Page A1 | E-Edition – The Times and Democrat
WATCH NOW: GOP's voice on race: S.C.'s Tim Scott becomes a leading GOP Senate figure
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., accompanied by Republican senatorsspeaks at a news conference to announce a Republican police reformbill on Capitol Hill in Washington.
President Donald Trump listens as Sen. Tim Scott speak during ameeting on opportunity zones in the Cabinet Room of the White Housein Washington.
WASHINGTON When he first ran for office in 1994, they scrawled the N-word on his lawn signs. By the time he came to Congress, he had to unplug the phone lines because callers brought the staff to tears. Even after he became a U.S. senator, the Capitol quickly became just another place where he would be stopped by the police.
Initially reluctant to focus on race, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is now a leading Republican voice, teaching his party what it's like to be a Black man in America when the police lights are flashing in the rear-view mirror.
He has been pulled over by law enforcement "more than 18 times," Scott said in an interview with The Associated Press.
"I'm thinking to myself how blessed and lucky I am to have 18 different encounters and to have walked away from each encounter."
As the only Black Republican in the Senate, Scott's role is heavy with a certain weight. He led the task force of GOP senators drafting the Justice Act, a package of law enforcement changes. In the role, he has had a historic opportunity to speak to Republicans about race as a conservative, a Christian and a Southerner from the state where the Civil War began.
He rejects the concept of systemic racism, which puts him at odds with many Black Democrats who demand a broader police overhaul than his proposed bill. Instead, he places his faith where he says he has seen the change, in people's hearts. He shares his experience as a Black American in the 21st century, including this year when he was pulled over for failing to signal early enough for a lane change or, as he called it, stopped for "driving while Black."
"I just can't imagine the pressure he must be under, though, as the only African American Republican," Rep. Karen Bass, the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said in an interview.
"That he has to sit there with those senators and go through his experiences and hope that they have some measure of empathy," said Bass, who is leading Democrats' policing bill and working with Scott, whom she has known for years.
Some will say it's hard to find any good news amid all the problems associated with the coronavirus emergency. Not so.
"It's exhausting," she said. "Racism is exhausting."
As massive demonstrations over the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minnesota spilled into a worldwide reckoning over police tactics and racial injustice, Scott quietly approached Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at the GOP senators' weekly private luncheon.
Scott whispered in McConnell's ear that he wanted a seat at the table drafting legislation.
"I'm the guy that actually has the experience," he told McConnell. The leader agreed.
Broaching law enforcement changes is a new priority for the GOP, which proudly calls itself the party of Lincoln but has wrestled with race in the modern era, becoming more aligned with the "law and order" approach now embraced by President Donald Trump than a civil rights platform.
"He's been working for this moment his whole life," said House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy of California.
Scott's family the grandfather who picked cotton as a child and grandmother who cleaned homes, and his own parents who separated when he was young, his father in the military, his mother working double shifts as a nursing assistant to provide for him and his brother taught him to stay steady amid hardship. He acknowledges in his memoir that he almost flunked his freshman year of high school, before going on to become senior class president and attend college.
He is among a generation of Capitol Hill Republicans along with McCarthy and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., both of whom he counts as friends who came of age during the Reagan years, carrying a conservative's belief in the wellspring of opportunity awaiting hard work. Elected to the House on the 2010 Tea Party wave, Scott was tapped for a vacant Senate seat in 2012 and went on to win it outright in 2014.
"He found his political legs and political wings at a unique time in this country," said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist in South Carolina. "He was able to tap into something that was not known, so he made the unknown known, a Black Republican."
And yet, Scott can speak with authenticity about experiences of racism that transcend party. "I am going to be black for the rest of my life," he writes in his biography.
With the 2014 Missouri death of Michael Brown, and the 2015 South Carolina killing of Walter Scott, no relation, he wrote, "It was becoming harder and harder not to speak out."
What started as a series of Senate speeches about his experiences has led to this defining moment, drafting legislation at a time of history.
"He's been able to diversify the conversation in America about the African American community ... and how we fit into this larger pulse of what we call America," said Stephen Gilchrist, the chairman and CEO of the South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce. "And yeah, that does draw criticism because, in many respects, it does not toe the line."
If anything, Scott objects not to those in his party learning the toll of racism, but critics from the left who question his policy decisions as a Black man. He publicly spoke out against Trump's 2017 comments of fine people on "both sides" of the neo-Nazi protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, and has since blocked some of the president's judicial nominees over their views. He notes there are only two Black Democratic senators.
