Obama 'uppity:' Southern congressman

I find it very hard to swallow that this Congressman never heard this word used in a racially demeaning tone. Especially since he's in the South. The racist undertones exist within that word when a white person uses it towards a person of color. Just as the word "articulate" has negative connotations when used by a non-black in reference to a person of color. This is one of the many racist remarks that will continue to surface during this presidential race, and the Congressman has once again proved that America hasn't lost its racist attitudes.

Come on, the p.c. crowd thinks every word is racist. When Biden said Obama was "clean and articulate," that was racist. But no one blinks an eye when Obama supporter Ludacris says "they'll paint the White House black." We've had enough of people having to walk on egg shells. Get with the issues give the p.c. stuff a rest.

Have to agree with Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, Obama likes to talk down to people who he considers less educated than himself. I call it arragance (sp). Whatever term you use it spells elitist!

Even tho I will vote for Obama I have not liked the way his campaign jumps on any little infraction and tries to make it racist...All of us depending on what region we come from have little cliches' that might mean something somewhere else than we mean in my area. I don't want to feel that he and Michelle will be wanting to chance the vocabulary or our slang words..Generally if a person wants to make a racist remark they spare no words and just say it like it is. Even if it is wrong. I hope families will teach equality in their homes and one day this will not be an issue....

I think Mary Mitchell of the Chicago Sun Times must've ghost-written this one.

She sees race in everything. EVERYTHING.

This is a clear example of why Obama should not be President. This term has always been associated with rich, snobby people. This term has never been associated with race, well, until now, and like everything anyone else will say in the future about Obama, the race card will be used. Now that he is losing, his camp is scared and will start throwing out the race card. McCain and Palin are the clear, right choice for America.

This is a clear example of why Obama should not be President. This term has always been associated with rich, snobby people. This term has never been associated with race, well, until now, and like everything anyone else will say in the future about Obama, the race card will be used. Now that he is losing, his camp is scared and will start throwing out the race card. McCain and Palin are the clear, right choice for America.

If the shoe fits ...

I guess they didn't watch "The Jeffersons" in Georegia.

yes, the famous endorser of the ten commandments, but didn’t know them when quizzed by colbert…that rep. westmoreland. also one of two reps who tried to squash historic civil rights investigations and one of 33 who tried to stop the renewal of the voting rights act. quite a guy and quite a district!

well you know, I am so sick of all you sensitive people. If you cannot handle certain words, then you need to plug your ears. If a word has a different meaning to you than to the one who speaks it then tough luck. Quit being so darn sensitive and grow up. Remember the old adage "Stick & stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me". Maybe that is why the vast majority of humans today do not have any COMMON SENSE.

Setting aside this particular slight (which I find it hard to believe was not understood by the Congressman), can someone please explain why it is a bad thing for a potential leader of the free world to be intelligent, well-educated and articulate? Since when did those terms become epithets? I know that people want to believe that their leaders understand them and their particular plight, but I for one would rather think the President of the United Stated is smarter and better educated than I am rather than dumber and less well-educated. The small-minded, xenophobic view of the world espoused by many in this country is not what we need if we want to ensure the continued primacy of our country; nor will it help keep us safe. It is through understanding other people different from ourselves (whether within our own country or outside its borders) that we break down the fear and hatred that divide us and build a more peaceful, safer world. If we let fear of others drive our thoughts and actions, we will never have a chance at moving this country towards a more perfect union or making the world a better place.

I have always understood that an 'uppity' person is one who does not know and stay in his or her place in a hierarchy. The place is always a lower one than that of the person doing the describing. Heaven knows the last thing this country needs is another social inferior rising to a place of power.

I am confused. A white boy, who grew up in the city... I have never heard the term used racially - seriously.
I have heard probably every other term, but what the $&%* is that supposed to even mean?
Is Obama arrogant? Sure. Aren't all politicians?

Whatever term you use it spells elitist!

Posted by: Darkwater | September 5, 2008 7:19 PM
_________________________
Versus the $300K spent on Cindy McCains clothing for a convention?

PS - Good to see the Swamp comments back. Had to reboot the website, eh?

Go to www.google.com, type in "Republican Family Values", and click 'I'm Feeling Lucky'.

Oh PLEASE~ If people are associating such words as 'uppity' and 'articulate' with racial class, that's either ignorance or stupidity on their part. It's an excuse, pure and simple...remember a few years ago when some professor used the word 'niggardly', which is in the dictionary and means 'stingy or cheap'? He resigned, due to the fact that some have evidently never picked up a dictionary. A few would be better off doing so instead of assuming that everything is a derogatory and racially motivated remark.

This is why Obama is sure to win.

Republicans just can't help themselves; the closer we get to Nov, the more easily the racist cr@p they say in private will slip form their lips when they're in public, and they'll reveal themselves for what they truly are.

And the more racist their rhetoric becomes, the more good Americans will turn away from them.

He IS "uppity" and I am not being racial. He acts like he thinks his hockey don't stink! Yes, that is a southern phrase we use without any racial connatation whatsoever. If I could buy him for what he is worth and sell him for what he "thinks" he is worth I would be wealthy! No racist remarks here, I just think that BO thinks he is a tad bit better than most. He is badly mistaken!

Anyone who thinks Obama is an elitist ia an idiot. John McCain and Cindy McCain would never even talk to the average guy if they didn't want our vote this election. They are so rich it's not even funny. Cindy doesn't even talk with her half sisters and has called herself an only child. ( she was the only one who will and has inherited the big bucks)

Obama is really educated and when you're educated you have a wider vocabulary.. Deal with it.. it doesn't mean he's a snob. Stop listening to the spin.. go see him in person and it will show you he's a decent, nice, down to earth guy.. How big of a sucker are we as a nation that we call a man who just finished paying off his student loans a snob and uppity, and a man who is so rich he has more then 5 multimillion dollar houses a regular guy... George Bush said that Gore and Kerry were snobs and elitist too, and he was a regular guy.. He and his family are really rich too. He is very arrogant and look what he's done to this country. I for one am not falling for it again.

Whether or not what that congressman said was meant to be racist .. only God and that congressman really knows. But he was dead wrong about Obama's elite status!.

Rremember the word "niggardly" meaning stingy or frugal?

lol

Always anther distraction from what the issues are

Republicans showing their true colors. I'm not surprised at all.

Funny that they think an education and a vocabulary are "elitist" but wearing $300,000 worth of jewelry isn't. I didn't even pay $300,000 for my house.

Republicans showing their true colors. I'm not surprised at all.

Funny that they think an education and a vocabulary are "elitist" but wearing $300,000 worth of jewelry isn't. I didn't even pay $300,000 for my house.

Open your eyes, folks; it was the Atlanta Constitution and Mark Silva who wrote this, not Obama or Mary Mitchell. And any redneck knows what uppity is.

"Have to agree with Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, Obama likes to talk down to people who he considers less educated than himself. I call it arragance"

LMAO.

Yeah, I'm sure you do.

The simple truth is that the less educated cannot hear someone who is more educated than they are without perceiving that they are being "talked down to".

Most people with little education don't also have the self-confidence necessary to hear someone speak using words and concepts of which they are unfamiliar, without blaming the speaker.

Of course, the fault lies not with the speaker.

The only time I can recall "uppity" being used, was in conjunction with the "n" word. On the other hand, my wife had not heard it in this context. I'm a little younger than the Rep and raised in rural northern IL, but I cannot believe he had not heard the word used in a racial context. Cite all the dictionary entries you want.

I wonder how many of those defending Westmoreland would be so anxious to do so if he called them a "cracker"? Just a biscuit, right?

For any African American who is familiar with the term "uppity" it has obvious undertones. I can understand how others who have never heard it be used in that manner may not understand but whenever I have heard it used in reference to a black person it has meant that person is of inferior class and is trying to reach higher than their social standing or worthiness. Also, as a black woman in corporate america, I am very familiar with the articulate term. I have heard it used many times for well spoken African Americans where it was said by a white peer as a compliment but I usually hear that word when it relates to a black person...as in they are pleasantly surprised by how well you speak.

I understand that in some cases race has become so sensitive that simpole misunderstandings have been blown out of proportion but unless you are familiar with the term and its history, it is unfair to assume that the people upset by its use are severly racially sensitive.

If you cannot handle certain words, then you need to plug your ears. If a word has a different meaning to you than to the one who speaks it then tough luck.
Posted by: Common Sense | September 5, 2008 8:15 PM

You are absolutely right there stiffy.

can someone please explain why it is a bad thing for a potential leader of the free world to be intelligent, well-educated and articulate?
Posted by: Mark | September 5, 2008 8:22 PM

There is only one answer for that....The GOP doesn't have anybody like that. The dumbing down of America party.

the puppet's nose grew longer when he lied. did the congress man's grow or his brain shrink?

playing dumb?

