"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.
Asked to clarify that he used the word "uppity," Westmoreland said, "Uppity, yeah."
That would be Congressman Lynn Westmoreland. Comparing Michelle Obama and Sarah Palin. Incredible. The worse part is it isn't vague. Uppity is exactly the term white thugs and terrorists used to use for high-achieving blacks--right before they burned down their neighborhoods and ran them out of town. Only this time, they're going for the whole country,
UPDATE: Note that this is not anonymous "conservatives." This is not amorphous "Republican bloggers." This is not a strawman. This an elected member of the Congress who supports John McCain calling a woman from the South Side of Chicago, a mother of three two kids, and Ivy League grad, "uppity." And you guys want to rail about shadowy, uncited liberals "looking down" on Sarah Palin? You gotta be fucking kidding me. Cry me a river--and then go jump in it.
UPDATE#2: That last sentence was unkind and intemperate. My apologies.
UPDATE#3: Meh, anger has never gotten me anywhere good in my life--though I'm really angry right now. The worst part of shit like this is that so much of it always comes from conservatives--the exact same people who turn around and want to have a conversation about a "culture of failure." This is why these dudes have no credibility with black people--or any people who aren't white. Would you listen to anything coming out a party where one congressman calls Obama "boy", and another calls his wife "uppity?"
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
Two kids, unless you're breaking one hell of a story.
And yeah wtf. There will of course be no repercussions for this whatsoever for Westmoreland.
Don't apologize. My sentiments exactly.
Don't apologize, Ta-Nehisi. This is what blogging is about - realtime reactions to things like this. You'd be doing your readers a disservice to censor yourself, intemperate or not.
It won't matter. The GOP is supposed to be mean and lying and racist. The Dems are supposed to be articulate and intelligent and nice. The only time either side makes news is when they break from the 'plans'. Otherwise, doesn't matter.
I'm so goddammed cynical and angry at my country after the last 18 hours...
Unless you know something I don't, Michelle only has two kids.
Otherwise, you nailed it.
That last sentence was unkind and intemperate
feh.
Unkind? No.
Intemperate? Maybe. But there is no need to pussyfoot around this kind of thing.
No worries, man. You just summed up how a lot of us feel.
The other day I was wondering why still-President Bush called us the "Angry Left." Now I know.
ooooo I am so angry today.
There are some words that can be misunderstood, or misused, or have multiple meanings and for which context has a lot to do with the meaning.
Uppity isn't one of them.
Rage away. I'm mad too.
They are trying to take the spotlight off of Sarah: cry sexism, cry media bias, send a surrogate out stir up some racial outrage, whatever it takes. They're desparate right now to change the subject.
Intemperate? Sir, you have way more class and self-control than I! My response would have been a near incomprehensible string of expletives and ridicule befitting of an eight grade boy.
I think the funnier part of the article was this:
“Sounds like Rep. Westmoreland should be careful throwing stones from his candidate's eight glass houses,” said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor.
Besides that elitism has nothing to do with multiple home ownership, the notion of throwing stones from someone else's house is really hilarious and novel. As for the substance of the post, I don't think these liberals looking down on Palin are really so shadowy, but uppity, to paraphrase Large Professor, is not the word to play.
Sounds like it Westmoreland got the talking points memo - culture wars. They want to get the press to talk about 'uppity' because it's a word that inspires many of the neo-Republican base. And the more offense that is taken by these sort of words, the more the 'base' (isn't that what al-qaeda means in Arabic?) rallies.
Let's have more like that Ta-Nehisi.
that's okay tnc, your grammar sux as usual. here this is the correct syntactical way: "i pray wastemoreland drops dead [actually i thought he had croaked] of a busted brain blood vessel. if there is a god, he will prove it by answering my prayers."
adin
Also, to agree with all the above, it's kind of absurd that you're responding apologetically for an angry response to racism. The only time I've ever really heard the term "uppity" used is in reference to the "uppity negro" of yore. I think you should take back the apology.
Did't you know, TC? Because liberals are all touchy-feely, we're supposed to be the only ones who care about all that PC bullcrap. Republicans can say whatever they want about whomever they choose, because they are the real Americans.
Stop being so uppity.
I understand your outrage. But, after figuring out how Republicans have been playing this game, I don't get as upset any more, just focused. Its shit like this that makes me go and donate to the Bob Barr (as much as I detest Barr) campaign and see what I can do to get him into the debates.
I predict we'll be seeing Michael Steele or Armstrong Williams come out and either defend the comments or make similar comments to stir it up a little more.
"Uppity" is still off the table, although folks did their best to dilute it during this campaign by arguing that every other adjective in existence is nothing but code for "uppity"!
this election is a true struggle against the forces of racism, corporatism, the deeply entrenched anti-democratic interests in this country, and unrestrained militarism.
anger and action are not only necessary but required by the the tenets of the declaration and constitution.
we stand up now or we risk our future.
adin
For context, you should probably better know Westmoreland:
http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=70730
You're going to need to practice your yoga breathing for the next 2 months. How many times has some right pundit explained that this election comes down to Barack Obama and how people don't really know him? Despite 12 years in office, a public record with thousands of votes and hundreds of pieces of legislation sponsored or cosponsored, one book that examines his life from childhood to around age 30 and another that lays out his thoughts on governance--he's just unknowable.
You shouldn't apologize. This is why the Obama campaign will take in an 8-figure haul in 24 hours. I gave my $250.
It wasn't just Michelle he was referring to was it? Or did I read it wrong? I thought he was calling them both "uppity".
"Uppity." I thought Pat Buchanan would be the first to use that word, because I had assumed that the RNC had sent all its office holders UPN pills (anti-uppity negro pills) to take for the duration.
But really, what do you expect? This is the same guy who sponsors bills to plaster the Ten Commandments all over the place, but when asked by Stephen Colbert, he could name only three of them. So, how stupid is this guy? Stupid for agreeing to venture into Colbert Nation. And even more stupid not to stay up late the night before memorizing every damn commandment. Any fool would have known that Colbert would ask him that question.
Seriously, I'm probably older than lots of your fans here, and in my lifetime I cannot recall any word coming after "uppity" except "negro" (or worse). All white people should just forget they ever heard the word.
