Texas Democratic Party Leader Who Called Sen. Tim Scott “An Oreo” Resigns: “I’ve Embarrassed Myself”
A Democratic Party official in Texas — who earlier triggered an outrage after calling GOP Senator Tim Scott (South Carolina) “an Oreo” — has resigned as of Tuesday, admitting to his mistake and issuing his “sincerest apologies” to the African-American conservative lawmaker.
“I am deeply and sincerely sorry for my inappropriate and hurtful use of [a] racist term I used to describe Sen. Tim Scott on my personal Facebook page,” Gary O’Connor, Lamar County Democratic Party Chairman, told The Washington Examiner.
“It was insensitive, and I have embarrassed myself and my party by its use.”
“As a result, I feel compelled to offer my resignation as chair of the Lamar County Democratic Party for consideration by the County Executive Committee,” he added.
Lamar County Dem chair resigns after calling Tim Scott an "oreo": https://t.co/pXZj5LxjCl
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) May 4, 2021
The Democratic Party official lashed at Senator Scott — the Senate’s lone black Republican — after he made a scathing rebuttal to the speech delivered by President Joe Biden before the joint Congress on Wednesday night.
The senator from South Carolina blasted the Democratic chief executive for sowing division in the country by pushing progressive agenda while ironically promising to also unite America.
He also said that just 100 days into his presidency, Biden and his leftist cohorts were already “pulling [the country] further apart” — after running on the campaign trail committing to “rebuild a divided country” and “restore the soul of America.”
"I get called Uncle Tom and the N word by progressives…I know firsthand, our healing is not finished," Sen. Tim Scott says in GOP rebuttal of President Biden's address to Congress, adding later, "Hear me clearly: America is not a racist country." pic.twitter.com/EOet8AriSb
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 29, 2021
Following Scott’s rebuttal on behalf of the Republican Party, O’Connor stoked outrage when he described the Black American Republican as “an oreo” — which the Urban Dictionary said is a “term for African Americans that the black community is generally offended with for betraying their roots usually for dating caucasian girls, dressing too white, talking too white, etc.”
“The term is branded OREO since they are ‘Black on the outside, White on the inside.’”
In his comment after Scott’s speech, the local Democratic Party official said: “I had hoped that Scott might show some common sense.”
“But it seems clear he is little more than an oreo with no real principles,” O’Connor wrote before later deleting it on his social media page.
White Texas Dem official who called GOP Sen. Tim Scott 'oreo' resigns https://t.co/LW8xpIRCGx pic.twitter.com/CBlocvnXT2
— New York Post (@nypost) May 4, 2021
Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott slammed O’Connor for his racist remark, tweeting: “This is disgusting, hateful, and completely unacceptable. O’Connor must apologize to @SenatorTimScott & step down immediately.”
Abbott also urged the Texas Democratic Party to “censure him” for the racial slur.
This is disgusting, hateful, and completely unacceptable.
O’Connor must apologize to @SenatorTimScott & step down immediately. @texasdemocrats censure him.https://t.co/wJLTqaHlLb
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 1, 2021
Texas Rep. Pat Fallon also torched the Democratic Party official — calling his comment “abhorrent, insulting, and unforgivable.”
“Both he and the entire Lamar County Democratic Party should be ashamed of this racist behavior,” Fallon commented.
Gary O’Connor’s comment against @SenatorTimScott is abhorrent, insulting, and unforgivable.
Both he and the entire Lamar County Democratic Party should be ashamed of this racist behavior.
(via @FoxNews @HoustonKeene)https://t.co/GUf19kyzbd
— Rep. Pat Fallon (@RepPatFallon) May 1, 2021
Allen West, Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, and another African-American also lashed at O’Connor’s insensitive comment. In a series of tweets, West called out O’Connor — and the Democratic Party for its inaction following the racial slur.
“It appears that #LamarCountyDemocratParty Chairman #GaryOConnor took to social media and disparaged @SenatorTimScott by calling him the racist slur “Oreo,” West posted.
It appears that #LamarCountyDemocratParty Chairman #GaryOConnor took to social media and disparaged @SenatorTimScott by calling him the racist slur "Oreo." https://t.co/Di7tMofMgF
— Allen West (@AllenWest) May 2, 2021
“Not surprisingly, the Party of systemic racism has defended him and he is yet to resign. It’s time to use one of Saul Alinsky’s tactics, ridicule, against the @texasdemocrats.”
Not surprisingly, the Party of systemic racism has defended him and he is yet to resign. It's time to use one of Saul Alinsky's tactics, ridicule, against the @texasdemocrats.
— Allen West (@AllenWest) May 2, 2021
“Let’s all mail or personally deliver a package of Oreos to the Texas Democrat Party headquarters until their racist chairman from Lamar County, Gary O’Connor resigns,” he added, ahead of the announcement of O’Connor quitting his position.
I will be doing so, as I find O'Connor's remarks, and his defense, utterly offensive and disgusting. Then again, what should we expect from the Party that founded the Ku Klux Klan and Jim Crow?
— Allen West (@AllenWest) May 2, 2021
“I will be doing so, as I find O’Connor’s remarks, and his defense, utterly offensive and disgusting. Then again, what should we expect from the Party that founded the Ku Klux Klan and Jim Crow?”
Scott’s rebuttal to Biden
During his rebuttal speech to Biden last week, Scott said: “[Biden’s] speech was full of good words. But President Biden promised you a specific kind of leadership. He promised to unite a nation. To lower the temperature. To govern for all Americans, no matter how we voted. That was the pitch. You just heard it again. But our nation is starving for more than empty platitudes. We need policies and progress that bring us closer together.”
Senator Scott, an African-American himself, also defended the US against the Democratic president’s claim that the country is “racist.”
“Hear me clearly: America is not a racist country,” he said. “It’s backwards to fight discrimination with different types of discrimination. And it’s wrong to try to use our painful past to dishonestly shut down debates in the present.”
— The Times (@thetimes) May 5, 2021
“Hear me clearly: America is not a racist country. It’s backwards to fight discrimination with different types of discrimination. And it’s wrong to try to use our painful past to dishonestly shut down debates in the present,” the South Carolina senator added.
So much for calls to unite the public across party lines, Scott noted that he was also called names by far-left supporters of President Biden.
“I get called ‘Uncle Tom ’ and the N-word — by ‘progressives.’ By liberals,” Scott said.