Online Dictionary -

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.

Sounds like a few people have their heads in the proverbial sand. Westmoreland has a record of racist sentiment. Isn't about time we got past this racial hangup. Come on, people, grow up!

OK, Republics.
I know you, red necked, ignorant, trailer trash, inbred, mayo eating, white bread, Jerry Springer watching, jerky eating, banjo playing, devolved, retrograde NASCAR, pro wrestling honkeys don't mean anything racist when using the term 'uppity'.
You guys really strain credulity.

It's kinda funny how the right considers anybody who is at all remotely left leaning to be "elitist" without any actual reasoning behind it. I guess it is "elitist" to want universal health care for all Americans, to want to bring the troops home from a misguided war, and to want to close tax loopholes for giant corporations. And I guess Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani are just hallmarks of middle Americana. Either way, sometimes I wonder what is more elitist - Obama actually trying to push policies that help the lower and middle class like universal health care, mortgage relief and the like or the Right's cynical campaign strategy that assumes you can pull wool over the eyes of all those middle Americans and cast the debate as a simple choice between those who are "just like us" and those who aren't (the Obamas). That strategy worked in 2000, and 2004, and look where it's gotten us.

Well, you know what they say - fool me once...

Obama uppity? Didn't McCain's wife wear a $300k outfit to the convention, and doesn't McCain have 7 houses? Sorry, I forgot, he is a working class guy. At least we can all agree that Palin is straight from the trailer park.

Tired of the black race censoring everyone.

Too bad. Everybody should say what they mean and mean what they say.

Who cares what others think?

Blacks should censor themselves. They are racists.

Oh, but forgot, blacks can't be racist. According to Black Liberation Theology.

Right, Reverend Wright and James Cone?!

The conservatives, the same people that have been slamming free speech for years, the people that wanted anyone opposing George Bush labelled as traitors are now upset because Democrats objected to something said? Can anyone spell "hypocrisy"?

Because Obama refuses to get into silly discussions which are not relevant to the issues in this election, he's called uppity. While McBush panders to women and makes
empty speeches, Obama is staying focused on the real issues, such as our crashing economy and unemployment.
Anyone who votes for McBush should have their heads examined.

I don't think this was Obama's campaign jumping all over the congressman for using a racially-biased epithet. I think it was just normal folks offended by it, who spread it around the internet. No word about the Obama campaign having anything to do with it. So keep your pants on, and don't be so quick to jump to conclusions about Obama's racial sensitivity. And it's spelt arrogant. And if you've never heard uppity in a racial context, well, perhaps you should move out of the suburbs.

Because Obama refuses to get into silly discussions which are not relevant to the issues in this election, he's called uppity. While McBush panders to women and makes
empty speeches, Obama is staying focused on the real issues, such as our crashing economy and unemployment.
Anyone who votes for McBush should have their heads examined.

"I've never heard that term used in a racially derogatory sense." - Westmoreland

Yeah, right. Seriously, the GOP really needs to work on this. They used to have politicians who were much more convincing liars. Telling such obvious and pointless lies is self-defeating if you want people to believe you on more important lies like "trickle down" economics or WMDs in Iraq or John Bush's "maverickness".

I'm a white woman that grew up in Kansas and I know what the word "uppity" means when used against an African American. They don't know their place. That's what it's always meant and I'm sure the jerk who said it meant it that way. He wants the Obamas to know their place. I guess the south hasn't changed after all. Is he related to the General Westmoreland from the Vietnam war?

Hey..........don't all people running for the presidency since the 1960's have a solid college education? So, why is Obama considered elitist because he has a quality education? Maybe some white people feel that he talks down to people because he doesn't humble himself like they think he should. No one thinks McCain is an elitist and expects him to humble himself, yet his crowd is made of a whole bunch of millionaires. Stop with the double standard!

Lynn Boy, y'all are a credit to your race.

Y'all remind me of George Wallace railing against "block voting".

I live in Chicago and I have only heard the word uppity used simultaneously with the word black. So, if "uppity blacks" is common up here in the north, I can't imagine that it isn't also used in the south. You lost the war. Get over it.

Frankly, Ive NEVER heard the word "uppity" without being followed by the word "n****r." Neither has anyone else posting here, son let's stop all the disingenuous crap about "pc" or "oversensitive" or "race card. If you think Congressman Westmoreland's remarks are appropriate, then by definition, you are what is referred to as a "CRACKER," no insult intended.

Here's another example of coded racist badinage by a southern congressman:

In April, Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Ky., told the state's annual Lincoln Day dinner that he was unimpressed with Obama's performance during a war simulation for members of Congress and referred to Obama as "boy."

"That boy's finger does not need to be on the button," Davis said. "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country."

If you can read this remark and not infer racism, then, once again, you are a "CRACKER." No insult intended!

Don't you people ever read? Or learn some history? The word was coined in the south in the 1800's, and it was used to describe people who were trying to act like they were above their station. It has also historically been used to describe African-Americans who wanted decent housing, jobs & equal rights. It is most definitely a racist word.

I have always wondered how we can repeatedly elect nitwits to public office.

After reading some of the comments posted here, I no longer wonder.

Sorry but McCain and that cow Palin are NOT THE CLEAR CHOICE!
McCain has essentially sold his soul to get where he is and now acts like he's the man he "used to be". Come on people! Furthermore, Obama is a die-hard Sox fan, so how the hell could he be an elitist? When have you ever met an elitist Sox fan? Not even Da Mare is an elitist.
BTW isn't McCain and his billionaire wife a bit uppity themselves???
OBAMA 08!

There are plenty of other words to describe Obama besides uppity: arrogant, boastful, disdainful, dogmatic, domineering, haughty, hubristic, impudent, overbearing, priggish, self-righteous, self-satisfied, supercilious, vainglorious. Pick one or more, mix and match.

I am not a Obama or a McCain supporter. I despise censorship, but sometimes people need to stop short of dieting on a foot.

Obama is a fraud. McCain is Bush lite. Both have huge egos, otherwise they would not be candidates for POTUS.

I am so sick of everything being "racial." Articulate is racial when spoken by a white person about a black?? Are you crazy?! Articulate is a compliment whatever race you are for God's sake! I vow to stop walking on tiptoes so as not to offend anyone (racially)and will forthwith conduct myself according to Christian ethics and pray to God no one is offended. By the way, I'm an American, not a Norwegian American (my ancestry is Norwegian) and I believe patriotic blacks are American and not African American. Just my opinion.

I'm sorry, but I lived in the Deep South some decades ago, and understand this:

"Uppity" when applied by folk like Lynn Boy to any person of color was ALWAYS derogatory.

In fact, we could check the OED, but I don't recall any recent usage of that term in non-fiction or fiction to merely connote "snobbishness" or "wealthy people". John Boy is full of prunes on that one.

Maybe I should go re-read "The Little Foxes". Is the word used there?

I'll bet the name callers, and people who find it inconvenient to avoid insulting others were just as ornery as children, and bullied other classmates. Grow up!

The problem is that there are no consequences for being obnoxious anymore. If it was ok to punch others in the face when they offend, being p.c. might come to mind more frequently.

The real question is not 'what' Mr. Westmoreland meant . . . I think most everyone knows exactly what he meant. The real question is, 'why did he say it?' A book called, 'The Examination of Racism in America,' specifically deals with these kinds of questions and the election. One last observation: Obama may not be Westmoreland's cup of tea, but that doesn't make Westmoreland any less of a man in Georgia.

As a Chicago kid that spent every summer in the south even I knew what uppity referred to when I heard the phrase. The Congressman is a liar, he knew damn well what he was saying and just doesn't have the character to take responsibility for his own words. Every black man and woman should be deeply offended by what Rep. Westmoreland said. He knew exactly what he meant, he's from Georgia for God's sake.
To say that he didn't realize that 'uppity' had any racial overtones is like saying you didn't know the sky is blue. The man is a liar or a damn fool. Most likely he's both.

I bellieve the word "uppity" means that someone thinks that they are better than another person or group of people.

I am 67 years old and as far as I am concerned this word has never had a racial meaning. If people take offense to the word, that is something they have to deal with.

I'll bet the name callers, and people who find it inconvenient to avoid insulting others were just as ornery as children, and bullied other classmates. Grow up!

The problem is that there are no consequences for being obnoxious anymore. If it was ok to punch others in the face when they offend, being p.c. might come to mind more frequently.

I am not a Obama or a McCain supporter. I despise censorship, but sometimes people need to stop short of dieting on a foot.

Obama is a fraud. McCain is Bush lite. Both have huge egos, otherwise they would not be candidates for POTUS.

