Joseph DeLorenzo, second vice chairman of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, apologized Tuesday after sparking a firestorm by disparaging progressives as “left-wing whack jobs” and questioning a state rep’s allegation of sexual harassment.
In a statement, DeLorenzo said, “I sincerely apologize to everyone for my recent unfortunate remarks. As a husband, father and grandfather of two granddaughters, I never meant to minimize the problem of sexual harassment, which is a very serious issue.”
“I was originally trying to express my disappointment in the Democratic Party’s movement to the far left and the challenge to Joe Paolino as the National Committeemen,” DeLorenzo continued. “As a lifelong Democrat, my hope is that we can all work together and repair the divisions within our party. I never intended to create any controversy and I am sorry for doing so.”
In a response, the Women’s Caucus of the RI Democratic Party rejected DeLorenzo’s apology.
“Mr. DeLorenzo’s statement is too little, too late,” the Caucus said. “Mr. DeLorenzo doubled-down on his sexist remarks last week, insulting women, undermining the integrity of elected women, and otherwise attempting to divide the party with inflammatory comments. Mr. DeLorenzo’s attitude about sexual harassment is exactly what silences women from speaking up about abuse, and gives power to sexual predators. Despite what Mr. DeLorenzo and Speaker Mattiello have said, this has nothing to do with ideology. It is about common decency. Mr. DeLorenzo’s comments do not reflect the values of our party, and frankly, shouldn’t reflect the values of any party.”
State Democratic Chairman Joseph McNamara, a state rep from Warwick was more accepting. “Let me make something unequivocally clear,” McNamara said. “Comments such as Joe DeLorenzo’s that trivialize the very real challenges and prejudices that women in government face are unacceptable, and I wholeheartedly disagree with him on this issue. I’m glad he has apologized for those remarks and I take him at this word that he regrets the controversy they have caused. We must all do our part in 2018 to come to the table and work together to elect Democrats at all levels of government. This apology is an important step towards that goal.”
But the Women’s Caucus said it plans to move ahead with an effort to remove DeLorenzo from his party post:
“The RIDP Women’s Caucus asks the state committee to stand with us and against Mr. DeLorenzo’s attempt to devalue women and our Party as a whole. Since Mr. DeLorenzo refuses to step down, and the Speaker and Chair have refused to remove him, we’re left with no other option than to call on state committee members to request an emergency state meeting so that committee members can remove him.”
Most of Rhode Island’s most prominent Democrats called for DeLorenzo to resign after his remarks. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello delayed comment before saying Friday he thought DeLorenzo should apologize.
DeLorenzo, 75, is a former state rep and longtime player in Democratic politics.
This post has been updated.
