Great news: GOP Rep. Don Young endorses Democrat in totally winnable Hawaii Senate race
posted at 9:25 pm on July 24, 2012 by Allahpundit
Remember, the only hope the GOP has of repealing ObamaCare is taking back the Senate next year. It’s no sure thing that GOP nominee Linda Lingle would vote with the caucus to do it — being the deciding vote to torpedo the legacy of Hawaii’s favorite son would require some nerve — but she says she will if given the chance. And as Red State notes, Hirono’s actually the most liberal candidate in an already pretty liberal field. If, for whatever bizarre reason, Young considers a moderate like Lingle to be too far right to suit his tastes, he could have endorsed Blue Dog Ed Case over Hirono. Instead, this. Why?
He’s been in Congress for 40 years, he’s an avowed earmarker, he’s been dogged for years by ethics questions, and now he’s backing Democrats in hugely consequential races. There’s no one in the deep red state of Alaska willing and able to primary this guy? I realize he’s a state institution with huge name recognition, but if the tea party can beat Rick Perry and the Texas GOP establishment to elect Ted Cruz — which looks increasingly likely — I’m thinking they can bounce Young.
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Lsm new squirrel
cmsinaz on March 29, 2013 at 9:44 AM
Imagine if Sarah Palin had used such an offensive term.
RealMc on March 29, 2013 at 9:45 AM
Palin?
Happy Nomad on March 29, 2013 at 9:45 AM
What’s wrong with this? “Wetback” describes a behavior, coming across the border with a “wet back” because you had to cross a river. Latino’s who do not cross the border are not wetbacks. It’s not a racial term.
CrustyB on March 29, 2013 at 9:45 AM
The Begich clan are Democrats, Ed.
KingGold on March 29, 2013 at 9:46 AM
No respect for criminals.
OldEnglish on March 29, 2013 at 9:47 AM
Jeezley Crow! That guy has been in Congress as long as I have been alive.
Term limits people.
loudmouth883 on March 29, 2013 at 9:47 AM
But it’s OK for Biden to talk about how the GOP wants to put (blacks) ‘ya’ll back in chains!’ YEARG!
Badger40 on March 29, 2013 at 9:50 AM
Speaking of wetbacks, all the legal Mexicans I knew when I went to hS in Tyler TX called illegals wetbacks, too.
They despised them.
Badger40 on March 29, 2013 at 9:51 AM
Sounds like it is time to put him out to pasture.
LoganSix on March 29, 2013 at 9:52 AM
Alaska sure can pick those Congressmen and Senators, can’t they?
Doughboy on March 29, 2013 at 9:52 AM
Oh noes….the PC police!!!! He was correct in the terms context and history. I prefer criminaliens or crimigrants.
dmann on March 29, 2013 at 9:53 AM
LOL – hey young, keep the slurs, ditch the suicidal domestic poilicies. Just a thought.
abobo on March 29, 2013 at 9:53 AM
He was only using a term commonly used by most southern, Midwestern and some northeastern conservatives. Nothing new here.
HotAirLib on March 29, 2013 at 9:54 AM
ROFL
Not really a language freak so I’d be more concerned about the criminal charges and his sudden embrace of amnesty in order to save his seat.
40 years? Come on, time to head off into the sunset.
Bishop on March 29, 2013 at 9:56 AM
Biden’s uttered quite a few racially offensive remarks over the years.
Plus a long history of plagiarism.
And a lot of Just Plain Stupidisms.
Somehow he was just re-elected as VP of the US.
Go figure.
itsnotaboutme on March 29, 2013 at 9:56 AM
1973?!?! Holy crap!
So was he already for amne… er.. immigration reform, or is he changing his position as the get out of jail free card?
Dongemaharu on March 29, 2013 at 9:58 AM
He was only using a term commonly used by most southern, Midwestern and some northeastern democrats. Nothing new here.
HumpBot Salvation on March 29, 2013 at 9:58 AM
Don’t forget our esteemed Senate Majority Leader and his remarks about “Negro dialect”.
Doughboy on March 29, 2013 at 9:58 AM
I don’t get Alaska. It’s a frontier state, seem like a rugged bunch, but they like electing lifers or corruptocrats. Are they proud of these people?
Dongemaharu on March 29, 2013 at 10:01 AM
I wonder if any of those Mexicans were clean and articulate?