By the definitions I've seen here, I consider the uppity candidate to be the one who doesn't know how many houses he owns. Yeah, that candidate speaks for the majority of Americans and the problems we face. Educated does not equal "uppity." There used to be a time in this country when being educated was celebrated.

Never ever EVER apologize for the proper use of an English word. I'm sorry, but if the word means something else to you and your fellows, then you and your fellows need to take a course in English grammar and composition (or purchase a dictionary).

This comes up every so often with 'niggardly'. Honestly, George Orwell would be proud right about now

100% Obama supporter here, yet I too have never heard, nor thought of this term as racial.

I'll tell you what's uppity and elitist....... Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin, John McCain and others making fun of and belittling community organizers. That is uppity, arrogant and elitist.

Obama should not be president because a congressman insults him with a term that has long had racial overtones? GET REAL!!

This is an example of why Lynn Westmoreland should not be returned to Congress

C'mon. Get real. If Obama's not 'uppity', then 'uppity' is meaningless.

It's amazing how many people agree with Rep. Westmoreland. I'm one guy who believes that after Americans walk behind that curtain in November, Obama will go home a big loser...

repubs kill me with this elitist crap....as reports put cindy mccain's OUTFIT last night at $300K. Not $3K...$300K. Now THAT'S an elite class that few people will ever know.

First of all why do you people run back and place everything on the Obama people. This was on independent websites and on black radio. Every black person know's what a person is trying to say when they use the term uppity as it relates to a black person. He thought better of finishing the term. But we get the point!

Now that he is losing, his camp is scared... McCain and Palin are the right choice for America... John, you're saying Obama is losing? I think you're the one who's losing.. your mind that is. The Dems are still ahead, and so his Obama's numbers. Thanks for your falsification.

Well,John,most people aren't as stupid as you think.Of course this is a racist
use of a word and you know it.
Still,you hard-right types try to get away with this sort of thing
and we are supposed to relax,huh?Get a clue.We aren't
going to be insulted like that!!

I could care less that he called them "uppity". What got me is that he called them "elitist". How can he fix his mouth to say this when the McCains don't know how many houses they own and Cindy is wearing outfits that total more than a quarter mil??? You people never quit!!!

It's so sad that people cling to these negative terms when discribing educated blacks. Southerners know how the term uppidy is used and continues to be used to degrade blacks. People that say I'm being oversensitive are being naive. The connotation associated with "uppity" blacks is wrong, racist, and derogatory. Westmoreland made that comment with a wink and a nod. Americans aren't stupid. The racists got a great laugh about it. Westmoreland knew what he was saying. We all know Obama won't respond to this comment. And he shouldn't. McCain should address this. He needs to get his people in line. However Americans know what the subtext means and we shouldn't let this remark go.

I think it's pretty obvious that the posters that claim to 'know' that uppity is a racist term is because they themselves used it as a racist term at one time.

The term "colored" is considered racist and demeaning these days. IF uttered by a, (ready for this?,) "person of non-color."

Westmorland is being political. McCain is the one who is highly uppity. He has no tolerance for journalists asking him fair questions about himself. McCain seems to think he should not have to answer questions about himself, that he should just be able to anoint himself Prez now--like Napolian did by impatiently grabbing the crown out the holy man's hands and crowning himself emperor.

McCain looked like a dim old man during his convention speech. He is comfortable to hide behind the skirt of a self-proclaimed pitt-bull dog of a woman. He seems to be vampire-like in needing Palin's vibrato. Only thing is--McCain is the one running for Prez. When you scratch below the surface, McCain and Palin differ on many things. And, McCain is happy to put this woman he disagrees with in a position that is-in McCain's place-half a heart beat away from the presidency. This is putting his own win above "America First".

I know a few women and men who are steam rollers. Even when they are wrong, they act like they are right. And, like George W Bush, they leap before they think, or before they can get good understanding. Then, they latch on to their wrong choice come hell or high water, no matter what the dire consequences. These people are scary. Palin is scary.

Hi "Viv". Are you new here? Welcome. I agree with your comment.

The term has *always* been acknowledged as applying especially to blacks in a derogatory way. How can it not have a race/class connotation, as it means not snobbish, but acting "above your station". No one seems to remember when Clarence Thomas called his confirmation hearings "a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks."

Anyhow, it seems rather a conflict of interest for white people to decide what is or is not offensive to black people, as many of you are doing.

Obama is running scared and plays the race card more than anyone I have ever seen. Stop crying and read a dictionary.

So what about the jewelery! Loved the outfit and the watch, I have friends with that Chanel!

