Bipartisan Rebuke for Republican Congressman Who Used Slur

Under pressure from Congressional leaders and advocacy groups, Representative Don Young, Republican of Alaska, has apologized for describing Hispanic farm workers who picked tomatoes on his father’s ranch as “wetbacks” in an interview.

“I apologize for the insensitive term I used during an interview in Ketchikan, Alaska,” Mr. 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.”

On Thursday, after the interview was released, Mr. Young tried to explain his remarks, saying that he “meant no disrespect” by using the term in a discussion about the labor market. He said that its usage was common when he was growing up in central California.

But leaders from both parties demanded a fuller apology. Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio said Friday that there was “no excuse” for the remarks, which he deemed “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,” Mr. Boehner said.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said the remarks did not reflect the party’s views.

“Migrant workers come to America looking for opportunity and a way to provide a better life for their families,” he said in a statement. “They do not come to this country to hear ethnic slurs and derogatory language from elected officials. The comments used by Representative Young do nothing to elevate our party, political discourse or the millions who come here looking for economic opportunity.”

Mr. Young, 79, is serving his 20th consecutive term.

Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader, demanded an apology on Twitter for “deeply offensive comments that were not appropriate in his youth or now.”

Representative Rubén Hinojosa of Texas, the Democratic chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said Friday that his colleague should have known better than to use the “hateful” word.

“He has served alongside Hispanics in Congress since 1973, so he should know terms like ‘wetback’ have never been acceptable,” Mr. Hinojosa said.

Mr. Young’s gaffe came as a bipartisan group of lawmakers is set to unveil legislation to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws and create a pathway to citizenship for the nation’s estimated 11 million illegal immigrants.

“When elected officials use racial slurs, it sets back our nation and sets back legislators who are seriously working toward real, bipartisan solutions,” Mr. Hinojosa said.

In recent weeks, leading Republicans have expressed a desire to change the party’s tone toward Latinos and immigration policy, with the Republican National Committee pledging to spend $10 million on outreach to women and minorities, after a report revealed deep disconnects with those pivotal groups.

Reince Priebus, the party chairman, said Mr. Young’s words “emphatically do not represent the beliefs of the Republican Party.”

“As I have continued to say, everyone in this country deserved to be treated with dignity and respect,” he said in a statement. “Our party represents freedom and opportunity for every American and a beacon of hope to those seeking liberty throughout the world.”

Mr. Young, the second most senior Republican member of Congress, is no stranger to political difficulties. He has held on to his Congressional seat for 40 years, despite a number of missteps and tough races. The House is currently investigating whether he broke House rules by improperly using campaign funds for personal use and not reporting hunting trips he took that were paid for by an unknown third party, after an inquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.