OTOH, I love Barack's reaction to last night's hate fest. "I've been called worse on the basketball court." This man is cool in every sense of the word.
Dude, you were right up front...no need to apologize.
When the chips are down, you see people for who they really are perhaps? Words cannot adequately express my disgust, and I'm white! I can't even imagine...
How can they be so utterly short-sighted? Even if they hood-wink American one last time they will have destroyed their party, exposed it for the baldly racist thing that it is. They will lose an entire generation.
How stupid. How disgusting. And he's asked to clarify it, and basically confirms that he intends to use an explicitly racist phrase?
Actually I await a Sam Sailer comment to appear somewhere fairly soon saying that this was not a racist remark...
Son. I've been angry since... oh... March. It comes and goes, but I'm preparing myself to be supremely pissed off several times before October ends.
Not sure if you're a FreeDarko reader, but Nathaniel Friedman had a post in reaction to Palin's speech that touches on a similar vein of liberal anger.
http://freedarko.blogspot.com/2008/09/thats-it.html#comments
Just terrible. Here's a southerner who should know better than to rip off those old scabs. Westmoreland "knows" what he's saying here.
I just donated to his Democratic opponent, Stephen Camp, who's running against Westmoreland in the November Congressional election. See the link below. Camp is young and I'm not sure what his chances are, but hell! Give, GIVE, GIVE!!! Let's get this Westmoreland neanderthal out of office! Spread the word. GIVE!
http://www.stephencampforcongress.com/
Here's an article from the other month that mentions Camp at the opening of an Obama campaign office in Newnan, Georgia.
http://www.times-herald.com/local/Crowd-overflows-Obama-opening--531711
"Uppity?" Really? I mean, sure, the term is offensive, but it's also so 1965. Before Westmoreland, when was the last time you heard, or heard of, someone using the word "uppity" without an ironic intent?
I'm halfway expecting one of these crackers to get caught calling Michelle a "negress." Only two months to go...
Basically Westmoreland didn't get the memo, the dog whistle phrase of the week (and maybe of the campaign) is now "Community Organizer."
Mike P writes: "Actually I await a Sam Sailer comment to appear somewhere fairly soon saying that this was not a racist remark..."
You mean Steve Sailer - and I've been wondering where that sack of offal and his reptilian fans have been lately. I guess when Super Sailer Fan Ross Douthat shut down his comments they lost interest in this place.
Westmoreland just proves again that the Grand New Party's costumes will still be made out of white sheets.
Apologies? For what? I hate when liberals get all wimpy for being mean. Comment is a doozy. Hope they choke on it. No apologies.
No need to apologize for "You gotta be fucking kidding me. Cry me a river--and then go jump in it."
That's a great fucking line. I'm sure I'll be quoting you soon!
There is a part of the country that just lives in a different world. I'm sure they would say the same thing about us. Whatever. We're right and they're crazy. THey are, indeed, the Freak Show.
and f*ck them fools.
What, is there plan to make sure the Democratic base likes Michelle even more and that independent women (who often look for politicians to show respect to minorities as a demonstration of compassion) rally to her side? Even moderate conservative whites these days don't like overt racism. "Uppity" is just a jump away from n*gger.
repercussions?
this is intentional.
this is their strategy.
i supported hillary clinton initially because i expected this type of BS - if obama was the nominee - and really did not want to go through this. but i didn't expect it to happen quite so quickly.
t-nc,
sorry, but this is only the beginning. it is going to get much, much worse. there will be a regular drumbeat of this type of comment.
they are who we think they are.
I disagree with your last sentence TNC. You should have mentioned accessorizing that neat little hooded robe with a large brick amulet before jumping in the river. Mind you, it is possible that white men can't swim either. But why take chances? Brick amulet time!
TNC:
I don't write for a living, but I do so for my own amusement ... and here's something that I wrote in late May '08 re: Hillary and McCain and race (although it's more about Hillary) ... it's a fictional piece (with plenty of laughs) that describes what role the metaphysical and racial play in the efforts against Obama. The title -- "Out Ni****ed (Again)" -- is taken from a George Wallace quote when he analyzed why he lost his first run for governor of Alabama. You'll see that the story ends where today begins.
http://themeditatingotter.net/page1/page1.html
I don't think this is intentional so much as it's Westmoreland. Congressman Three Commandments voted against extension of the Voting Rights Act and against the effort to investigate and prosecute cold cases from the civil rights era - I suspect using "uppity" to describe women like Michelle Obama comes naturally.
I wonder if his constituents are kicking themselves for voting for him over Dylan Glenn - or whether they're patting themselves on the back.
"Uppity is exactly the term white thugs and terrorists used to use for high-achieving blacks"
T-N C,
I'm a little older than you, but the last time I remember "uppity" being used it was by Clarence Thomas when he complained about the "high-tech lynching" he felt he was being subjected to by Senate Dems and the media.
Anger is a gift!
More righteous fury I say!!
Uppity my ass, punks jump up to get beat down.
An old HuffPost article from 2006 about McCain in 2000 that I find especially poignant today: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-johnson/john-mccain-2000-the-swi_b_30654.html
McCain truly has sold his soul to the very forces which once aimed to destroy him in order to foist up another culture warrior, GWB. It's an unbelievably sad sight to see. What I would not give for a "Darth Vader throwing Palpatine into the trench" moment tonight where he truly reclaims that maverick spirit and disavows yesterday's spectacle.
Fred,
What exactly is your point? yeah Thomas tried to create a bunch of strawman racist attacks to fight against. He knew exactly what he was doing, just like Westmoreland does now, there is a reason you don't hear people say Uppity, everyone with half a brain knows what it means.
Coded phrases like "Articulate" can be spun away somewhat, Uppity can't. It is unambiguous racism.
I say lemons out of lemonade. Congratulate the Obama campaign on a very deft handling of the issue. Defuse the racial aspect and let the Independents see how unhinged the Republicans are. Doing this without sounding defensive or over-sensitive will win a ton more voters than screaming about it right now.
There's a time and a place to beat people over the head. Obama's doing the right thing by playing it cool.