Do you really think the Obama's don't have a set of matching Platinum Rolex's that they where to there millionaire friends houses in San Francisco while they are bad mouthing the middle class for "clinging to their guns and religion"?

I know he wears a Timex when he's in Ohio though.

Bottom line is Obama is a racist hypocrite who knows his campaign is in trouble so what does he do......play the race card!

I am white and support McCain, not because I am white but because I don't feel like giving up over half my check to the government.

As for you Obama supporters who are for the universal health care plan here is a nice fact for you. Every county that has tried that has failed....miserably! Example, after being diagnosed with a serious disease, say cancer the average time to see a specialist in Canada is 18.3 weeks. Time that is desperately needed to treat that horrible disease. That's what you want here?

Health care in the USA is neither overpriced or hard to acquire. Ever hear of the internet? I guess you should have since Gore claims to have invented it. I am 32 and pay 2400 a year for my BCBS health care. The tax increase Obama is proposing cost me over 10 times that for sub par care!

You think universal health care is a good idea then I have 2 words for you.....Social Security. Goverment run....BANKRUPT!

WAKE UP!!!!!

If you haven't heard this term used in a racist context, then you have either had your head in the sand or are just ignorant about history and racial politics in the U.S.

Republicans AMAZE me in their duplicity. I think the only one who is being "sensitive" her is little Sarah - WHINING about sexism because the press actually dared to look at her tainted and ridiculous record.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

I agree with some of the previous posters - it's so sad how Amer-ichans (that's the Palin crowd) are so intimidated and inclined to lash out against anyone with intelligence ... just a sad sad place the U.S. is becoming.

I'll take "uppity" over McCain and his 60 year old teenage "Ivana Trump" wife who never wears the same micro miniskirt twice. I'm a very tired Republican who is fed up with my own party always throwing it in my face. I'm tired of putting these people into office who think I'm a dog turd beneath their Gucci shoes.

I'm a "cracker" from the south, and I've got a few racists in my family. They still use words like "uppity" to describe non-whites who "don't know their place." Some even call black people "niggers" to this very day. So for the white people leaving comments here that don't think a southerner like Westmoreland doesn't know that uppity is ALWAYS used in the south as a derogatory term, you need to spend a little more time in the south. For that matter, if Westmoreland truly did not know that was a derogatory term, then I think he might be a carpetbagger and should be run out of town.

Are we really supposed to believe that someone who led opposition to last year's renewal of the 1965 Voting Rights Act doesn't know the usual meaning of "uppity". It originally meant a slave who acted like a free man, and now means a black person who dares act like he is just as good as a white person. Short of using a certain word that starts with "N" and rhymes with "trigger", I can't think of a more transparently racist way to speak about a black person.

Shame on Representative Westmoreland!

Ok whiners! I won't use the word uppity to describe the empty wuit bHo. Let's use 2 words, pompus a--! That better?

I'm a 40 year old white guy who grew up in the suburbs and know that anyone who is unaware that this word choice is racist is either racist themself or absolutely clueless on the topic.

I don't care what the definition in the dictionary says, the "n word" originally had a different definition as well. The usage of the word changed that definition. Using the word "uppity" towards a black person (and I've never even heard it used towards a white, hispanice or asian) has always meant that the person doesn't "know his/her place".

Versus the $300K spent on Cindy McCains clothing for a convention?

Posted by: tried and true American | September 5, 2008 8:36 PM

What has that to do with Senator McCain or Obama? We are talking about Candidates not their wives. Duh

I quote from john's post: "This term has never been associated with race, well, until now" ... This is incorrect. In the South, and probably a lot of places, it's a sign of contempt for educated African Americans. It is often accompanied with the racist notion that they have no business getting involved in the spheres of influence that whites are supposed to dominate.

The dictionary definition of "uppity" is:
"putting on or marked by airs of superiority." Maybe if the Atlanta paper and the Trib had simply printed this, it would show this to be a manufactured controversy by people who obviously seldom if ever open a dictionary. Does the definition fit Obama? You bet it does.

As a white man raised in the South, and who has lived in Chicago for 32 years, I can assure you that in both contexts the word "uppity" has been used FOREVER to describe blacks who are "acting above their station," in the eyes of racists. Rep. Westmoreland is being disingenuous when he says he never knew this. There is no possible way he could NOT know it, and he owes Sen. Obama an apology. The Repubs will be doing a lot of this over the next eight weeks..."oh, does it mean THAT??? I never KNEW that...." It sickens me.

