CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
– POLITICS
Sept. 4, 2008 – 8:43 p.m.
Congressman Sees Obamas as Part of a Class ‘That Thinks They’re Uppity’
By Molly K. Hooper, CQ Staff
The Harvard-educated couple that the Democrats want to install in the White House are part of an elitist, “uppity” class, a Republican congressman said Thursday.
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland , a two-term Republican who represents some of Atlanta’s suburbs, commented about class when asked about the performances under pressure of his party’s vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin , and the Democratic nominee’s wife, Michelle Obama, as they introduced themselves to the nation in their separate convention speeches.
“Honestly, I’ve never paid that much attention to Michelle Obama,” Westmoreland said. “Just what little I’ve seen of her and Senator [Barack] Obama, is that they’re a member of an elitist class . . . that thinks that they’re uppity.”
Listen to the audio of Rep. Westmoreland.
The 58-year-old, Atlanta-born congressman declined to elaborate further, though he did repeat one part of his comment when asked to clarify.
“Uppity, you said?” he was asked.
“Yeah, uppity,” Westmoreland replied.
He made his comments in the U.S. Capitol, where House Republicans are taking turns participating in daily news conferences and speeches in the empty chamber to highlight the issue of high energy prices.
Later, Westmoreland’s press secretary offered two clarifications.
“This was an adjective for elitism, not a code word. It was obviously not a racially tinged remark,” said the press secretary, Brian Robinson.
Robinson subsequently said that Westmoreland had instructed his staff to check the dictionary to be sure he properly understood the meaning of the word, The spokesman then e-mailed the dictionary definition: “1. affecting an attitude of inflated self-esteem; snobbish. 2. rebelliously self-assertive; not inclined to be deferential.”
Westmoreland is white. The Obamas are black.
Vanessa Beasley, who teaches political rhetoric at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., said “uppity” is a word that hits the ear of African-Americans in a negative way — evoking images of the pre-civil rights era, when powerful whites sometimes punished blacks who spoke up for themselves.
Congressman Sees Obamas as Part of a Class ‘That Thinks They’re Uppity’
“It has very clear roots in the history of slavery in the South,” Beasley said. “The term ‘uppity’ has such a specific, contextual historic meaning. It is more evocative of a particular moment in history and particular set of fears that exist today within certain parts of the electorate.
“The racial politics that it reanimates are very worrisome.”
In St. Paul, Minn., where the Republican National Convention was in its final day, Robert Gibbs, senior adviser to the Obama campaign, was told of the exchange during a lunch with reporters arranged by the Christian Science Monitor.
“Since Congressman Westmoreland’s never met the Obamas . . . maybe he could spend a couple of days with them, he can get out on the bus with a 10-year-old and a 7-year-old, they can watch TV together,” Gibbs said. “We’d invite Congressman Westmoreland to hit the trail with a real family in America, not just a member Congress.”
Gibbs’ decision to respond with a soft answer was not mimicked by a fellow Democrat on the campaign trail.
Stephen Camp, the Democrat running against Westmoreland, issued a statement declaring that congressman owed the Obamas an apology.
“Westmoreland should well understand the hurtful connotations of his reference, particularly for his own Georgia constituents,” the challenger said.
Georgia Democrats called for the 3rd District Republican to apologize for the comments he made.
“Political attacks like this don’t lower gas prices one cent, they don’t give one more American access to affordable health care, and they don’t get one more Georgian a job that pays the mortgage. Lynn Westmoreland should be ashamed of himself, and he should issue a full and immediate apology,” Georgia Democratic Party chairwoman Jane Kidd
wrote in a press release sent to reporters Thursday night.
Marie Horrigan and Rachel Kapochunas in St. Paul contributed to this story.
Comments
That is what some white people, not most, think of the Obama's. They do not have a problem with elitism it is who does this black man think he is. I am so glad that most white Americans do not care what color he is, and thank God because those are the ones who will elect him. Not on based on his race but the content of his character.
I've only ever heard uppity followed by n*gg*r before. Could that be what he was trying to say? This story has legs.
Uppity?Downplay a community organizer while up-playing being a governor? Hmmm Jesus Christ was a community organizer and the governor was one Pontius Pilate. So much for governors. Uppity? A family on one vacation together while the other contemplates entering his spouse in a wet-teeshirt contest? Yes, this Congressman needs more help then to spend time with Senator Obama's family, he needs to spend time with the Palin family.
