Tim Scott Succeeds where Rand Paul "Fails"

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Despite being appointed to the United States Senate just a year ago, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is already shaking up the Republican Party.

And, as Scott demonstrated during a speech Tuesday at a historically black college in Washington, D.C., he has the ability to succeed at changing minds about the GOP where others have failed.

“I always thought that African-Americans were mainly just Democrats,” Deja White, a junior at Howard, told Red Alert Politics. “I was close-minded to the whole Republican thing, but the way he was raised, his mentor and the things he believed in … I’m big on those aspects. It made me relate to him.”

Scott visited Howard University, which is categorized as one of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, to discuss his ideas about education reform and tell students about his journey from small-business owner to United States senator.

Scott detailed his background to a crowd of more than 50 students at the university’s business school. Raised by a single mother, the South Carolina Republican was flunking high school — and is likely the only senator to fail civics — as a freshman before a mentor, an owner of a local Chik-Fil-A, stepped in.

According to Scott, he was heading in the wrong direction. But with the guidance of his mother, who showed her love through the end of a switch, he jokes, and his mentor, Scott put his life back on track.

His story is one that resonates with Howard students.

“Every time I think of Republicans, I think of the rich,” Asia Stevens, a 22-year-old senior, told Red Alert Politics. “In his case, he came from the background we came from.”

The South Carolina conservative, who assumed office in January 2013, is the second Republican to visit the campus since the 2012 presidential election, following Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) speech in April 2013.

Though Paul’s reception from Howard students wasn’t unfriendly, he came under fire for appearing unprepared when it came to the students’ knowledge of Republicans’ participation in the Civil Rights movement and for butchering former Sen. Edward Brooke’s (R-Mass.) name.

Protesters also demonstrated at Paul’s speech and attempted to hang a sign stating “Howard University Doesn’t Support White Supremacy” before police removed them from the room.

While Paul’s decision to speak at Howard was called “bold” by students, it did little to change their minds about the Republican Party. Meanwhile, Scott’s ability to portray his upbringing in a way that was relatable left students rethinking the GOP.

“He made me more aware,” White said. “It makes me want to research what people actually believe in, not just based on what society portrays.”

Ra’Shawn Howard, a junior at Howard who attended both speeches, said Scott explained his political beliefs in a way Paul failed to do, especially when it came to the role of government and how it relates to Republican principles.

During his speech Scott told students why a big government is not always a functional government, particularly when it comes to spending. Howard said Scott’s explanation changed his perspective.

“Knowledge is power,” he said.

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