GOP Rep. Don Young 'meant no disrespect' using 'wetbacks' slur

During an interview with Alaska radio station KRBD, Alaska representative Don Young talked about bringing industry back to the U.S. instead of relying on imports, and used his father's ranch as an example.

"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."

The term "wetback" is a racial slur directed at Mexicans, originally used to refer to immigrants who arrived by swimming across the Rio Grande river.

After the outrage that followed his interview, Young issued a statement Thursday night in which he didn't directly apologize, but said he "meant no disrespect." He justified his use of the term by saying it was in common usage when he was young.

“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,” he said, according to Alaska’s KTUU-TV.

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

Young is currently serving his 21st term in the House of Representatives, and is one of the most senior Republicans in Congress. His use of the derogatory term and subsequent awkward apology come at a time when the GOP is actively trying to engage Hispanic voters.