GOP Congressman Walks Back ‘Wetbacks’ Comment Following Backlash: ‘I Meant No Disrespect’

After coming under fire for using the term “wetbacks,” Rep. Don Young, a Republican from Alaska, said he “meant no disrespect.” The comment in question came during an interview with a local radio station, during which Young spoke about his family’s ranch.

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

Young was speaking, during the wide-ranging interview, about the country’s dependence on imports and need to expand domestic industry, which he said would also aid job creation.

Later, he issued the following statement about using the term that is regarded as a slur, often referencing undocumented immigrants (particularly from Mexico):

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.

Migrant workers play an important role in America’s workforce, and earlier in the said interview, I discussed the compassion and understanding I have for these workers and the hurdles they face in obtaining citizenship. America must once and for all tackle the issue of immigration reform.

Today‘s report on the story below:

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