Adulation For Sen. Tim Scott’s Inspirational Address

Sen. Scott’s Colleagues: ‘Tim Scott Is A Brave, Courageous, And Inspirational Leader,’ ‘He Gave A Bright & Hopeful Message To America,’ And Did ‘An Outstanding Job Showing The American People An Alternative … Conservative Point Of View And Did It In A Way That Was Respectful’

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “Senator Tim Scott is a brave, courageous, and inspirational leader. If you want to see the future, watch his great speech from last night. He laid out what the Republican Party today and tomorrow is going to look like.” (Sen. McConnell, @LeaderMcConnell, Twitter, 4/29/2021)

• LEADER McCONNELL: “I am so glad the nation heard Senator Tim Scott’s outstanding Republican response to President Biden’s address. Republicans stand for the principles and policies that unite Americans and expand opportunity for working families. Not radical agendas designed to push us apart.” (Sen. McConnell, @LeaderMcConnell, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

SENATE REPUBLICAN WHIP JOHN THUNE (R-SD): “Senator Tim Scott’s response was more than a political speech, it was a beautiful tribute to America. Proud to call him a colleague and friend.” (Sen. Thune, @SenJohnThune, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

SEN. JOHN BARRASSO (R-WY): “Senator Tim Scott’s response showed the American dream is still real. He gave a bright & hopeful message to America – a contrast to Pres. Biden’s partisan speech. Sen. Scott laid out a vision of more freedom, less taxation, & the belief that government doesn’t always know best.” (Sen. Barrasso, @SenJohnBarrasso, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): “I think my colleague Sen. Tim Scott did an outstanding job showing the American people an alternative, that we really do have many of the same goals, Republicans and Democrats, we have just a different way of getting there…. Sen. Scott’s view of how to create jobs, the limited role of government, the best thing you can do for anyone struggling is give them a quality education through school choice and the hope of a good paying job. I’ve never been more proud of Tim than I am tonight. He did an outstanding job representing the conservative point of view and did it in a way that was respectful and I think will be a game changer for the Republican Party.” (Sen. Graham, @LindseyGrahamSC, Twitter, 4/29/2021)

SEN. CYNTHIA LUMMIS (R-WY): “Senator Tim Scott hit it out of the park. His story is the very definition of the American dream and his vision will propel our country forward.” (Sen. Lummis, @SenLummis, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

SEN. JONI ERNST (R-IA): “I was so proud of and thrilled to hear the inspiring message from my dear friend and fellow senator, Tim Scott. Sen. Scott has lived the American Dream and has continued to be a tireless advocate for underserved people and communities throughout the country. Senator Scott laid out a better vision for America, one of opportunity and freedom and of growth and prosperity. Just like Sen. Scott, I’m an eternal optimist and I believe in America.” (Sen. Ernst, @SenJoniErnst, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL): “Last night Senator Tim Scott reminded us that ‘American’ isn’t a race or ethnicity, it’s an identity that belongs to people of every background. And that the work of fully living up to our founding principles of equality continues, but we have already come closer than anyone else.” (Sen. Rubio, @marcorubio, Twitter, 4/29/2021)

SEN. JAMES LANKFORD (R-OK): “If you missed the Republican response, I really encourage you to listen to what Tim Scott laid out tonight. He did a phenomenal job casting a vision and saying, ‘Here’s the problem- we really don’t believe government solves everything. We really do believe there’s a role for government, but government’s not the one that solves everything.’” (Sen. Lankford, @SenatorLankford, Twitter, 4/29/2021)

SEN. ROGER MARSHALL (R-KS): “Senator Tim Scott knocked it out of the park tonight. He’s a very charismatic leader, a good friend, and he delivered a great speech.” (Sen. Marshall, @RogerMarshallMD, Twitter, 4/29/2021)

SEN. STEVE DAINES (R-MT): “Inspiring message tonight from Senator Tim Scott.” (Sen. Daines, @SteveDaines, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

