Alaska Republican Congressman: My Father Used To Have “Wetbacks” Pick Tomatoes

[onehandle]

Source: Buzzfeed

In an interview with a local radio station on Thursday, longtime Alaska Congressman Don Young used the racial slur “wetback” while discussing the economy.



Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/alaska-republican-congressman-my-father-used-to-have-wetback

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“My father had a ranch; we used to have 50-60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes,” he said. “It takes two people to pick the same tomatoes now. It’s all done by machine.”

http://www.krbd.org/2013/03/28/don-young-talks-regs-budget-economy-arctic-development/

[Coyotl]

1. In the hotly-contested effort to distance the GOP as far as possible from anyone of color

this asshat just took the lead

[merrily]

36. For now. Wait a minute. There will be another.

[Coyotl]

47. Good point.

[sakabatou]

2. Out in the open with his racism

[cactusfractal]

3. The Alaskan Hispanic population seems to have missed it....

Turns out he was at work.

[uppityperson]

7. Why post a racist "joke" in a thread about a racist comment?

[ronnie624]

9. It wasn't a joke about racial stereotypes.

It was a joke about the number of Hispanics living in Alaska. There was no apparent display of racist contempt.

Why would you consider such a joke, racist?

[uppityperson]

10. Having 6% of the state's population be shrunk down to 1 person and a joke made about them

being only 1 person, and that one person being Hispanic makes it about race and hence racist.

[Threedifferentones]

33. From WIkipedia

"Racism is usually defined as views, practices and actions reflecting the belief that humanity is divided into distinct biological groups called races and that members of a certain race share certain attributes which make that group as a whole less desirable, more desirable, inferior or superior."

The joke obviously referred to hispanics as a distinct population, but then again, so do you, UP. That in itself is not racist, it is the last part of the definition that is important here. That joke was clearly not racist.

[merrily]

37. Every statement about race is not racist.

The joke mocks lack of diversity in Alaska, not Hispanics.

[merrily]

39. Good one.

[olddots]

4. Don Young

A man of all treasons

these parasites pawn themselves off as patriots when they hate what this country is all about.

[firenewt]

22. We used to call people like him 'fucking asshat RW idiots'. Wait a minute, we still do.

[DRoseDARs]

5. Insincere "Macaca" apology in 3... 2... 1... n/t

[Eclectic1]

20. Predictable

It's become pretty predictable...say something abhorrent to other people (which you don't seem to realize because you never leave your small circle of cookie-cutter friends) and then post some watered-down, insincere, generic apology as if we are supposed to forget that in that one moment you spoke as you really feel and believe. The positive side? It's not being swept under the rug so easily today...so I say, "speak on" if you really feel that way, then the world can see the real you.

[DRoseDARs]

25. Welcome to DU, Eclectic1. I guess I have the honor of being the impetus for your first post.

[Rhiannon12866]

32. Very well said

And, yes, predictable. *sigh* Welcome to DU, Eclectic1! It's great to have you with us!

[Arctic Dave]

6. Well Golly.

This Half Wetback says Donny Boy can go fuck himself.

Unfortunately the hispanic community isn't a big enough voting bloc in Alaska to make a difference. Most likely why he let his racism bubble up.

[merrily]

38. I am not any part Hispanic, but I am 100% anti-bigot. That comment would lose him my vote.

IIRC, before McCain named Palin, Alaska was swinging toward Obama. I don't think he had over 50% yet, but it was pretty impressive showing in the polls for a Democrat, let alone an person of color. So, I think some of those people have to be anti-bigot, too, including some indie and Republican votes?

That is just my knee jerk reaction, though. I am not from Alaska and you are, so you would know much better.

[Firebrand Gary]

8. I wonder if he is going to support immigration reform?

So many questions... So apparently his family supported amnesty when it was of financial benefit for his fathers ranch? These people make me sick!

What a racist.

[Beartracks]

11. "Why, I'm not racist. I hire LOTS of wetbacks!"

================

[PolitFreak]

12. To the Tape!

[bonniebgood]

14. don't you just love it when make excuses for

blatant racism to say: "I don't know what's in his heart...". Usually what's in your heart and mind comes
out of your mouth. It speaks to your mindset. ie Zimmerman's brother.

[AsahinaKimi]

15. I wonder what other

Racial slurs he has in his vocabulary?

[bemildred]

16. But he meant "no disrespect", they were fine tomato pickers, and very cheap. nt

[Heather MC]

17. These people are too stupid for words

[GeoWilliam750]

30. Possibly not

Not only is he wealthy and powerful, he has the sympathy/agreement of the majority of his constituency - both voters and financial supporters.

From his point of view, to have spoken of Hispanics as equals and deserving the same rights as caucasians might have caused him far more damage.

The non-apology will be recognised as such by that same constituency, probably as having been forced upon him as "political correctness" and may further reinforce their us/them mentality.

[sendero]

18. I grew up in TX..

... and heard this word as a child and even AS a child I knew it was not something one would say to a Mexican. If you can't say it to the person being described it is probably a slur, seems pretty simple to me.

I guess this is just more of the Republicans' idea of reaching out to Latinos.

