I just think it's convenient interpretation... semantics. Many words we use(both proper and vulgar/slang) have multiple meanings- and it's all about tone & intent--which is all open to personal interpretation--unless you ask the speaker what they meant.
I know many people that use the term "boy" for a male of caucasian, African American, Latino etc. It doesn't mean the old stephen Foster-old south- Minstrel show insulting/degrading ntent of that term.
Same for uppity. He prefaced it by saying the Obama's were elitist and because they were acting outside of their social set, (ie above it) they were "uppity". I don't see the racial overtones here (and I speak "southern" quite well) but rather see how Anti-McCain opportunists can take it there, and for that reason alone it was a foolish thing to say--from a strategy standpoint.
Kind of like using the word niggardly for cheap. Yep it's in the dictionary and has no racial overtones--but boy (no pun intended) does it sound bad and woe to he who uses it!
