I wouldn't call the elitist charge racist. Certainly it's been used against non-black politicians, and no party has a monopoly on populism. But still:

"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?"

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