👊🌈 Eh, Tim Scott’s 2024 Run: Big Chance fo’ Da Black Republicans

Senator Tim Scott, da Republican of South Carolina, might go fo’ da big kahuna — da White House — as da only black Republican in da Senate. Dis could bump not only his own status, but also da profiles of black conservatives all ova da country. 🇺🇸💼

Back in February, Scott gave one mean speech of unity and American redemption fo’ da Charleston County Republican Party at one dinner. His message hit home. Da next day, he rings up da chairman of da county party to ask for his support. 📞🗣️

Scott tells da chairman dat he’s tinkin’ about runnin’ fo’ president. Da chairman, who was planning to throw his support behind ex-president Donald J. Trump, tells Scott he gonna switch sides and back him instead. 👀🎯

Dis kine talk, in some ways, is just da usual party chatter as Scott hustles to build support in his home county and state. But it also highlights one subtle shift in da G.O.P. — both men are Black Republicans. 🏛️💡

Da former county party leader, Maurice Washington, says, “I stay all in fo’ helping Senator Scott any way I possibly can.” He was da first black Republican chairman of Charleston County and been backing Scott since way back when, encouraging him to run for a county council seat like 30 years ago. 🤝🕰️

On Monday, Scott plans to formally announce his presidential campaign, joining a few other black conservatives who’ve tried to go for president in recent years. Herman Cain and Ben Carson made their bids for the White House in 2011 and 2016, but they didn’t get plenty support. Scott will be da second black conservative to enter the 2024 race after Larry Elder, one talk story radio host, announced his campaign last month. 📣🏁

Scott is starting out as more of a contender than most of his predecessors, as a U.S. senator and a former House of Representatives member with about $22 million in campaign funds. His support is low according to public polling, but his candidacy could raise not only his profile, but those of black conservatives across the country. 💰📈

Black Republicans, who are not too plenty, say they often feel stuck in da middle — some Republicans ignore and subtly discriminate against them, while plenty Democrats ridicule and ostracize them. Those elected to office express frustration that they’re seen not just as conservatives but as black conservatives, and they often argue against what they describe as the Democratic obsession with identity politics. 🤷‍♂️🎭

Other black Republicans have won state races and primaries since the 2022 midterms. Daniel Cameron, the first black man to be elected attorney general in Kentucky, defeated a well-funded opponent in the state’s Republican primary for governor. There are now five black Republicans in Congress — the most in more than a century. However, the number of black Republicans who won seats last year is just a fraction of the total number who ran for state and local office under the G.O.P. — more than 80. 📊🎉

The Republican Party’s progress with Black candidates still has to overcome enduring feelings of distrust among Black voters towards the party. The rise of Black Republicans like Scott and Cameron happens against a backdrop of a Republican Party that has largely stood by as some of its members have used overtly racist language and behavior. 🏁🚧

For many in the Republican Party, its members of color are proof of its inclusivity. The success of a candidate like Scott — the first black Republican to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction — helps to rebut claims that the G.O.P. is inherently racist or that systemic racism remains an issue in America. 🎊💪

Scott, in his speeches, has criticized the “victim mentality” he believes exists in American culture and has blamed the left for using racial issues to further divide the voters. Other Black Republicans, like Elder, have emphasized similar values of hard work and self-improvement. 💼🛠️

Like many Black Republicans, Scott prefers to focus on policy matters rather than discuss race as it relates to his party. However, in recent years, he has been called on to weigh in further. He was the lead Republican in negotiations on failed police reform legislation and was also a leading conservative voice against Mr. Trump’s comments about a white supremacist rally. 🚔👨‍⚖️

Eh, so, Scott going have his work cut out for him, as he going have to navigate between not pissing off his party and not turning off his community. As da first black Republican to represent Oklahoma in Congress, J.C. Watts says he thinks Scott could be “a great asset” to the party’s presidential primary, based on his personal experiences. We going have to see if the party listens. 🤔🎲

