How Could I Have Missed the Joke?

For those of a certain age.
Republicans’ comments may hurt at polls, AP
“One Republican senator [Burns, MT], described his house painter as a ‘little Guatemalan man.’ Another [Allen, VA], called an Indian man a ‘macaca,’ a type of monkey.”
“[T]he comments by Burns and Allen have garnered heavy attention as their party is trying to improve its showing among minorities.”
Burns and Allen! Now I understand. Theyve been doing a Burns and Allen impression!