The Lamar County Democratic Party announced it did not accept its chairman’s resignation after he called Sen. Tim Scott an “oreo.”
“After much discussion—especially among our local Black Democrats—we chose not to accept Mr. O’Connor’s resignation,” the group wrote on its Facebook page in a statement Tuesday, which appears to have since been deleted.
“Mr. O’Connor has written a public letter of apology to Sen. Tim Scott, and Lamar County Democrats join him in this apology.”
The group did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment on why the post appears to have been deleted.
TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER WHO CALLED TIM SCOTT AN ‘OREO’ RESIGNS
Chairman Gary O’Connor had told the Washington Examiner on Tuesday that he had offered his resignation and was “sincerely sorry” for the racist term he used referring to Scott.
“I am deeply and sincerely sorry for my inappropriate and hurtful use of racist term I used to describe Sen. Tim Scott on my personal Facebook page. It was insensitive, and I have embarrassed myself and my party by its use,” O’Connor said.
“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 said.
His resignation came after he was slammed by Republican Texas leaders over the weekend for a since-deleted Facebook post that read: “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.”
“This is disgusting, hateful, and completely unacceptable. O’Connor must apologize to @SenatorTimScott & step down immediately,” Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted Saturday of the post. “@texasdemocrats censure him.”
The Lamar County Democratic Party went on to denounce bigotry in its deleted post, adding that O’Connor’s message was “incompatible with his core values.”
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“Gary O’Connor has led Lamar County Democrats for seven years and his life of service, collaboration, and activism for racial justice is well known throughout this community. His recent remark is incompatible with his core values,” the post read.
“Lamar County Democrats recommit ourselves to conduct our private conversations and our public social media discussions with anti-racist, pro-reconciling attitudes and language. We strongly condemn bigotry of any kind and will continue our historic efforts to work for justice and equality for all our fellow citizens.”