Bishop on March 29, 2013 at 10:04 AM
I’m beginning to wonder if some this language slip up crap by certain politicians who claim to be republicans isn’t actually intentional by design. Just another seat for the dems to pick up now, almost as if he meant to say it to give the seat to the dems. I don’t trust our politicians, government, or media.
bgibbs1000 on March 29, 2013 at 10:05 AM
Maybe he should have used the standard liberal format for his apology “I didn’t mean what thought you heard but I’m sorry if anyone got offended.”
katiejane on March 29, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Would “Beaners” have been more appropriate?
Worked for Cheech Marin.
Polish Rifle on March 29, 2013 at 10:08 AM
I don’t know, is it better than calling them beaners? Young must be a part of the elite ruling class sub section out of power at the moment grouping.
Kissmygrits on March 29, 2013 at 10:10 AM
And we wonder why we lose elections? Akins, dipsheetz Murdock in Indiana and now this idiot.
theblacksheepwasright on March 29, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Not to defend Young but let’s see how this plays out vis-a-vis when Robert “sheets” Byrd referred to white [n-word]s. Byrd was largely given a pass as being generationally deaf to what he said. I suspect Young will not be given the same latitude if for no other reason than the administration is on the attack to hand out citizen to a bunch of undeserving people who did indeed get wet to come into this nation illegally.
And BTW, no human being should be allowed to sit in the House for 40 years and Young is 5th on the list of seniority and just a baby compared to John Dingell who inherited his seat from his daddy in 1955.
Happy Nomad on March 29, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Eh, this guy is from the old school as evidenced by 40 years in office. If anything it’s a sign of being in office for far too long.
These days people get offended by using the word “gay” to describe something that is stupid or whatever, if anything the Language Police should back the hell off before we’re all using sign language to keep from being pilloried.
Bishop on March 29, 2013 at 10:16 AM
What Young said is no worse than any of Joe Biden’s several racially offensive remarks over the years.
Plus his long history of plagiarism.
And his many Just Plain Stupidisms.
Why do we lose elections?
The media trumpet GOP gaffes, & they hide Democrat gaffes.
itsnotaboutme on March 29, 2013 at 10:17 AM
It’s Alaska. Rep. Young can call them icebacks.
jon1979 on March 29, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Three cheers for Political Correctness! I guess we have to refer to it as “Operation W-Word” when referring to Ike’s massive federal effort in deporting illegal aliens.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback
The Frankfurt School is still on the march!
Punchenko on March 29, 2013 at 10:20 AM
I see what you did there…. Now that’s some funny chit man.
Polish Rifle on March 29, 2013 at 10:24 AM
That is mind blowing.
Dongemaharu on March 29, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Just calling a spade, a spade – sort of.
MustLoveBlogs on March 29, 2013 at 10:27 AM
Name five.
Mr. D on March 29, 2013 at 10:29 AM
I thought the same thing about Todd Akin, interesting learning curve they have in Washington.
Cindy Munford on March 29, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Maybe the ones who are in their 80′s and 90′s.
Cindy Munford on March 29, 2013 at 10:31 AM
Was it a wet back wet back?
docflash on March 29, 2013 at 10:31 AM
According to Wiki, if it’s said in Spanish (los mojados) it’s a term of ethnic pride, even arrogance, an assertion of Mexican-American limpieza de sangre (purity of blood)….
Seth Halpern on March 29, 2013 at 10:34 AM
Start with any five from this blog
HotAirLib on March 29, 2013 at 10:36 AM
LOL. The term “WETBACKS” is still used interchangeably with the term “ILLEGALS” – they are criminals – WHO CARES?
Pork-Chop on March 29, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Look, I don’t think the word “wetback” is appropriate, any more than the word “n***er” is appropriate.
They are pejorative; they are inappropriate. Case closed.
Young has apologized; let’s move on. We don’t need pseudo-conservatives pandering to liberals to prove that we are politically correct enough for liberals, okay?
Get off your freakin’ knees, Morissey.
mountainaires on March 29, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Bristol won’t be old enough until the 2016 cycle.
