The Trail

-- Michael D. Shear

A LOADED TERM

GOP Georgia Congressman Says Obamas Are 'Uppity'

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a conservative Republican from Georgia, let slip what critics have been saying is the subtext of many of the attacks on Barack Obama: He's "uppity."

According to the Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper, Westmoreland was discussing Sarah Palin's vice presidential acceptance speech outside the House chamber Thursday when he veered into his thoughts on Michelle and Barack Obama.

"Just from what little I've seen of her and Mr. Obama, Senator Obama, they're a member of an elitist class individual that thinks that they're uppity," Westmoreland said.

When a reporter sought clarification on the racially loaded word, Westmoreland replied, "Uppity, yeah."

For weeks, commentators and critics have asserted that the McCain campaign's efforts to portray Obama as a vacuous celebrity smacked of historical efforts to describe African Americans seeking equality as "uppity," or not knowing "their place." The McCain campaign has heatedly denied any such thing, and has accused Obama of having "played the race card" for saying that Republicans would mock him as an outsider.

Westmoreland briefly gained national attention when he sponsored legislation to post the Ten Commandments in the House and Senate chambers. Asked by Stephen Colbert in 2006 to name all 10, he stumbled. "Um, don't murder, don't lie, don't steal," he offered, before confessing, "I can't name them."

-- Jonathan Weisman