Morning Wire - Tim Scott Explores Presidential Run | Sunday Extra

Episode Date: April 30, 2023

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has launched a presidential exploratory committee. We speak to the Republican about his unique American story, his optimistic message for the country and his plans and policies for the U.S. Get the facts first on Morning Wire. Ramp: Now get $250 off when you join Ramp. Go to http://www.ramp.com/WIRE   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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I just love my job. Get tickets now. The Devil Wears Prada 2 in theaters May 1st, directed by David Frankel. A number of presidential candidates for the 2024 election is steadily growing, with some high-profile names expected to jump in at any moment. In this episode, we talk with a Republican senator poised to join the field, South Carolina's Tim Scott, who's recently announced his presidential exploratory committee. It's Sunday, April 30th, and this is an extra edition of Morning Wire. Joining us to discuss the reason he's throwing his hat in the presidential ring and his platform and vision for the country is Senator Tim Scott. Hello, Senator. So first, why did you launch a presidential exploratory committee?

I believe that America can do for anyone what she has done for me. I think it's time for us to restore Hope, create opportunities and protect America. Well, I look at what the radical left is doing. Look at the attacks on our patriotism, religious liberties, are under consistent assault. People's conviction and belief in this nation is at all time low. We keep seeing in this Biden, radical left approach of teaching our kids that we live in an evil country. We see the attacks in our education system where we're indoctrinating our kids, not educating our kids. Instead of focusing on the ABCs, we see too much of the CRT. We look at our economy. We see without any question the impact of Biden's inflation. It's just devastating. You go to the security approach from the

Biden's weak approach that China is eating our lunch that ultimately, rather than, whether it's buying farmland, whether it's their made in China, 2025, the Belton Road projects, the Wuhan Lab, the fact that they are spying on our kids through TikTok and they want Huawei embedded in all of our technology. They have shown us that they are an adversary,

yet this president continues to treat them as an ally. That's a problem. So we should be loyal to our real allies and we should be lethal to our adversaries. And there's no doubt that every county in America is a border county. And that means that we need to close our southern border, stopped six million illegal crossings. We have 70,000 plus Americans have lost their lives

to fentanyl. While I get all of that combined, the weight of that on the shoulder of the American people is just too much. And so the Exploratory Committee allows me to continue my faith in America tour, hopefully leading to a place where I continue to offer positive, optimistic, yet conservative, principle-centered alternatives to what I consider the blueprint to ruin America brought to us by Joe Biden and the radical left. Now, thus far, the two perceived Republican frontrunners are former President Donald Trump and somebody who hasn't even committed to running yet, Florida Governor Ronda Santis. Why would you be a good alternative to either of them or any of the other candidates?

Certainly. I think having lived the American dream is absolutely essential that so many Americans today, almost 49% of Americans don't have $750 in their savings account. And they wonder if the American dream is alive and well, them. I'm here to say that the proof of my life disproves the lies of the left. I was a kid trapped in poverty. I was a kid that they think defunding the police actually helps, actually makes it worse. And so I believe that, as I said initially, that America can do for anyone what she has done for me. And my hope is that my American story and dream pales in comparison to those on the other side. But for me, winning is essential. So,

People today are fighting, that's good, but winning is better. And I believe that my personal story, as well as the policies that I stand for, are absolutely essential. I do believe that the GOP should be the great opportunity party, and we've lost the majority of the popular vote for seven out of the last eight elections. It's time that we defeat Joe Biden, and I believe we should take no chances. and from my perspective, that means having an optimistic, positive message that is anchored in conservatism and that we fight to win and we defend the values that made America the most exceptional country on earth. That message of optimism, do you think that's the antidote, the counter to democratic messaging?

I do. I think there are two things that are absolutely essential. Number one, there is a life that's been lived by millions of Americans that disproves the lives of the left. I was thinking about this earlier, they think that in their $1.9 trillion packets, they're going to give away $300 a month for moms who have kids under six. Unfortunately, their inflation caused by the same out-of-control spending reduces your buying power by $430 plus a month.

So with one hand they give and with the other hand, they take back more than they gave. That is the left approach to socialism, trying to find a utopian society. And what we know is that you make better decisions on how to spend your money, dream your dreams, and live your lives. So why not just give you your money back?

That's called the American way. It is the essence of American exceptionalism is having confidence in Americans, which makes you confident in America. And they just can't do it. So the combination between living it and then having the policy, that I have written that proves that it works is absolutely important as well.

You've been pretty outspoken about your faith. We live in an increasingly secular country. Do you believe a religious resurgence could help solve some of the problems we're facing in the U.S.? If there's no doubt that there are two things that are going in opposite directions. Number one, religious assaults are up and attendance and churches down. I think the more the left tells us we're living in an evil country, whether you believe as I do or you believe in some other way, the truth is that we should be a country that has faith in something bigger than ourselves, that compels us to do more than we thought we could, because within us, the intestinal fortitude gives us the opportunity to outperform even our own expectations.

And when the left tells you that this is a land of oppression, that we are all victims and the seed of grievance growing in our hearts, All of that just destroys the soul and lowers the expectations. We do need to revive the consciousness that all things are possible because we live and the greatest, freest, fairest land on God's green earth. From your perspective, what is the most pressing issue facing the country today? If I were the truth, just one issue facing the country, I think it's really the issue of truth, very frankly. I think we are in a place where everyone has their own version of truth,

my truth, your truth. It is hard to survive in a nation without a universal definition of the most important things in our country. I'd say second to that is the importance of dealing with China and the security challenges that this nation faces to include our border, our southern border is such a crisis. 70,000 Americans losing their lives and China's telling us exactly who they are, and we still treat them as an ally and not as an adversary. So I would put that security portfolio only second to the domestic issues surrounding the absence of truth. Relative society is hard to manage. Final question.

You're traveling for your tour and you've talked to a lot of voters. What are voters telling you that they're concerned about, that they're prioritizing? You know, it's hard to go anywhere in the country without hearing the issue of crime and China and the border. whole conversation around what is America and the American government's primary responsibility? It's national security. It probably dominates every topic, every place I go. It's something around national security. Second is the economy. Without any question, we're facing about 15% inflation over the last two years. The Biden economy is destroying the livelihood of millions of Americans and for seniors on fixed incomes,

their spending power goes down month after month. Those are the two top issues that are percolating, and then finally I'd say that people are concerned about the culture of America, teaching kids that they are oppressors because they happen to be white or they're oppressed because they happen to be black. That culture of grievance, the culture of quicksand,

it is suffocating a lot of Americans, and they're frustrated, they're angry. and they want common sense back in their country. Well, Senator, we'll be looking out for your next announcement. Thank you so much for talking with us. That was Senator Tim Scott, and this has been an extra edition of Morning Wire.