Paying attention to Young’s actual comments, the need for comprehensive immigration reform should focus on the 2 that operate the automation, not the 50-60 that used to be needed to pick tomatoes. Otherwise we’re preparing our economy for the age of Don Young’s father.
raybury on March 29, 2013 at 10:41 AM
I’m glad he said it. The PC czars would rather everyone even the racists not utter these types of words. How else are we to know who the racists are if they aren’t allowed to speak freely. Rep Young is a crony capitalist bought and paid for. He needs replaced.
unseen on March 29, 2013 at 10:43 AM
I use sign language with the Language Police all the time. It’s an easy one, too, since it only involves one finger.
GWB on March 29, 2013 at 10:44 AM
Isn’t this news too? — President of Local Chapter of NAACP Says Rape Victim Axed For It
slickwillie2001 on March 29, 2013 at 10:46 AM
And here I’ve been dropping my pants and showing my backside to them, your method takes less time.
Bishop on March 29, 2013 at 10:46 AM
No. You name them. Then we can inspect your potential libel.
GWB on March 29, 2013 at 10:46 AM
“Any” five?
Get crackin’, smokey, because I’m one of those conservatives.
Bishop on March 29, 2013 at 10:50 AM
You’re as dishonest as they get and a scumbag to boot.
CW on March 29, 2013 at 10:50 AM
Being English, I use two. :)
OldEnglish on March 29, 2013 at 10:52 AM
And here I thought a liberal American tenet was to not make such bigoted prejudiced comments about groups of people. I guess you missed that meeting.
/
Look in the mirror: You’re as bad as any bigot in this country.
CW on March 29, 2013 at 10:53 AM
Well IKE called it operation wetback.
I think Young was around the House at the time. can we get rid of these dinasours?
unseen on March 29, 2013 at 10:57 AM
hmm comment got eaten. Trying to show Pres Ike used the term in 1954 maybe Young heard it from him?
unseen on March 29, 2013 at 10:59 AM
Huh?
It’s always been used as a derogatory term. If he thought it wasn’t derogatory when he was using while growing up, that means he was just surrounded by so many racists it was the “norm”.
ButterflyDragon on March 29, 2013 at 11:01 AM
It seems Mexico has less respect.
Reminder: How Mexico Treats “Undesirable” Foreigners
Chessplayer on March 29, 2013 at 11:02 AM
You know, I have no problem with this term for illegal aliens, sorry but they are criminals, they flip us the bird every time they sneak into America when there are ways to get here and work or become legal that they are simply not willing to go to the trouble for. If you want a more correct term they are undocumented democrats… give 15 million more of them amnesty and/or citizenship and say good-by to conservatives ever getting elected again.
Bert Convy on March 29, 2013 at 11:12 AM
It may be the endorphin high from spin class, but I actually really like Young’s response. He said, quite rightly, that this was a word commonly used in his youth and that he recognizes it no longer is being used today. Perfectly reasonable. In other words, Young is simply pointing out that racial/ethnic slurs were ubiquitous throughout the country until maybe the 80s? If you were born before the 1980s there’s no doubt you probably heard lots of ethnic/racial slurs. This does not mean these terms are harmless, but at least Young is acknowledging this country’s history of racism and ethnocentrism.
Why, you may ask? Is “wetback” an offensive slur. Because it was born out of labor antagonisms between nativist workers and Mexicans during the early decades of the 20th century. The notion that Mexicans “steal” American jobs is linked to the idea that they “steal” across the border (across the Rio Grande) and into the American labor market. It explicitly links Mexicans with criminality, and theft of American opportunity. Classes of people who are framed as inherently criminal tend to experience all sorts of vigilante violence (beaner hunts for example). Language matters, it structures how we treat people.
libfreeordie on March 29, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Chuck Hagel sat in the United States Senate for years. Yet he somehow never learned that “Jewish Lobby” was a perjorative until Chuckie Schumer talked to him about it during confirmation hearings for SecDef. Hagel reportedly wept when he realized that he had been an anti-Semite all those years.
Happy Nomad on March 29, 2013 at 11:16 AM
I prefer the term trespassers myself.
Happy Nomad on March 29, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Yes it does. Kind of makes a girl wonder why Tea Party members and military veterans have been classified as possible domestic terrorist threats by the federal government.
When do the “Tea Bagger” hunts begin?
Bishop on March 29, 2013 at 11:23 AM
The easiest way to identify a bigot is to look for those defending the bigotry of others. EVERY TIME one of you morons outs yourselves you use principle as your justification. You don’t realize that defending racism or ethnic-bigotry is a symptom shared by hardcore bigots.
