A “Morning Joe” panel commended Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott Tuesday after he pushed back against “The View” co-hosts.
Scott joined “The View” Monday and sparred with co-host Sunny Hostin over systemic racism and successful African Americans being an “exception.” The 2024 presidential candidate said it is “dangerous” to tell young African Americans they have to be “the exception” to achieve success.
The “Morning Joe” panel praised Scott for going into a “hostile environment” and respectfully explaining his position through civil political discourse.
“You need to get a lot more of that because it was a really good moving discussion between both of them,” “Morning Joe” anchor Joe Scarborough said. “And my only point is that they had a great, honest discussion about race and Tim Scott actually did what no other Republican I’ve seen do effectively in a long time: go into a hostile environment, be respectful, get his message across.”
Eugene Robinson, an associate editor of The Washington Post, complimented Scott’s “demeanor” and “civilized discussion” with the co-hosts. Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews added that Scott is giving the Republican primary “credibility” and could be a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump if he become the nominee. (RELATED” ‘Do Not Boo’: Whoopi Defends Tim Scott After Audience Gets Rowdy)
“I think he’ll give the best speech at the Republican convention whether he’s nominated or not for either office,” Matthews said. “Because I can hear him, and the guy’s gonna have a strong message, and his message is ‘I’m me, I’m me.’ You can talk about other people, what other people are, you can talk about identity politics all you want. I don’t believe in identity politics. I’m proof there isn’t identity politics because I’m here.”
Scarborough criticized white liberals who have accused Scott of not understanding the “black experience” in the U.S. because he is a Republican.
“I don’t think you can be wrong about your own reality,” Scarborough said. “If he believes what he believes about his experience, there are a lot of people who would say the same thing as Tim Scott. I guess the main thing is, though, again, it opens up a great opportunity for a great, respectful debate on race where people have different viewpoints. I have no doubt that the Republican Party, I have no doubt there are a lot of people in the Republican Party who are not enlightened on race, who point to Tim Scott and say ‘look at us, look at us, look at us.'”
“So I understand that part of it, but also I understand the offensiveness when pundits mock and ridicule Tim Scott like he doesn’t have a right to talk about the black experience in America because he’s a black conservative,” he continued.
“The View” co-host Joy Behar said Scott and Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas do not understand racism and thus are Republicans during a May 23 panel.