Tim Scott: Christians Are 'Greatest Minority Under Assault Today'

Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) addressed a crowd gathered Monday at a South Carolina Tea Party conference and resolutely concluded that "the greatest minority under assault today are Christians. No doubt about it."

Speaking between appearances by GOP presidential candidates, including former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Scott also weighed in on the 2012 race, saying that any of the remaining hopefuls would be better than President Barack Obama.

"The only thing we really have on our minds is beating Barack Obama in 2012," Scott said, according the Patch.com. "I don't care if it's Santorum or Gingrich or Romney, as long as we put someone in the White House who is currently not in the White House."

Though Scott has yet to announce his support for a particular candidate, his comments about supposed anti-Christian sentiment in the United States would appear to put him in some agreement with Gingrich.

Campaigning in South Carolina last week, Gingrich took a shot at the media for allegedly ignoring "anti-Christian" bigotry.

"The bigotry question goes both ways, and there's a lot more anti-Christian bigotry today than there is concerning the other side," Gingrich said during a discussion about gay rights, "and none of it gets covered by the news media."

Scott's position as a strong Tea Party voice and fresh face in the GOP has helped make his endorsement vital for presidential hopefuls campaigning in the Palmetto State. GQ's Marin Cogan reported this weekend on the congressman's busy schedule with regards to his state's upcoming primary:

When he's not on television or participating in candidate forums, the congressman is having long talks with friends, advisors and colleagues about whether or not to endorse in the GOP primary. "I am starting the process of elimination. I am closer to the decision, but I have not come to the decision yet," he said.

And with the latest news that Tea Party favorite and conservative kingmaker Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) won't make an endorsement in the GOP primary, Scott's selection would likely carry even more weight.

 

 

Comments

[nomoresoundbytes]

10:31 AM on 05/17/2012

The "bigotry" isn't against Christianity, it against the dangerous and hateful treatment of those who aren't.

There are actually quite a few of us Christians who feel attacked by the inside - our rights, our liberties, our morals.....our beliefs in science....

[Faithful Okoye]

10:05 AM on 04/22/2012

*Continued from below* They're not against mainstream. They are mainstream. What I mean is was exemplified by a man who stood up for black students in the 60s. The article said that long before it was cool to stand up against racism, this man did. That's exactly the point. People are not different if they accept legalizing homosexuality or abortion. It's mainstream now. Maybe not 35 years ago, but it is certainly so now. So you're not against mainstream. You're not really unique. You're a reflection of society. And if you were placed in the 30s, you would probably still be a reflection of that society. Big deal! My point being that mainstream is actually, and has been for a while, secular. Expressing your faith is labelled as non-tolerant. Honestly, I see 50 years from now a new generation - because of new technology - sprouting out against abortion. They are not going to be unique either because that is a reflection of society. But tops to those who stand up for what they believe in even when the society of their time doesn't support them. Tops to those who do so now and not when the society now accepts it. Are your beliefs and standards really belief or are they a reflection of society? Have you thought of whether the babies that are aborted really are living beings? Mainstream, that's what most people are.

[Faithful Okoye]

10:04 AM on 04/22/2012

I agree with him. And yes, I am willing to accept the mean and sadistic comments that will follow. What he means, and what I mean, is that christianity is and has for a long time failed to be the majority. Secularism now is. From every nick of culture or thing of importance in our society, secularism (if it could be a religion of its own, no belief in God) dominates our society. From the schools our children attends that promotes an unproven theory to the clubs and organizations where our teens serve to the media that barely has ever a mention of God, except for humor or ridicule, it is evident. People say they are unique, non-mainstream, standing up for what they believe, but people have always been people. They reflect the society of their time. This time, homosexuality and abortion has become more and more accepted in our society. And people, once again, are activist for these things.

[upset99]

09:25 AM on 01/21/2012

This guy is a joke. "Christians"? Christians are a HUGE majority in the USA. What this guy is talking about is the right wing Christians...mainly Evangelical and Fundamentalist BUT they do NOT represent mainline Christians. The REALITY?
1. Organized religion is dying in the USA. Less and less people go to Church.
2. This "group" of Christians dominate the Republican Party and therefore the Government FAR more than their percentage in the Population. They have BIG mouths. Just look at the Tea Party influence. They have introduced Bills about Abortion and Birth Control

If you oppose their "beliefs", they scream that you are not respecting their religion. Yea, sure

[Veritas2005]

03:35 PM on 01/20/2012

South Carolina should spend a few bucks to test mercury levels in the water.

[CMR64]

04:27 AM on 01/20/2012

bull hockey

[AndrewWilcox]

04:13 AM on 01/20/2012

Religion's should not be considered a minority, in the same way fans of the secret and your book club should not be a minority. Just cause you all read the same self-help book, liked it and follow a few of the things it says, doesn't make you a group.

[sociocanuck]

06:25 PM on 01/19/2012

Christians are not a minority, not even on a sociological definition that ignores proportionality (in which it's possible for the "majority" population to be smaller than even the smallest "minority" or the largest "minority" to be bigger than the majority).

They may not occupy a 'dominant' position (caveat #1 to be the majority) all the time, but that doesn't automatically make them a minority. They're only truly distinct from that which they perceive as the persecuting majority (heathen libruls) on the one dimension (religion) by which they define themselves. In terms of race, ethnicity, gender demographics, and a whole slew of other socioeconomic indicators they're not different enough.

It's 100% hokum to define minority status and difference solely based on hurt feelings, because persecution is only one of a number of conditions *all* of which must be true to be recognized as one by any means other than self-identification nobody else has any obligation to recognize.

