senator to be congressman, tim scott. [applause] many people have asked what went into this decision process, and it was pretty simple. he understands the strength that we need to have in our business community as we continue to focus on jobs. he has shown that with his support of the ports and knowing that the deepening needs to be there. he is sewn couraged when he helped us with the fight against the national relations board and the unions that tried to take boeing down. he has shown it with his fiscal representation and the fact that he knows the value of a dollar. he understands what every family and small business goes through, and he has stayed consistent to that. it also shows you the fact that this man loves south carolina, and he is very aware that what he does and every vote he makes affects south carolina and affects our country. so it was with that that i knew that he was the right person. i have no doubt that he will fly now 2014. i am strongly convinced that i and the entire state understands that this is t

i'm happy for tim scott as an individual. but tim scott's policies are no different than jim demint's and at the end of the day, this is a very high occasion for tim scott and his family. but let's not try to make this an out sized event. if any black person in america were appointed to the united states senate, it would be well covered. because of the data that you laid out. >> that's right. >> the fact that he's a conservative is a response in large part, to the thrashing that republicans got nationally. and this was an opportunity to begin to correct course. but let's not try to make tim scott's selection more than about a great occasion for him. his policies are consistent with jim demint's and in my mind -- >> let me say, any time something good in tim scott's life happens we do cover it on the show. we have a standing editorial policy. >> you said one thing about the pattern of black voting and i think one thing that we should remember is that higher educationally, blacks voted for the republican party because the repub

, just keep being tim scott and that will be good for our state. you have a unique opportunity for the conservative cause. you've nikkei burdens. and i want to help you where i can. and anything my office can do to help you get started we will do. but the only advice i can give you is just keep being the good person you are. and the thing about tim, not only is he good about being a congressman, he'll be a great senator. he's a better person than he is a politician. \[applause] and i think just being you, you can inspire kids in a way unique, and you can do more good in many ways than any piece of legislation. so i just can't wait to work with you. and, jim, i will miss you. governor, you're tough. you're one tough lady. you put up with more crap than anybody i know in politician, and i just wants to be that blunt about it. i want to help you because you are very enthusiastic about selling this state. i've been around for a while now. i've never seen anybody work harder to put our state on the map in terms of business, an you're recruiting some of

i want to comment about tim scott. tim scott ran as a republican on a contract with his local county back in 1995. he was inspired by the contract with america. he was a very effective elected official. when he ran for congress, he beat both former senator strom thurman's son and former senator carol campbell's son. he is the real deal. he was supported by the tea party movement. he is a solid conservative and a very honorable person. i find it sad that people on the left are so threatened to have a conservative african-american member of the senate that they would say despicable things about him. i know him personally. he's going to be a great u.s. senator. he's a great pick and i am very proud of haleigh cummings -- of nikki haley for picking him. i wanted to get that out before i started about the current mess in washington which i am frankly puzzled by. congress, the legislative branch, has five tools -- proceedingses, oversight, legislation, communication by all of its members and negotiation. negotiation's the we

senator to be congressman tim scott. [applause] many people have asked what went into this decision process, and it was pretty simple. he understands the strength that we need to have in our business community as we continue to focus on jobs. he has shown that with his support of the ports and knowing that the deepening needs to be there, he's shown courage when he helped us with the fight against national labor relations board and the unions that tried to take boeing down. he has shown it with his fiscal representation and the fact that he knows the value of a dollar. he understands what every family and small business goes through, and he has stayed consistent to that. it also -- jenna: so this is the process in south carolina. the governor there announcing the replacement for senator jim demint and announcing that congressman scott is to become the senator for that state for the next several years, i believe until 2014, when he'll have to run for re-election. that will vacate his seat in the house. by the way, this wi

to tim scott. you have done some coverage of him. >> yes. >> i think it would be a quite obvious play that would help the republicans. it would be obvious what they're doing and then the question would be could he actually then win the seat in 2014. could he actually win it on his own. being appointed and then having to receive, having lost an election -- >> but let's -- the record of appointed senators is mixed at best. mickal bennett survived one. gillibra gillibrand, it's not easy. the first part is never easy. >> if he gets appointed, he'll win. >> i'm with you. i think he wins. does that mean it all goes back to lindsey and conservatives walk away, all rally around tim scott. stick around. i want to get to you on the economy. to the white house now, the november jobs report showed the fifth straight month of job gains, over 100,000. a jobless rate at the lowest level in four years. is it real or is it a mirage? joining me now allen krueger, chairman of the president's council of economic advis

