Sen. Tim Scott Fires Back: Not Trump's Prop

Sen. Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, had a prominent position behind President Donald Trump at Wednesday's White House ceremony celebrating the passage of the GOP tax plan. But he fired back at a political blogger who claimed he was there as a "prop."

Andy Ostroy, who lists being a HuffPo contributor on his Twitter bio, as well as being "Blocked by Donald, Don Jr, Ivanka, Eric," tweeted that Scott appeared to be a "manipulated prop."

What a shocker... there's ONE black person there and sure enough they have him standing right next to the mic like a manipulated prop. Way to go @SenatorTimScott. #trump #taxscambill

— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) December 20, 2017

Not so, Scott responded, saying he was likely given such a high-profile location "because I helped write the bill for the past year, have multiple provisions included, got multiple Senators on board over the last week and have worked on tax reform my entire time in Congress."

Uh probably because I helped write the bill for the past year, have multiple provisions included, got multiple Senators on board over the last week and have worked on tax reform my entire time in Congress. But if you'd rather just see my skin color, pls feel free. https://t.co/KLLNXqIZ3i

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) December 20, 2017

Ostroy doubled down, saying the bill hurt minorities, the poor and middle class — ending with some invectives against the president that were of the type that likely ended him up on several Trump family blocked lists.

Instead of worrying about me, perhaps @SenatorTimScott should be more concerned with his party's shafting today of minorities, the poor & middle class...and of his shameless ongoing support of his sexist, admitted-sexual-abusing racist Machurian president who's in bed w/ #Putin https://t.co/RXZsBhbK9I

— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) December 20, 2017

Scott had other thoughts on how minorities and lower-income families will fare under the plan, saying at the White House, "This is not about Washington. It's not about the left. It's not about the right. It's about single parent moms who are looking to be hopeful during 2018."

Ostroy later apologized for the tweet, saying he could have made his point a better way.

.@SenatorTimScott, earlier I tweeted something that I now agree was unfair. Senator, I regret that tweet & apologize for it. There were many other ways I should’ve and could’ve made my point.

— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) December 21, 2017

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