---

NOW IN ENGLISH

👊🌈 Tim Scott’s 2024 Run: A Pivotal Moment for Black Republicans

Senator Tim Scott, the Republican representative from South Carolina, is contemplating a run for the presidency, being the only black Republican in the Senate. This could significantly enhance not only his own stature but also the recognition of black conservatives across the nation. 🇺🇸💼

Back in February, Scott delivered a profound speech on unity and American redemption to the Charleston County Republican Party at a dinner. His message was well-received. The following day, he reached out to the chairman of the county party, seeking his endorsement. 📞🗣️

Scott informed the chairman that he was pondering a presidential bid. The chairman, who originally planned to support former President Donald J. Trump, decided to switch sides and back Scott instead. 👀🎯

This sort of conversation, in some ways, is standard party negotiation as Scott strives to garner support in his home county and state. However, it also underlines a subtle shift in the GOP – both men are Black Republicans. 🏛️💡

The former county party leader, Maurice Washington, declared, “I’m fully committed to assisting Senator Scott in every way I possibly can.” Washington, the first black Republican chairman of Charleston County, has been a supporter of Scott for a long time, urging him to run for a county council seat nearly 30 years ago. 🤝🕰️

Scott plans to formally announce his presidential campaign on Monday, joining a small group of black conservatives who’ve pursued the presidency in recent years. Previous aspirants like Herman Cain and Ben Carson made attempts in 2011 and 2016 but didn’t gather substantial support. Scott will be the second black conservative to enter the 2024 race, following Larry Elder, a radio host who announced his campaign last month. 📣🏁

Starting his journey with a considerable advantage as a U.S. senator and a former House of Representatives member, and with about $22 million in campaign funds, Scott is more of a contender than most of his predecessors. His current support is low according to public polling, but his candidacy could raise not only his profile but those of black conservatives across the country. 💰📈

Black Republicans, a rather small group, often find themselves in a challenging position – being overlooked and subtly discriminated against by some Republicans, while being ridiculed and marginalized by many Democrats. Those who are elected to office often express frustration about being labeled not merely as conservatives but as black conservatives, frequently criticizing what they describe as the Democratic obsession with identity politics. 🤷‍♂️🎭

Other black Republicans have triumphed in state races and primaries since the 2022 midterms. Daniel Cameron, the first black man to be elected attorney general in Kentucky, overcame a well-funded opponent in the state’s Republican primary for governor. Currently, there are five black Republicans in Congress, the highest number in over a century. However, the number of black Republicans who won seats last year is a fraction of the total number who ran for state and local office under the GOP – over 80. 📊🎉

The Republican Party’s progress with Black candidates still has to overcome enduring feelings of distrust among Black voters towards the party. The rise of Black Republicans like Scott and Cameron occurs amidst a Republican Party that has largely remained silent while some of its members have employed overtly racist language and behavior. 🏁🚧

For many in the Republican Party, its members of color are seen as evidence of its inclusivity. The success of a candidate like Scott, the first black Republican to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction, helps refute allegations that the G.O.P. is inherently racist or that systemic racism remains an issue in America. Scott has consistently criticized what he perceives as a “victim mentality” in American culture, blaming the left for exploiting racial issues to further divide the voters. 🇺🇸💡

Scott, like many Black Republicans, prefers to focus on policy matters rather than engage in debates on race within his party. However, in recent years, he has been called upon to delve deeper into these issues. He was the lead Republican negotiator on failed police reform legislation and was a prominent conservative voice against Trump’s comments about a white supremacist rally. 🚔🎤

Scott’s task will be challenging, as he’ll need to navigate between not upsetting his party while also not alienating his community. J.C. Watts, the first black Republican to represent Oklahoma in Congress, believes Scott could be “a great asset” to the party’s presidential primary, based on his personal experiences. However, whether or not the party listens to his views remains to be seen. 🎲🤔