ABC Highlights Black Republicans Running for Congress
ABC's World News Sunday gave attention to black Republicans who have a good chance of getting elected in this year's congressional elections, focusing on Tim Scott of South Carolina and Ryan Frazier of Colorado, and even showing a clip of Allen West of Florida. Anchor Dan Harris set up the report: "Two years after the historic election of America's first African-American President, there is now a huge wave of black candidates running against Barack Obama. Many of these candidates have the full support of the largely white Republican Party and the Tea Party."
As correspondent Ron Claiborne filed a report, early on a soundbite was shown of South Carolina's Scott explaining why he believes in the Tea Party movement. Scott: "I think if you believe in conservative government, if you believe in free markets or capitalism, if you believe in not spending money you don't have, you're a Tea Party member as well."
Claiborne soon informed viewers that the South Carolina Republican is expected to make history: "If Scott is elected from this Charleston district, he would be the first African-American Republican elected to the House of Representatives from the Deep South since 1901. This year, 42 African-Americans ran for the Republican nomination for House seats; 14 of them won. And, like Republicans everywhere this year, they are harsh critics of President Obama."
Below is a complete transcript of the story from the October 31 World News Sunday on ABC:
DAN HARRIS: Two years after the historic election of America's first African-American President, there is now a huge wave of black candidates running against Barack Obama. Many of these candidates have the full support of the largely white Republican Party and the Tea Party. Ron Claiborne is on the story.
RON CLAIBORNE: Charleston, South Carolina, where the Civil War began, where tradition, conservative tradition is woven deep into politics.
TIM SCOTT, SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL NOMINEE: I think it's a new day, without any question.
CLAIBORNE: And it's where Tim Scott, an African-American, is running for Congress as a Republican and proud conservative with the backing of Sarah Palin. Do you consider yourself a Tea Party member?
SCOTT: Absolutely. I think if you believe in conservative government, if you believe in free markets or capitalism, if you believe in not spending money you don't have, you're a Tea Party member as well.
CLAIBORNE: Polls show Scott far ahead in a district where white voters outnumber blacks by three to one. Who are you voting for?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Tim Scott.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: Tim Scott.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN #2: He's proven himself. Race doesn't factor as much as many people believe in the South anymore.
CLAIBORNE: If Scott is elected from this Charleston district, he would be the first African-American Republican elected to the House of Representatives from the Deep South since 1901. This year, 42 African-Americans ran for the Republican nomination for House seats; 14 of them won. And, like Republicans everywhere this year, they are harsh critics of President Obama.
ALLEN WEST, FLORIDA REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL NOMINEE, IN AD: I'll go anywhere you wish to debate your failed big government policies.
CLAIBORNE: Thirty-three-year-old Ryan Frazier is in a tight race in Colorado's Seventh District.
RYAN FRAZIER, COLORADO REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL NOMINEE: You have to engage, and that's what the Republican Party is going to have to do more of. I, quite frankly, feel that, in many cases, Democrats take minorities for granted and that Republicans have not done enough.
CLAIBORNE: Democrats scoff at the notion that 14 black candidates out of 435 House seats is a trend. Republicans say this time they really are opening the door to new faces. Ron Claiborne, ABC News, Denver.
-Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center