Too funny.
Capitalist Hog on March 29, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Really? You use the term to describe European students who have overstayed their welcome? The large populations of non-citizen Asian residents and workers? The many non-citizen Canadians in the country? You use the term “wetback” to describe those people as well? Or do you only use it towards one ethnic group?
libfreeordie on March 29, 2013 at 11:26 AM
LOL. RNC election message 2014 and 2016. Wetbacks? Who cares? There just words. But “marriage” apparently means something. Who cares?
lostmotherland on March 29, 2013 at 11:26 AM
Probably around the time when “tea bagger” refers less to a cheap joke at the expense of the Tea Party and more to a specific charge of criminality and theft of others livlihood the way “wetback” does. Or maybe when there’s a history of old white people are being systematically beaten up or killed for violence by some majority population who wants them “out of their town” or “out of their country.” Let me know when the state actually starts rounding up “Tea baggers” like the U.S. government did to Mexicans during 1954′s “Operation Wetback.” In other words, let me know when old white conservatives are actually treated like members of an unwanted racial minority.
libfreeordie on March 29, 2013 at 11:32 AM
“It was wrong for the Gringo Don Young to call us degrading names!”
-Hispanics
portlandon on March 29, 2013 at 11:33 AM
No part of your post applies to the subject in hand.
This post is about those who illegally gain access to the US – by crossing the Rio Grande, which is wet!
OldEnglish on March 29, 2013 at 11:37 AM
Well right, because the Tea Party is composed only of “old white conservative people”.
Wait…you aren’t…*GASP!*…stereotyping, are you?
O_O
Bishop on March 29, 2013 at 11:41 AM
LOL. Yes, they’re just words.
Pork-Chop on March 29, 2013 at 11:43 AM
Because the Tea Party is composed only of “old white conservatives”, apparently.
Wait…are you….OMG *GASP!*…stereotyping?
O_O
Bishop on March 29, 2013 at 11:44 AM
What the hell is up with the double post? Sorry, HotGas’s Atari 1000 server is acting up again.
Bishop on March 29, 2013 at 11:45 AM
I’d have to set down my boomstick if I used the other hand. ;)
GWB on March 29, 2013 at 11:47 AM
The reason the term is offensive to Hispanics isn’t because their backs were wet from crossing a river. That is the politically correct, washed down version of the true meaning of the slur. The term comes from Mexicans being smuggled in produce and freight, having to lay on their backs for long periods of time and having to relieve themselves.
hulagain on March 29, 2013 at 11:48 AM
“Clean and articulate black guy” and “typical white person” didn’t matter in 2008, “Negr0 dialect” didn’t matter in 2012, this shouldn’t matter in 2014.
Hope and change springs eternal.
Bishop on March 29, 2013 at 11:48 AM
So – other than Repeating the Demagoguing Narrative that Obama DEMANDS that the Media do, why haven’t Ed and Allahpundit covered THIS story here at HA?:
http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/03/post_44.html
Oh – I guess because Obama hasn’t “approved” this story for Media publication….
williamg on March 29, 2013 at 11:49 AM
Comon Bishop,
You know a liberal cannot be racist, especially a black liberal. You’re just using your ‘white privilege’ to try and put brainfreeanddie into the racial box your fascist totalitarianism demands./
StompUDead on March 29, 2013 at 11:49 AM
If he’d had a D by his name, it could have been said he was just an older man who used an older vocabulary. But he committed the sin of having an R next to his name, so he must be pilloried and demonized within an inch of his life. If it were possible, he would be publicly taken out and flogged. We haven’t gotten to that point yet, but we’re working on it. After all, it is evil and a sin to think any thoughts other than the approved ones the people with D’s next to their names think. That’s why a lot of the R’s are scrambling to say “me, too” these days when it comes to things like amnesty, “SSM”, global warming, abortion, etc., etc. Only the D’s have the proper, pure thought processes.
/just so you know, although I suspect I probably don’t need it.
theotherone on March 29, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Spinmaster. Quit with your holier than thou bullchit.
Lest anyone forgets WHO YOU ARE:
CW on March 29, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Funny how that works. The queen feels so entitled in so many ways. Libfree go p*uck yourself.
CW on March 29, 2013 at 11:53 AM
I’m white? Huh. All this time….libfree you are amazing.