Uppity ? Well maybe arrogant, self centered, racist, liar, backstabber, radical, ultra liberal describes him better than "uppity."' Barack and Michelle want to spend the next 4 years lecturing us - we are mean, we cling to guns and religion and we just havent done enough for our country !!! so what have the Obamas done for our country ?/ What have the Obamas done for Chicago ???? ANSWER - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING !!!

It is incomprehensible that a Congressman born in 1950 in Georgia did not understand the association of his use of the word "uppity" to describe Barack and Michelle Obama. It would appear that obtaining a legal education is no longer a value, but to look upon as being "uppity" at least for some in our society.

This is a clear example of why Obama should not be President. This term has always been associated with rich, snobby people. This term has never been associated with race, well, until now, and like everything anyone else will say in the future about Obama, the race card will be used. Now that he is losing, his camp is scared and will start throwing out the race card. McCain and Palin are the clear, right choice for America.

Posted by: John | September 5, 2008 8:01 PM

That comment has never been associated with race? What rock have you been hiding under? It is not used so much today, but has historically been a call to arms in the South to characterize blacks who don't stay in their "place". People want to scream "PC" whenever someone calls another person for using a dispariging term, but sometimes it is what it is and it was meant to be what it was meant to be. Swinging to the far right in opposition to the far left is just as extreme.

What is this? I'm White and I'm Right? I was born and reared in the north in an overwhelmingly white community where there were so few blacks it could never be anything but a non-issue - and I knew as a child that calling a black person "uppity" was an insult.

This connotation is different from calling a white person uppity. It tells the black person you are "way over your station in life and nowhere close to me".

A Georgian KNOWS this.

Even if the word 'uppity' had no previous racial connotation, the blacks and liberals would STILL jump on it because it's a comment against Obama and therefore must be racial. Too bad the blacks and liberals constantly hide behind this pc smokescreen

I grew up in the South of the 50's. The "uppity" word was usually followed by the "N" word to describe a person of color who didn't "know his place", "his place" being subservient and inferior to any "white" person. For anybody raised in the South at that time to say they weren't familiar with this phrase is ludicrous.

Although the word "uppity" can be use non-racially, in the South it was mainly used by whites to label blacks who dared claim their rights under the Constutution. So-called uppity African Americans, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis, led a civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s to make everyone equal before the law.

I quote: > Funny how some people seem to always know what black people will do in theoretical situations.

What's the big deal? None of his Klan brothers have a problem with the use of the word?

Any of you trying to brush of the dog-whistle effect of "uppity" is either ignorant or intending harm to the Obama campaign or a racist, or possibly a combination.

Specifically, there is no comparison whatsoever between using "uppity" in this context and using "niggardly", the controversy over which was a sad testament to the state of our educational system and our culture. The latter means "stingy" in any context of course; the former has been used for generations by segregationist and conservative Southern politicians in the context of trying to keep black aspirations down.

A good thing Colbert took the mask off Westmoreland last night. Talk about subnormal. But judging by some of the other people I saw interviewed at the RNC, I think that level of stupidity has become widespread in the Republican Party.

Just so you all know, the campaign has been ignoring this whole thing. It was just a blogger thing. So stop blaming the campaign.

I grew up in Southern Illinois in the 50's, when my black classmates couldn't sit at the soda fountain at the drug store or in the lower seats at the movie theater (they had to sit in the balcony). I know that "uppity", in relation to the black population, meant that someone was not staying in "his place". There's no doubt that this southern congressman knew exactly what he was saying! I had hoped that this country was getting away from racism, but I'm getting more and more saddened that it's not. I know people who will not vote for Senator Obama because his is black and only for that reason. SHAME ON THEM.

Is it Rascist that Obama dose not have one single white family member of his involved in this election ? Read his book you will see his real feelings toward white people, I.am not asking anyone to believe me, just read his book an read his own words.
They should have it FREE to read at your local Library.

First of all I'm white and beyond middle age and grew up in the mid-south (WV). The term "uppity" was no considered racist because it eas never used to indicate a caucasian. Whenever you heard it you knew the speaker was referring to a person of color who had overreached his station in some manner (mostly minor offenses, in fact). Anyone who grew up in the south knew this. It has not changed since reconstruction and never will. Regardless of what Westmoreland might say.

