Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA), who called Obama uppity, denies racial overtones, still likes word

[Amerigo Vespucci]

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Congressman_unaware_of_words_racial_undertones_0905.html



WASHINGTON -- A Republican congressman from Georgia who referred to Barack and Michelle Obama as "uppity" says he wasn't aware of the term's racial overtones and did not intend to insult anyone.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Grantville, Ga., described the Obamas as members of an "elitist-class ... that thinks that they're uppity," according to The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper.

Asked if he intended to use the word, he said, "Yeah, uppity."

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."

The Obama campaign had no immediate response.

Westmoreland is one of the most conservative members of Congress. He has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates on a number of issues, including last year when he led opposition to renewing the 1965 Voting Rights Act. He also was one of two House members last year who opposed giving the Justice Department more money to crack unsolved civil rights killings.

[muntrv]

1. He's on Colbert and can't name all 10 Comandments.

:dunce:

[Orrex]

3. What an asshole. I can name them, and I'm an atheist.

:puke:

[Orrex]

2. So if someone called Westmoreland a whiny little bitch

I'm sure that he wouldn't have any problem with the misogynistic overtones either, right?

[provis99]

4. sounds like the guy is compensating for having a girl's name

Lot of childhood anger pent up in this clown, I bet.

[Marsala]

5. A white Republican congressman from Georgia isn't aware of the

connotations of "uppity"?

Yeah. That's believable.

[Cha]

6. I thought it was a

woman all this time. It's just an ignorant asshole.

[DianeG5385]

7. He's got a girl's name, how seriously can we take him (JOKE)

Mamas boy!

[pdxmom]

8. He's from Georgia. He knows exactly what it means, he knows it's

a racial slur, and I would bet he's used that word and worse many times before.

[Marsala]

10. Exactly

He's basically daring Obama, or the media, or anyone, to call him on his blatant lie. And the fact that they can't, and in fact are letting him completely get away with it, is a signal to any racists listening that racism is OK after all and so is a perfectly good reason not to vote for the black man.

[GOPNotForMe]

9. This redneck knows exactly what he's saying. He has an ugly soul. nt

[kwenu]

11. So is Sarah uppity too?

[McCamy Taylor]

12. I was born in Atlanta. He knows what uppity means.

My husband is also from Georgia and he can vouch for me that when you call a Black man "uppity" it is a racist term.

This guy must come from a real red neck safe district.

[ComplimentarySwine]

13. I didn't know that that word was racist

I thought that it meant "stuck-up". What does it really mean?