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U.S. Senator Tim Scott Delivers Weekly Republican Address
U.S. Senator Tim Scott Delivers Weekly Republican Address
‘We will stand strong. We will stand united. And we will stand together for Boston.’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the Weekly Republican Address, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) highlighted that the quick work to find those responsible for the Boston Marathon bombings shows the strong resolve of our nation when confronted with violent acts of terrorism. “To those who would attack America or our citizens, let me say this—there is no corner on Earth, no hiding place in America that will keep us from finding you. The leaders of this country will do everything in our power to bring justice for the families and the communities impacted,” Scott says.
“Hi, I’m Tim Scott, Senator from South Carolina.
“This week, on Patriot’s Day, a day that celebrates the beginning of our country’s journey toward freedom, a horrific tragedy occurred.
“The Boston Marathon bombing has left us all with a heavy heart and we pray for the victims and their families.
“However, while the perpetrators of this act of terror hoped that they could shake the confidence of a city, they have instead only strengthened the resolve of our nation.
“This became apparent immediately as first responders ran towards unknown dangers.
“These amazing Americans, some of whom charged through fences and barricades, put their own lives on the line to help others.
“We are so thankful for these women and men, who on a daily basis sacrifice for our nation—they are our friends, our family, our neighbors.
“Join me in praying for them and the victims of this tragedy, the victims’ families and their support systems.
“To those who would attack America or our citizens, let me say this—there is no corner on Earth, no hiding place in America that will keep us from finding you.
“The leaders of this country will do everything in our power to bring justice for the families and the communities impacted.
“Our freedom is our most precious possession—any effort to take it away will only strengthen our determination.
“Because the greatness of America is not seen during times of prosperity, but is crystallized by how we respond to challenges.
“We will stand strong. We will stand united. And we will stand together for Boston.
“Thank you and God bless America.”
Senator Tim Scott: America’s Finest Hour Is Still Ahead Of Us
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Tim Scott addressed a group of conservative activists during ACU’s annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC 2013) in Washington, D.C.
Senator Tim Scott:
“We in America…are a conservative nation” arguing that “We have to grow our economy, not our government.” He discussed the need to “bring fiscal sanity back to Washington, D.C.” Scott continued his theme on the economy and quoted a personal mentor who said “Having a job is a good thing, creating jobs is a far better thing.”
Scott’s full remarks:
ACU Announces U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte and Tim Scott to Address CPAC 2013
America’s Future: The Next Generation of Conservatives
New Challenges, Timeless Principles
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Conservative Union (ACU) today announced U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Tim Scott of South Carolina will address CPAC 2013 – the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference. America’s largest gathering of conservative leaders and activists will be held Thursday, March 14 – Saturday, March 16, 2013.”We are pleased to welcome U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte and Tim Scott to the CPAC stage in March,” said Al Cardenas, ACU Chairman. “Senator Ayotte has quickly become a conservative leader on national security issues. The ACU Political Action Committee was delighted to be of the first to support Tim Scott for the U.S. Senate as he represents a new generation of conservative leaders and the future of the conservative movement.”A native of New Hampshire and first female to serve as her state’s Attorney General, Senator Kelly Ayotte helped distinguish her state as the safest in the nation. Committed to public service, Ayotte was elected in 2010 to the U.S. Senate, winning 60 percent of the vote in her first bid for public office.Growing up in poverty in North Charleston, South Carolina, Senator Scott learned the importance of faith, hard work and living within your means. From his humble beginnings, Scott went on to build one of the most successful Allstate agencies in the state and now in Washington supports economic freedom and entrepreneurship, advocating for smaller government, lower taxes and the restoration of fiscal responsibility. Prior to joining the Senate, Scott served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2013, where he sat on the influential House Rules Committee. Scott also served on the Charleston County Council for 13 years, including four terms as Chair and in the South Carolina House of Representatives for two years where he was elected Chairman of the Freshman Caucus and House Whip.
