CNN "Erin Burnett Outfront" - Transcript: 2014 Senate
Interview
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And joining me now is Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.
And congratulations, Senator. It was a historic win last night for you and you are also the first African-American in American history to be elected to both the House and the Senate.
There has to be a moment where you just took a deep breath and said wow today. I mean, what does this mean for you personally?
SEN. TIM SCOTT (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: Well, for me, I look back over my grandfather's life. I'm blessed to have a grandfather who's 94 years old. He's seen a different America growing up than I have.
And here is a fella who was a youngster picking cotton and in his lifetime he's seen his grandson get elected to Congress and now the Senate. For me, looking at him last night, watching me give a speech was one of the most remarkable experiences of my life.
BURNETT: It must have been -- I mean, it must have been amazing. Just on this personal level.
What -- in terms of race, this is something I know you've talked a lot about and I know maybe on some level it is not something you want to define you, obviously. But when we look at the numbers last night and this is just the exit polls, we saw 88 percent of the black voters supported your opponent in South Carolina. Obviously, that vote went resoundingly Democratic.
When he was running for president, Herman Cain said something that I'd never forget, he accused liberals in the black community for being, quote, "racist" for questing his being black and conservative. And the quote he said was, (INAUDIBLE) how they felt, he said, how dare Herman Cain run as a Republican? Has this changed or do you still feel that?
SCOTT: Well, I think, if you look around the country and look at some of the most successful campaigns, you talk about Mia Love in Utah, the first African-American female winning in the history of Congress. You look at Will Herd in Texas, or the new lieutenant governor of Maryland, Mr. Rutherford, here's what we see happening throughout the country, people are aligning their votes with their values and they're voting for candidates who are simply not of their own complexion.
One of the challenges I do see in the future is this culture of low expectations that driven by some folks who seem to profit from keeping some folks down an unfortunately it is your peers. We see this in the NFL when the comment about Russell Wilson, the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks not being black enough. What does that mean?
Here is my comment and my response to that -- it is foolishness. It is just ridiculous and it is hogwash.
At the end of the day, be natural. Be yourself. Don't try to be normal, whatever that stereotypical definition or lame excuse for under performing really is. Folks who question your identity and you ethic identify because you don't fit into their mold is simply an insult to the entire community.
BURNETT: That's a powerful way to say it.
I have to ask you about something that actually we found out moments ago on this issue and I wanted to give you a chance to response to it. There was a newly published U.S. Army regulation. As I said, we just learned this here at CNN. It says that a service member in the U.S. Army can be described as Negro, when describing someone black or African-American. We've reached out to the Army and we're waiting for a formal response from them.
But I have to ask you -- does that shock you or is the word "Negro" acceptable?
SCOTT: Well, I certainly haven't seen the policy. I haven't spoken to the Army. I'll reach out to the army after I get off the air and figure out what is going on there.
But most consistently, the terms of African-American or black, some folks find black to be offensive and prefer African-American. Either term for me works really well.
At the end of the day, as we try to find ways to focus on the future, I would rather us focus on what causes us to fall behind in the world in this global competition. I would rather focus on my opportunity agenda that creates chance and opportunities for parents.
BURNETT: John Boehner and Mitch McConnell just came out with an op-ed in "The Wall Street Journal", that's laying out their agenda. Look, it's nothing you don't know about, right? It's things like they want to pass the Keystone Pipeline.
Ted Cruz, though, of course, won't commit to supporting Mitch McConnell as majority leader. I know you know Ted Cruz well. You sponsored a bill with him.
I put a question to you -- will you support Mitch McConnell?
SCOTT: Well, as far as I know, I'm not sure who is running. I assume that Mitch is running for majority leader. I assume that John Cornyn will be running for majority whip. I have not been asked to support any of these candidates. And I don't know that there's anyone else considering race. I've spoken to several colleagues and they have all said there are no other candidates for the top positions in the United States Senate, in our new majority.
So the question may be answered by default. There are no other candidates. I do believe that we have a chance through the strong leadership of our new majority to present an agenda to America about the things we should get right.
BURNETT: You know, I think it's really interesting. You just said yes you would support him but wish there was someone else. That is the most clever way I've heard anybody answer that question thus far.
SCOTT: Absolutely not. That is not what I said. What I said is what I meant, which is -- that there are no other candidates and factually, if there are no other candidates for the offices being sought, then we should see who is out there, and if we have Mitch McConnell looking to be the majority leader and we have John Cornyn line looking to be the majority whip, and there are no other candidates, this is good news.
BURNETT: Thank you so much. And I appreciate your taking the time tonight.
SCOTT: Thank you, Erin.
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