Former U.S. Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez (R-MA) apologized Monday for attacking two Republican activists and saying they and their supporters are part of a “Klan.”
On Facebook Gomez criticized GOP activist Rob Eno and Worcester, Massachusetts Republican activist Chris Pinto “an embarrassment to our civil society.” Gomez described their supporters as a small “Klan.”
GoLocalWorcester published his apology Monday evening:
I’ve always said that leaders should admit when they are wrong. That starts with me.
Over the weekend, I regrettably used inappropriate language to share my disagreement with some with whom I disagree on specific social and policy-related issues.
While attempting to speak out against those who question the commitment of fellow Republicans, I used careless language in characterizing their views that clouded the point I was trying to make. I was wrong to do so, and I apologize to Rob Eno and to Chris Pinto.
Leaders have a responsibility to share their views in a respectful way. In this instance, as someone who understands the slings and arrows of political life, I failed to live up to the standard of discourse every leader should strive for.
Earlier in the day, in an interview with the Boston Globe Gomez said he was not referring to the Ku Klux Klan when he used the word Klan.
“If I wanted to refer to the Ku Klux Klan, I would have just said KKK,” Gomez told the Boston newspaper.
