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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| John Boehner chastises Alaska Republican for 'wetbacks' slur | John Boehner chastises Alaska Republican for 'wetbacks' slur |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| House speaker John Boehner has admonished a senior Republican colleague over the use of a racial slur to describe Hispanic immigrants. | House speaker John Boehner has admonished a senior Republican colleague over the use of a racial slur to describe Hispanic immigrants. |
| Boehner joined other Republicans in demanding a full apology of Alaska representative Don Young, who drew widespread condemnation for calling Hispanics "wetbacks" in a radio interview. | Boehner joined other Republicans in demanding a full apology of Alaska representative Don Young, who drew widespread condemnation for calling Hispanics "wetbacks" in a radio interview. |
| Young, who has represented Alaska's at-large district in the House since 1973, said he meant "no disrespect" by the comment. | Young, who has represented Alaska's at-large district in the House since 1973, said he meant "no disrespect" by the comment. |
| Boehner described Young's remarks as "offensive and beneath the dignity of the office he holds". He added: "I don't care why he said it; there's no excuse and it warrants an immediate apology." | Boehner described Young's remarks as "offensive and beneath the dignity of the office he holds". He added: "I don't care why he said it; there's no excuse and it warrants an immediate apology." |
| The Democrat minority leader of the House, Nancy Pelosi, also called for a full apology over the "deeply offensive" remarks. | The Democrat minority leader of the House, Nancy Pelosi, also called for a full apology over the "deeply offensive" remarks. |
| The phrase "wetback" is regarded as an offensive slur. It was originally used to describe Mexican immigrants who entered the US by crossing the Rio Grande. | The phrase "wetback" is regarded as an offensive slur. It was originally used to describe Mexican immigrants who entered the US by crossing the Rio Grande. |
| Young, speaking on KRBD radio, was discussing how the mechanisation of farming practices had led to fewer jobs. He said: "My father had a ranch – we used to have 50 to 60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes. It takes two people to pick the same tomatoes now. It's all done by machine." | Young, speaking on KRBD radio, was discussing how the mechanisation of farming practices had led to fewer jobs. He said: "My father had a ranch – we used to have 50 to 60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes. It takes two people to pick the same tomatoes now. It's all done by machine." |
| In a statement released on Thursday, Young said he had used the term innocently, and meant no harm by it. | In a statement released on Thursday, Young said he had used the term innocently, and meant no harm by it. |
| Young, 79, said the phrase was one he "commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in central California". But he accepted that the term was "not used in the same way nowadays and I meant no disrespect". | Young, 79, said the phrase was one he "commonly used during my days growing up on a farm in central California". But he accepted that the term was "not used in the same way nowadays and I meant no disrespect". |
| But in a tweet, Pelosi dismissed Young's apparent defence that the term has become more offensive with time. | But in a tweet, Pelosi dismissed Young's apparent defence that the term has become more offensive with time. |
| "Congressman Young should fully apologise for deeply offensive comments that were not appropriate in his youth or now," she said. | "Congressman Young should fully apologise for deeply offensive comments that were not appropriate in his youth or now," she said. |
| Young's comments come at a sensitive time for the Republicans, with many in the party looking to soften its line on immigration following November's election loss. | Young's comments come at a sensitive time for the Republicans, with many in the party looking to soften its line on immigration following November's election loss. |
| A record number of Hispanics voted, making up 10% of the overall electorate, according to the Pew Research Center. Of those, 71% favoured Barack Obama over Republican rival Mitt Romney. | A record number of Hispanics voted, making up 10% of the overall electorate, according to the Pew Research Center. Of those, 71% favoured Barack Obama over Republican rival Mitt Romney. |
| American Crossroads – the conservative Super Pac backed by former George W Bush adviser Karl Rove – recently launched a fighting fund to counter "undisciplined" primary candidates from the fringe of the party. | American Crossroads – the conservative Super Pac backed by former George W Bush adviser Karl Rove – recently launched a fighting fund to counter "undisciplined" primary candidates from the fringe of the party. |
| It comes after a brace of high-profile Senate seat defeats in November where Republican faced a backlash over comments on rape and abortion. | It comes after a brace of high-profile Senate seat defeats in November where Republican faced a backlash over comments on rape and abortion. |
| Meanwhile, a Michigan member of the Republican National Committee (RNC) was under increasing pressure on Friday to resign over an anti-gay diatribe posted on Facebook. | Meanwhile, a Michigan member of the Republican National Committee (RNC) was under increasing pressure on Friday to resign over an anti-gay diatribe posted on Facebook. |
| Dave Agema, who served as a state congressman from 2007 until late last year, put up an excerpt of an article titled Everyone Should Know These Statistics On Homosexuals. | Dave Agema, who served as a state congressman from 2007 until late last year, put up an excerpt of an article titled Everyone Should Know These Statistics On Homosexuals. |
| Among other homophobic slurs, the article describes homosexuality as a "filthy lifestyle", adding that gay and lesbian people have an agenda of turning people against Christianity. | Among other homophobic slurs, the article describes homosexuality as a "filthy lifestyle", adding that gay and lesbian people have an agenda of turning people against Christianity. |
| It also claims that many gay people admit to being paedophiles. | It also claims that many gay people admit to being paedophiles. |
| A group of 21 Michigan Republicans have since called the paper "deplorable". Agema also appeared to receive a rebuke from RNC chairman Reince Priebus. | A group of 21 Michigan Republicans have since called the paper "deplorable". Agema also appeared to receive a rebuke from RNC chairman Reince Priebus. |
| Priebus said that although the party's position on gay marriage – an issue that this week went before the supreme court – is clear, "all human beings deserve to be treated with dignity and respect." | Priebus said that although the party's position on gay marriage – an issue that this week went before the supreme court – is clear, "all human beings deserve to be treated with dignity and respect." |
| Despite increasing pressure over the article posted on his Facebook page, Agema told the Associated Press that he will "absolutely not" resign from the RNC. | Despite increasing pressure over the article posted on his Facebook page, Agema told the Associated Press that he will "absolutely not" resign from the RNC. |
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