Damnit, If Obama keeps doing things right, I'll end up switching from Barr to Obama. (Did I just type that?)
This country will be split worse than anything any of us could have ever imagined after this election. And it will be multiplied by 10 if McCain wins.
No doubt crap like this goes a long way in explaining the lily white GOP convention.
I'm reminded of a quote from some feminist in the eighties, along the lines of " 'bitch' is what I get called when I don't act like a doormat."
I wonder if "uppity" could get reclaimed the same way. Blacks should be uppity, and acting like it's an insult subtly reinforces its content.
Westmoreland is a redneck dimly aware of his own
existence. Have Andrew's people find the Steven
Colbert interview he did with Westmoreland who'd
initiated legislation to have the Ten Commandments
displayed in courtrooms. Colbert asked him to
name the Ten Commandments--he struggled to come up
with three. This a Georgia boy--when he say's "uppity," you can bet your a*s he's also thinking of the N word in conjunction.
Just sent my meager bi-weekly $5 contribution to the Obama campaign. Proudly.
"No doubt crap like this goes a long way in explaining the lily white GOP convention."
Isn't this one of the more underreported story of the RNC?
My wife noticed that stark difference by the way the news media kept panning to the same faces over and over almost to say HERE is color phew!
No mention of the Uppity story anywhere on the MSN, now imagine if that was a Dem.
I'm a 39 yr. old white guy from New England,with a 72 yr. old dad from Alabama. We both just came across this and assumed "The Onion" had snuck a piece on to the site.To quote my dad, "Racist crackers like that give the South a bad name."
Please, rage. These people exhausted my all of mine.
in an interview this weekend, gore vidal stated that he did not think that republicans would stop at anything...anything, including the most heinous action imaginable, to defeat and get past obama.
i agree with him.
everyone should just get ready for the outrageous stuff that is going to happen.
remember, if they lose the executive branch, all of their guys, all of them, are vulnerable to criminal prosecution.
if you don't think they have thought about that fact and are proceeding accordingly, you haven't been paying attention.
I am usually the last person to acknowledge perceived racism.
But there is no doubt in my mind that the host's reading is correct, and his anger justified.
As others have pointed out, uppity is rarely used unless followed by either the polite or incendiary version of the N word. Recall its use after Cleavon Little hit the cowboy with a shovel in Blazing Saddles ("Uppity N***** hit me with a shovel."). Mel Brooks got this in the 70's.
Take it from this working class white boy, we know what "uppity" means and who it refers to.
And while I'm already giving away white folk secrets (and I hope to lighten the mood here a bit with this), you should know that some of us refer to black folk as "canadians" in mixed company. Not me of course, just some guys I know.
Hi Te-Nehisi —
I suppose, from the standpoint of the GOP, both Mrs. and Senator Obama are uppity.
I don’t see any reason why that shouldn’t make you a little intemperate. It makes me intemperate, and I daresay you’ve more cause than I. Still, I get your point: writing and talking are more effective when not rage–driven.
Which is why, I think, the GOP is so damned good at stoking that rage. If they can reduce their opponents to inchoate fury — they win. And if they can do it without looking like they’re doing it — they win again.
Love your blog.
Mack
Maybe "uppity" means "capable of constructing a simple English sentence." Not like Westmoreland, who says that "they're a member" of an "individual that thinks," whatever the hell that's supposed to mean.
Maybe, just maybe, with sufficient training Westmoreland could become a member of an individual that thinks!
This is the same Rep. Lynn Westmoreland whose most notorious moment (until now) was not being able to name the 10 commandments despite sponsoring legislation requiring placement of same in the House and Senate chambers.
http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=70730
TNC's only fault is that he fucking apologizes too much.
"I've been called worse on the basketball court."
I like that. That's some style. Even better would be something like this, "Did you say something? I wasn't paying attention."
They are losing and they know it. Let's keep focused on Republican policies. You know "don't tax and spend anyway." The kind of unserious thinking that leaves a city of 9000 with debt of $2000 per person. Yeah, we definitely want people like that in charge of the country.
Elitist = Uppity
This election is turning out like "Blazing Saddles", isn't it? In the end, the old powerful guy is going to euphemistically get shot in the nuts, eh?
I don't believe I've ever heard the term "uppity" used in a context outside of race. Ever. And a rural Georgian knows exactly what uppity means.
It means a black man out of his place.
"No doubt crap like this goes a long way in explaining the lily white GOP convention."
This made me think of the 2000 Republican Convention. There were so many black faces on TV I thought they'd have the Isley Brothers come out and sing Fight the Power during the intermission.
They featured that year:
Colin Powell: used and discarded to help them sell the war
Condolezza Rice: a russian scholar who was not really qualified to be head of NSA or State. They'll blame the whole foreign policy mess on her.
JC Watts: defending predatory lendors "on behalf" of blacks
This is what Republicans do. Google " 'Lee Atwater' 1954" if you don't believe me. We knew this was coming. And we know it's going to get worse. Hopefully that Howard Finemans and other assorted dickweed Notliberal Media will call them out on it instead of saying it's "brassknuckle politics" and the Democrats have to learn how to roll with the punches. I'm not optimistic.
TNC:
I am late coming to this posting, but am no less ashamed for what I just read. I am a WASP from Georgia, and cannot for the life of me understand why it is that people like him cannot overcome their condition of "stuck on stupid." I don't live in Westmoreland's district anymore, but there are plenty like him down there. Used to live in a town in his district, not far from the corner of Robert E. Lee Street and Stonewall Jackson Drive. I won't apologize for him, but will ask that you understand that there are now less of him than there are of folks like me - open-minded progressives. We are gaining on 'em!
You have nothing to apologize for here, either. Wishing that he would go jump in a river is quite mild, actually. I would actually be happy to hand them a big rock on their way in.
Here's the recorded first usages of "uppity" from the big OED:
1880 J. C. HARRIS Uncle Remus 86 "Hit wuz wunner deze yer uppity little Jack Sparrers, I speck." 1933 Times Lit. Suppl. 9 Nov. 776/2 "Grammy is living contentedly enough with an ‘uppity’ young creature named Penny." 1952 F. L. ALLEN Big Change II. viii. 130 "The effect of the automobile revolution was especially noticeable in the South, where one began to hear whites complaining about ‘uppity niggers’ on the highways, where there was no Jim Crow." 1982 B. CHATWIN On Black Hill v. 28 "He had a head for figures and a method for dealing with ‘uppity’ tenants."
