They Finally Said It

Democrats have been noting for months that "elitist" is the GOP's new word for "uppity". And now, Georgia Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R) finally stopped using the code:

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.”

"Elitist" is ambiguous. After all, Republicans have used it to describe every Democratic candidate since I've been following politics. "Uppity", however, is not. It is classic racist discourse, and you cannot tell me a 58-year old Georgian does not know that front-to-back. Even if it is Lynn "I voted for torture!" Westmoreland.

Westmoreland owes Obama a personal apology, to say the least, and if that's all that it takes to dissipate this he should consider himself lucky. This is despicable.