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September 5, 2008

Westmoreland Defends Calling Obama 'Uppity'

@ 3:23 pm by Andy Barr

Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland is standing by his statement that Barack Obama is "uppity," claiming that he has never heard of the term being 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,'" Westmoreland said in a statement. "That's what we meant by uppity when we used it in the mill village where I grew up."

"I've never heard that term used in a racially derogatory sense," the Georgia Republican added.

Westmoreland has been catching heat for his use of the term Thursday during a discussion with reporters about GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's speech.

"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.

8 Comments »

The Hill welcomes comment from anyone and will almost always post it whether it is favorable or critical, as long as it is substantive and advances debate.
  1. I wonder how he'd define the word "bigot".

    Comment by carter — September 5, 2008 @ 3:42 pm

  2. Uh huh. And the n-word simply means "Person of African-American descent". How odd that this proud son of Georgia has never read Gone With the Wind.

    Comment by a.c. berger — September 5, 2008 @ 3:51 pm

  3. Lynn, I also grew up on a cotton mill village. I agree with you in the use of the word as it relates to Obama.

    Let me be clear, I am not voting aganist the man I am voting for John McCain & Sarah Palin !

    With out Sarah and the uppity media I might have stayed home.

    I wonder if the uppity media & uppity Obama has heard of kudzu?

    The left and their media bedmates will be covered over by the John McCain's "Kudzu Movement"!

    Comment by Tex in GA — September 5, 2008 @ 4:00 pm

  4. "Being politically correct means always having to say you're sorry." — Charles Osgood

    Comment by Uncle Ralph — September 5, 2008 @ 4:37 pm

  5. Obama the man, give it up for the man!

    Soda Cracker going to pay for all that free labor my pappy done did.

    Comment by Leroy - September 5, 2008 at 5:17 pm

    Comment by Leroy — September 5, 2008 @ 5:38 pm

  6. I've never heard the word "uppity" used in a derogatory way against a black individual. I think it's much to do about nothing. How is Obama expected to face tough dictators and terrorists if he can't even handle being called a "snob". Rightfully so, I might add. And don't call me a racist because I'm not.

    Grow up people. Oops, I might have offended someone.

    Comment by Leslie — September 5, 2008 @ 8:10 pm

  7. I've lived in the south all my life and I've never known anyone to defend this term as non-derogatory except in a bad-faith effort to cover up for a racist or sexist position.

    It's applied to "people who don't know their (inferior) place". How could such an un-american viewpoint not be derogatory? When applied to black people, it's racist, when it's applied to women, it's sexist. When it's applied in America, it's un-american, because there's nobody who has a superior place from which to look down on the uppity masses below who inappropriately feign equality.

    I've seen women and blacks adopt it for themselves, like blacks have adopted n****r. Good for them. Reclaim the vocabulary.

    But telling us it's just fine to use that term is pissing on our shoes and telling us it's raining. Keep your byproduct in your pants.

    Comment by Michael — September 5, 2008 @ 11:36 pm

  8. The last and only time I heard the term "uppity" used was when my grandfather shared that southern whites referred to him and his equally educated sister as being "uppity niggras." Of course their experiences occurred in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is quite clear that because Mr. Westmoreland defined the term that he hoped to camouflage his angst and contempt for Obama by addressing "his place" instead his racist tendencies were illuminated. I only hope that his supporters remember his backwards stance when it is time for reelection.

    Comment by Geneva Turner — September 8, 2008 @ 2:45 pm

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