Bishop on March 29, 2013 at 11:58 AM
Sure! It’s only okay when he does it. He gets a pass because he’s a black liberal. If he’d been a black conservative, he wouldn’t. And of course, if he’d been a white, male conservative, that would have been the ultimate evil. Nothing trumps the pure, unadulterated evil of a white male conservative. Only one thing–a white, male conservative Christian. Then you are deserving of any kind of treatment, particularly if it’s vile and dehumanizing.
theotherone on March 29, 2013 at 12:01 PM
I don’t use the term, but I take issue with it being an ethnic slur. The term refers to a subset of a subset of people (the illegal subset of the immigrant subset of Latinos).
What concerns me more is that the guy has been Alaska’s representative for 40 years. Time for some new blood.
Othniel on March 29, 2013 at 12:03 PM
Screw you all PC police. They *are* wetbacks. Anyone faking outrageous outrage over it is either a Democrat with an agenda, or a useful idiot. It’s about time we stop ceding the terminology ground to progressives.
Archivarix on March 29, 2013 at 12:04 PM
These racist teapots make it too easy.
HotAirLib on March 29, 2013 at 12:06 PM
OK and using the “but Johnny did it too” excuse is something a 5 year old does..
Grow up.. these idiots hurt us and the media will take every shot they can.. accept it we have to be better than the other party.
theblacksheepwasright on March 29, 2013 at 12:07 PM
I’m sure you don’t intend that as a slur at all.
Which is what they* do. They do “steal” across the border.
-
Ah, so you’re the one making the argument country-specific. Got it. I doubt most folks here associate the idea of illegal aliens solely with Mexicans, though it’s a huge problem as related to those from Central and South America.
Exactly right. Which is why I refuse to call them “undocumented”. They are *illegal*.
* “they” = those who illegally immigrate to our country
GWB on March 29, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Consider the source: Rino Ed Morrissey, another phony conservative deep into PC speak. (Maybe HA sent him to Rome just to get rid of him for awhile.)
woodNfish on March 29, 2013 at 12:14 PM
Old/busted:
New hotness:
rogerb on March 29, 2013 at 12:23 PM
And used by every democRAT I’ve ever talked with.
Now, STFU and sing, b!tch.
Solaratov on March 29, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Can you count?
Too easy. You’re as dishonest as they get.
Oh and please tell me where in their comments did they say THEY used that term “commonly” …thanks for for playing. Yes, too easy.
CW on March 29, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Uh, calling someone a “racist teapot” IS AN ANTI-ASIAN RACIAL SLUR. Don’t try to claim ignorance – everyone knows that the TEAPOT is a Chinese invention. Why do you hate Asians? Why do you especially hate the Chinese?
Pork-Chop on March 29, 2013 at 12:49 PM
Ummmm…… That would be, at best, two. And, if that’s your criteria, these commenters definitely have a libel case on their hands. (Assuming they think that anything you said could hurt their reputation.)
GWB on March 29, 2013 at 12:50 PM
But illegal immigrants DO steal across the border. That’s not just an idea, it’s a fact. Doing something criminal links you with criminality. That has nothing to do with race.
I’m sure that “wetback” is a racial slur (I’ve never heard the word before, since I’m a relatively new immigrant from Europe), but your explanation makes no sense.
Gelsomina on March 29, 2013 at 12:50 PM
…and those “two” never admitted to “commonly ” using the term. So two in this case equals zero.
CW on March 29, 2013 at 12:52 PM
He’s also an old white guy 5-time draft dodger, but that’s only “bad” if you’re an old white guy named Dick Cheney.
Go figure.
Del Dolemonte on March 29, 2013 at 1:00 PM
When I was growing up in the 1960s in the state Dear Leader claims to have been born in, I was the target of racist slurs daily. And I’m white. Are you including that state in your history of racism in America?
Del Dolemonte on March 29, 2013 at 1:07 PM
Go visit our 50th state sometime.
Del Dolemonte on March 29, 2013 at 1:09 PM
So does Don Young’s explanation apply to other slurs too?
The GOP autopsy will reveal suicide.
Capitalist Hog on March 29, 2013 at 1:15 PM
Neither of which is an example of
You realize that, right?
You’re not doing that great of a job of dispelling the low-info Obama voter joke that has, for some unknown reason, gained traction. I’m sure it’s all coincidental, though.
rogerb on March 29, 2013 at 1:22 PM
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