Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, was forced to apologize for using an ethnic slur to describe Hispanic workers.

Young said his family's farm employed "wetbacks" when he was growing up in California. He initially said the term was harmless but had to offer a stronger apology after national Republican leaders objected.

"I apologize for the insensitive term I used during an interview in Ketchikan, Alaska," Young said in a statement on Friday. "There was no malice in my heart or intent to offend; it was a poor choice of words. That word, and the negative attitudes that come with it, should be left in the 20th century, and I'm sorry that this has shifted our focus away from comprehensive immigration reform."

Young, whose late wife was Alaska Native, is known for his blunt language at hearings and public gatherings.

Get the Story:
Facing national GOP rebuke, Young apologizes for ethnic slur (The Anchorage Daily News 3/30)

Some Opinions:
Our View: This one wasn't funny, Don (The Anchorage Daily News 3/30)
Bluntly speaking: Rep. Young embarrassed himself and all Alaskans (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 3/30)

Related Stories:
Rep. Young of Alaska uses slur to describe Hispanic workers (3/29)