It is looking likely that there will soon be a black man in the U.S. Senate once again! And he’s a Republican! *gasp*
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), one of the most obstructive senators in an incredibly obstructive body, announced that he is retiring as of the beginning of the year. This allows Governor Nikki Haley (R) to replace him. DeMint has suggested Representative Tim Scott to replace him and the South Carolina Republican party has indicated that they would approve of the choice.
If this comes true, Tim Scott will be only the seventh black man to attain the office of U.S Senator. He will also be the first black Senator from the post-reconstruction South. This is a pretty big deal. I hope Govenor Haley picks him.
That’s really all the good news about DeMint retiring, though. Tim Scott has all the traits that makes Republicans pretty darned unlikable. He’s anti-immigrant, pro-business to the point that he’s actually anti-worker, opposes earmarks except if they are for his district, and wants to repeal Obamacare. I haven’t seen any terribly anti-science stances from him, but I don’t hold out much hope on that front, given his party and his state.
But still, progress!
I would think progress would mean that we didn’t care if he was black or white, only that his head is up his ass as far as his world view goes.
We’ll be there in another 100 years or so.
Yeah, we need another 100 years or so for so many people to fuck each other that skin color in the US blurs a bit more. And a good portion of the people who grew up never knowing people of other skin colors existed to die out.