Sen. Tim Scott: We Should Be Talking About Opportunity and Not Equity

PERINO: “But I would like to spend a little bit of time with you to get your reflections today on Martin Luther King Day. Last year, I read your book, which was so good and so moving. And —“

SCOTT: “Thank you.”

PERINO: “— you talk about how you still believe in the — the wonderful big hope and dreams of America. Do you feel that way today? What would you say to people who are remarking on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.?”

SCOTT: “Well, Dana, the first thing I’d say to our listeners today and our viewers today, is to be very proud of your country, be even more proud of the progress that your country has made in the last 50 years. Think about the dream and the speech itself. He said, ‘all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty.”‘ We are living that part of the dream. People and white people today are joining hands and living the American dream. That is a blessing from God upon high. It is something that should encourage us to move into the future with hope and optimism and a resolve to continue to make progress on the dream. Here’s what we need to be doing today. We should be talking about opportunity and not equity. We should be focusing our attention on the quality of the education and the poor zip codes in this country, because education is the civil rights issue of our era. In 2023 it’s not the color of your skin is how well you are educated. That will make the difference in your life.”