Will New Black GOP Senator Win Election Mostly With White Votes?

Writer analyzes reactions to Tim Scott's appointment

There's something strange about reactions to the appointment of Rep. Tim Scott of SC to the Senate. So says New Yorker writer Kelefa Sanneh of Scott, who in January will become only the second black Republican to serve in the Senate in the modern era.

"The success of a black Republican can present an awkward situation for partisans on both sides," Sanneh writes. "Republicans, generally inclined to mock the liberal fascination with race, suddenly find themselves moved to expound upon the importance of breaking racial barriers. Meanwhile, Democrats, who normally love to celebrate African-American firsts, experience an uncharacteristic onset of reticence."

Scott will have to win election in 2014, to complete the final two years of departing GOP Senator Jim DeMint's term. It's possible Scott will keep his seat with a majority of blacks voting against him, since SC is about sixty-six percent white. And Sanneh suggests that should cause both parties to ask some tough questions.

"Shouldn't Scott's appointment be cause for celebration among liberals, even if he doesn't share their political agenda? And if Republicans want to break racial barriers, then shouldn't Scott's appointment remind them how far they have to go? If it makes sense for Republicans to be proud to have a black senator in their party, then wouldn't it also make sense for them to be bothered by the relative absence of black voters?"

Via The New Yorker.

Do you agree with this view?

[jessejaymes]

This will be interesting no doubt.

[PNWest]

I just hope that the dems don't try a "southern strategy" campaign where they put up a very conservative candidate and play up the race issue. I'd rather lose with dignity than stoop to the level of the GOP in order to win the seat.

[PoliticalSpice]

Not all opposition to obama is racist, and not all racist will vote against a black candidate. The klu klux klan let it be known they supported clarence thomas during the senate confirmation hearings. I would prefer someone more progressive then this giy whether that person is white black or purple. Fact is in south carolina if dems want to win they will be picking a conservative candidate. And in a race like this, unless both candidates are black, race will be an issue. I hope anyone stupid enough to make it overtly an issue loses, but in the u.s. I wouldn't count on it. I think the likelyhood of a dem winning on s carolina, where moderate mitt couldn't even win thd primary are tiny indeed. I think the pick is an effort by the gov to help her party play to a national audience. My guess is he will win election when the time comes.

[Real4WheelDrv]

One of those times I can see both facets and agree with both. Republicans do have a long way to go, and Democrats will have to avoid an "Uncle Tom" mine field.

[martydotcom]

Can an an Oreo survive being dunked in milk or will he be eaten up in a single gulp

[PoliticalSpice]

@martydotcom bad boy, but kinda funny! I predict he will win election. Although the national party would prefer a mainstream repub to a tea party type, tea sells in s. carolina, and he does give the national party something they need...

[martydotcom]

@PoliticalSpice Dead man walking, whites woun't vote for him and neither will hard core teaparty (3/4 the state. Good looking choice no life span

[PoliticalSpice]

@martydotcom you are much closer to the action, so i need give your opinion a lot of weight. But I am surprized. Why would she nominate him? his loss will hurt the party nationally far more then if he had never been picked in the first place. And although West lost, he was elected once, so what makes you think it is so lost a cause?Are the tea party really ready to lose this seat over racism? I think racist are hateful, but they are not necissarily stupid, except on issues of race...

[Bobolinsky]

@martydotcom-- You do know that it was the Tea Party that helped Tim Scott win in 2010 don't you?

[Sonny]

This writers view on this matter does not make much sense!?!? First of all he is wrong when he suggests that republicans are usually "not as concerned about race, as democrats are"...That is patent nonsense...Because they are...And usually that means (to them) that they want to limit racial minorities from attaining any significant political power. Just look at how they hounded Michael Steele...and then finally got rid of him!

Now as to the new Senator from South Carolina...This will be a sure thing for whom ever runs for that seat in 2014 (On The Democratic Side, if they Run a White Candidate)!!! And the reason is that an overwhelming majority of the white vote in South Carolina, statewide, will NEVER vote for any minority for the US Senate!...And that states minority vote will NEVER vote for a republican...So that will mean that the Senate will gain yet another Democratic Member, come the election of 2014!...And when this happens---Just remember...that you heard this from ......Ole Sonny!