Pretty nice, eh?
Another white boy here saying that this was meant exactly as TNC is reading it.
Despicable.
And TNC, sometimes I think we NEED more righteous indignation. Look at what these fools have done for the past 8 years.
Republicans are depending on Democrats being polite. STOP WORRYING ABOUT NOT BEING POLITE. SPEAK THE TRUTH. BE JUSTIFIABLY ANGRY. WE ALL SHOULD BE. THE CURRENT PARTY AND ITS NOMINEES ARE DISHING OUT CRAP.
Let's keep focused on Republican policies. You know "don't tax and spend anyway."
Or in the case of Palin: "double your taxes and spend it."
Would you listen to anything coming out a party where one congressman calls Obama "boy", and another calls his wife "uppity?"
Yes, because there are knuckleheads in every party. Biden called Obama "articulate" and "clean". Aren't those code words for "Wow, who knew a black guy could be so together?" Decent idiots like Biden, and indecent ones like Westmoreland are crosses both parties have to bear. Good luck finding an party without racists in it.
Don't apologize. I'm a white guy from Kansas, and it pisses me off too.
I work in a 'red' state, but in a pretty liberal college town. This is in the northern Midwest. After hearing about this earlier today, I informed a co-worker of mine what had happened while shaking my head. She seemed very confused as to why I was so appalled. Now, I know this woman is a Democrat, so I didn't think she was being intentionally obtuse, so I pressed her a bit. She literally had no idea that 'uppity' had a racial connotation. I found this to be shocking and assumed she was in the minority. I proceeded to ask about eight of my co-workers. Only one immediately knew that this was out-of-bounds. Again, these are no McCain supporters.
Are these people just stupid, or is it possible this many non-southern young people aren't aware of this?
Anger at someone calling a black person "uppity" is justified. It is hate speech. It is a clear attempt to inspire others to be threatened by the achievements of blacks for political gain. It is designed to hit the nerve that makes the white underclass and working-class as well as the newly frustrated white middle class blame minorities rather than the failing ecomomy and poor GOP leadership for their economic insecurity.
This elitist thing amazes me. Since when is "elite" a bad thing? I find this whole idea that being intelligent, articulate and well-educated should disqualify people from public office bizarre to say the least. Wasn't George w. Bush the guy everyone wanted to have a beer with? I don't see a lot of people at my local pub that I'd want to see run the country.
Westmoreland, along with the GOP's embrace of Sarah Palin as "one of us, just a regular person", continues to confirm my long held belief that the majority of the Republican party suffers from a massive inferiority complex.
I can see finding Biden's faux-pas on "clean" somewhat offensive, but I think "articulate" is hardly grounds for annoyance. Now, if he had called Obama an "artichoke".. well, them's fighting words!
Not only is this election turning into a latter day "Blazing Saddles" but also into "Destry Rides Again," the Jimmy Stewart/Marlene Dietrich movie that Mel Brooks parodied so brilliantly in "Saddles". Stewart plays a sheriff who tries to clean up a town run by violent and corrupt politicians and thugs, even tho' his Destry charecter refuses to wear a gun. Trust me Sen. Obama is doing a wonderful job of channeling Jimmy Stewart's greatest movie hits.
On another point, am I only the one who was horrified to see a five month old special needs baby displayed as a political trophy at 10 o'clock at night in an arena filled with thousands of roaring people. Sarah, Todd, find a good babysitter! I am a mother, this is not good for your child!
Sadly, that idiot represents the district I grew up in. (It was Newt Gingrich's district in the eighties until redistricting.) The link to that article in Newnan - that's where I went to high school. Trippy.
Now like all good elitists I live in the People's Republic of Boulder.
Andrew writes: "Westmoreland, along with the GOP's embrace of Sarah Palin as "one of us, just a regular person", continues to confirm my long held belief that the majority of the Republican party suffers from a massive inferiority complex."
Is it really a complex if they're actually inferior?
I'll take this opportunity to throw this out to the group... A couple of months back I bet my wife that a non-anonymous GOP official/pundit would call Obama a nigger. She said "no fucking way." I said, "you just watch."
I think Westmorland pushed the dial towards me being right. Anyone want to give me odds on this?
Wow, you sound like Clarence Thomas from his confirmation hearings. Well with more profanity.
I find Michelle Obama quite condescending. A characteristic that is not uncommon with Ivy League grads. You could argue she should be forgiven for this because she is quite successful by almost any metric. My visceral reaction has nothing to do with her race.
TNC
As a blogger, your anger is understandable. keep in mind, the Obama campaign acted correctly in its response. They appear to respond a la Jackie Robinson-- ignore the baiting (that's what they are trying to do), but when the time comes (a little later), break up the double play with a Don Baylor takeout slide /slide in spikes high, etc. Don't show the fools any mercy-- but just not in the heat of the moment.
Sorry for the triple post-- just hit the wrong button. BTW, this may be a time for a return of, wait for it, Bill Clinton to start calling some people out-- especially white people on crap like this. (Bubba as the spokesperson for white people, think about it).
Credibility? This gang of thugs and liars doesn't have any credibility toanyone who has more than two neurons to rub together.
Mr. Dave, I won't take sucker's bets.
With these racist mofos?
Nope
Don't apologize, you said what the fuck you meant.
The GOP is making me very angry as well. I don't know about anyone else, but the Obama's are already the first family to me and I feel very protective of them, especially Michelle and the girls. Anything said to disparage them cuts like a knife and these people are walking around with little dagger bags.
The GOP obviously doesn't understand the fucking words dignity, respect and class (although I know using the word "fucking" wasn't very classy, but wtf I'm pissed right now).
I'll go calm down and regain my composure.
Be well, CF
The only excuse for Westmoreland's comment is the self evident fact that someone who does not realize that "uppity" and "elitist" are, by definition, mutually exclusive categories is too stupid for words. Moronic may be the best way to describe the guy and his comments.
