Tim Scott Responds After Obama Critiques His Stance on Race

2024 GOP presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) shot back after former President Barack Obama said people were “rightly skeptical” of his purported lack of a plan to deal with the legacy of racism.

Obama’s Remarks: Speaking on former White House senior adviser David Axelrod’s podcast, Obama said, “I think there’s a long history of African-American or other minority candidates within the Republican Party who will validate America and say, ‘Everything’s great, and we can make it.’ Nikki Haley I think has a similar approach.” Obama continued, “I’m not being cynical about Tim Scott individually, but I am maybe suggesting the rhetoric of ‘Can’t we all get along’… That has to be undergirded with an honest accounting of our past and our present.”

Scott’s Reply: On conservative radio host Mark Levin’s show, Scott said Obama missed an opportunity “for bringing our country together.” He also called President Joe Biden “the great divider,” adding, “It is possible for Americans to come together not because of the color of our skin, but because of the consistency of our value system.” In a tweet addressing Obama’s remarks, Scott said, “Democrats deny our progress to protect their power,” adding, “The truth of MY life disproves the lies of the radical Left.”

How the Media Covered It: While some coverage prominently included Haley, who also criticized Obama, most news coverage focused on Obama and Scott. Coverage from the right often framed Obama’s remarks as more combative; the New York Post (Lean Right bias) said he “bashed” Scott and Haley.