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Uppity

By TChris, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 06:39:59 PM EST
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Rep. Lynn Westmoreland:

“Just from what little I’ve seen of [Michelle Obama] and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they’re a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they’re uppity,” Westmoreland said, according to The Hill, a newspaper that covers Capitol Hill.

When asked to clarify, Westmoreland said, “Uppity, yeah.”

The only surprise is that it took so long for a prominent Republican to say it out loud.

“It was only a matter of time before Republican officials shifted from oblique racially-charged language to brazen racially-charged language,” wrote Steve Benen, author of a blog for Washington Monthly magazine.

Westmoreland is thinking about running for governor of Georgia in 2010. Is he trying to solidify his base?

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    Uppity | 45 comments (45 topical)

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    Is he saying (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by ruffian on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 06:52:49 PM EST
    the Obama's think they themselves are uppity?

    Can't figure out whether it is more outrageous or stupid. He can't even do his racial dogwhistling right.  Westmoreland has always been a joke, however. Is he the one that Colbert asked to name the 10 commandments?

    Indeed it was (none / 0) (#8)
    by ruffian on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 06:55:24 PM EST
    Lynn Westmoreland in action. Kudos to Colbert (again).

    Parent
    Yep (none / 0) (#22)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:04:07 PM EST
    that's him. He's a complete idiot.

    Parent
    I wonder if (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by indiependy on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:02:29 PM EST
    they got any reaction comments from one of the 3 African-American attendees among the 15,000+ at the Xcel Center?

    Dog bites man. Republicans are racists. (5.00 / 0) (#14)
    by echinopsia on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:16:20 PM EST


    Considering (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:06:49 PM EST
    what we've elected Gov. recently here in GA, I wouldn't be surprised if he won.

    God save us (none / 0) (#34)
    by Moishele on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:38:49 PM EST
    from Sonny. :/

    Parent
    well at least they're not calling him (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by Edgar08 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:45:25 PM EST
    a "token."
    Oh Jeez..... (1.50 / 2) (#13)
    by Moishele on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:14:56 PM EST
    I thought we'd gotten away from reading something racial into every remark.

    My grandmother and my Dad's family routinely would call me and my sister 'uppity' when they thought we were being arrogant, and we're not black.

    Westmoreland is a fool as anyone who watches The Colbert Report already knows. Was this a racial coded remark? I doubt Westmoreland is smart enough to put that kind of thing together.

    uppity (5.00 / 3) (#15)
    by txpublicdefender on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:17:45 PM EST
    The history of the use of the word "uppity" to deride black people who "don't know their place" is long and well-documented in this country.  To pretend otherwise is a real stretch.

    Parent
    Check your etymology (2.50 / 4) (#30)
    by Moishele on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:30:30 PM EST
    The history of the use of the word "uppity" to deride black people who "don't know their place" is long and well-documented in this country.  To pretend otherwise is a real stretch.

    I'm not 'pretending otherwise'. In this country the word was originally used by blacks against other blacks, and that is a 'long and well- documented' history too. But thanks for proving my point that folks will jump on anything they can pump up to be racist. It was a ploy used against Bill and Hillary in the primaries, and a ploy that seems to alive and well here, too.

    If Westmoreland constructed his remarks that way (and I still doubt he has the brains to do it) he certainly has gotten a lot of folks to take the bait.

    Parent

    The word 'uppity'... (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by DudeE on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 10:19:10 PM EST
    ...implies a presumption of being above one's station.  As in, 'you may think you're equal or above me, but you're not'

    'Uppity' seems an odd comment considering Obama is a sitting US Senator and Presidential nominee.  In most places that's a person in a position of immense power and prestige.  To Westmoreland, he's still uppity.

    Parent

    How many... (none / 0) (#53)
    by Moishele on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 08:43:57 AM EST
    Republicans do you know who think Democrats of any race are their equal?

    Parent
    I'd say blame those who charged it (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by blogtopus on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:33:41 PM EST
    Since we're bemoaning the hijacking of words that groups find offensive, we might as well hold responsible those who charged it racially in the first place, and we know who they are.

    As for SYNONYMS of uppity, such as arrogant, haughty, supercilious; those are fair game. But UPPITY is just too charged.

    Parent

    Never knew I offended so many (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by coast on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:02:33 PM EST
    I lived in the south all my life and use the word all the time.  Never racially.  Thanks for informing me that I've been offending my African American friends all this time.  I'll let them know.

    Parent
    Congressman (none / 0) (#25)
    by nalo on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:10:14 PM EST
    from the 8th Congressional district??

    Parent
    As a southerner the representative knew exactly (none / 0) (#27)
    by liberalone on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:15:17 PM EST
    what he was saying.  Coast, as you noted, you have not used the word racially.  The historical use of the term was uppity followed by some variation of the n-word.  I am glad that the racial manner of using the word is no longer as prevalent or at least a generation of Southerners don't remember hearing it used.

    As for solidifying the base, the republicans are merely waiting for the usual suspects to mention racism.  I believe the goal is to increase their gains among all blue collar and lower wage whites.  

    The republicans cannot win on issues this year so they need these types of attacks to take voters minds off the issues.

    Parent

    They already know... (none / 0) (#48)
    by indy in sc on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 10:57:50 PM EST
    ...they're just too polite to tell you.

    Parent
    Can't use arrogant (none / 0) (#18)
    by nycstray on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:48:52 PM EST
    in reference to Obama. During the primary it was deemed racist because it equaled uppity.

    Parent
    Yeah, that's right (none / 0) (#50)
    by blogtopus on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 02:43:05 AM EST
    And the GOP figured since it can't use normal words without being called racist, it might as well go whole hog. Ugh.

