Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga. AP file photo CQPOLITICS.COM HEADLINES CQPOLITICS.COM HEADLINES The Harvard-educated couple that the Democrats want to install in the White House are part of an elitist, "uppity" class, a Republican congressman said Thursday. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a two-term Republican who represents some of Atlanta's suburbs, commented about class when asked about the performances under pressure of his party's vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and the Democratic nominee's wife, Michelle Obama, as they introduced themselves to the nation in their separate convention speeches. AUDIO: Hear Rep. Westmoreland's comments "Honestly, I've never paid that much attention to Michelle Obama," Westmoreland said. "Just what little I've seen of her and Senator [Barack] Obama, is that they're a member of an elitist class...that thinks that they're uppity." The 58-year-old, Atlanta-born congressman declined to elaborate further, though he did repeat one part of his comment when asked to clarify. "Uppity, you said?" he was asked. "Yeah, uppity," Westmoreland replied. He made his comments in the U.S. Capitol, where House Republicans are taking turns participating in daily news conferences and speeches in the empty chamber to highlight the issue of high energy prices. Later, Westmoreland's press secretary offered two clarifications. "This was an adjective for elitism, not a code word. It was obviously not a racially tinged remark," said the press secretary, Brian Robinson. Robinson subsequently said that Westmoreland had instructed his staff to check the dictionary to be sure he properly understood the meaning of the word. The spokesman then e-mailed the dictionary definition: "1. affecting an attitude of inflated self-esteem; snobbish. 2. rebelliously self-assertive; not inclined to be deferential." Westmoreland is white. The Obamas are black. Vanessa Beasley, who teaches political rhetoric at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, said "uppity" is a word that hits the ear of African-Americans in a negative way — evoking images of the pre-civil rights era, when powerful whites sometimes punished blacks who spoke up for themselves. "It has very clear roots in the history of slavery in the South," Beasley said. "The term 'uppity' has such a specific, contextual historic meaning. It is more evocative of a particular moment in history and particular set of fears that exist today within certain parts of the electorate. "The racial politics that it reanimates are very worrisome." In St. Paul, where the Republican National Convention was in its final day, Robert Gibbs, senior adviser to the Obama campaign, was told of the exchange during a lunch with reporters arranged by the Christian Science Monitor. "Since Congressman Westmoreland's never met the Obamas...maybe he could spend a couple of days with them, he can get out on the bus with a 10-year-old and a 7-year-old, they can watch TV together," Gibbs said. "We'd invite Congressman Westmoreland to hit the trail with a real family in America, not just a member Congress." A fellow Democrat on the campaign trail had a different response. Stephen Camp, the Democrat running against Westmoreland, issued a statement declaring that the congressman owed the Obamas an apology. "Westmoreland should well understand the hurtful connotations of his reference, particularly for his own Georgia constituents," the challenger said. Georgia Democrats called for the 3rd District Republican to apologize for the comments he made. "Political attacks like this don't lower gas prices one cent, they don't give one more American access to affordable health care, and they don't get one more Georgian a job that pays the mortgage. Lynn Westmoreland should be ashamed of himself, and he should issue a full and immediate apology," Georgia Democratic Party chairwoman Jane Kidd wrote in a press release sent to reporters Thursday night. Marie Horrigan and Rachel Kapochunas in St. Paul contributed to this story © 2008 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All Rights Reserved. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more