could he be transformative in different ways, tim scott? >> i don't think he's transformative. the numbers that you showed about the paultry number of americans is because it's difficult to win statewide office. what would be transformative, republican or democrat, south or north or midwest to the west could actually win statewide office. this is much like an appointment and i don't think you would see transformation. on the other hand, it's a good pick for a republican governor out of south carolina? sure, it's a reasonable pick. i don't think that african-americans are going to be particularly thrilled with a republican southerner. but diversity matters and it would be nice to have an african-american in the senate. >> governor nikki haley will be appointed says this, i want to make two things clear from the outset. number one, i will not take two things and jim demint and i share. just to the point that you are making there, he goes -- he is apointed. he does go up for election. is the south ready for a black senator? >> i think we ought to be careful, assuming this is a sou

tim scott is a good friend of mine, and i kind of like it in washington. i think we're all right for right now. >> republican congressman mick mulvaney. thank you for your time. >> thanks, thomas. >> that's going to wrap things up for me. i'll see you back here tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. eastern time. don't go anywhere, now. "now" with alex wagner comes your way next. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] everyone deserves the gift of all day pain relief. this season, discover aleve. all day pain relief with just two pills. they don't help single moms. hi! hi! [ sarah ] what happened to our house last year? [ daughters ] it flooded and the water flooded out. yeah. [ sarah ] the red cross arranged the hotel for us. they gave me that break, that leverage, to be able to get it together and take care of them. you know? i feel like we've come full circle. [ daughter 1 ] like that! [ daughter 2 ] this is how i'll do it. [ sarah ] there you go. i've got a nice long life ahead. big plans. so when i found out medicare doesn't pay all my medical expenses, i got a medicare suppleme

senator to be congressman, tim scott. [applause] many people have asked what went into this decision process, and it was pretty simple. he understands the strength that we need to have in our business community as we continue to focus on jobs. he has shown that with his support of the ports and

will tim scott get it? >> well it appears he is the frontrunner for sure for just many of the reasons you mentioned. you know, he would be the first african-american republican senator since reconstruction. it would be a great pick for the republican side because they keep talking about trying to deversefy their party and that -- -- that certainly will be a great pick for that reason for republicans if they want to do it that way. plus several sources have told us and told other media outlets that senator demint personally told haley to pick tim scott. >> so assuming that it's not tim scott, who else is in the running? who else is being talked about? >> well it depends upon what the governor wants to do. there has been lots of talk about a sort of caretaker person, someone who would just serve for two years and then, you know, not run for re-election. a name that's come up a lot for that is former attorney general henry mcmaster. he is a former rival of governor haley. they faced off for governor two years

could tim scott become the black senator? i mean do you think that the governor goes with history versus loyalty? >> the key question here that joel brought up. does she want to pick a place holder and make the 2014 campaign a free-for-all where everyone gets a chance. but you're already seeing a lot of pressure from conservative activists. conservatives just lost an election in which they got about 5%, 7% of the black vote. obama got 93% there is going to be a lot of pressure on nikki haley. the republicans need some more prominent african-american figures. if they pick tim scott, that would give republicans one black senators and the democrats zero back senators that would be a big move. i don't think it means the black vote would go to the republicans. but it would be a huge symbolic move. for haley and the rest rest of the party, it would be a great thing. i think they're going to push haley hard to do that because of the symbolism behind it. >> have you ever had a conversation with tim scott? >> i have never had a conver

>> i also agree with pat on tim scott. he's got great communication skills and i think he will articulate the views of the tea party who have lately been drowned out in congress. so he's going to be a good addition. >> i'm going to ask you for the envelope in a moment susan. clarence? >> i figured someone would guess tim scott before i'd get to him i'm going to say senator joe manchin from west virginia whose flip on the gun issue lifelong nra member, he's carving out that kind of middle ground politics that i think america is looking for right now. and i think we're going to hear more from him. >> good. we'll all be waiting for that. what's his name? >> joe manchin. >> joe manchin. senator from west virginia. >> thanks for the tip. the envelope please? thank you susan. carman -- >> car mac the magnificent. all right we've got here destined for political stardom in 2013. this is definitely conmac. wednesday way la's -- venezuela's hugo chavez. >> stardom? >> you better get the vice president john. >> his populous legacy wi

tim scott has to run for real in 2014. unlike herman cane, al nl keys, allen west, the defeated congressman from florida, tim scott is someone who's considered to be serious. so it would be interest g to watch how this serious black republicans. >> you're right that he is going to come out as a progres soar. another big moment is when clint eastwood would change the way we view chairs. bla >> what do you want me to tell romney? i can't tell him. can't do that to himself. yeah, that's crazy. you're absolutely crazy. >> so in his honor, we will be awarding the clint eastwood empty chair award for the best performance for not showing up. >> this is just about waving a tar baby in the air and saying something else is the problem. >> you are not allowed to be president if you were not born in this coin tri. >> and the re varksvvie goes to other than donald trump who was out of it the entire year. we'll have more revvies right after this. >> the revvies will return with a blueberry pie lifetime achievement award. but, first, the

