A Boy Named Lynn

For some time, Republicans have been accused of using the term "elitist" as code for "uppity" when applied to Barack Obama, a charge that they have strenuously denied.

Obviously, conservative republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland didn't get the message. As reported by The Hill, Westmoreland calls Obama ‘uppity':

Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland used the racially-tinged term "uppity" to describe Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Thursday.

Westmoreland was discussing vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's speech with reporters outside the House chamber and was asked to compare her with Michelle Obama.

"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.”

When challenged later about his use of the word, Westmoreland defended himself. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports, Barack and Michelle Obama are 'uppity,' says Lynn Westmoreland:

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, who was born and raised in the South, said Thursday that he’s never heard the word “uppity” used in a racially loaded fashion — and meant nothing more than “elitist” when he applied it to Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.

Westmoreland further justified himself, saying, look, I'm just a redneck boy named Lynn, and he later added that, in using the term "uppity" he was merely trying to not mince his words, that is, calling a spade a spade.

Anyway, this shows great progress in the fight for equally in America. As The Onion reports:


Portrayal Of Obama As Elitist Hailed As Step Forward For African Americans