I can't believe that someone from Atlanta wouldn't know what "uppity" meant. "The Obamas are uppity" sounds completely racist to me. And even if they weren't black, it's pretty idiotic to call them elitist just because they went to good schools and performed well. Both Barack and Michelle came from lower middle class families and worked for everything they earned. Then Obama was a community organizer when he could have made upper 6 figures right out of law school (I know Harvard law grads and they can make $300K immediately if they want to...esp those on law review and I can't even imagine the editor in chief....) How is that so elitist?
"Westmoreland is white. The Obamas are black." Thanks for the clarification. In re: to the article, reading comments from crusty old white men like this only reinforces my desire to vote if only to cancel out any votes from people like him. And before anyone gets their feathers ruffled, I'm a snarky young white man so I'm allowed to use phrases like "old crusty white man", thank you.
When Southern blacks stood-up or spoke-up for themselves they were called "uppity." The term was used among whites to explain why some "boy" or "nigger" should be disciplined, which could involve being denied commercial or governmental services, being fired, being beaten or worse. The term is vicious. So is Congressman Westmoreland. He is a southerner and knew exactly what he was saying; especially since he was ask to confirm that he said what he meant to say. And he confirmed it.
Uppity? Someone honestly used the word uppity on a national stage in reference to the Obamas? And hasn't been laughed out of town? I do weep for our nation....
I shudded to think what would happen to this great land of ours if we had uppity INTELLIGENT leadership. God alone knows what a fate we would suffer.
"Uppity" used to be followed with "and puttin' on airs". I guess Rep. Westmoreland has not abandoned phrases that make one's hair stand on end. Will we ever move away from ethnic code insults? Old Timer
Uppity? Until today I had no idea that this term had a racial meaning. To be honest, I am sure if we dig deep enough into any derrogatory word, we would find that the word comes from some sort of Racial/Religious/Sexist word in the orginal language. "Obama's are uppity" to me means an elitist, nose in the air, stuck up person. No more. To bad that everyone has some sort of agenda into spinning words.....I sure they he was really saying that the Obama's are slaves that are talking back......idiots.
As an African American whose parents were born in Tennessee and Misssissippi respecti vely, I know what "uppity" means although I have never lived in the South. I'm over 50 and my parents always raised us to "do better" than they did and taught us the value of education. I'm from a large family who learned early on that kindness had no color and meaness comes in all forms; dressed as an ex-beauty queen or posed as Rep. Westmoreland. The great thing is that there are more people willing to, call it what it is, than there are those who defend this code language. If Obama's campaign has done nothing else, it's elevated the discussion surrounding racial issues in this country to the point that it can be discussed better than I can ever remember. While I have always loved my country, I know I have never been more proud. I have always voted for a white person as President of the USA. Let there be no doubt that Obama would not be where he is today without the support of fair minded hard working white Americans. Stay strong
Need we remind Representative Westmoreland that Senator Obama just finished repaying his student loans whereas John McCain cannot remember how many homes that he owns, flies around in his wifes jet, walks around in $500 shoes, and has assets of about $100 million. Who is the real elitist here?
So it finally happened...I told my wife about two weeks ago that the reason that many people are 'uncertain' or offended by Obama is that there was a term that hadn't been used yet...it was 'uppity N-----' which was once a common term applied to any Black person who spoke well, was educated, dressed great and was smart and successful...why it was like they thought they were white...how dare they people would say...now, it finally has surfaced...Congressman Westmoreland typifies the hatred of a large number of people...and he doesn't know enough to have any shame. Obama has the intelligence and common decency that this country cries for...go to http://www.todaysseniorsnetwork.com/obama_choice_for_president.htm to read why even before he announced I endorsed him for President...but that is because I am an uppity old white person...
I am from Georgia and i am ashamed that this racist represents a part of my state. Mke no mistake that this has legs... I am a 48 yr old WM who went to school in DC and worked a summer for the RNC. For that I now apologize to all compassionate people everywhere. PLEASE stay focused on what Obama has stayed foused on - the issues. How dare anyone question my patriotism. Well as tleast his speach sucked..
I find it incredibly ironic that anyone from the GOP would suggest that Obama, and not McCain, is the "uppity elitist" in this campaign. (And of course racially offensive, using the obvious code word, "uppity.") Obama was the child of a divorced mother who sometimes had to use food stamps to feed her family; he earned MERIT scholarships to college & law school, and didn't even identify himself as a minority on his applications because he wanted to be accepted on his intellect and his merits...while John McCain and his wife own 7 (or is it 8? or 9? or 10?) homes and she spent THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS on her outfit for the first night of the convention...and McCain's chief economic advisor (since resigned from the campaign) said that ordinary Americans are just "whiners" about the economy. Up is down, good is bad, black is white...and (this part IS true!) the GOP is a party of lying, manipulative, venal, nasty, selfish, rich, self-aggrandizing jerks!