CPAC will be held March 14-16, 2013 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, offering three days of blockbuster speeches, policy discussions and networking opportunities – all celebrating the shared principles of smaller government, a strong national defense and traditional American values. For additional information, visit our website at conservative.org/cpac2013, on Facebook at facebook.com/CPACNews, or on Twitter at @cpacnews and #CPAC2013. Media registration (including bloggers) is now open. For those who plan to cover the event, please request credentials at cpac2013media.eventbrite.com. The CPAC 2013 schedule and list of confirmed speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Previously announced confirmed featured speakers include: former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, former U.S. Representative Artur Davis, former Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuño, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, U.S. Senator Mike Lee, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, U.S. Representative Paul Ryan, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey, former U.S. Representative Allen West, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and U.S. Senator Ron Johnson.
Founded in 1964, the American Conservative Union (ACU) is the oldest and largest grassroots conservative organization in the nation. For almost fifty years, ACU has served as an umbrella organization harnessing the collective strength of conservative organizations fighting for Americans who are concerned with liberty, personal responsibility, traditional values, and strong national defense. ACU defines conservatism, grows conservatism, and wins for conservatism.
Senator-to-Be Tim Scott: “Our Second Amendment Right is a Fundamental Freedom”
From CNSNews:
(CNSNews.com) – Rep. Tim Scott (R.), whom South Carolina Gov. Nikke Haley has said she will appoint to replace retiring Sen. Jim DeMint in the U.S. Senate, has been an opponent of Obamacare’s sterilization-contraception-abortifacient mandate, and a defender of traditional marriage, the right to life, and the Second Amendment.
“The Constitution grants all law-abiding Americans the right to bear arms, regardless of what some would lead you to believe,” Scott says in a statement posted on his congressional website. “Our Second Amendment right is a fundamental freedom and a cornerstone of our democracy.
“As Americans, we have the right to defend ourselves, our families and our property, and the federal government should never interfere with this right,” says Scott.
“I remain steadfast in my commitment to uphold our Second Amendment rights,” he says.
“I regard all life as sacred, and am proud of our values and traditions,” Scott says in another statement on his congressional website. “For this reason I will remain steadfast in my commitment to protect the unborn and continue to take a stand in defending traditional and religious values.
“I cosponsored two pro-life bills which have now passed the House of Representatives, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act and the Protect Life Act,” says Scott.
“I also support traditional marriage, and spoke out against the president’s decision to no longer allow the Department of Justice to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court,” said Scott. “I absolutely believe in keeping the institution of marriage as one solely between a man and woman. We must not allow the government to distort the meaning of marriage and instead, focus on building stronger families across America.”
Senator-to-Be Tim Scott already showing more backbone and wisdom than 95% of lot in the Congress and Senate!!!
Nikki Haley of South Carolina Chooses Representative Tim Scott to Replace Sen. DeMint
From USAToday:
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will tap Rep. Tim Scott to replace outgoing GOP Sen. Jim DeMint, making Scott the first African-American senator from the South since Reconstruction.
The Associated Press has confirmed the Scott appointment, which will be formally announced by Haley at a news conference Monday at the Statehouse in South Carolina.
DeMint, an influential conservative and Tea Party favorite, will resign in January to become president of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank. His replacement will serve until a special election is held in 2014.
“This is historic for all of the South,” said David Woodard, a political scientist at Clemson University. Tim Scott is “conservative and he’s Republican. … What African Americans need are capitalism and conservative values, and Tim Scott is a great vehicle for that. He represents a generation that is interested in entrepreneurship, conservative principles and volunteerism.”
Good call Gov. Haley!
Haley Not Considering a “Placeholder” to Replace DeMint
From the Los Angeles Times:
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, faced with finding a replacement following Sen. Jim DeMint’s sudden retirement, said Monday that she will not appoint a “placeholder appointee.” Talk of such an appointee, who would pledge to serve for just two years before the 2014 election, had been recently fueled by rumors that Haley was looking into barbecue chain magnate Chad Walldorf.
