Boehner issued a blunt statement: “Congressman Young’s remarks were offensive and beneath the dignity of the office he holds. I don’t care why he said it. There’s no excuse, and it warrants an immediate apology.”…

“Don Young’s comments were offensive and have no place in our Party or in our nation’s discourse. He should apologize immediately,” the immigration reform negotiator tweeted.

Later Friday, following a long-day of similar demands for apologies by other GOP lawmakers, Young made a formal apology. On Thursday he stopped short of apologizing, saying, “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.”…

Jillson notes that in the wake of Obama’s 71-29 percent win among Hispanics last November, the GOP said “we can’t let this stand, we’ve got to change some of our presentation and our policies in order to be more attractive to Hispanics,” adding that the party has rolled out “(GOP Florida Senator) Marco Rubio, and (has begun) to be more cooperative on trying to develop comprehensive immigration reform and in to the middle of that comes Don Young.”