SEN. JOHN BOOZMAN (R-AR): “Great job, Tim. Thank you for helping us remember what incredible opportunities our country can provide every American and for being a leader who always wants to help make our future even brighter.” (Sen. Boozman, @JohnBoozman, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

SEN. JERRY MORAN (R-KS): “Congratulations to my good friend and colleague Senator Tim Scott on a powerful response to the President’s [address]. His message is one of unity and hope - two things we need more of in our country.” (Sen. Moran, @JerryMoran, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

SEN. TODD YOUNG (R-IN): “Congratulations to my friend Senator Tim Scott on an inspiring and hopeful speech. I couldn’t agree more.” (Sen. Young, @SenToddYoung, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

SEN. RICK SCOTT (R-FL): “Thank you, Senator Tim Scott, for sharing your incredible story and showing why the Republican agenda is best for America. I’m proud to serve alongside you as we work to grow the economy, preserve the American dream and protect the ideals of our great nation.” (Sen. Rick Scott, @SenRickScott, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

SEN. JIM INHOFE (R-OK): “I’m so proud of Sen. Tim Scott for his remarkable response to the president’s address to Congress. He’s an amazing leader, and I’ve gotten to know him quite well. His story and his rise to become a senator from South Carolina is inspiring to everyone. What Tim made clear is this: Republicans are focused on the freedom of opportunity, not opposition driven by politics. He highlighted the conservative ideas that address the many issues we’re facing today as a nation. Whether that is infrastructure, rebuilding our economy in the wake of the pandemic, or securing our southern border or [national] defense, Republicans have a strong path forward for American families. After Tim’s address, there can be no doubt in anyone’s mind that we’re the party of opportunity for Americans, rather than the Democrats’ alternative of big government picking winners and losers. He did a great job.” (Sen. Inhofe, @JimInhofe, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

Editorial Pages: ‘A Powerful Rebuttal To Joe Biden’s Big Government Agenda,’ ‘Sen. Scott Offered An Optimistic Republican Vision That Stresses The Dignity Of Work, Individual Freedom Over Government Dependence, And Belief In The Principle Of Equal Opportunity For All To Rise’

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARD: “Tim Scott’s GOP Revival Message: A powerful rebuttal to Joe Biden’s big government agenda.” (Editorial, “Tim Scott’s GOP Revival Message,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/29/2021)

• “On Wednesday the junior Senator from South Carolina offered the Republican response to Joe Biden’s the-era-of-very-big-government-is-back speech. He laid out what the GOP is against in the Biden agenda, but also what it is for, and the principles behind it. He also called out progressive hypocrisies …” (Editorial, “Tim Scott’s GOP Revival Message,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/29/2021)

• “[T]he bulk of his message was about hope. ‘This should be a joyful springtime for our nation,’ he said. American families deserve ‘better’ than what the President is offering—and then he went on to define better … America’s ‘best future,’ he said, ‘won’t come from Washington schemes.’ He called President Biden a ‘good man,’ but went on to say that what we need more than a multi-trillion dollar tax-and-spending plan is ‘common sense and common ground.’ If he has hope in America’s future, it’s in part because he has seen what American opportunity can do for ordinary citizens, taking his own family ‘from cotton to Congress in one lifetime.’” (Editorial, “Tim Scott’s GOP Revival Message,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/29/2021)

• “The most electrifying moment came when he squarely addressed an issue now tearing the nation apart. ‘Hear me clearly,’ Mr. Scott said. ‘America is not a racist country.’ Most Americans know this. But too many of our leaders are unwilling or afraid to say so publicly. He made clear he was not saying America is perfect, or that racism is totally behind us. Even as a Senator, he said, he knows what it’s like ‘to be pulled over for no reason’ or ‘to be followed around a store while I’m shopping.’ What he objects to are those who wield race as a political weapon, hoping ‘to use our painful past to dishonestly shut down debates in the present.’ He called out Democrats for blocking even a debate on his police reform bill last year after the death of George Floyd.” (Editorial, “Tim Scott’s GOP Revival Message,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/29/2021)