Why you ought for one second to feel that your reaction was either unkind or intemperate (or that either kindness or temperance were warranted and appropriate) is beyond me, but you may just be a better human than I am.
I agree with Lemar. Take on the baiting head on at a time of your choosing. I think what Obama ought to do is have a line in his speech like this:
"Some of you might think that I'm uppity whatever that means to you, but unlike George Bush with the help of John McCain both who you think understands you, I haven't
-lied about why I sent your kids to war,
-cut healthcare for our returning soldiers
-allowed my buddies at Enron (we have not heard enough about Enron. Remember them.) to steal your hard earned pension with just a slap on the wrist
-turned a blind eye while Wall Street conned you into subprime loans and then used your money to keep Wall Street from going bankrupt.
-ran up a huge deficit so that everything you need - food, gas, electricity - is 3 times more expensive than it was 8 years ago because the dollar is so weak.
So maybe you think I don't understand you, but at least I'm on your side."
Thanks John Henry.
I actually was thinking more about, say dropping age references (John McCain does not remember how many houses he has; John McCain is out of touch0 and adultery references (I will always be faithful to you, John Mccain has strayed from his vows to be a maverick).
You get the idea-- when the McCain campaign starts whining about this is unfair-- start questioning their manhood.
TNC,
are you going to adresses Megan's sentiment that Democrats lose because they constantly mock the values and beliefs of "Middle America"? That, despite the last 8 years of almost total governmental control, and hearing that the only real Americans are hunting, rapture awaiting steelworkers, who've never asked for a handout, and believe that it shouldn't be so hard to put america first( no matter the cost...,Republicans are always the persecuted minority, and REALLY, they have to fight back. I'd be interested in a dialogue between you two, right now, as the trenchs are being dug.
> This is why these dudes have no credibility
> with black people--or any people who aren't
> white.
They don't have much credibility with some of us who are, either.
The RNC has driven me to the world of political blogs. Right now, blogs like yours, plus the Daily Show and the Colbert Report, are keeping me sane. Keep it up.
I hadn't seen the Colbert segment before, so I went and watched it. I have to confess for feeling a small amount of sympathy for the congressman for a microsecond or so; it must be hard to go through life as a complete imbecile.
I went back to being even angrier after my momentary lapse in judgment. What an ass.
I find Michelle Obama quite condescending. A characteristic that is not uncommon with Ivy League grads. You could argue she should be forgiven for this because she is quite successful by almost any metric. My visceral reaction has nothing to do with her race.
As a white guy with a fancy education, and having several ancestors who wore gray in the 1860s, I find her brilliant and gracious. If your viscera feel condescended to by her, I suggest the problem is in your gut and not in Michelle Obama's character.
Dang, Cindy is putting them to sleep.
Xenos:
I don't really agree with the commenter you were responding to, but you must see the irony of your statement. You respond to the commenter's point that ivy leaguer's are condescending by offering an arrogant and condescending insult to the original commenter. "Your viscera" you say? ... Brilliant!
Dude, what's with this opening? I was half expecting to hear "AND NOW...YOUR CHICAGO BULLS!!!"
I just discovered your blog through AndrewSullivan.com, of which I am an unlikely fan as a true blue Democrat, but he sure has had his eyes opened these last few years and is an intelligent, astute commentator. As for you: Please keep up the good fight and point out every single instance of racism in this election. It is indeed their ace-in-the-hole and they will use it more and more often as the election proceeds. Do not fall silent and don't be afraid of your emotions. Nail the bastards.
In terms of the GOP being totally untrustworthy from an African American perspective, I would add in Alan Keyes (the Token of GOP politics) and Michael Steele's own disregard for the intelligence of Maryland's black voters.
John is going to clean up dirty politicians. Nevermind that he just got done with 8 years of sucking up to the dirtiest administration in history. Reality is going to get in the way of much of what he says tonight.
Just let 'em keep talking. I think it wouldn't be a bad thing for the rest of the country to see what kind of madness gets spouted when that happens. Just make it known. And when no Republican disagrees with what was said, make sure people remember.
Angry black man. They're goading Barack. The man is the master of his own mind and emotions, as Noonan or someone noted. But he's human. If the extreme right keeps this up, Barack will have to respond with righteous indignation. Then they've got him.
Or they let other black men rise up in anger and frothing rage, get them up on the tv and then gape. Then they just lie and say "Barack and other black men like him" are awful threatening to decorum and civility of our great country and can't be trusted (too emotional, too much anger from our long oppression of "their people").
Act: Inform, speak truth, protest, donate, volunteer. And then listen to the "Remember the Titans" sound track (the same one that played at the end of Barack's acceptance speech)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdvObnaHLQ0
and remember that there will be victory at the end of all this. Because this is America baby!! It better damn happen this November!
Over 100 angry comments and going. This is like the blog equivalent of any angry mob. Would that be an angry blob?
But seriously, what does an angry web mob do with its anger? If we were an angry street mob we would surely break windows, throw rocks and tea, tar/feather, burn effigies and provoke the police to violence (I do not advocate any of these actions, particularly the last, except in very extreme circumstances not present here). What is the web equivalent? How does an angry blob react to a perceived atrocity?
I wich I could think of something. But I think I'll go to bed instead. I have to show up and pretend to work in the morning.
Uppity isn't so much a dog whistle as it is a bullhorn to the racists. Absolutely disgusting.
And what does Michelle have to do with the Republican VP? If the Republicans want to keep families out of the campaign, they're doing a piss poor job of it.
This is by far the most "coded" speech I've ever personally seen. "Activist judges". "School competition". "Culture of life". He's trotting out the greatest hits.
McCain's problem is that this isn't 2000 and he's just given this speech in a post-Bush world. McCain's not Barry Goldwater. I'm sorry. The compromise has been much too great.
Oh wow. "Nothing is inevitable"? Did he seriously just say that? Ha!
