Fox News "The Story with Martha MacCallum" - Transcript: Interview with Sen. Tim Scott

Interview

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SEN. TIM SCOTT, R-S.C.: Thank you, Sandra. Good to be with you.

SMITH: First up on the issue of reparations, where do you stand, sir?

SCOTT: Well, if this was 1865 or 1920, we could actually have a conversation about paying back those folks who provided so much free labor to this country. There is no question that slavery is a sin, but what we're not talking about today, we're not talking about slavery. What we're actually talking about, and what we should be talking about is progress.

I think what you saw today was a political show around reparations to create an atmosphere again in this country that I think is polarizing and divisive. What we should be talking about is a way forward that it's quite inclusive.

Education, making sure that every single zip code in this country has a high-quality education. We should be talking about the opportunity zone legislation signed by President Trump that brings back billions of dollars to the most distressed communities in America.

We should be talking about criminal justice reform done by the Republican Party that will create opportunities for returning citizens to not recidivate. There are a lot of topics that we should have.

I wish they'd have a hearing in the House about some of these topics and ways to move this nation forward together.

SMITH: But as far as the bill is concerned, Senator, do you -- do you like many of those 2020 candidates? They have not thrown their full support behind reparations. They are throwing their support behind a bill that would study and consider reparations. Do you support that?

SCOTT: I don't. The subject of reparations is 100 years too old from my perspective. We should look for ways to grow -- to grow our economy and give every single and American a chance to compete in the greatest economy in the world.

(CROSSTALK)

SMITH: Well I wonder -- I wonder how your party will ultimately respond because this is emerging as a big issue.

SCOTT: Yes.

SMITH: At least, on the side of Democrats. It's coming up a lot. And you saw that hearing today, it got fiery at times.

Mitch McConnell is being criticized for some of his remarks today. Here is the Senate majority leader.

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SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL, R-KY: We've -- you know tried to deal with our original sin of slavery by fighting a Civil War, about passing landmark civil rights legislation. We've elected an African-American president. I think we're always a work in progress in this country. But no one currently alive was responsible for that.

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SMITH: Well, the 2020 contender Cory Booker quickly responded to those remarks. In a new interview, he said this to the Senate majority leader.

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BOOKER: Talking about somehow electing Barack Obama was tantamount to reparations, you know, just leaving that alone, and it's hard to do that. But one of the big strikes of ignorance that he said there is that somehow this is about a compensation, in other words, a writing a check to somebody and reducing this the urgency of this conversations to simply that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Senator, if I could just get you to respond to all of that.

SCOTT: Sure. First thing you have to do with Senator McConnell's comments is to bifurcate them to separate them out. His conversation around the civil rights movement, around issues, and objectives of the federal government to make up for the past sins was a clear contrast to the reparations.

He suggested that there is a way forward, and this country has been evolving in the direction of progress. And as a point, in fact, recognizing the progress this nation has made, we the nation, elected President Barack Obama, that was a sign of progress. It was not to be conflated with his comments around reparations.

(CROSSTALK)

SMITH: And you can see how -- and you can see how some saw it that way including Cory Booker. You know you go back to Barack Obama on this issue, and he has not throwing his support, at least, publicly behind reparations. We went back to an Atlantic interview with Barack Obama in 2016, Senator, he said this.

"I have much more confidence in my ability to mobilize the American people around an investment to help every child in poverty in this country than I am in being able to mobilize the country around providing a benefit specific to African Americans as a consequence of slavery and Jim Crow."

So, it will be interesting to see how he responds now the growing debate and conversation on Capitol Hill about reparations. Final thoughts from you tonight, Senator.

SCOTT: Yes. Bottom line, our nation has made so many leaps forward, we should keep our focus on what actually creates progress. But we know without question creates and leads to progress, strong powerful education system, and access to the greatest economy the world has ever known.

If we could put those two together and we did that, in 2017, under our tax reform bill, there are a number of ways I would love for us to dive deep into on why America is better today than it's ever been.

SMITH: Senator Tim Scott, we appreciate your time tonight, sir. Thank you.

SCOTT: Yes, ma'am.

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