Texas Republicans condemn state Democrats for response to official calling Scott an ‘Oreo’

A group of Republican lawmakers from Texas on Wednesday condemned the state’s Democratic Party for its response to remarks from a county chair who called Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) an “Oreo.” 

The lawmakers, led by Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas), introduced a resolution in the House claiming that Texas Democrats were “refusing to denounce racism,” and that the Lamar County Democratic Party erred by rejecting County Chair Gary O’Connor’s offer of resignation. 

The resolution was prompted by a now-deleted Facebook post in which O’Connor called Scott an “Oreo” after the South Carolina senator delivered a GOP response to President Biden’s first joint address to Congress last week. 

O’Connor sent a letter to Scott apologizing for using the racial slur, and offered his resignation to the local Democratic Party Tuesday, which party officials declined to accept. 

Fallon in a statement announcing the resolution Wednesday said, “The Democratic Party of Texas’s refusal to condemn a racist remark by their Lamar County Chair and the county party’s refusal to accept his resignation is astounding.” 

“Had a Republican chair made this remark, Democrats would be in the streets demanding his or her resignation,” Fallon argued. “If the Democrats didn’t have double standards, they’d have no standards at all.” 

“They must be held accountable,” the congressman said of the local Democratic Party. 

The resolution calls for the House to condemn “racism in any form,” as well as O’Connor’s remarks and the Texas Democratic Party’s “refusal to condemn the racist remark made by its Lamar County Chair.” 

The resolution notes that “Oreo” is a “well-documented ethnic slur used against people of color,” and that there were “multiple opportunities and repeated calls to censure or ask O’Connor to resign,” following his remark, but state party officials have “refused to discipline O’Connor or revoke his chairmanship.” 

Fallon introduced the resolution along with fellow co-sponsors and Texas GOP Reps. Michael Burgess, Roger Williams and Randy Weber. 

The Lamar County Democratic Party said in an earlier statement that O’Connor’s “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 party continued, adding that party members “strongly condemn bigotry of any kind and will continue our historic efforts to work for justice and equality for all our fellow citizens.” 

The Hill has reached out to the Texas Democratic Party for comment on Wednesday’s resolution.