Republicans are Racists

Racist U.S. Rep. Don Young addresses a Choose Respect (ha!) rally in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Juneau, Alaska. (Becky Bohrer/AP Photo)

With it’s recent “autopsy” and declarations of the necessity to re-brand itself to a more diverse set of voters, the Republican Party is just days into their campaign to put lipstick on their pig. They have no desire to change their positions on any of the policies that lost them the 2012 election, but they do want to stop saying what they think when other people can hear what they are saying. Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, has declared that Republicans need to stop saying “stupid” and “idiotic” things in public. Well, already an elected Republican Congressman has shown that a lot of GOP members just can’t help themselves.

In an interview with public radio station KRBD, Representative Don Young of Alaska launched his appeal to bring more Latinos into the “Big Tent” of the Republican Party. “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.”

In a released statement, Representative Young did not apologize but instead explained that the phrase was simply ingrained into his being because he used it when he was growing up. That’s right Don. You used the term “Wetback” (a derogatory term for Mexican migrant workers) because you have always used it… Because you’re a racist.

“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.”

It was a racial slur back then and still is today, you ignorant fool. But Don Young doesn’t see it that way. I argue that most Republicans will take his reason for using the slur as perfectly acceptable… And that is why I continue to believe that Republicans are racists.