GOP Lawmaker Calls Hispanic Workers ‘Wetbacks’

MMC · Mar 30, 2013

Carleen said:
That's a first for Boehner. He usually just keeps his mouth shut when a fellow republican says something stupid. Guess he is trying to win over minorities! Fat chance!

Bush Junior when he won got only 40 of the Hispanic vote. So we don't need a majority. So any Republican that wins 40% of their Vote. Will be sitting in the Oval office.

Unitedwestand13 · Mar 30, 2013

The Man said:
Not unfortunate for me, as I don't care either way. I know Mexicans who do not find the term offensive.

There is a history of prejudice associated with the term "wetback" and trying to defend the use of it is like rubbing salt in a open wound.

The Man · Mar 30, 2013

Unitedwestand13 said:
There is a history of prejudice associated with the term "wetback" and trying to defend the use of it is like rubbing salt in a open wound.

Again, it depends on the context. In the context that it was used by the Congressman in the OP, it is not a slur, and it does not have a negative connotation. If he had said "We had 60 dirty, stinking damn wetbacks on our farm!" or something similar, then I would agree it is a slur. But the way he used it, not a slur.

PeteEU · Mar 30, 2013

lizzie said:
I agree- he should have just called them what they are. Illegal immigrants. They skirted our laws to get here, and that wouldn't be tolerated in Mexico.

Funny.... that you did not mention at all, that his father (and maybe even him)... also broke the law by hiring them.

rhinefire · Mar 30, 2013

head of joaquin said:
Racial slurs are always just under the surface with conservatives, exposing their true blighted souls.

"Blighted souls" I love hearing enlightened comment like that one from the left. All that claim "wetbacks" is a racial slur are simply void of the fact including all the media vultures that jumped all over this not knowing what they were clalming is simply incorrect. Nice try boys and girls!

The Man · Mar 30, 2013

PeteEU said:
Funny.... that you did not mention at all, that his father (and maybe even him)... also broke the law by hiring them.

That's the part that I find offensive, and can't believe others don't seem to. They're too bent out of shape on the term 'wetback' to see the true offense stated by the Congressman.

rhinefire · Mar 30, 2013

PeteEU said:
Funny.... that you did not mention at all, that his father (and maybe even him)... also broke the law by hiring them.

Yes, he is the only one that hire illegals in America. This is why is is a FACT that if we removed 100% of the illegals the economy would go in to a free fall. Now, try to dispute that FACT.

PeteEU · Mar 30, 2013

rhinefire said:
Yes, he is the only one that hire illegals in America. This is why is is a FACT that if we removed 100% of the illegals the economy would go in to a free fall. Now, try to dispute that FACT.

I cant dispute it. America has always relied on slaver labor (or near slave labor) to drive its economy.

It still dont change the fact that most right wingers who are up in arms about illegals, rarely if at all point the finger at the those that hire the illegals and actually create the freaking market that brings the illegals up to the US.

Carleen · Mar 30, 2013

MMC said:
Bush Junior when he won got only 40 of the Hispanic vote. So we don't need a majority. So any Republican that wins 40% of their Vote. Will be sitting in the Oval office.

I do not see a candidate that could win 40% of any minority in the Republican party right now.

MMC · Mar 30, 2013

Carleen said:
I do not see a candidate that could win 40% of any minority in the Republican party right now.

You don't think Rubio could pull 40%.....if he was the GOP nominee? I think you would see some of the same as to what you saw with Obama.

The Man · Mar 30, 2013

Carleen said:
I do not see a candidate that could win 40% of any minority in the Republican party right now.

Well, I don't either at the moment, but I didn't think GW Bush could either. It turns out that all you need to do is be able to speak Spanish and kiss their ass a little bit, and you got their vote.

Carleen · Mar 30, 2013

MMC said:
You don't think Rubio could pull 40%.....if he was the GOP nominee? I think you would see some of the same as to what you saw with Obama.

Immigration could be a problem for him. He recently changed his opinion but I'm not sure that will help him. Time will tell I guess.

Carleen · Mar 30, 2013

The Man said:
Well, I don't either at the moment, but I didn't think GW Bush could either. It turns out that all you need to do is be able to speak Spanish and kiss their ass a little bit, and you got their vote.

