Republican Congressman Refers to Latinos as 'Wetbacks' - East Idaho News
Politics

Republican Congressman Refers to Latinos as ‘Wetbacks’

  Published at

DY Official Photo?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1364547282531donyoung.house.gov(WASHINGTON) — The Republican Party has embarked on an effort to re-brand itself to a more diverse set of voters, but one GOP congressman apparently did not get the memo.

Rep. Don Young of Alaska referred to Latinos using the racial slur “wetbacks” in an interview with public radio station KRBD that was published on Thursday.

Young, 79, used the term when discussing how automation in industry has taken away jobs from working-class individuals.

“I used to own — my father had a ranch.  We used to hire 50 to 60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes,” he said.  “You know, it takes two people to pick the same tomatoes now.”

Young’s use of the derogatory term for Mexican migrant workers could not have come at a worse time for his party.

The Republican National Committee released a post-election report that called on the party to present a friendlier face to voters from different racial and ethnic groups, so that it can compete for their votes.  And a number of Republicans have jumped on board with an immigration reform effort underway in Congress.

“If Hispanic Americans perceive that a GOP nominee or candidate does not want them in the United States (i.e. self-deportation), they will not pay attention to our next sentence,” the report reads.  “It does not matter what we say about education, jobs or the economy; if Hispanics think we do not want them here, they will close their ears to our policies.”

In a statement, Young did not apologize for his use of the term but he explained that it came from his time growing up in a bygone era.  Young also called on Congress to address immigration reform, since migrant workers “play an important role in America’s workforce.”

“I used a term that was commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in central California,” he said.  “I know that this term is not used in the same way nowadays and I meant no disrespect.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION