Constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley slammed an NBC journalist for asking the lone black Republican senator if his party treats him as a “token.”
“NBC anchor Craig Melvin asked Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., if the GOP is “using” him as a ‘token,’” Turley, a self-described liberal, tweeted on Thursday. “It is the latest addition to the collection of questions only to be asked of Republicans. Imagine the response if that question was asked of Booker or Harris.”
Turley continued: “Melvin prefaced his question with ‘because you are the only black Republican senator.’ Note there are only two black Democratic senators. Yet, the conservative of the three is the one who is grilled over whether he is a ‘token,’ rather than a legitimate leader in his own right.”
…Melvin prefaced his question with “because you are the only black Republican senator.” Note there are only two black Democratic senators. Yet, the conservative of the three is the one who is grilled over whether he is a “token,” rather than a legitimate leader in his own right
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) June 11, 2020
Scott has been one of the most vocal Republicans in the push for police reform after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died while in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.
Scott laughed off the question about being a “token,” claiming that he has been profiled by police since being elected to the Senate.
“Well, I am also the only person in my conference who has been racially profiled driving while black,” Scott said. “I’m the only one in my conference that’s been stopped seven times in one year as an elected official, perhaps the only one in my conference wearing this Senate pin that was stopped from coming into the building.”
“So, if there’s someone in the conference who understands discrimination and profiling, it’s me. It’s the reason why I asked to lead this charge because it is a personal issue. It is the right issue,” the South Carolina continued. “And frankly, I think it helps to have someone who’s been a victim of this situation and who still has a tremendous respect for where our country can go together.”
Scott expressed frustration at being called a “token” on Twitter this week.
“Not surprising the last 24 hours have seen a lot of ‘token’ ‘boy’ or ‘you’re being used’ in my mentions,” Scott said. “Let me get this straight…you DON’T want the person who has faced racial profiling by police, been pulled over dozens of times, or been speaking out for YEARS drafting this?”
Not surprising the last 24 hours have seen a lot of “token” “boy” or “you’re being used” in my mentions. Let me get this straight…you DON’T want the person who has faced racial profiling by police, been pulled over dozens of times, or been speaking out for YEARS drafting this?
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) June 10, 2020
