‘There’s no silver lining to slavery’: Tim Scott joins Florida education row slashing rival Ron DeSantis’ 2024 claims that slaves could have learned to become blacksmiths

Senator Tim Scott waded into the row between 2024 Republican candidates over the nation’s slave history, insisting Thursday night, “There is no silver lining in slavery.”

It comes as rivals have come to blows over a controversial Florida education policy that requires children to learn that there are some benefits to a life of slavery.

Gov. Ron DeSantis was ridiculed when he defended the position.

When challenged about the policy last week, he said, “They’re probably going to show that some people who end up being, you know, a blacksmith are going to do things later in life.”

Vice President Kamala Harris condemned “extremist” views, but DeSantis allies have tried to isolate black Republicans who have echoed her abhorrence.

Scott, the only black Republican senator, was asked about the issue after a town hall event just outside Des Moines, Iowa, and did not shy away from controversy.

And he called DeSantis to explain exactly what he meant.

“Truth is all you can learn… all the benefits that people say you had during slavery you would have had as a free person,” he told reporters.

“Slavery was really about separating families, mutilating people and even raping their wives. It was just devastating.

“So I hope everyone in our country and especially presidential candidate would appreciate that.

“Listen people have bad days. Sometimes they regret what they say. And we should ask them again to clarify their positions.’

The day before, Rep. Byron Donalds, a close ally of Trump, who is black, angered DeSanti’s allies.

“The new African American standards in Florida are good, robust and accurate,” he said. “That said, the attempt to emphasize the personal benefits of slavery is wrong and needs to be modified.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies have targeted Republicans who have criticized his slavery stance, such as Rep. Byron Donalds, accused of siding with Vice President Kamala Harris

Scott made his remarks after addressing about 200 Republican voters. His message of unity and optimism has moved him in polls and attracted fire from other candidates

The state’s 2023 Social Studies curriculum includes lessons on how “slaves developed skills” that could be used for “personal benefit.”

But Donalds’ intervention sparked a Twitter storm among DeSantis associates, who linked him to Harris and suggested he made Trump’s bid by hitting his closest 2024 rival.

Trump aides furiously accused them of smearing Donalds.

And then DeSantis himself got involved on Thursday.

“So at the end of the day you have to choose,” he said. “Are you going to side with Kamala Harris and liberal media outlets?

“Are you going to side with the state of Florida?”

“People walking around wanting to be hailed as leaders, they want to be talked about as American leaders, enforcing propaganda on our children,” Vice President Kamala Harris said.

Harris traveled to Jacksonville where she ranted against the position.

‘Are you joking?’ Harris, the nation’s first black vice president, said of the policy.

“People walking around wanting to be hailed as leaders, they want them talked about as American leaders, enforcing propaganda on our children,” she said.

While she didn’t name DeSantis, Harris repeatedly attacked “extremists, so-called leaders” in the state for the new education policy, for book bans, and the so-called Don’t Say Gay law—all DeSantis. policy.