On the evening of June 17, 2015, a white supremacist gunned down worshippers inside of a historically Black South Carolina church. On Jan. 8, 2024, President Biden travelled to give a speech at that church, in which he categorized white supremacism as a “poison” in American society. Conservative politicians from South Carolina, including Nikki Haley and Tim Scott, have criticized the president’s speech and questioned his sincerity.
Straight Arrow News contributor Star Parker summarizes some of the criticisms from Scott and Haley, and accuses President Biden of politicizing the tragic event that unfolded nine years ago.
Senator Tim Scott, he played a crucial role in helping the Charleston community and the State of South Carolina come together in common purpose after the horrific killings at Mother Emanuel. Senator Scott was deeply offended by Biden’s political speech at the church, and he said in response:
“To use the pain of Mother Emanuel to not only further divide Americans, but seek to score political points, is disrespectful, inappropriate, and beneath who we are. The story of Mother Emanuel is bigger than politics. It’s the power of Matthew 5:44 — the power of forgiveness — that unified our state and nation.”
Former Gov. Nikki Haley, now a candidate for president, also weighed in. She said it was “offensive” that Biden gave a “political speech” at Mother Emanuel. She found it ironic that the speech was delivered by a political figure “who palled around with segregationists in the ‘70s and has said racist comments all the way through his career.”
Whoops, ouch, and she’s right.
Biden’s speech, and the reaction it has engendered, demonstrates why it is important that our nation restores the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. That vision that he articulated 60 years ago, that we must be a country where equal opportunity for all is a reality, and all people are judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.
Joe Biden seems intent on dividing Americans and using racial language for short-term political gain. This presidential campaign will determine whether this is going to be our reality, whether our country continues down that divisive path, or if we’re going to choose a leader who can move us to a more hopeful future.