• “In sum, Sen. Scott offered an optimistic Republican vision that stresses the dignity of work, individual freedom over government dependence, and belief in the principle of equal opportunity for all to rise…. America needs a vital opposition party to make a principled case against [a super-sized government] agenda and focus on the future. Mr. Scott showed them the way.” (Editorial, “Tim Scott’s GOP Revival Message,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/29/2021)

NEW YORK POST EDITORIAL BOARD: “Kudos to Sen. Tim Scott for his slam-dunk response to President Joe Biden’s speech Wednesday night … In all, Scott did good not just for his party but for the whole nation. The elevated stature he earned with his speech might even get Democrats to stop filibustering his police-reform bill.” (Editorial, “Sen. Tim Scott Delivers For The GOP — And For The Nation,” New York Post, 4/29/2021)

• “Scott was particularly effective on Biden’s talk of ‘systemic racism.’ He recounted his own experiences with discrimination, then declared: ‘America is not a racist country. It’s backwards to fight discrimination with different discrimination.’” (Editorial, “Sen. Tim Scott Delivers For The GOP — And For The Nation,” New York Post, 4/29/2021)

Reporters And Analysts: ‘Tim Scott Delivered One Of The Stronger Performances I Can Remember,’ ‘An Inspiring And Hopeful, And At Times Even Religious Message,’ ‘A Calm, Rational, Reasonable Argument About What It Means To Be A Conservative In 2021’

THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT’s JESSICA TAYLOR: “The SOTU/Joint Address response is a thankless job, but Tim Scott delivered one of the stronger performances I can remember. He’s a very compelling speaker.” (Jessica Taylor, @JessicaTaylor, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

CNN’s JAKE TAPPER: “An inspiring and hopeful, and at times even religious message from the man perceived to be a rising star in his party.” (CNN, 4/28/2021)

McCLATCHY’s DAVE CATANESE: “The line that stuck: ‘They won’t even build bridges, to build bridges.’” (Dave Catanese, @davecatanese, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

ABC’s RICK KLEIN: “To me this was a calm, rational, reasonable argument about what it means to be a conservative in 2021, this is the reason a lot of people talk about Tim Scott as a potential candidate for national office.” (ABC, 4/29/2021)

NATIONAL JOURNAL’s JOSH KRAUSHAAR: “It’s one of the stronger response addresses in recent memory.” (Josh Kraushaar, @HotlineJosh, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

Columnists: ‘The Single Best Rebuttal Speech That Has Ever Been Delivered,’ ‘His Speech Was Strong Because It Offered A Perfect Balance Of Public-Policy Realism And Faith,’ ‘His Closing Was Powerful And True’

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL’s PEGGY NOONAN: “As for Sen. Tim Scott’s response, he’s been on the rise in the party for a while now and his speech was strong because it offered a perfect balance of public-policy realism and faith…. He has written police-reform bills, which Democrats blocked because they wanted the issue active, not resolved. He threw down a gauntlet: ‘Hear me clearly: America is not a racist country.’ The left exploded on social media and insulted him exactly as he said they do. This mild man never tries to own the libs, but he owns them the minute he walks in the room.” (Peggy Noonan, “Two Very Different but Plainspoken Speeches,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/29/2021)

• “He ended with words a lot of quiet Americans would hear and deeply appreciate: ‘Original sin is never the end of the story. Not in our souls and not for the nation. The real story is always redemption.’ Broadcasters missed the meaning, thinking it was just some sweet Christian talk. No, it was about the heart of the human drama, the heart of this nation’s drama. It was about the reason to keep trying. Republicans are going to remember this speech.” (Peggy Noonan, “Two Very Different but Plainspoken Speeches,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/29/2021)

