Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) admonished “The View” on Monday over what he described as “dangerous, offensive, and disgusting” messages airing on the show about success among black people being the “exception and not the rule.”
During an appearance on ABC talk show, Scott — who recently announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — was asked by co-host Sunny Hostin to explain his claim that he doesn’t believe in “systemic racism” as she pressed him to then to define “systemic racism.”
“Let me answer the question that you’ve asked,” Scott said.
“One of the reasons why I’m on the show is because of the comments that were made frankly on this show that the only way for a young African American kid to be successful in this country is to be the exception and not the rule,” Scott said.
“That is a dangerous, offensive, disgusting message to send to our young people today, that the only way to succeed is by being the exception,” he added.
Hostin interjected and said, “It is. It’s been 114 years,” before Scott disagreed.
Senator Tim Scott to the hosts of The View:
"I’m on the show because of the comments made frankly on this show…the only way for a young African American kid to be successful in this country is to be the exception…? That is a dangerous, offensive, disgusting message…" pic.twitter.com/wAJzL4C3EP
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 5, 2023
“So, the fact of the matter is we’ve had an African American president, African American vice president, we’ve had two African Americans to be secretaries of the state,” Scott said. “In my home city, the police chief is an African American who’s now running for mayor. The head of the highway patrol for South Carolina is an African American.”
“In 1975, there was about 15% unemployment in the African American community. For the first time in history of the country, it’s under 5%,” he added.
Hostin interrupted Scott once again and claimed that all the examples he provided were “still exceptions.” She cited statistics in recent years showing African Americans, who make up 13% of the general population in the United States, accounting for 40% of the homeless population.
“You asked the question,” Scott replied. “I’ve watched you on the show. You like people to be deferential and respectful. So, here’s what I am going to suggest … progress in America is palpable. It can be measured in generations. I look back at the fact that my grandfather, born in 1921 in Salley, South Carolina, when he was on a sidewalk, a white person was coming, he had to step off and not make eye contact.”
“That man believed then, with some doubt now, in the goodness of America, because he believed that faith in God, faith in himself, and faith in what the future could hold for his kids, would unleash opportunities in ways that you cannot imagine,” he added.
“Every kid today can look. Just change the stations and see how much progress has been made in this country,” Scott continued. “ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, CNN, Fox News all have African-American and Hispanic hosts. So what I’m suggesting is that yesterday’s exception is today’s rule.”