Using his verified Twitter account Tuesday, Brian Beutler, a writer for the Leftist New Republic, attacked black Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson as a “token” black man. Beutler, who is white, used the infamous and widely unaccepted racial slur directly within the context of Carson’s race.

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Currently, according to a number of national polls, Dr. Ben Carson is the Republican presidential frontrunner. He is also leading Hillary Clinton in Florida and nationally. Moreover, Carson is a world renowned neurosurgeon born poor to a single mother. His story of growing up black and poor before becoming a famous doctor and role-model was widely known even before he began his run for the presidency.

“Token” is considered by many to be a racist term hurled by whites to use the race of another to denigrate and insult that person.

The New Republic did not immediately return a request for comment.

Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC