Lawmakers Shame Don Young For ‘Wetback’ Slur

Republican Representative Don Young’s ‘wetback’ slur spoken during a radio show earlier this week has placed the Republican Party under a magnifying glass as it seeks to improve outreach efforts to Latinos and other ethnic minorities following two presidential election defeats. Several lawmakers rushed to shame Don Young for his remarks Friday.

“Migrant workers come to America looking for opportunity and a way to provide a better life for their families,” Texas Senator John Cornyn said in a statement. “They do not come to this country to hear ethnic slurs and derogatory language from elected officials. The comments used by Rep. Young do nothing to elevate our party, political discourse or the millions who come here looking for economic opportunity.”

Cornyn is not the only Republican to answer the call of critics by speaking out against a fellow Congressman. Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus told USA Today that Young’s words do not represent the beliefs of the party. The Republican Speaker of the House also chimed in.

“Congressman Young’s remarks were offensive and beneath the dignity of the office he holds,” House Speaker John Boehner said in a statement. “I don’t care why he said it – there’s no excuse and it warrants an immediate apology.”

Young’s comments came at a time when a bipartisan group in the Senate known as the “Gang of Eight” are attempting to create a sweeping immigration plan. Republicans are not excited to receive more negative press as they revamp their efforts to diversify their constituency.

“We’ve got to stop being the stupid party. It’s time for a new Republican Party that talks like adults,” Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said at a Republican National Committee gathering in January. “We had a number of Republicans damage the brand this year with offensive and bizarre comments. I’m here to say we’ve had enough of that.”

The gathering fostered one of many conversations within the GOP since November over how to remain viable in future elections. The Republican Party hopes to increase its appeal among Hispanic voters by changing its tone and working with Democrats on immigration reform.

“My father had a ranch; we used to have 50 to 60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes,” Young said during the radio interview, sparking the controversy “You know, it takes two people to pick the same tomatoes now. It’s all done by machine.”

Young received strong criticism for his remarks online. The Alaska representative issued a statement overnight in which he walked back from the remarks:

“During a sit-down interview with Ketchikan Public Radio this week, I used a term that was commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in Central California … I know that this term is not used in the same way nowadays, and I meant no disrespect.”

Democratic Representative Rubén Hinojosa (pictured below) has strongly condemned Young’s apology. The Texas representative is the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

“Rep. Young says that he was just using the language he was accustomed to as he grew up, but there is no excuse for ignorance,” Hinojosa said. “He has served alongside Hispanics in Congress since 1973, so he should know terms like ‘wetback’ have never been acceptable.”

Earlier this week, Rush Limbaugh warned that the immigration issue could bring about the demise of the Republican Party. On his radio show Wednesday he asserted that the GOP may not gain any support even if they do work to pass a bipartisan bill. While he did not articulate why Republicans may not gain Hispanic support from pushing an immigration reform bill, Don Young’s ‘wetback’ controversy offers a good hint.