During an interview at his Washington office, Scott explained that he believes there's value in having the person who has "gone through the pain and the misery" of bias writing the policing bills that could become law.
"Esther 4:14 says, 'For such a time as this,'" he told the AP.
"I think it is important that, in the history of eternity, that I had the good fortune of being born in the place where the Civil War started, being elected in the seat that Strom Thurmond used to hold, to be in a position to have this serious conversation that confronts racial outcomes in this nation," he said.
"I think it's a blessing from God."
Read the rest here:
Page A1 | E-Edition - The Times and Democrat
- What the Boston Tea Party was fighting and why it still matters | Opinion - The Topeka Capital-Journal - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Tea Party in the Garden - Lac Ste. Anne County - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Tea Party to headline CanRock triple bill with Headstones and Finger Eleven at Rogers Place - Edmonton Journal - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- School Nutrition Pros Treated to Tea Party - fayette-news.net - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- A Royal Saturday Show: Princess Peigh's Sword Fighting Tea Party - WENY - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- The Tea Party, Headstones and Finger Eleven Map Out Canadian Tour - Exclaim! - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- The Tea Party making a tour stop in Windsor - AM 800 - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Finger Eleven To Tour Canada With The Tea Party & Headstones This Fall - Theprp.com - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Tea Party to headline CanRock triple bill with Headstones and Finger Eleven at Rogers Place - Yahoo - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- THE TEA PARTY, HEADSTONES, FINGER ELEVEN Join Forces For Canada-Wide Tour Kicking Off In November - BraveWords - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- The Tea Party, Headstones & Finger Eleven Announce Joint Canadian Tour - iHeartRadio Canada - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- The Tea Party, Headstones and Finger Eleven announce tour stop in Penticton - Penticton News - Castanet - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- The Tea Party, Headstones And Finger Eleven Team Up For Canadian Tour - live in limbo - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Learning Disability Week marked with Mad Hatters Tea Party in Kirkstall - West Leeds Dispatch - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- School nutrition pros treated to tea party - Peachtree City Citizen - June 14th, 2025 [June 14th, 2025]
- Angry Democrats could face Tea Party-like movement from the Left - Washington Examiner - June 14th, 2025 [June 14th, 2025]
- Its dj tea party all over again - Roll Call - June 14th, 2025 [June 14th, 2025]
- Kildare public encouraged to throw a tea party for Team Hope - kildare-nationalist.ie - June 14th, 2025 [June 14th, 2025]
- Afternoon tea party on the way in County Waterford - waterford-news.ie - June 14th, 2025 [June 14th, 2025]
- Street Style Look of the Week: Wonderland Tea Party - The New York Times - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Sanrio Mascot Kuromi Gets Her Own 20th Anniversary Tea Party - Crunchyroll - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Tea Party and a Play with The Little Mermaid - geddieconnections.com - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- PHOTOS: Crowds pour in as Oak Bay Tea Party heats up the weekend - Saanich News - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- PHOTOS: Oak Bay Tea Party kicks off a weekend of festivities - Vancouver Island Free Daily - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- A Wonderland of Wellness: The Mad Hatters Tea Party in the Mountains of Mallorca - Majorca Daily Bulletin - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Music, parade and teacup-race rematch on tap at Oak Bay Tea Party this weekend - Times Colonist - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- EXCLUSIVE: IRS Official Tied To Obama-Era Tea Party Scandal Now Running Tax-Exempt Division - AOL.com - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Spring is the perfect time for a tea party - Monroe County Reporter - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Defying the British dev behind their MMO's "casual doubling of our taxes," Old School RuneScape player recreates the Boston Tea Party:... - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- Medicine Park Tea Party to add class to the rugged Wichita Mountain scenery - The Lawton Constitution - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Malti's adorable tea party with Priyanka Chopra's manager is the cutest thing. Pics - India Today - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Priyanka Chopra's Daughter Maltie Marie's Tea Party PICS Are The Cutest Thing On Internet Today - Times Now - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Tea Party on the Porch and Patio to be hosted at Mountainsides Levi Cory House - Union News Daily - May 17th, 2025 [May 17th, 2025]
- Care home marks 80th anniversary of VE Day with afternoon tea party - Yahoo News UK - May 17th, 2025 [May 17th, 2025]
- Wiltshire care home celebrated VE Day anniversary with 1940s tea party - Wiltshire Times - May 17th, 2025 [May 17th, 2025]
