By Carol Lucas
As a self-proclaimed moderate with more liberal leanings than conservative, I nevertheless admit to having had admiration for South Carolina Senator Tim Scott when he came on the scene in 2012. By appointment of then-governor Nikki Haley, I might add. But more on that later.
Senator Scott grew up in a single-parent household in North Charleston. He became accustomed to moving frequently as his mom worked long hours to keep a roof over their heads. To say his younger years were tenuous at best is an understatement. When he failed four classes his freshman year of high school, life took on a sense of failure that many young Black boys faced then and face today.
But thankfully, he had a mom who stuck with him. And a mentor that showed him the wisdom of conservative principles who entered his life, thus enabling him to graduate from Charleston Southern University, and build his own successful small insurance business.
Eventually, Mr. Scott was elected to Charleston County Council, the South Carolina House of Representatives, the United States House of Representatives, and the United States Senate.
All of this is truly the makings of a story reflecting the determination of a poor Black kid who overcame adversity and made good. If it doesn’t generate respect from you, it certainly did from me when I read his background.
And as the years passed, I remember thinking that, despite my incredulity that someone coming from such a background could adhere to the conservatism I believe works against those growing up as Scott did, he nevertheless still earned my respect as a good person.
Until now.
It was when he informally endorsed Donald Trump for the Presidency that my admiration took a nose-dive. Senator Scott turned the occasion into an evangelistic revival meeting, deeming himself the preacher. While I have no need or desire to undermine the good intentions of anyone attending a revival, I do have my own perception of the intent of such an event. The notion of healing and speaking in tongues plays upon the emotions of innocents, often mandating them to do things less than Biblical.
Tim Scott’s revival message endorsing Donald Trump was no less than what I have described. I found it cringe-worthy and not befitting of the man.
But this performance, this pandering if you will, didn’t stop here. Sen. Scott flew to New Hampshire to formally endorse former President Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination during a rally last Friday, saying “we need a president who will unite our country – we need Donald Trump.”
I know my mouth must have physically dropped open. Excuse me? Mr. Scott, many Republicans under the umbrella of anonymity will admit that there has never been anyone more divisive than Donald Trump. While some may relish that, others do not and are ashamed of the daily antics of the former President.
When Donald Trump finally took the stage in New Hampshire to deliver his acceptance speech, true to form, it was his usual rambling and unhinged rant. Standing directly behind him to his right was Tim Scott with a big grin on his face. Just before that, the former president had obviously alluded to Scott in some way. Shortly thereafter, our fawning senator stepped to the front, commandeered the microphone from Trump, and proclaimed, “I just love you.”
Come on! What an embarrassment. Just when I thought the revival performance had all the elements of cringe, you, Senator, put that to rest.
I wonder how our Senator defines allegiance. It was Governor Sununu of New Hampshire who pointed out that Tim Scott wouldn’t have a job if it weren’t for Nikki Haley in 2012.
If Scott is vying for the vice-Presidency position on a Trump ticket, I’d suggest he revisit the January 6 rebellion and the position Trump took against Mike Pence, then Vice President, when Mr. Pence didn’t do his bidding; this despite the fact that it was against the law to do so. Are you willing, Senator Scott, to do Mr. Trump’s lawless bidding? Keep in mind, sir, the humiliation Trump leveled at you in his New Hampshire acceptance speech when he declared that you must really hate Nikki Haley. Perhaps that was a subtle command.
It was Tara Setmayer, a Republican operative turned Trump opponent who queried, “Who’s worse? Trump or his court jester enablers?”
Carol Lucas is a retired high school teacher and a Lady’s Island resident. She is the author of the recently published “A Breath Away: One Woman’s Journey Through Widowhood.”