[Daniel537]

19. Wise the fuck up, Alaska.

You should have gotten rid of this corrupt, racist turd in 2008, at the latest. No excuse for re-electing this douche now. And don't give me that "he brings home the pork" crap either. Stop embarrassing yourselves and vote in somebody who at least keeps his bigoted views limited to his mind.

[KoKo]

21. Sigh...Evolution has not occurred for some people...

pretty disgusting that he wouldn't know how offensive that statement was.

[L.A.TEXAS]

23. No really Don

This from a real Chicano, Fuck You!! and you Apology, You racist motherfucker!

[Judi Lynn]

24. 3 Reasons Why Don Young Is Alaska’s Political Teflon

3 Reasons Why Don Young Is Alaska’s Political Teflon
By Shira Toeplitz Posted at 2:25 p.m. today

Longtime Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, drew anger from colleagues and voters when he referred to Hispanic farm workers as “wetbacks” this week. Young tried to explain the slur as outdated terminology from his youth, even as Speaker John A. Boehner demanded he apologize.

But Young, a 40-year House veteran, is probably not going anywhere anytime soon. He plans to seek a 21st term, saying recently he will keep running for Alaska’s sole House seat “until the day I can’t physically do it.”

In fact, Young has proved himself to be political Teflon in the Last Frontier. Here are three reasons why:

1. After 40 years in Congress, Young has seen — and said — it all. He’s survived multiple investigations by both the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee (he was never charged). Earlier this month, the House Ethics Committee announced it is formally investigating him again, prompting this comment to the Alaska Dispatch:

“I’ve been under a cloud all my life,” Young said this week before his “wetbacks” comment aired. “It’s sort of like living in Juneau — it rains on you all the time and you don’t even notice it.”

More:
http://atr.rollcall.com/3-reasons-why-don-young-is-alaskas-political-teflon/

[Kalidurga]

26. This isn't going to hurt him...

Seriously, I think that there is a faction that is fine with this or worse likes this kind of thing in a politician.

[Sunlei]

46. you have a point, when you look at the census for Alaska and hispanics.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02000.html

[Blue_In_AK]

49. Anchorage is more ethnically diverse

than the state as a whole http://www.clrsearch.com/Anchorage-Demographics/AK/Population-by-Race-and-Ethnicity

Anchorage school district is 50-50 majority/minority with almost 100 languages being spoken.

[secondvariety]

27. What a pig.

[bravenak]

28. He never going away!

His campaign office is about two blocks from me. It is never open really, an he rarely campaigns. Always, always, wins. He can say anything he wants, he old. Whe he dies we'll have zombie don young in congress.

[RayStar]

29. Frozen brain

Moving to AK has frozen his brain. He is a disgrace.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

31. oh Jesus, you have got to be fucking kidding me

Live and direct from the state that gave us Sarah Palin and "internet is a series of tubes" Ted Stevens comes "i loves me some wetbacks" Don Young.

Alaska is slowly overtaking Texas and Kansas as our leading national black eye!

[merrily]

42. Meh. We have more black eyes than a very old potato.

[AnnieK401]

34. Oh hey Republicans, how's it going. Look

I don't want to tell you what to do, but I keep hearing you say you want to attract more Hispanic voters. This might not be the way to do it. Just saying.

[TroglodyteScholar]

35. I have a relatively liberal coworker from rural WI...

Mid 50s probably. And he truly thought "wetback" was an acceptable term for immigrants who came here illegally. It was pretty shocking when he pulled it out in conversation with me and 3 or so other coworkers. He actually thought I was messing with him for a minute. Then he was very embarrassed.

[merrily]

40. This turd has been in Congress since 1973, though. I think he is just a guy who is used to

doing and saying whatever he damn well pleases.

Quite a few Republicans mock Democrats for political correctness, aka not deliberately hurting other people with bigoted or otherwise demeaning words. They deliberately use words like that.

If this guy has been in Congress, alongside Democrats, African Americans, Hispanics, etc. for 40 years and never picked up that using slurs to describe people of color is wrong, how the hell does he tie his own shoes?

[TroglodyteScholar]

44. Oh I hope my post didn't look like a defense

My coworker is just a bit ignorant. THIS guy most certainly knows better.

[merrily]

41. "During the winter, he taught fifth grade at the local Bureau of Indian Affairs elementary school."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Young

Read that and weep. It really makes me want to cry for those little kids.

[kworkman]

43. Alaskan Congressman "Insulting Wetbacks".

Hell West Virginians have been insulted in this manner for as long as I can remember. Still are. You folks south of the border can come up here to West "By God" Virginia and be doubly insulted. Also we are still used to power this country and to fight the wars. Sure as hell made me think twice. The rich get richer and the insults continue. You don't believe that? Try reading what Patriot Coal and those who pull the strings are attempting.

[Rebellious Republican]

45. I am from the other side of the mountain, Kentucky.

I understand your story well, I have many friends and family that are products of the Mr. Peabody's coal train business model. Yes, just like in the John Prine song "Paradise", I played on the green river in my youth. I escaped via the US Navy.

However I don't not follow your train of thought. The Alaskan Congressman was publicly "Insulting Wetbacks" not "West BY God Virginians".

Welcome to DU.

[kworkman]

48. Comparing the Insults.

I was merely saying we understand. We've been insulted by Politicians and Businessmen for years. I don't understand the difficulty your having following that scenario.