Wow, you don't have much respect for them do you?

The Man · Mar 30, 2013

Carleen said:
Wow, you don't have much respect for them do you?

For the Bushes? No, not really.

MMC · Mar 30, 2013

Carleen said:
Immigration could be a problem for him. He recently changed his opinion but I'm not sure that will help him. Time will tell I guess.

Well, I figure some of how the Blacks voted for Obama would come into play the same way for Hispanics.....if they were to se Rubio as the GOP nominee for President.

Carleen · Mar 30, 2013

The Man said:
For the Bushes? No, not really.

Very funny! You know who I meant.

The Man · Mar 30, 2013

Carleen said:
Very funny! You know who I meant.

No I didn't, and I wasn't being funny. I thought you were saying that I have no respect for the Bush family, and I don't. If you mean that you think I have no respect for Hispanic people, then you're dead wrong. I love Hispanic people and their culture, and most importantly, their food is top-notch.

clownboy · Mar 30, 2013

apdst said:
Except, not all illegal's waded the Rio Grande to come here illegally; hence, not all illegals are, "wet backs".

That is so, however that was the general term for illegal alien in my youth. Very common usage from the man on the street to the halls of government. Even folks with no animosity towards illegals.

Still, foolish for a politician to not keep up with the lingo.

mak2 · Mar 30, 2013

And the employers are indeed the problem. Wanna bet most of them are republican?

PeteEU said:
I cant dispute it. America has always relied on slaver labor (or near slave labor) to drive its economy.

It still dont change the fact that most right wingers who are up in arms about illegals, rarely if at all point the finger at the those that hire the illegals and actually create the freaking market that brings the illegals up to the US.

The Man · Mar 30, 2013

mak2 said:
And the employers are indeed the problem. Wanna bet most of them are republican?

What is it with you with your "Republicans are all bad and Democrats are good" thinking? Dude, Republicans and Democrats alike are all douchebags who cater to big business and don't give a **** about the middle class, equally.

Carleen · Mar 30, 2013

The Man said:
No I didn't, and I wasn't being funny. I thought you were saying that I have no respect for the Bush family, and I don't. If you mean that you think I have no respect for Hispanic people, then you're dead wrong. I love Hispanic people and their culture, and most importantly, their food is top-notch.

So saying that all you have to do is kiss Hispanic's asses and you have their vote is not disrespectful?

mak2 · Mar 30, 2013

The wetback thing just demonstrates a coarseness of character that should be just unacceptable in modern society, and I think it is. Now when you combine the whole RW persona, like the astoundingly dumb leadership like Palin, the outright intolerance of Muslims and others, the mindless rants about the POTUS, the birth certificate thing, calling anyone that opposes them names like low information voters, their nominee talking about 47% of the nation being freeloaders. guys like Aiken and Mourdoch, and the list goes on and on and on..well I dont think, if they stick to their scthick, they will be a concern at all before long. Let them childishly call people names and the rest of them defend them. Keeps their minds off the important stuff.

The Man · Mar 30, 2013

Carleen said:
So saying that all you have to do is kiss Hispanic's asses and you have their vote is not disrespectful?

No, it's not disrespectful, it's true. GW Bush, who otherwise has no other common bond with the typical Hispanic voter (besides living in the same country), knows how to speak Spanish, and he used that to his advantage, and the Hispanic voters liked that. He came across as "one of them", or at least as someone who understands them, and they voted for him.

mak2 · Mar 30, 2013

Stating the facts man. I am not a democrat. actually you are probably right, I am just used to being on all conservobot boards so I only have to make half the arguement. Calling people names regardless is pretty classless not matter who does it.

The Man said:
What is it with you with your "Republicans are all bad and Democrats are good" thinking? Dude, Republicans and Democrats alike are all douchebags who cater to big business and don't give a **** about the middle class, equally.

sangha · Mar 30, 2013

The Man said:
No, it's not disrespectful, it's true. GW Bush, who otherwise has no other common bond with the typical Hispanic voter (besides living in the same country), knows how to speak Spanish, and he used that to his advantage, and the Hispanic voters liked that. He came across as "one of them", or at least as someone who understands them, and they voted for him.

No, they liked that bush*, unlike the rest of the rightwing, supported a path to citizenship (ie amnesty)