[jessejaymes]

What you say is the stereotype of SC. I have no idea how true it is. Never been there. I was told by a black kid I mentored some years ago who moved to North Carolina that it wasn't nearly as racist as South Carolina but that's extent of my knowledge about the state. Be interesting to see how close you are. Your statement will be remembered when it comes down. However it comes down.

[martydotcom]

@jessejaymes DeMint won his last election 2010 with 69% of the vote. Mr Teaparty was the top vote getter in the state. That speaks volumes about the character -
of the voters racial leanings in SC

[jessejaymes]

@martydotcom I think the interesting part of the equation is whether blacks will vote for a black conservative and will the white racists vote for a black man anointed by their own party? The easy answer is no and no. But the reality will be interesting to see.

[PNWest]

@jessejaymes It will be interesting to see if the SC baggers put someone up against Scott. IIRC there was a bit of racial crap directed at Nikki Haley accusing her of being a "raghead" or some other BS. SC has a long way to go to join the 20th century much less the 21st.

[jessejaymes]

@PNWest Yeah that crossed my mind as well. It seems to me that Haley has just handed the Dems that spot in 14 because there is probably 90% will go for a bagger and I wouldn't be surprised to see SC actually field a candidate under the Tea Party heading independent of the GOP. There is no way they're uniting behind this guy. He's going to suffer the same fate as the guy in Alabama. I forget his name but I don't see the crackers voting for him and even if he gets 25-30% of the black vote just along racial lines it probably won't be enough.

[texas_cutie75]

I voted I'm not sure for the sheer fact I couldn't make heads or tails out of the article. The goal/job of politicians is to represent what their constituents want. If he does just that, then I am all for it. Good luck!

[marine1]

I think it might be better said,"to represent what their powerbroakering,money laundering constituents want"?(both parties)

[texas_cutie75]

@marine1

Now now, be nice. Not all constituents are like that. I'd like my representative to do just that, represent me!

[Fishbone345]

If he doesn't get the black vote, those who insinuate Obama did because of race are proven wrong.

[Thunderchicken]

Not if Blacks see him as the "Uncle Tom" stereotype that the left has been tagging him with.

[Sonny]

@Thunderchicken I keep trying to tell you guys that the black community rarely, if at all uses crap terms like that. By now everyone is used to African Americans running on the republican ticket...That's old news...Usually it the black republican candidate him self who says that someone called him an "uncle tom"...And most of the time that NEVER happened...But his white "conservative audience" ---just "eats it all up"!!!! But it's BS!...Usually an African-American running for office as a republican is just mostly IGNORED by the black community. That is the reality of it.

[Republican5001]

@Sonny keep living in fantasyland sonny. Fact is all blacks do consider those that are aligned with the GOP to be "uncle toms" or the "house" slave in the words of Malcolm X.

[Republican5001]

@Sonny 93% of the black voters showed all that racism is alive and well on November 6th. Rep's believe in earning it, Dems believe in handing it out.

[Sonny]

@Republican5001 Have you ever heard an African American call another an "uncle tom"? Or are you, once again, simply taking the candidates word for it? Which is it? And if you did, when and where did you witness that?

[Jim49418]

Why is his race even an issue?

[Thunderchicken]

A better question that is often asked by a local talk show host. Why do Blacks repeatedly vote for other incompetent Blacks?

[texas_cutie75]

Because race is being thrown around like crazy! It's terrible!!

[Sonny]

@Thunderchicken I suppose for the same reason that any white voter would vote for some "incompetent white candidate".....

[Jim49418]

@Sonny Well said, and just proves racism is alive and doing well in the DNC party!

[Sonny]

@Jim49418 I don't recall saying anything that says any such thing...So what are you right wingers taking out of context at this time...I looked back at my few statements here, and found no such "proof of anything"...Oh, and by the way. I am not a Democrat.

[Romney2012]

Race always has to be brought up

[thejimbo]

When hasn't it been brought up... when I read that New Yorker article about Scott, there were no serious paragraphs about Mr. Scott's achievements as a person. The entire article is about "race". Is this an example of East Coast sophistication? Is this the true face of the fabled New York intelligentsia? And what's more, many of the comments focus on what is "obviously" a right wing scheme "to undermine democracy" (that's my favorite). Pathetic, really, across the board.

[RobertJHarsh]

I can assure you, liberal BLACK Democrats use the "N" word to describe Tim Scott behind closed doors. If Scott were communists pro-union "rich man" hater, he'd be getting visits from thugs rappers and movie stars.