WASHINGTON EXAMINER’s QUIN HILLYER: “Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina gave a superb ‘Republican response’ to President Joe Biden’s first address in the House chamber…. Scott also rightly noted Republican accomplishments over the last four years, showing how Republicans did welcome Democratic input, and produced criminal justice reform, opportunity zones, and major new funding for historically black universities and colleges. Throughout, Scott’s style was winsome, and everything in his very being, along with his words, was a testament to faith and freedom. Thank you, Senator Scott.” (Quin Hillyer, “Tim Scott Gives Boffo Republican Response To Biden’s Speech,” Washington Examiner, 4/28/2021)

COMMENTARY MAGAZINE’s JOHN PODHORETZ: “I think that Sen. Tim Scott’s rebuttal was the single best rebuttal speech that has ever been delivered.” (Commentary Magazine Podcast, 4/29/2021)

AEI’s MATT CONTINETTI: “Tim Scott knocked it out of the park at the GOP convention. And he’s doing it again with this response.” (Matthew Continetti, @continetti, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

THE DISPATCH’s DAVID FRENCH: “It’s far more effective than most responses, and his closing was powerful and true.” (David French, @DavidAFrench, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

THE DISPATCH’s JONAH GOLDBERG: “This is a very, very, good speech …” (Jonah Goldberg, @JonahDispatch, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

Pundits And Commentators: ‘An Excellent Communicator,’ ‘Transcendent,’ ‘Clever,’ And ‘Intuitive,’ ‘[H]e Showed Real, Unifying Leadership On The National Stage At A Time When That Is Desperately Needed’

AEI’s MICHAEL R. STRAIN: “I’d recommend that everyone read Senator Tim Scott’s rebuttal to President Biden’s address last night…. Is America still upwardly mobile? Senator Scott’s own journey is an argument in favor…. Senator Scott offered a powerful argument for expanding school choice based on the terrible and damaging decisions of so many public schools to keep their doors closed for far too long during the pandemic…. And the senator offered a powerful critique of the president’s family policies, arguing that they are designed to support parents who want to use commercial childcare, and offer much less for families who have decided other arrangements are best…. [H]e showed real, unifying leadership on the national stage at a time when that is desperately needed from the political right. Bravo.” (Michael R. Strain, “Senator Scott’s Home Run,” National Review, 4/29/2021)

FOX NEWS’ GUY BENSON: “[Tim] Scott is an excellent communicator…. The rebuttal is always a really tough task. A+ work from Senator Tim Scott right there.” (Guy Benson, @guypbenson, Twitter, 4/28/2021; Guy Benson, @guypbenson, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

COMMENTARY MAGAZINE’s NOAH ROTHMAN: “He was absolutely transcendent. It was a brilliant speech, extremely well delivered.” (Commentary Magazine Podcast, 4/29/2021)

• “[H]e took on the Democrats’ approach to infrastructure, saying that all the things that you think of when you think of infrastructure, we support, which is a really clever and kind of Socratic way to address the Democratic Party’s efforts to redefine infrastructure to be whatever your imagination can envision infrastructure being. Just to say, you know what it is, we know what it is, that’s what it is. What they want is not what it is. And that’s intuitive.” (Commentary Magazine Podcast, 4/29/2021)

NATIONAL REVIEW’s JOHN McCORMACK: “Delivering a response to the State of the Union … is an almost impossible task. Yet on Wednesday night, perhaps for the first time in history, the rebuttal was better than the president’s speech.” (John McCormack, “Tim Scott: The Happy Warrior Who Triggers the Left,” National Review, 4/29/2021)

CNN’s S.E. CUPP: “So glad Sen. Tim Scott is giving this response. Agree with him or not, he’s making an actual argument on policy …” (S.E. Cupp, @secupp, Twitter, 4/28/2021)

CNN’s VAN JONES: “I do think that Tim Scott did himself well tonight. I think he represented his party well. That may give him a little bit more leverage to get something done [on policing reform].” (CNN, 4/28/2021)