- Abundant Life hosts free mother-daughter tea party next Saturday in New Bern - WCTI - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Channel your inner 'Bridgeton' on this Texas tea party tour bus - MySA - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Cinderellas Tea Party kicks off enchanting afternoon at Berks Ballet Theatre performance - Berks Weekly - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- NOTL in Bloom - Setting up for a tea party fit for Alice at the NOTL Museum: Photo Gallery - Niagara-on-the-Lake Local - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- VE Day 80 marked at Newport Castle with community tea party - The Pembrokeshire Herald - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- A king-in-training: Prince George unexpectedly joins Prince William and the Princess of Wales to meet veterans at a Buckingham Palace VE tea party -... - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Prince George makes surprise appearance at tea party for World War II veterans - as young royal, 11, joins Wil - Daily Mail - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Prince George meets veterans in surprise appearance at VE Day tea party - The Independent - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- William tells of Georges interest in war veterans at Palace tea party - The Independent - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- William tells of Georges interest in war veterans at Palace tea party - Yahoo News UK - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Kingwood Community Engagement to host 'Under the Sea' Mother's Day tea party - WV News - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Charity Gets Ready to Treat Township Grandmothers with the Sweetest Tea Party! - Good Things Guy - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Killeshin tea party in memory of much-loved Siobhn raised 12k - carlow-nationalist.ie - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- King and Queen to host VE Day tea party for World War Two veterans - BBC - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Sip & Savor: Family Tea Party, a Gathering for Mothers, and a Cider Fest - southsoundmag.com - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Hosting an Adult Tea Party Will Make You the Diamond of the Seasonand It's Easy with These Pro Tips - Better Homes & Gardens - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- A tea party at the Palace to mark 80 years of peace with King Charles and Queen Camilla hosting - Royal Central - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- King and Queen to host veterans at Buckingham Palace VE Day tea party - The Telegraph - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- King and Queen to host palace tea party to celebrate VE Day anniversary - MSN - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- King Charles to host VE Day tea party for 50 World War Two veterans - and Wills and Kate will attend too - The Sun - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- King Charles and Queen Camilla to throw palace tea party to mark VE Day anniversary - lbc.co.uk - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- VE Day 2025 celebrations to include King and Queen hosting Buckingham Palace tea party - MyLondon - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- When are the VE Day celebrations as Charles and Camilla plan tea party for veterans? - London Evening Standard - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- The Boston Tea Party and the Haifa Spring Festival - VINnews - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Leicester Windrush Tea Party needs your help - voice-online.co.uk - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Tim Walz tries to spark a liberal Tea Party movement with trip to Ohio and other red states - Signal Cleveland - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Cahoon Museum Will Host Mermaid Tea Party - CapeNews.net - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Mad Hatter's tea party and egg hunt provides Easter fun for families - Daily Echo - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Luton care home celebrates National Tea Party Day - Leighton Buzzard Observer - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Amateur choir to mark VE Day with afternoon tea party in Guadalhorce valley - Sur in English - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Staten Island happenings this weekend: Historic tea party, neighborhood mixer and more - SILive.com - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Valley Mall to host whimsical Mad Hatter's tea party for Easter celebration - KIMA - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- My expectations were high for fancy tea party at KC shop. It didnt disappoint - Kansas City Star - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Christina Muoz to Headline EMpact One Ladies Tea Party Celebrating Women and Supporting Youth May 3rd - MySaline - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- An Anthropomorphic Wonderland: A Review of Beatrix Potter Tea Party at Raven Theatre - Newcity Stage - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Beauty and the Beast-themed tea party to benefit community health initiatives in Taylor County, West Virginia - WV News - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Mother & Daughter Tea Party is April 26 - Sequoyah County Times - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Foodie Forecast: A tea party, a wine festival and a poolside lunch - San Diego Union-Tribune - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Miss America Organization changing lives in Middle Georgia, looking ahead to princess tea party - 41NBC News - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Tim Tebow's wife Demi-Leigh celebrates their first child at tea party-themed baby shower - sportingnews.com - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- EPS celebrates reunion with BJP, hosts tea party for Amit Shah - UNITED NEWS OF INDIA - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Mayo groups invited to host Bealtaine Tea Party for Bealtaine Festival - Mayo News - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Stoke aiming to break world record as it hosts Big Centenary Tea Party - Rayo - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- No bunnying around as Easter tea party tackles loneliness in rural Exmoor - Somerset Live - April 12th, 2025 [April 12th, 2025]
- Rising anger among Democrats fuels talk of Tea Party-style backlash - The Hill - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]