.
How To Tell People They Sound Racist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Ti-gkJiXc
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September 5th, 2008 at 4:38 pmbackup Says:
——————————————————————————–
Historically, there is some differences between religions (the ten commandments aren’t quite set in stone – pun intended).
But here’s the best I could come up with:
Only one God, don’t worship others
No idols
No God’s name in vain
take sunday (or saturday) off – (but don’t just slack around – go to church)
honor mom and dad
no killing
no sex out of wedlock
no stealing
no lying
and hardest of all, no coveting your neighbor’s wife.
Conservatives have at least as much trouble as anyone else keeping these, but no matter. If you respect the founding father’s intention of separation of church and state, the tablets don’t belong anywhere on or around a public building.
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Actually you got a couple of those wrong. Your take on the Sabbath for instance isnt accurate. The idea behind the Sabbath and keeping it holy are about having a day to just be not to make or do. Going to church is NOT inherent in the keeping it holy stricture ask any Jew about that. I am married to one. No killing would probably be better translated as no murder but that is prbably quibbling. No sex out of wedlock is just wrong. The stricture is agaisnt adultery which is sex with anothers spouse it is NOT about out of wedlock. No lying is very much an oversimplification. Not bearing false witness is well beyond lying. Now maybe you were oversimplifying them all but your list really doesnt do justice to the concepts behind the strictures.
September 5th, 2008 at 4:41 pmbackup Says:
But, I also don’t think it’s conclusive.
____________
More pretzel logic from the troll in the smoking jacket.
Are you ever embarrassed by the nonsense you try to peddle here?
September 5th, 2008 at 4:51 pmBy the way, dum-dum, whether the usage refers to women or blacks, in that context it is meant to denote someone who doesn’t know their proper place, you uppity moron, and it is an insult.
September 5th, 2008 at 4:53 pmSo calling him a snob is not offensive? Westmoreland needs to stop digging. Much more of this and people will start calling him an idiot.
September 5th, 2008 at 5:02 pmEugeneDebs. I stand corrected. They are oversimplified and I concede the wedlock issue and the sabbath. I imagine a case study could and undoubtably has been made of each of them.
In my world, they are sound guidelines of civilization, evolved through thousands of years of trial by man; and not divinely inspired.
Do you believe they are divinely inspired?
September 5th, 2008 at 5:10 pmCould this be Westmoreland’s “Macaca” moment.
I sure hope so.
September 5th, 2008 at 5:28 pmnormalasf #43
That is brilliant, and I mean in in the classic definition way!
DK #71
Westmoreland’s “Macaca” moment? Lord, may it be so! Unfortunately, I live in his district, and I worked very hard to get this clown out in ‘06. We have a very able candidate running against him now. Yay, Stephen Camp!
September 5th, 2008 at 5:35 pmTaggLines Exclusive!!! Original Westmoreland campaign poster. See it here!
September 5th, 2008 at 5:47 pmbackup Says:
Do you believe they are divinely inspired?
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I would need to know exactly what you meant by that. I am a Christian however most of those are moral precepts that long predate the bibleI mean not killing or stealing is basically universal, most of the ones that arent are prohibitions against black magic (Using Gods name in vain making graven images etc) I would say the Sabbath concept IS inspired. The idea that to reach the apex of what makes us inately human takes time AWAY from doing and making. To be and to contemplate is a unique and beautiful concept I think it essential to true spiritual fulfillment
September 5th, 2008 at 7:23 pmEugeneDebs. I don’t believe in anything divine, but it’s obvious you’ve given a lot of thought to the matter and your ideas are compelling.
I’ve got to split, but I hope I run into you on a more purely religious thread in the future. I would like to pick your brain. You would definitely add to the conversation.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:14 pmJust goes to show you that the KKK is alive and well in Georgia..He’s probably leader of his local chapter and proud of it…
September 5th, 2008 at 8:35 pmWestmoreland is none too bright, you all. On the Colbert Report he was unable to cite even one of the Ten Commandments he is so eager to have posted everywhere. And if you read the sentence in which he used the word “uppity,” you will see that he used it as if it were the word “elite” or “high-class.” I’m sure he is a racist, but I’m also sure he can barely use language. He didn’t say Obama was uppity. He said Obama thought he was uppity. See what I mean?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:11 pmI see from reading the comments before mine that Westmoreland could cite three of the ten commandments when he was on the Colbert Report. I apologize for my faulty memory. Several commenters hope this is Westmoreland’s Macaca Moment.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:22 pmSo do I, so do I.