[Sonny]

More speculative nonsense...You might be thinking about people like your self using such terminology.

[RobertJHarsh]

@Sonny Excuse me? But um what America do you think you're living in? Last I checked, black Republicans were Uncle Tom's and traitors to their people.

[Sonny]

@RobertJHarsh Well that's interesting...But next time you "check" please be sure to ask someone OTHER than the black republican candidate pandering for your vote.

[Sonny]

@RobertJHarsh Its like I have said...Nobody in the black community ever even pays any attention to an African-American Republican candidate....So why waste time calling him any names?

[RobertJHarsh]

@Sonny I did not call him any names. I can assure you, I have worked with black GOP guys and the language and insults used against black Republicans by black Democrats are far worse than used against white Republicans.

[Realthinker]

It amazes me that I need to point out what should be obvious: Tim Scott won his current Congressional seat with white voters.

[Sonny]

Yes, but in his small congressional district...Now he will have to do it statewide...And that's a big difference!

[Realthinker]

@Sonny If you are determined to maintain a lying stereotype you are free to believe that. But it brands you as the racist, not the voters.

[Sonny]

@Realthinker How is it a "lying stereotype" to point out the fact that ALL Congressmen get elected by ONLY the people from their own small particular congressional district, but US Senators have to run statewide?!?! How is that a lie? And how does my saying that make me a racist?!??---Please tell give us your reasoning?

[Realthinker]

@Sonny The lie is that whites state wide will not vote for him. It is a racist lie.

[Sonny]

@Realthinker Oh, that's what you mean...Well, ok...I'll remember that when he is making his concession speech, on election day, in 2014...LOL!

[acchokiefan]

These are the Present States of America, not at all the United States of America. We are heading straight for all out civil war and there is no other solution. That's is and has been the plan of the Koch Brothers and the REICHT WING and this ungodly Heritage Foundation.

[AnObserver]

Obama and the democrats started this racial nonsense..The democratic rallying cry "if you're against Obama then you're a racist". Hell, I'm a democrat and I can see what they're doing. Most likely I'll be changing my voting registration in January because the party does not represent my views any longer.

[marine1]

@AnObserver Democrats use to be the real people of this country. They use to have principal,ethics and more self responsibility about life and equality than anyone. Not the case now a days,

[Skip2mylou]

The idea that black people are "supposed" to be Democrat is ridiculous. Martin Luther King was a Republican. I'm glad to see the racial divide among voters changing a little bit.

[Dan_Tien]

"Will New Black GOP Senator Win Election Mostly With White Votes?" Considering that only 29% of the citizens In South Carolina are black, it is quite likely that he will need a larger percentage of votes from European-American voters to win.

[sittinduck]

It's a shame that people can't just vote for the man without making it a race the issue.

[Jim49418]

I agree!

[Sonny]

In America----"Race"--- is Always an issue!

[Heavy-Fed]

Great... now Republicans will bend over backwards to elect a Black man to prove they are not racists.

[DARSB]

Other than the trivial matter of a few grams of melanin Mr Scott is not that different from Sen DeMint. The balance of power in the Senate does not change with his appointment.

[AnObserver]

There are no such thing as a a "black conservative"...only conservatives. It does not matter to us Teapartiers what color you are, only if you're on board with getting this country back on firm financial footing and getting big government out of our lives before it's too late.

[Santiagoquijan]

The truth is this: we live in a multicultural country and the origin of a person
should not be important as long as he or she is capable and competent, if you
have a different opinion look at George Bush Jr. and SELAH: was he able?

[Grubby]

He will probably be reelected, and if the majority of his support is white, so what? That is the difference between liberals and conservatives, and also speaks to the black voters in general. First, the conservatives/republicans are really the ones who do not care about a person's race, only his/her qualifications. The liberals make a big deal out of the ethnicity of a particular candidate, and if they can show diversity, qualifications make no difference. Witness some of the clowns in congress from the democratic party right now...I won't name names. Regarding black voters, the writer just illustrated the obvious with this article. Many blacks will vote democratic without considering qualifications or positions. So it really does not matter who the democrats run, race, gender, qualifications, nothing matters to the black electorate except that it is a democrat. And it doesn't even dawn on them that a black candidate could believe in conservative principles.

[tomincali]

yes, from what i have read very few black conserves and they are attacked by the bigots who think them a traitor for not being a give me type person.