As all of my Republican friends will tell you, Ta-Nehisi - the Republican party isn't racist. Isn't sexist. Doesn't discriminate against the poor, etc etc etc. To them, it is what they want it to be - it is what they say it is - Saying it makes it reality. Everyone else on earth knows how colossally full of shit this idiotic view of reality is, but these cats are pretty secure in their "knowledge" nevertheless....and there are enough Repubs in power, in the media, etc that the Westmoreland chump will never suffer a bit for his statements. Guaranteed.
No apologies no surrender Mr. Coates.
I'm old enough to remember the days when people completed the phrase that started with "uppity" in public places for all to hear.
The youngest of those are now about 55 but who knows what they passed on to their children.
Hey! Just noticed that the RNC is playing Heart's song "Barracuda". Must be Palin's Superhero Music.
Funniest thing to watch Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC being buried by balloons.
TNC smacks Fred in the pointy hood and asks: "And where did you get that the Jackson Five were secretly part of the Black Panthers?"
I wish I'd seen the original comment, because that's just hilarious.
Of course the Beach Boys were all John Birchers, so I guess it evens out. And Ted Nugent was kicked out of the Nazi Party for being too extreme, so the Repiglicans took him in.
(I'm glad there's one Atlantic blog left where I can say "Repiglicans.")
Namecalling is usually a sign that someone is totally out of ideas. Or that they sense imminent political defeat coming down the tracks to whoop their ass.
Does that help?
This election is turning out like "Blazing Saddles", isn't it?
Several months ago, I said that Blazing Saddles was the best decoder ring for this election. We're about at the part where Hedley Lamarr hires rustlers, cutthroats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperadoes, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, asskickers, shitkickers, and Methodists.
Westmoreland is filth. And you have nothing to apologise for.
Will finds Michele Obama condescending, I find her open, authentic, and generous of heart.
If Michele is more reserved at this point, it's likely because she has repeatedly faced the purposeful misrepresentation of what she has said and of who she is.
Dude, no reason to apologize. The guy either a) knew exactly what he was saying, or b) is the dumbest fucking guy on the face of the planet.
The fact that a Republican called the Obamas “uppity” is not surprising to me at all. Hell, John McCain said Obama was getting “testy” a few days ago. “Testy”? An accomplished 47 year-old man with a wife and two kids gets testy? That speaks either to a racist sentiment that can’t help but bubble over…or…plain, old contempt combined with an utter disregard of the racial sensitivities that exist in a decent society.
I am praying for an Obama win in November, make no mistake. But win or lose, at least we’ll have a better idea where people stand by the time the election is over. It’s been a good “proofing” process. Our country is better and worse than I thought it was this time last year.
I myself have been called uppity twice in my life, both times by white men angry when I declined to agree with them. Both times I laughed. The last gasp of a dying culture. Westmoreland is an invertebrate -- not worth the damage to your cells. Except to send some money to his opponent, which I did. Nor is the lapdog media, which salivates over Palin and ignores this kind of stuff.
Eh.
Keep your eyes on the prize.
So here's a sexist, classist line from one of those shadowy liberals whom TNC doesn't seem to think exists:
If Hillary Clinton or Nancy Pelosi had been decked out like soccer mom Sarah last night the G.O.P. would have called them tramps. Why, a hem two inches below the knee! So risque! I give her her due: she is pretty like a cosmetics saleswoman at Macy's.
Let's face the truth: If Bristol were Joe Biden's daughter or, worse yet, Barack Obama's, the epithet "slut" would be on everyone's tongue in St. Paul. But since she is Palin's daughter she has been treated as if she were a saint, maybe Mother Theresa incarnate. -- Martin Peretz, editor-in-chief of The New Republic, ex-Harvard professor.
It has been said before, but please. Never apologize for speaking truth to power. Man, weren't you raised by Panthers? What happened to that old-timey radical spirit?
These cats think it's 1968. We're coming for them. These cats think their god's will coincides with their political agenda. We're coming for them. These cats think that their failures don't matter. We're coming for them.
It's time to get uppity.
At some point in the next three weeks, Team McCain's going to have to turn around and get a shitload of dimes. And we'll all know what's going on!!!
P.S. I'm whiter than white. This kind of nonsense is why "conservatives" have never had any credibility with me, either. We must give Westmoreland credit for having the presence of mind to use the word he meant to use. I'd rather a bona fide, out and proud fucktard than one who pretends not to be what he is.
Anger is a gift.
His literal accusation is that the Obamas think that they (the Obamas, themselves) are uppity. Which is really something. I'm guessing Mr. (how could he not lose his seat over this? even in Georgia) Westmoreland meant to use another word, except that he really meant uppity, and his heart beat his brain to the punch.
Asher,
You do know that Marty Peretz is a neo-con nut who is regularly attacked on liberal blogs?
Matt Y. chronicles his lunatic ravings on a regular basis.
And you probably also know that in this case what he said about Obama or Biden having a pregnant 17 year old daughter is spot on (even blind squirrels find a nut)? It is an obeservation that several honest conservatives have made as well, even some on The NRO.
Lynn Westmoreland is, even beyond the range of normal variance for Republicans, a simply unbelievably stupid man. It's standard-issue hyperbole to say your political opponents are dumb, but watching Colbert's interview with him a couple of years back, I remember thinking that Westmoreland must have an IQ of about 90, tops. There can't be many people in Congress who make you wonder how they could have graduated from high school. Westmoreland is such a man. I don't know who backed his campaign and put him where he is, but he didn't get there on his own. I'm not sure he ties his shoes on his own.
I don't think Westmoreland actually understands the meaning of the word "uppity" in the sense in which it was used up through the '60s. I think he believes it to mean "superior". As in, "they think they're superior." I'm not saying Westmoreland isn't racist, but I don't think he has the requisite intelligence to understand that he's a racist. But I'm not sure you can extrapolate that use of "uppity" to reveal what Republicans generally are thinking, because the guy who used it is not really a linguistically competent speaker of English.
Asher,
If you think that comment by "liberal" Marty Peretz, in anyway compares to the bigotry of Westmoreland calling the Obamas uppity, then I really have given you too much credit. Still, it's nice to know what gets you riled up--and what doesn't.
Spottie,
In Fred's defense, that wasn't him or me. It was some idiot masquerading. You know I don't leap to Fred's defense often, but we should be straight here.