Now it appears that Congresswoman Westmoreland has read neither the dictionary nor the bible. That's called 'ignorant' in my parts.
At last the snake has come out of the woodpile: this, of course, has been the subtext of most of the right wing's attacks on Obama from the beginning: "who do you think you are, boy?" I agree: this has legs.
What a horrible racist thing for anyone to say, let alone a member of the U.S. House of Representatives! I live in the northeast, and I know full well what that word conveys. Westmoreland's pretense of ignorance of the meaning of the word reminds me of the pretense by George Allen, another Republican, When he said that he didn't know the meaning of "macaca."
He can pull out any dictionary that he likes but everyone knows what uppity means - a black person acting as if he or she is equal to a white person.
I thought "uppity" was usually followed by "negro". I told my boss the other day that my (conservative) father called Obama "arrogant". We got a good laugh out of that one. "In other words," I said, "He meant uppity negro." All us Southerners know darn well the meaning of "uppity".
It almost makes you want to look away respectfully, the ugly spectacle of watching a party in its death throes. Almost.
I was amazed by the comment. I've only ever heard the word "uppity" applied to blacks by whites, so I feel it was clearly intended to bring Obama's race to the forefront in a demeaning way. Fortunately I think it will have just the opposite effect. Here's the etymology from Allwords.com. Note the origin Etymology: Fanciful extension of up. First used in the slave states of USA in mid 1800s.
I'd be more offended by this comment, except the utter stupidity of confirming that he said that makes me want to laugh. I don't know whether what I feel is more schadenfreude or pity, because no one - especially not a congressman from Georgia, of all places - can be that dumb. Granted, I'm black myself, but I'm not old by any means - and I know what the word's implications are. It's not QUITE as bad as using that six-letter word that begins with "N," but it's still up there.
Even though I've been a transplant on Yankee soil for the past two decades, I still recognize the racial tinge of the term. I wonder whether Westmoreland ever used the term to describe Bill and Hillary Clinton. But then again, I wouldn't fear too much from a good Christian who could name only three of the Ten Commandments (see his Colbert Report interview).
I learned something new. I'm a native southerner, my mother participated in the civil rights marches in Atlanta in the 60's. We're white by the way. And until I read this story I never knew uppity was anything other than another word for snobbish. My mother never mentioned it to me either, I plan to ask her what she remembers of this word. A few minutes ago I asked my wife (New Jersey native) and she thought the same as I. We both learned something today.
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 represent the actions and thoughts of the people who voted him into office.
I HOPE that CNN continues to play this comment in an effort to demonstrate the kind of politics the Republican party REALLY represents. I am a 56 year old white female and anyone who says that "uppity" merely refers to someone who feels "superior" is discounting and diministhing the blatant explicit discrimination that was once a part of our country. This comment demonstrates to me the implicit racism that continues and that the Republicans will do anything and say anything to maintain control of the White House
IF A BLACK MAN WAS CALLED UPPITY FOLLOWED BY THE N-WORD IN THE SOUTH, HE KNEW IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE WOULD BE A CROSS BURNING AND HIM LYNCHED. WESTMORELAND KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS SAYING BUT SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, BECAUSE BLACK PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THEIR PLACE. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS COUNTRY IS NOBODY WANTS TO FACE ITS HISTORY. MEDGAR EVERS WAS UPPITY, MARTIN LUTHER KING UPPITY, EMMETT TILL UPPITY...2008 UPPITY=ELITIST
The very fact that Rep. Westmoreland has such a limited vocabulary that the only word he could think of to describe his impression of the Obama's was "uppity," should tell us all we need to know about his own personal lack of credibility. Whether it was motivated by a racist attitude or just a "them against us attitude;" this so called "innocent" kind of comment propagates hatred and division. As a so called "public servant," he should know better. It's just more of the same brainless comments we've become accustomed to hearing in the place of real knowledge or understanding. The rare exception ironically, would be the eloquent philosophy that continues to come from Barrack Obama on ANY topic. And he's got MY vote.
Apparently, "uppity" is this year's "macaca." Does Representative Westmoreland honestly think he can hide behind a definition supplied by an Administrative Assistant (by the way, I am one) and honestly not know what the word has meant for the past two centuries south of the Mason-Dixon Line? Or does he think the rest of the country has been dumbed down by eight years of Dubbya? Either way, he may be secure with his constituents, but maybe he'd better do some polling just to be sure. To paraphrase Hunter S Thompson: "Jesus, where will it end? How low do you have to stoop to be a Georgia Congressman?"
I gueses the Obama better stay in their place... How riduculous... proof the republicans are going to implode
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