'Are they all dumb?' Tim Scott ridiculed after grossly distorting the First Amendment and religious freedom

23 April 2023

Earlier this month, right-wing Daily Wire commentator Charlie Kirk proclaimed that the United States was founded as a "Christian country" right before expressing his aversion to democracy. But on Saturday, Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) – a potential 2024 presidential contender – took an even greater leap than Kirk during a conversation with Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann.

"What should the, what should the next president do? What is the most immediate actions that the next president can do to stand for religious liberty?" Kaufmann asked Scott.

"We must tell the story of our Constitution that the First Amendment was written to protect the church from the state, not the state, from the church," Scott replied.

The First Amendment is unequivocal in its language. It states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Scott's assessment is not rooted in fact, precedent, or the intent of the Constitution's framers, who were outspoken about their concerns about religion creeping into politics. His suggestion that the president has the power to declare a national religion also completely clashes with basic historical evidence.

One of the most glaring examples is what James Madison feared in an 1803 letter opposing the construction of houses of worship on public property.

"The purpose of separation of Church and State is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries," Madison wrote.

Social media users took Scott to task over his remarks, although he is far from the only conservative pushing this narrative.

MrBlifil: "Congress shall make no law establishing a religion. How is that protecting religion from the Government?"

Roberta: "Kind of sad the man doesn't know or understand the Constitution."

Joe Katz does not respect the Supreme Court: "No, it wasn't. The Founding Fathers were TERRIFIED of having religion anywhere near the government. They were schooled in a history of a continent that regularly tore itself apart in religious wars and were building a religiously diverse nation."

BlondeinBrooklyn: "A complete lie."

RIP GOP: "Are they all dumb or do they think we are?"

LeonRunciter: "Wow just making stuff up!"

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