“While there are some good arguments in favor of that approach I believe the better case is against it,” Haley said in a statement. “I do not want to tie the next U.S. Senator for South Carolina’s hands regarding future office.”
“While I am an avid supporter of term limits, I do not want the effectiveness of our state’s new U.S. Senator to be undermined by the fact that he or she will automatically be leaving the office such a very short time after assuming it,” she added.
DeMint, who had served in the Senate since 2004, was a prominent voice of tea party members during the 2010 midterm election and beyond, announced Thursday that he would be retiring in January.
Haley, who has dismissed chatter that she may appoint herself to the open seat, said Friday that she’s looking for “a person who has the same philosophy of government that Jim DeMint and I share.”
That philosophy is pointedly conservative with a particular bend toward the tea party. Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), also a tea party favorite, has been the focal point of speculation, and Haley will notably be making an appearance at a Boeing facility in Scott’s district Tuesday.
Scenes From Tim Scott’s Latest Fundraiser…And why Showing Up is Fifty Percent of the Battle [Picture Dump]
[Congressman Tim Scott with my son, Jackson.]
This past Sunday afternoon, my husband Chris, my son Jackson and I attended Tim Scott’s latest fundraiser in Charleston, South Carolina. I gotta admit, it was a surreal experience.
[(R to L) Me, Congressman Scott holding my son, Jackson, and my husband, Chris.]
[Congressman Scott, Jackson and me.]
Why was it so surreal? Well, two years ago, I took the initiative and did a lot of blogging on Congressman Scott’s behalf when he began his run for congress. (I even covered his birthday party, as well as his victory party.) When I first started showing up to Tim’s events two years ago (he would tell everybody to call him “Tim”), I noticed that his events were pretty full of loyal supporters, but they weren’t jam-packed from wall to wall with bodies like his fund-raiser was this past Sunday. At Mr. Scott’s most recent event, there was even a rock band, and a long line just to shake his hand and say “Hello”–whereas two years ago, you could just walk right up to Tim and say “Hi”. Don’t get me wrong, Tim hadn’t changed at all (he was still his sweet, jovial self), but the situation had changed–he was now “Congressman Scott”.
[(R to L) Me, Carmen Schachte, Bobby Riggs and Rear Admiral William L. Schachte, Jr.]
[(R to L) Debbie Lamb, Loy Stewart, Jr., Sharon Stewart and Jimmy Lamb.]
[Debbie Lamb holding Baby Jackson.]
[Chris, Jackson and me.]
[Me with campaign aide Michael Sally.]
[Me, Chris and Jackson.]
[(R to L) Claudia Bentley holding Jackson, Jackie Novak, Michelle Bentley and me.]
Then it hit me. Tim was now “Congressman Scott” because of people just like the ones attending this fundraiser–i.e., people who got involved in the political process in some form or another (by writing blogs, giving donations, volunteering their time, becoming precinct committeemen, etc.). In other words, getting involved in the political process is power.
In the show Game of Thrones, Lord Varys is famous for the following quote:
Power resides where men believe it resides–it is a trick, a shadow on the wall. And, a very small man can cast a very large shadow.
(See the embed below.)
The MSM would like us to believe that they have all of the power–that they can decide who lives or who dies politically. They might even try to discourage conservatives by stating that Republicans are “unenthused” by Mitt Romney as their nominee, or they might even go so far as to mock conservative activists by calling them “teabaggers”. Don’t listen to them–their power is a trick, a shadow on the wall. The real power lies with the voter/activist who actually shows up and gets involved. In the past, Congressional elections have been decided by a few hundred votes–heck, the 2000 Presidential Election was decided by approximately 500 votes in the state of FL. Showing up matters. And, if you sit at home on election night stuffing your face with Cheetos and complaining about how your vote doesn’t matter, you are ceding your power to decide who speaks for you in DC.
I recently wrote a post where I listed (and explained in detail) the five rules of politics as I saw them:
1.) NEVER cede the higher ground to your opponent when you are winning on an issue.
