UPDATED: Boehner: Young’s Comments Offensive, ‘Beneath The Dignity’ Of His Office

[DonViejo]

Last edited Fri Mar 29, 2013, 05:13 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: TPM

IGOR BOBIC 11:35 AM EDT, FRIDAY MARCH 29, 2013

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) offered a sharply worded reprimand for Rep. Don Young on Friday, demanding the Alaska congressman apologize for using a racial epithet to characterize migrant workers.

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

Young gave an interview to a local radio station on Thursday where he reminisced about “wetbacks” working on his father’s ranch in California. “My father had a ranch; we used to have 50-60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes. It takes two people to pick the same tomatoes now. It’s all done by machine,” Young said on KRBD. He later said he did not mean to offend.

“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,” Young said. “I know that this term is not used in the same way nowadays and I meant no disrespect.”

-30-



Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/boehner-youngs-comments-offensive-beneath-dignity-of-his?ref=fpb

---

Priebus: Young’s Words “Do Not Represent’ GOP

TOM KLUDT 12:14 PM EDT, FRIDAY MARCH 29, 2013

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus on Friday denounced remarks by Rep. Don Young (R-AK), who referred to migrant workers on his father's ranch as "wetbacks."

Priebus told USA Today that Young's remarks "emphatically do not represent the beliefs of the Republican Party."

"As I have continued to say, everyone in this country deserves to be treated with dignity and respect," Priebus said. "Our party represents freedom and opportunity for every American and a beacon of hope to those seeking liberty throughout the world."

Priebus joins House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) among a burgeoning list of Republicans to condemn Young.

-30-

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/priebus-youngs-words-do-not-represent-gop

------------------------------------------

DREAMers Call On Rubio, Schumer To Condemn Young

TOM KLUDT 11:44 AM EDT, FRIDAY MARCH 29, 2013

The DREAM Action Coalition, an advocacy group for undocumented youth living in the United States, issued a statement Friday calling on Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to condemn Rep. Don Young (R-AK), who characterized migrant workers as "wetbacks." Rubio and Schumer are two of members of the Senate's "Gang of 8" that has taken the lead on immigration reform.

While senseless rhetoric used by Republicans is hardly surprising, what is surprising is that the Gang of 8 leaders working on immigration reform are not publicly condemning these remarks. We applaud the quick response from Texas Senator John Cronyn and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Rubén Hinojosa for holding accountable their colleague.

As senators that come from states with large latino and immigrant communities, Sen. Schumer and Sen. Rubio must condemn these insensible remarks to demonstrate their commitment to fixing our broken immigration system and demonstrate neither party will tolerate insulting remarks against Latinos, immigrants, or any community in our country.

-30-

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/dreamers-call-on-rubio-schumer-to-condemn-young

-------------------------------------------

McCain: Don Young ‘Should Apologize Immediately’

IGOR BOBIC 1:01 PM EDT, FRIDAY MARCH 29, 2013

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) on Friday called for an immediate apology from Rep. Don Young (R-AK) for comments characterizing migrant workers as "wetbacks."

John McCain ✔ @SenJohnMcCain

Don Young's comments were offensive and have no place in our Party or in our nation's discourse. He should apologize immediately
4:35 PM - 29 Mar 13

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/mccain-don-young-should-apologize-immediately

----------------------------------

Don Young Apologizes For His ‘Poor Choice Of Words’

IGOR BOBIC 3:59 PM EDT, FRIDAY MARCH 29, 2013

Rep. Don Young (R-AK) apologized for describing migrant workers as "wetbacks" in a statement on Friday.

"I apologize for the insensitive term I used during an interview in Ketchikan, Alaska," he said. "There was no malice in my heart or intent to offend; it was a poor choice of words. That word, and the negative attitudes that come with it, should be left in the 20th century, and I’m sorry that this has shifted our focus away from comprehensive immigration reform."

-30-

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/don-young-apologizes-for-his-poor-choice-of?ref=fpb

[Scuba]

1. Beneath the dignity of Republicans? Wow, that's really, really low.

[Liberalagogo]

5. Just when you think

you've reached the bottom of the GOP's craziness, there's a crazy underground garage.

[Mr.Bill]

19. And it has a car elevator. n/t

[Major Nikon]

6. Torture doesn't even qualify

[rocktivity]

2. "I used a term that was commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in Central California,”

Young said. “I know that this term is not used in the same way nowadays and I meant no disrespect.”

You mean there was a time when people were PROUD of being called wetbacks? Shows you how much I know -- apology accepted!


rocktivity

[Faygo Kid]

3. Way to gain those Hispanic voters, GOP

They can't help it. It's who they are, it's what they do, and they can't stop, whether this, comparing homosexuality to bestiality and pedophilia, or their fixation on rape and guns. They hate. They can't help it, it's what they do. So we have to make sure they pay a price for it.

[Myrina]

4. The only reason they're calling him out is to win votes ...

.... notice how they've not condemned Bachmann or Akin for any of the foul things they've said toward Muslims, women or gays ... they consider those votes 'not coming back' anyway.

Hispanics, however? GOP's gotta court that 2014/2016 voting block!!!

[Flashmann]

7. Boehner: Young’s Comments Offensive, ‘Beneath The Dignity’ Of His Office

I'd like to know just who paid errrrrrr TOLD Boner to think/say that.

[SmittynMo]

8. This is so typical

No matter what the GOP say, or represents, they cannot ignore the fact that their party is a bunch of racists. It's reported somewhere on a daily basis. They will NEVER change. They said they were going to change after this last election, but it will NEVER happen. A perfect example is the GOP's stance on gay marriage. 5 months ago, every one of them were against it. Now a few are changing their minds, in a feeble attempt to win over the minorities. I for one, can see right through this. They will NEVER change. It's who they are, and what they represent. The good part is it's ripping their party apart, big time. I can't wait to see who the GOP loser will be in 2016.

[xtraxritical]

17. Democrats are riding a ground swell now but the Republicons have 19 months to "soften their image".

We must keep the pressure on.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

9. “I know that this term is not used in the same way nowadays and I meant no disrespect.”

So if he knew the term was inappropriate and still used it he's doubly condemnable. He wasn't delivering a lecture on the etymology of racist slurs, he was contrasting the past picking methods to those of today and it's the first term that came to his present mind.

[SmittynMo]

10. Present mind?

Yep, that's it. His present racist mind!!!!! Most people think before they speak. Not the GOP. Their racism will always prevail. And yes, he's doubly condemnable.

[David Zephyr]

11. Apologize? He should resign immediately.

You don't smear an entire class of people including children with that sort of shitty slur and get to remain in the U.S. Congress.

[goclark]

12. How many employees of a company

could get away with saying something like that....I know about free
Speech- but this is getting rediculus!

I'M. AFRICAN AMERICAN.....what if one of our Representat. ives called him ...a honkey? White trash?
They would be arrested or severely repremanded.

BET an insincere "Oops"
would not do it.

Did Rmoney ever get on TV and beg us in the 47 percent to forgive him?

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Wow. Amazing that something managed to cut through Boner's drunk stupor

to prompt him to respond. He and his ilk welcomed, encouraged, and nurtured the lowest level of scum for their party, and even those among their most senior representatives, have finally felt free to express the GOP's true nature and agenda.

Let's hope that self-hating jerks like Cruz & Rubio know that their party considers them "wet backs" (no matter what actual Spanish-speaking ethnic group they belong to and only because of their surnames).

[Paladin]

14. Lucky For Us, These Assholes Can't Help Themselves. (nt)

[angrychair]

15. Boehner and Priebus are trying

To stick to their new playbook. What their fancy new report on how to act failed to mention is that the gOP say and do the things they do because they are reflecting the attitude and POV of their voter base. Their efforts are doomed to failure unless their is a sea-change in attitude and understanding which is very unlikely to happen any time soon.

[Tx4obama]

16. UPDATE: Statement From Congressman Young

Statement From Congressman Young

Washington, D.C., Mar 29 -

JUNEAU, AK - Alaskan Congressman Don Young released the following statement regarding an interview on Ketchikan radio earlier this week:

"I apologize for the insensitive term I used during an interview in Ketchikan, Alaska. There was no malice in my heart or intent to offend; it was a poor choice of words. That word, and the negative attitudes that come with it, should be left in the 20th century, and I’m sorry that this has shifted our focus away from comprehensive immigration reform.

http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=325872
"

Related CNN article with apology here: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/29/don-young-apologizes-for-racial-slur/

[secondvariety]

18. "...I meant no disrespect."

Yes, you did you festering carbuncle.

[MoclipsHumptulips]

20. Priebus is full of it as usual.

Priebus told USA Today that Young's remarks "emphatically do not represent the beliefs of the Republican Party."

BULLSHIT.

Young's remarks perfectly represent the 2013 rethuglican party.

[niyad]

21. did I miss where bonehead slammed young for his "just don't drink together" stupidity with reference

to domestic violence?

[ZombieHorde]

22. That is pretty messed up, in my opinion. nt