Wiktionary defines uppity as:
"Presumptuous, above oneself, self-important.
"I think you are one very uppity young man." "
This is what the libs say when they have no argument over policy or substance... intentionally try to twist the words of their opponents to try to change the conversation... this time to race.
How stupid.
Uppity is a term that originated in the south. Historically, it might have been used with a racist conotation. However, having lived many years in the south, I can tell you that it is simply a word that is most often used to describe "outsiders", northeners, or people who are acting above their economic status. I'm not trying to say that racism isn't alive and well today, but as someone who has lived in many different parts of the country, it's far from being exclusive to the south.
This isn't a defense...simply a slightly educated explanation of my personal experience.
Frankly Obama scares the "Hell" out of me and believe me it has nothing to do with his "uppity wife", try his beliefs and values. If people would actually listen to what is going on with him and his politics instead of worrying about who says what about his wife we all would and could be a lot better off with McCain and Palin in office. Yes, why don't we put the petty things aside and REALLY listen to the issues at hand and who really has experience and can actually do something for this country.
I shouldn't do this to a convalescent, but did you see his unrepentant statement on the statement?
That's "inflated self-esteem," like when black people have the temerity to think they're as good as white folk. And then they wonder why only 1.5% of the delegates to the RNC are black; could it be because the party has built its foundations on explicitly racial appeals?
I am beside myself that in these days and times someone can claim not to know what the word uppity means to African Americans.
This is horrible, there should be a public outcry!!!!!!
They have no credibility with anyone who isn't filthy rich or fanatically religious. Don't apologize, it's a sign of weakness.
Deleted. For all around stupidity.
I’ve never heard that term 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.’”
This reax from Westmorland is disgusting bordering criminal but the MSM seems to be giving him a pass. It hasn't been mentioned at all this morning. I hope Jim Martin running against Chambliss will latch on to this one hard.
I live in Georgia, moved here from NYC and trust me racism is alive and well here. State run Stone Mountain park which is also known as the birthplace of the modern KKK, run a daily laser light show tribute to the "Lost Cause" celebrating the fathers of the confederacy. He knows what uppity means.
But am I the only one who noticed that he said the Obamas are part of a class “that thinks they’re uppity”. The Obamas think that they themselves are uppity? Is it too much to ask that racially charged slurs at least make a lick of danged sense? IS OUR WINGNUTS LEARNING?
On another tangent, during McCain's speech last night I saw the camera cut twice to the same black couple. I just thought...you guys can't trick me into thinking there's four black folks there, I recognize them...
Uppity doesnt mean anything racist. All it means is that she is pretentious and needs to not feel so entitled. This is a woman who is not very fond of whites, if you catch my drift, and her self-righteous BS is what makes a lot call her uppity.
I just think he should have called her unpatriotic, I hardly ever see you bloggers get all upset when people say that, because you know it is true...and, well, most of you extreme-liberals(who find calling her ,Mrs. Obama, racist because it came from the "demeaning mouth of a white man")are Commies anyways who are also unpatriotic.
Yep, Spence. It's just utterly astonishing that anyone could possible read racism into a old white man calling a middle aged black man uppity. Where do we Liberals get these crazy ideas?
You're right this far--sometimes the claims of racism are overblown, and can be made for political reasons. But sometimes, comments are straight up unabashed racism, impossible to misunderstand unless you're deeply personally or politically motivated to do so.
Frankly Obama scares the "Hell" out of me
Diane, are you responsible for those marquees and signs you see everywhere about having a "real" milkshake or coming to the "original" restaurant? I always wondered where those came from.
Oh, and you might want to develop some coping mechanisms for your fear. Just sayin'.
Remember when we could not talk about what Rev. Jeremiah Wright had said about white people because it was not fair to Obama. Well now it is ok for you to talk about a congressman using the word "uppity" as a direct attack on McCain. You are assuming it was racist unlike Rev. Wrights statements which needed no assumption. Give me a break.
Its too bad Lynn Westmoreland took a swipe at Mrs. Obama using the word "uppidy". Coming from Georgia he should have known better. We middle class Northerners and Midwesterners don't understand the continual racial tension of the South. I can see why there is anger among those of you who have dealt with racism on a daily basis.
But to think this is somehow part of the grand strategy of McCain/Palin is stretching it. Just as it would be foolish for those of us supporting that ticket to think that Obama/Biden are behind the trashing of Gov Palen.
There is much anger in america... among both conservatives and liberals. But anger, while a motivation, doesn't win elections or govern nations. This election will be won on the ideas and character of the candidates.
I for one, am ashamed that a conservative from the South would use such a toxic word like "uppity". Lynn Westmoreland should apologize immediately. But his foolish verbage does not discredit the passion many of us feel for small & honest government, personal responsibility, strong defense, and civil discourse. We too share anger at the abusive speech of many on the left... the belittling words for small town folk, and the dishonesty generated by people who want to lead... not to mention crazed liberal clergy.
God help us all to love those who hold different views, and walk with a bit more humility, grace and courage...
up·pi·ty (p-t)
adj. Informal
Taking liberties or assuming airs beyond one's station; presumptuous: "was getting a little uppity and needed to be slapped down" New York Times.
One of the Left's monikers is a presumption that everything MUST be about them. Grow a pair and stop acting so niggardly about the English language.
Don't apologize. These are very bad people.
And yeah wtf. There will of course be no repercussions for this whatsoever for Westmoreland.
Posted by Karl |
***************************
How dare Westmoreland exercise his second amendment right! He should be hauled off to a reeducation camp!
http://warskill.blogspot.com/
--Nietzsche is Dead
"But to think this is somehow part of the grand strategy of McCain/Palin is stretching it. Just as it would be foolish for those of us supporting that ticket to think that Obama/Biden are behind the trashing of Gov Palen."
I'm not so sure about that and I highly doubt it was a slip at all. His lying about not knowing the word is used racially cinches it for me.
This is Georgia and its in the toss up catagory this year to be decided squarely across racial lines if the white vote doesn't get energized and out in GA Obama can win it. This comment is yet another white working class white voters type race card alarm to keep those uppity negroes from taking white power. Nothing new down here.
I love the word Uppity! Reminds me of every Omarosa-type black woman I've ever met. Here's something "you betta recanize"... ain't nearly as many white people voting for the empty messiah as you think.
One of the Left's monikers is a presumption that everything MUST be about them. Grow a pair and stop acting so niggardly about the English language.
Doesn't moniker mean, essentially, "name"? Are you attempting to say "hallmark"? What do you have against the English language?
Ta-Nehisi's outrage is selective to say the least, otherwise he'd be all over Jimmy Carter for calling Obama a "boy."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo09Rx9whWs
Uppity is the wrong term. Incredibly "smug and arrogant" is better. Look at their associations and you see what they really think of America. You liberals are so funny and out of touch with reality. Liberalism is a second cousin to socialism, and that is squarely where the Obama's are. Face the harsh truth, other than skin color, they have no more in common with working class blacks than McCain does. Community organizer - think Sharpton and Jackson. You have to be really guilable or a total idealog to buy what they are selling...
I suppose that Mark H is following the Republican Rule of Repetition: if you repeat crap often enough some people will start to believe it. Not sure that's going to work with this group, my friend.
Upity is a bad word for the connotations it brings, it is not a good description of Michelle when there are many more that would be appropriate. She simply doesn't have the same view points of many people in the United States. The only pesonal negative as a conservative is similar the the personal negatives so many Liberals have for conservatives yet in an obviously different context. I hate it when both sides, and definitely both sides do it (it isn't a conservative only thing) dwell on negative issues to advance their cause. Your venting is quite acceptable, just as the many consevatives venting about the uniformly tacky attacks the MSN and liberals have spewed on Palin. Hopefully, both women will rise above "victimhood". I know Palin has, I hope Michelle has.
Uppity doesnt mean anything racist. All it means is that she is pretentious and needs to not feel so entitled.
That's why it's racist - to use the word "uppity" is to suggest that a black person is wrong for feeling entitled to equality with whites.
uppity is an ignorant comment that does indeed sound racist. probably should have said yuppy. anyway...obama addresses professional women as sweetheart and we are now asking if a mom of 5 can juggle the VP job. Wow. I see far more evidence of sexism in this election than racism. To counter this sexism, I will never again vote straight democrat - instead, I will vote straight female regardless of policy or party.
The Republicans are whining about media biases so much that nobody dares to criticize anymore. Don't hesitate. If they're being racist, fuck them. If they're lying, point it out. It's not about liberal bias or not. It's whether you talk about it. You know, conservatives like to cite the fact that 70% of campaign coverage includes Obama as the main topic and only 50% includes McCain. But one fact they didn't cite is that about 75% of these coverage, of both candidates, are negative. The media criticizes Obama but does not dare to criticize McCain.
Mark H wrote: "You have to be really guilable or a total idealog to buy what they are selling..."
And "Michelle Obama The Racist" wrote: "Lets seperate the bitter white people from the underpriveleged and uneducated black."
It's nice when total ignorance is combined with illiteracy, isn't it?
"Idealog" is especially hilarious.
Mr. Coates ... Don't apologize for being angry. Sometimes it's the only proper, healthy response.
These people are no-neck monsters (Tennessee Williams tm.)
Most of us can see as plain as day that the uppity one currently on stage (but not really until after she's digested her Cliff notes) is the current Governor of Alaska.
I guess in your search to find a "racist" behind every tree, you can resort to this article, or would it be better to call it what it is; tripe?
Uppity, to those who are not seeking racial divide in order to win an election, simply means "elite, arrogant, a snob".
But feel free to take cheap shots while the left has done everything to Sarah Palin, and her 17 year old daughter, this week but crucify her. I am sure demands for that is coming.
I have heard Palin called "white trash" and her daughter called a "slut" on one left wing blog. But no one called her "uppity". Guess that is pretty hard to do when her husband makes $98K a year in a state with such a high cost of living.
I have read bloggers who claim that the baby, Trig, is really Bristol Palin's child by her own father. But they didn't call Bristol Palin "uppity". Then there was the one where Sarah Palin had actually had an affair and the child did not belong to her husband, but they didn't call her "uppity".
Could I possible remind you of the "glass house" adage?
As much as I hate the whole "PC" phenomenon (which is a cancer on free speach and free thought), there really is no excuse for the word "uppity".
Even without the glaringly obvious history of usage as a racial slur, the word itself is loaded with "-isms" by definition (racism, sexism, classism...) "Uppity" means trying to exceed that which is alotted to your "class" or social group by a ridged social hierarchy; its an attempt to put a person bac in his "place".
Michelle Obama's working class Chicago upbringing means little here, we in America have never put the primuium of social "class" that the Europeans have; she went to Princton and Harvard Law, and pulled down 3K a year which makes her "elite" by almost anyones standard.
So, what "class" or "group" then could she accused of attempting to exceed? Clearly it is either "black people" or "women", or potentially both.
Westmoreland is either racist and deliberately baiting Obama, or he is racist and stupid. I like the "call for clarification": yeah, uppity. Amazing.
Deleted. And banned. Keep it up.
I don't care if a person is purple they can still be "uppity", like the color of a persons skin has any relation to their character idiot. I'll tell you one characteristic that is very commonly related to being "uppity" journalism and being educated at an Ivy league school. Suck on the facts and call me in the morning.
I was angry when I read this last night too, but to borrow once again from Blazing Saddles (particularly, "the Waco Kid"):
"What did [we] expect? Welcome Sonny? Make yourself at home? Marry My Daughter? You gotta remember that these are simple farmers. These are people of the land, the common clay of the new West. You know.....Morons."
--
I love that line.
Michele admitted to Newsweek that she got into Harvard Law School via affirmative action. She failed the July 1988 Illinois bar exam she took before starting at Sidley & Austin in fall 1988. She soon left the practice of law. After Barack was elected to the US Senate, Michelles's salary at the University of Chicago medical center was tripled. Barack thereafter earmarked millions to Michell's employer.
Michelle more angry *itch ,than uppity.Not to
worry too much,the media darlings of the left
love them so much, that their willing to lose all
credibility to get them elected.