2.) People hate the thought police.
3.) People don’t vote for people they don’t like–i.e., mean people suck.
4.) Don’t eat your own–you’re wasting valuable time and energy.
5.) Stay away from conspiracy theories.
However, after attending Congressman Scott’s recent fundraiser, I would like to amend my previous post and add a sixth rule:
6.) Showing up is fifty percent of the battle.
Don’t ever cede your power by just “staying home” and not getting involved. Everyone has a talent. Everyone has something to contribute–even if it’s just a vote. And remember, even “a very small man can cast a very large shadow”.
[Baby Jackson with his favorite toy--a stuffed elephant.]
[Baby Jackson waving the American flag.]
Cross-posted at Right Wing News.
The Welfare Reform Act of 2011
The Welfare Reform Act of 2011
The Most Effective Welfare Benefit Is the One that Leads to a Job
Congressional Republicans and President Bill Clinton enacted reforms in 1996 that required beneficiaries of a new welfare program (TANF) to either work or prepare for a job. President Clinton triumphantly declared these reforms would “end welfare as we know it,” and in fact millions of families have since moved off the TANF rolls and begun to provide for themselves.
Still, TANF is only 1 of 77 federal programs that provide benefits specifically to poor and low-income Americans. Despite the success of these reforms, combined state and federal welfare spending has almost doubled since 1996. Since President Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty in 1964, Americans have spent around $16 trillion on means-tested welfare. We will spend another $10 trillion over the next decade based on recent projections. Even with all these resources devoted to assistance for the poor, poverty is higher today than it was in the 1970s.
H.R. 1167: the Welfare Reform Act of 2011 builds on the reforms of 1996 by requiring food stamp recipients to either work or prepare for a job, helping them to become independent of government assistance. The bill also gives taxpayers a clearer picture of national welfare spending and returns the federal welfare budget to pre-recession levels after unemployment falls to 6.5%. It was introduced by RSC Chairman Jim Jordan (OH-4), Rep. Tim Scott (SC-01), and Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-5).
RSC Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC), and Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) have introduced the Welfare Reform Act of 2011. This legislation will help food stamp recipients become independent of government assistance, give taxpayers a clearer picture of national welfare spending, and return the federal welfare budget to pre-recession levels after unemployment falls to 6.5%. Currently, there are 77 means-tested federal programs that provide benefits specifically to poor and low-income Americans.
More Information:
Video on Welfare Reform
Summary of H.R. 1167: the Welfare Reform Act
H.R. 1167 Full Bill Text
Press ReleaseWhat They’re Saying:
Katherine Bradley: Picking Up Where ’96 Welfare Reform Left Off
Conservative Home: Q&A with Rep. Jim Jordan
Tim Scott and Kristi Noem Have Been Elected to Leadership Positions.
As many of you are aware, I have been covering Tim Scott’s campaign/election/victory for several months now. Well, tonight, Tim Scott (of SC) and Kristi Noem (of SD) have been elected to the two available freshmen congressional leadership positions. Congratulations to Congressman-Elect Scott and Congresswoman-Elect Noem! This is good news indeed.
Congressman-Elect Tim Scott's First Post-Election Interview….[Updated]
On Tuesday night, the voters of South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District made history by electing Tim Scott as their US representative. He will be the first African-American Republican US congressman from SC since Reconstruction.
Well, on Thursday morning, Mr. Scott appeared on Fox & Friends to give his first post-election interview. He did a great job of refuting the Obama agenda and explaining his positions on the issues of the day.
After watching the above interview, it’s pretty clear why the voters of South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District chose Tim Scott by overwhelming numbers. They obviously chose wisely. One can expect more great things to come from the election of Mr. Scott.
UPDATE: The Other McCain has Tim Scott’s second post-election interview with Rich Lowry on Hannity posted. He is being interviewed alongside Allen West, the first Afican-American Republican US Representative from Florida since Reconstruction.
