Congressman Tim Scott To Be Named To Succeed Jim DeMint
Later today, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will announce Congressman Tim Scott as her selection to replace retiring Senator Jim DeMint:
Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina has chosen Representative Tim Scott to replace Jim DeMint in the United States Senate, according to Republican officials. The move will make Mr. Scott the first black senator from the state since the late 19th century. Ms. Haley is expected to make her announcement at noon in South Carolina, according to officials.
For Republicans, Mr. Scott, who lives in Charleston, offers a unique story and background, one that is in scant supply in their party right now. Raised by a single mother, he was, by his account, a lost child who struggled with school and with life until he a Chick-fil-A franchise owner who took him on as a protégé, schooling him in conservative principles.
“Coming from a single-parent household and almost flunking out of high school,” Mr. Scott said in 2010, during his bid for the House, “my hope is I will take that experience and help people bring out the best that they can be.”
Just last week Mr. Scott, who has served in a freshman leadership role in the House, packed up his freshman-size office for bigger digs.
Scott will also be the first African-American Senator since Roland Burris, who was appointed to fill the remainder of President Obama’s term in 2008 under circumstances that ultimately led to the resignation and conviction of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, and the first black Republican Senator since Edward Brooke, who served in the Senate for two terms from 1967 to 1979.
Unlike his fellow 2010 freshman Allen West, Scott has generally kept a low profile and has refrained from the bombastic comments that West became famous for. He is definitely a conservative, though, and seems to be well-regarded by his fellow members of the House. It’s an interesting choice by Haley, and sets up several interesting possibilities for the Special Election that will have to be held in 2014.
“…a Chick-fil-A franchise owner who took him on as a protégé, schooling him in conservative principles.”
I guess I know where he stands on marriage equality, huh?
So we now have an African American wingnut in the Senate , to match an African American wingnut on the Supreme Court. Progress, I guess.
(Full disclosure: I am African American).
This makes sense. Scott is young, obviously very conservative, but not a bomb throwing ideologue. Good choice by Haley.
For obvious reasons effete liberals in the media-academe complex reflexively will despise Scott, but that’s merely a function of white liberal psychiatry. Par for the course.
This does set up what could turn out to be an amazing special election. If the Dems nominate some old white dude the layers of irony will be so thick you could cut them with a knife.
Ultimately, though, if I were Scott I’d be looking at the governor’s chair and not a long-term career in the Senate. The Senate is a wasteland for Republicans.
@stonetools:
Please provide me the evidence to support your assertion that Scott is a “wingnut.”
Interesting choice, although almost anyone would be an improvement over Jim DeMint.
@Doug Mataconis:
Well , let’s see. He was originally endorsed by wingnuts (is a protege of the Tea Party).
He is nominated to replace a wingnut.
He is nominated by a wingnut governor.
He is from a state full of wingnuts.
Then there’s this:
And this:
LINK
I dunno, Doug, seems like a wingnut to me
Aside from the Ten Commandments, that’s really not wingnutty. Maybe you’re the wingnut.
Interesting fact, via Dave Weigel:
Only one African American Senator has ever been elected then reflected. Just one: the forementioned Edward Brooke.
@Jeremy:
Supporting impeachment of the President over the debt cieling isn’t wignuttish? It seems more likely every day that of the last 3 Presidents, only the one who actually violated US treaty obligations will not be impeached.
My favorite fact about him is that he’s 48, deeply Christian, and still unmarried.
Let’s see.. an Indian-American woman Republican woman just appointed a black Republican man to the Senate.
Yup, those racist, sexist Republicans are at it again…
@And the Germans used Jews to Jenos Idanian Who Has No Pony Tail:
And the Germans used Jews to carry the bodies to the crematoriums so I guess they weren’t anti-semitic?
@A:
Are you considering him as a possible marriage candidate ? :-).
@Jenos Idanian Who Has No Pony Tail:
The Republicans are excellent at tokenism. We’ve established that.
As the election results show, neither blacks, Hispanics, or Asians are in any doubt about which party represents their interests .
Maybe when Messrs. Haley and Scott actually starting voting and advocating for minority interests, minorities will change their minds.
@edmond:
Yes, because being appointed to the United States Senate is just like carrying bodies to the crematoriums. Gold star for Edmond!
Dukakis ran one of the most inept presidential campaigns in history. Ken Salazar? The guy who doesn’t care if gas goes up to $10 a gallon ? This country has a shortage of statesmen and leaders.
@Whitfield: If gas goes up to $10/gallon we might really get good at being efficient with its use.
It’s not an impossible price, by the way. Japan has similar prices already.
From among the candidates who the governor announced were on her short list, Tim Scott is probably the best. Look for Jenny Sanford to declare her candidacy for his House seat in the forthcoming special election.
Always great to here from the braying racists of the jackass party.
@Doug Mataconis: something like “any black republican is…..” , from the party of “tolerance” of course!