The word uppity has it's earliest recorded use for the story Uncle Remus. Uncle Remus was written by Joel Chandler Harris a journalist in post reconstruction Georgia. (Georgia where'd that state come up in this article again?) The Uncle Remus stories not only give us the term "uppity" but also "tar baby". In the br'er rabbit story the tar baby gets punched for not speaking when spoken to. The Uncle Remus stories were written with many points but one point was a defense of slavery.

Online etymology.com says that uppity was a term used in the late 1880's "by blacks to define other blacks that were too self-assertive" but the first recorded use of the word was in Uncle Remus. Even the name "Uncle" Remus is a perjorative term. Uncle was a term whites had for old black men of the time. I found most of my information in a 5 minute wikipedia search. I find it unbelieveable that a staffer for this congressman couldn't have looked thius up and brought it to the congressman's attention.

Now whatever you think of the Uncle Remis stories there is no doubt the term uppity has a singular use when applied to a black person. It strains belief that a Georgian wouln't be familar with the term uppity. And this is not an instance of you can say it why can't I; while certain words have been embraced by parts of black culture (even though I find that embrace strange, at best) the term uppity has never been used as "term of endearment". The word uppity has always, ALWAYS been a shorthand for "You should get back in your place." The only reason a black in the late 1800s would've used the word uppity was because someone they knew was going to attract undue trouble for not knowing their place.

Westmoreland is so stupid and ignorant, I'm surprised he can quote from a dictionary. When it comes to being an "elitist" or "regular guy," here's what I want from a president: A person who is elite in terms of intellect and leadership qualities, but not in terms of socioeconomic standing to the point that he lives in a bubble. In other words, I want someone who is smarter than most people, but can also relate to most people. Obama passes this test. Bush fails it miserably. McCain and Palin, in my view, also fail--they're not too bright and they're out of touch.

Uh, huh. And George Allen came up with Macacca out of thin air.

There aren't any black Republican members of Congress or candidates for office. Black Republican delegates to the toe tapping good time recently held in St. Paul were token in number.

Yeah, that's diversity for you.

The double standard of any criticism of the Barak is ALWAYS RACIST.

Not like his statement about his grandmother who raised. She was a racist according to Obama.

Any time any statement can be made to be a pajoritive the implication is clea. Only the liberals are the blessed and true carring leaders. Yes the liberal Carpetbaggers who for years if not centuries, yes it has been a century since the Civil War, have been living off the the blacks by PRETENDING to care.

A few dollars thrown into "Social Programs" some free lunch??? and this is the liberals answer to EVERYTHING, something for nothing.

The liberal "News-speak" is so ingrained and pervasive.

George Orwell in his critique of the socialist lertists said it all. "All pigs are equal, but some pigs are more equal than others.

In other words the liberal MANTRA do as I say not as I do.

I'm not sure what words or phrases black people are currently offended by. Can I be put on a mailing list with the offensive word de jur. This would help me in being a better person.
Oops, can I say "Black" people?

"Uppity" IS racially charged and you'd have to be a moron not to know that. Oh, wait a minute, Westmoreland IS a moron. It's okay then.

I'm not sure what words or phrases black people are currently offended by. Can I be put on a mailing list with the offensive word de jur. This would help me in being a better person.
Oops, can I say "Black" people?

Obama is arrogant....same meaning as uppity...am I a racist??? Biden is a racist...Hilary is a racist...Bill is a racist..anyone who opposes Obama is a racist. You people (Hey, what do you mean by "you people"!!!) are idiots

"Setting aside this particular slight (which I find it hard to believe was not understood by the Congressman), can someone please explain why it is a bad thing for a potential leader of the free world to be intelligent, well-educated and articulate? Since when did those terms become epithets? I know that people want to believe that their leaders understand them and their particular plight, but I for one would rather think the President of the United Stated is smarter and better educated than I am rather than dumber and less well-educated. The small-minded, xenophobic view of the world espoused by many in this country is not what we need if we want to ensure the continued primacy of our country; nor will it help keep us safe. It is through understanding other people different from ourselves (whether within our own country or outside its borders) that we break down the fear and hatred that divide us and build a more peaceful, safer world. If we let fear of others drive our thoughts and actions, we will never have a chance at moving this country towards a more perfect union or making the world a better place.

Posted by: Mark | September 5, 2008 8:22 PM
"

Here,here!! Nicely stated.

The world is upside down here in America. We have twice elected a mental midget from the elite upper class (GWB) and considered him a regular guy. Now a bright, articulate and compassionate regular guy raised by a single mother from a lower middle class background rises