How the Athens Banner-Herald finds racist rhetoric from Republicans…by making it up

September 15, 2009 17:30 pm

by Pete Randall · 12 comments

This had slipped my notice (admittedly not hard to do) until earlier this afternoon. But my amazement at the truly omniscient powers of the Editorial Board of the Athens Banner-Herald on September 11 cannot go without comment. Indeed, they have been able to conclusively determine that Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss called President Obama “uppity” last week even though he didn’t use the word “uppity” or even any word like it. The Athens Banner-Herald always gets their man even if it means making stuff up, you see!

Let’s review their logic.

In a Tuesday interview on Fox News, Chambliss was talking about Republican expectations for the president’s address when he said, “I think what you’re looking at is folks on my side anxious to see what the president has to say (Wednesday) night. I think he’s going to have to express some humility based on what we’ve seen around the country during August, and that’s not his inclination.”

A-HA! There you have it! Chambliss is a RACCCCCIIIIIISSSTTTT! Wait, you didn’t see it? Let me allow the Wizards of Smart on the Editorial Board of the famed Athens Banner-Herald point it out for you simpletons.

Take a closer look at those two sentences. Sen. Chambliss states clearly that “to express some humility … is not (Obama’s) inclination.” It’s not an unfair parsing of the senator’s remarks to see them as coming uncomfortably close to suggesting the president is “uppity.”

The word “uppity” is defined as “assuming airs beyond one’s station,” and – intended or not – that’s a clear subtext of Chambliss’ suggestion that the president is insufficiently humble.

Additionally, using the word “uppity” in connection with a black person is seen widely as something of a racial slur.

They also suggest that such comments which they just made up out of thin air are “insidious” because, in their view, it simply isn’t logical for anyone to think that President Obama lacks humility in any form and is a media whore. Noooooooo.

You know, it’s not an unfair parsing of this editorial from the Athens Banner-Herald to find that they are quite dullardly. My analysis of their editorial also reveals that they are empty vessels of humanity who fail to understand it is inappropriate to create racist “rhetoric” where none exists.

This is the Era Of Hope And Change, don’t forget.

{ 12 comments }

Max Power September 15, 2009 at 7:43 pm

They must have confused Saxby with Lynn Westmoreland.

ProgressivePeach September 16, 2009 at 9:26 am

Yep. It was Westmoreland that called Obama “uppity.” And that was last year. I’m sure Saxby thinks he’s “uppity,” but while he’s pretty stupid, he’s not stupid enough to say it out loud in public.

tinsandwich September 16, 2009 at 9:31 am

True. He is just smart enough to be the Sen. from Georgia.

LoyaltyIsMyHonor September 16, 2009 at 9:32 am

Very odd for them to draw that conclusion. For once, I’m with Pete here. As a “yankee” I still do not understand the significance of the term “uppity.” Was it also used by blacks to call out other blacks for “passing”?

Also, Pete gets points for using graphics; they’re always a crowd pleaser. :)

griftdrift September 16, 2009 at 9:51 am

No. It was most commonly used in the context of saying someone didn’t know that place. About 50 years ago, who was saying it to whom was pretty universal in the south.

griftdrift September 16, 2009 at 9:51 am

Should have been “their place” obviously.

LoyaltyIsMyHonor September 16, 2009 at 10:14 am

ah ok, I’m sure it was used up north too, just a little bit before my time I guess…Sad.

ByteMe September 16, 2009 at 10:22 am

The part missing from the explanation is that it was also a common excuse given to the cops to get out of being arrested for beating the crap out of said black person who got “uppity”. The cops also used it frequently for the same reason.

You can see how that little additional threat of government-sanctioned violence makes the statement a bit more charged, than what junior high kids say to each other on a daily basis.

Holly September 16, 2009 at 9:47 am

I just thought I’d bring this up, having dealt with the ABH for years. Not everyone on the board is a liberal. It ends up being a mixed bag, meaning position pieces and endorsements are always a surprise. :-)

However, it’s not at all fair to infer something not said from something else not said. That’s a double fail.

ByteMe September 16, 2009 at 10:07 am

But that’s the same technique Reagan used to try to make Medicare look evil back in 1961, so it must be ok.

Let’s see if we see any change in the rhetoric today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRdLpem-AAs

Scary, huh?

rugby September 17, 2009 at 4:06 pm

Seriously why the **** does Pete have front page posting abilities on Peach Pundit?

ByteMe September 17, 2009 at 7:40 pm

Because he draws attention to PP. Same reason that Erick throws bombs over on RS. If you got nothing interesting to say, throw bombs until people notice you. Even negative attention is good attention in the brave new world.

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