...and all of this doesn't even have to get into the fact that 'Christianity' is not some completely uniform and unwavering bloc in and of itself - doctrinally OR politically. The myriad sects within it ensure that the only possible "minorities" are the more traditionally ragged-upon sects - such as American Catholics attempting to be President or Mormons attempting to be anything that gets them public attention.

[iyalode5]

06:00 PM on 01/19/2012

Since when does being in the 60-75% make you a minority? PLEASE. These people love to cry victim. Must be a hangover from the colosseum days. But, my Christian friends, it ain't that way anymore. You enjoy the majority, tax exempt status for your churches and have the law on your side. When gay people become 75% of the population and mobilize against you, enshrining in state constituti­ons that you are not allowed to get married, not allowed to keep your partner in the country because they were born somewhere else, not allowed to inherit their property, can't adopt, can't get their social security in case of death, not allowed to visit them in the hospital (the list is endless) THEN you can say you are victims. Until then, shut up. Your laments are an offense to the suffering of a true minority.

[taoistpunk]

04:03 PM on 01/19/2012

a black man who doesn't get the concept of minority.. no wonder he's republican.

[MuscleJockTX]

06:11 PM on 01/19/2012

Brilliant! F & F!

[REDSTATEREFUGEE]

02:57 PM on 01/19/2012

The last time I looked, all churches and other places of worship were open and flourishing. Even my freshman composition students, from studying logical fallacies as part of their rhetorical training, would recognize Tim Scott's statement as a Straw Man Argument.

IMHO, Republicans are not conerned about Freedom of Religion, knowing well that anyone can practice unfettered his or her faith in America. What they fear is that Freedom from Religion might grow stronger as one of our society's precepts, which might limit their ability to engage in thought control through public education, the courts, the federal tax system, and other areas of our lives.

During my old life, I have found that those folks, common citizens and well-known politicians alike, who parade their own religious convictions before others are often the most rigid and repressive members of society. Neo-conservatives have systematically constructed a Bogey Man of the stereotypical Liberal, an individual who wishes to impose his or her views on everyone, when, in fact, most liberals that I know appreciate variety and especially the free interchange of ideas.

[MuscleJockTX]

02:39 PM on 01/19/2012

Actually, guess again, bud, the biggest minority assaults going on today are against gay people by your very own hateful, judgmental, zealot "Christian" GOP-ers, whom Jesus would have nothing to do with if He came back--you remember Jesus, the "love thy neighbor as thyself" guy?

[donbsea]

03:52 PM on 01/19/2012

Very good. Thanks.

[MaryinCA]

09:34 PM on 01/19/2012

Couldn't reply to your last comment since it was removed, MJTX.

Looks like one of the most despicable Repubs is quitting, sorry he'll be back in TX.
Taibbi's article was priceless, he's an amazing journalist.

Just know that there are alot of us straights that support equal rights for all! I stand with all my LGBT friends and am still PO'D about the "good" Mormons contributing so much money in the Prop 8 battle here.

[MuscleJockTX]

12:02 AM on 01/20/2012

Thank you for that, MiCA! So funny that you were able to view my last comment about our illustrious governator coming back to Austin to haunt us, I was never able to see it before the HuffNPo nannies put down their knitting needles long enough to torch it. It's open minded and intelligent people like you who make our mini-blogosphere on here well worth the effort of posting (all the while wondering if the lawyered-up Victorian censors will white-out words that speak only truth). Thank you for reaching out to me. I'm so fed up with homophobic idiocy (something Texas--especially the "Christian" far-righters--is still quite adept at generating, alas) that I out myself these days whenever possible. In some ways, I harbor hopes some ignoramus will pick a fight so I can clean a redneck's clock. Seems to me a black eye given by a homo would be a pretty tough adornment to live down in their circles. So. Life goes on, even in the Lone Scarred State. Cheers from one of yer 975 fans...SWV

[SocratesFan]

09:26 AM on 01/19/2012

UNDER ASSAULT?!

You have your own section in bookstores under inspirational reading!

You almost exclusively hold Congress, and the only Congress-people who AREN'T Christians are at least Jews.

America has essentially declared war on the entire Middle East just to cater to your people's faith.

Entire towns make important decisions based on Christian end-time prophecies such as those of Harold Camping.

I once lived in an area where FIVE churches were within walking distance!

You can't become President without being Christian!

You've founded entire universities, including ones that give American-Library-Association-accredited library science degrees like Catholic University!

You have entire government "faith-based" programs!

If you're a Christian, you can be as irrational as you want and still have the mindless support of many Americans!

You have your own satellite television stations! Entire universities have chapels built just to cater to you!

You're installed in prisons to minister to prisoners! You run Alcoholic Anonymous!

AND YOU THINK YOU'RE BEING PERSECUTED?!

[GretchenMann]

10:54 AM on 01/19/2012

Well said, Socrates!

[jtandsonja]

09:21 AM on 01/19/2012

Christians are under assult Mr. Scott? I don't believe that is the case at all. I think the problem is that some of the American people are sick and tired of hearing some of the GOP candidates spew all of their twisted views on gay's, morality, and how one should live their own lives according to their beliefs. It seems some of the GOP contenders have really nothing to say about the real problems facing this nation so the go after the evangelical conservatives to show them how how morally right they are. Keep religion out of politics period.

[billtmore]

07:30 AM on 01/19/2012

If it were true I would say ABOUT TIME!!!!! with all the misery, hate, invasions and death Christians have wielded over the centuries!!!