    Parent
    Uppity: there's further implication (none / 0) (#45)
    by wystler on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 10:25:52 PM EST
    Even without the racial overtone, the 2nd or 3rd person use of "uppity" connotes a ranking beneath that of the speaker. sometimes, it's used for youngsters by their elders. more common is by those one might call snobs. add the racial element ...

    Parent
    Me too (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by MichaelGale on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:22:46 PM EST
    I am described as "uppity" and always was, by my Grandmother..hehe.

    Can we use grandiose?

    Parent

    Oooooo! (none / 0) (#32)
    by Moishele on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:34:37 PM EST
    I like that! :)

    Parent
    since your grandmother was your elder ... (none / 0) (#46)
    by wystler on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 10:29:41 PM EST
    you do respect your elders ... at least family members ... no?

    those who fail to honor their parents, grandparents, by proper show of deference, can be properly described as uppity

    jeepers, though ... i don't see how Westmoreland's reference to Obama had any familial or generational link for the context ... i wonder what it could be that helped him settle on that word

    Parent

    Did they use the term when ... (none / 0) (#44)
    by wystler on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 10:21:24 PM EST
    ... you were children or young adults?

    It's still an Adult -> Child putdown. But it's a special fit when racial overtones are involved, since the master always believes his chattel are beneath him.

    Parent

    The racist connotation is well known (none / 0) (#2)
    by andgarden on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 06:48:20 PM EST


    This comment (none / 0) (#6)
    by TChris on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 06:53:16 PM EST
    responded to a comment that has been deleted for violating the policy against insulting a candidate's family members.

    Parent
    Completely outrageous (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 06:48:58 PM EST


    His district is 40% black, too (none / 0) (#7)
    by andgarden on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 06:53:41 PM EST
    Unusual for a Republican.

    And the reporter (none / 0) (#9)
    by indiependy on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 06:55:55 PM EST
    even tried to give him an out by asking to clarify. Well I guess true colors never run as well.

    what a nut (none / 0) (#10)
    by connecticut yankee on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 06:57:41 PM EST
    He's a fool. If the GOP is smart they will rebuke him immediately.

    Not only that (none / 0) (#19)
    by Democratic Cat on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:53:25 PM EST
    As a human being he should have known better. Well, if he runs for Governor, I guess I'll at least get to contribute to his opponent.

    only in America (well, not quite) (none / 0) (#21)
    by of1000Kings on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:03:10 PM EST
    can you be negatively judged for being educated, speaking well and an intellectual...

    if only Le Corbusier were around...

    I hate to make this my first post, but fascists also hate intellectuals...

    if that's over the line, just let me know...

    I don't believe America is fascist (none / 0) (#37)
    by of1000Kings on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:14:33 PM EST
    just that some extremists are (unfortunately extremists that have considerable power)...
    and they use some fascist ploys (fear of terrorists, fear of intellectualism) to win elections...

    we are a Democracy

    Parent

    not to nitpick (none / 0) (#38)
    by of1000Kings on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:16:26 PM EST
    but Fascist with an 'F' generally refers only to the Mussolini Fascism...

    general fascism is with an 'f'...

    I know, I hate me too...

    Parent

    Tell that... (none / 0) (#52)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 08:26:38 AM EST
    ...to Jonah Goldberg. He takes great pleasure in calling liberal fascists--as do a lot of the right wings nutjobs.

    Parent
    It's really amazing (none / 0) (#23)
    by lilburro on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:04:25 PM EST
    if karma exists, one day in the future Mr. Westmoreland you've got a great bag of sh*t coming directly for your head, so you better start ducking now.

    And if this catches on I think I'm going to be sick.

    Especially... (none / 0) (#26)
    by prose on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:11:14 PM EST
    given that they gave him a chance to clarify.

    I think he did (none / 0) (#29)
    by MKS on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:30:24 PM EST
    That is what is so alarming.

    Here it comes. Oh man. (none / 0) (#33)
    by Eleanor A on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:35:37 PM EST
    Guess the shenanigans will start tomorrow.  You know this guy isn't a lone creep...he wouldn't have said it if he thought he'd be censured by anybody.

    Parent
    I've been a little league coach/manager... (none / 0) (#36)
    by NYShooter on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:50:54 PM EST
    for over 35 years, and I've been pretty well neutered in pumping up the kids. Many of you know the "chatter" that comes with the game, and I've never had a problem all those years. (I lived with a black family in a foster situation for four years back in the 60's)
    Last year, as our shortstop ( a Jamaican I've known since he was an infant) comes up to bat. Never giving it a thought, I blurt out, "C'mon boy, show'm what you got." Out of the stands I hear, "hey coach, watch yer mouth, you know better'n that."
    I know, I know, but......Damn.

    but Racism is dead in America (none / 0) (#40)
    by of1000Kings on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:22:03 PM EST
    Fox News says so...
    Checked out Westmoreland on Wiki--actually thought (none / 0) (#47)
    by jawbone on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 10:32:37 PM EST
    he was a woman until I read his entry.

    He was born in 1950--not that old, so has no excuse, such as incipient Alzheimer's.

    Astonishing.

    man (none / 0) (#49)
    by connecticut yankee on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 02:40:28 AM EST
    I dont know about this one.  Its too much. I dont hate republicans, just some of them, and I expect the GOP to handle this.

    They need to take this blanker to the floor of the house and censure him.  

    Uppity---LOL! (none / 0) (#54)
    by skybot10 on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 08:12:04 PM EST
    What a waste of space in an attempt to dissect, and interject personal opinion on, the "meaning" of one word. Use your dictionary for goodness sake. As a Euro-American southerner I know I've heard the word (and numerous others) as an "add-on"  to obviously objectionable terms but this is ridiculous. What's next....big, old, tall, rich, poor, dim witted.....????

    Uppity | 45 comments (45 topical)

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