tim scott, african-american tea party credential. demint made clear in private to folks in south carolina that's who he wants. walk us through politics of an appointment and whether we're right to think scott's at the front of the line. >> it's bordering on strong arming nikki haley, i'm stunned how quickly this is a public movement where she is almost being boxed in to do this. even tim scott's statement was rather aggressive, if you will. ditto with jim demint and all of this. i want to say one thing on an aside. if i were a young political reporter i'd move to the state of south carolina. i think it's some of the best intraparty politics going on in america is in the south carolina republican party. nikki haley up for re-election in 2014, lindsay gray laey grah. nikki haley has to make a decision. she may make conservatives mad if she doesn't do tim scott but if she doesn't do him and do a caretaker, chris, all the conservative action can be in that primary and maybe she doesn't get a conservative primary challenge. a lot of movin

that frees up tim scott's seat in the house. do you want to know what's going to happen to tim scott's seat in the house? nbc news can confirm that former south carolina governor mark sanford is planning to run for that house seat. it does not include part of the appalachian trail. as far as i know. but i'm going to look it up. we'll be right back. >>> south carolina's governor has said that she has named scott to take over his seat in the senate. that frees up tim scott's seaten the house. >>> president ronald reagan was re-elected in 1980. you don't wait for the second term to get started you get on it both to give yourself time to get those nominees elected but frankly because the country gave you a national endorsement by re-electing you. you would like to name that nominee quickly after the election. your plit kal capital after the election. ronald reagan was elected in 1984 by a lot. within 23 days he had named his nominees. then clinton named his within 30 days. in 2004 it was president george w. bush. and within eight da

, tom cole, and newly named senator tim scott and brad garrett will join us. wednesday, december 19th. "starting point" begins right now. >>> welcome back, everybody. our "starting point" is the state department. now blasted for systemic failures that led to the deadly september 11th attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi. an independent review board determining that security at the physician facility grossly inadequate that leaders in washington ignored repeated requests to add personnel there and after the tragedy that claimed four american lives, there was a lack of transparency, responsiveness, and leadership at the senior levels in libya, and in washington, d.c. our foreign affairs reporter elise lab bot live in washington this morning. what happens next after this report? >> well, soledad, the panel made about 29 recommendations for the state department to get working on. let me go over a few of them quickly. first of them is to strengthen security personnel for the high-threat post. one problem, the consulate relied on temporary, inexperienced staff a

tim scott is a conservative from south carolina and also he's a earl if legislator in terms of being in the house of representatives, so it's perfect sense for him to go to the senate. we also see to a certain degree the first latino from texas, ted cruz, coming into the senate as well. so no question the republican party has listened to the american people and they're trying to do a better job to reach out to people of color, most importantly trying to put people of color in positions of thofrt. >> at least when it comes to elected. steve, massachusetts will also have a special election most likely in spring after john kerry's expected confirmation. and scott brown with a command been lead in a lot of the polls. can any democrat give him a run for his money? >> i think so. i think several members have talked about running. it's a very democratic state. i think the republican party brand is at an all-time low. by the time we get to the special election in march or april, it will probably be lower based on the performance this week, so i think we'll have a real good shot. the white ho

anthony list said quote congressman tim scott's rise to the senate is great news for the country and pro-life movement. martin of the tea party patriot said it is positive set for the tea party patriots for constitutionally limited government and free market. today scott who will have to run again in a special election for 2014 for a chance to serve out demint's full term says he remains focused on fiscal discipline to washington. >> we need to make difficult decisions. often we have conversations about how to create enough revenue to solve the problem. i learned early in my 20s if you have a problem with spending there's not enough revenue to make up for it. we have a spending problem, ladies and gentlemen in america. knotted a revenue -- not a revenue problem. >> he expects to be sworn in on january 3rdrd. once scott give >> thank you. a quick programming note both senate tim scott and nikki haley will join greta van susteren on tonight's on the record at 10:00 p.m. eastern. why secretary of state clinton is not testifying about benghazi this week. it says politics makes strange be

actually, representative tim scott is the favorite there. representative from charleston to succeed demint. we don't know who the governor will choose. but why demint left and going to the heritage foundation is an interesting surprising choice. we're back with the panel. byron, it shocked people in town. >> it shocked me. >> this is what happens when parties lose. and it doesn't look good. they picked up all the seats in the senate in 2010. went backward in 2012. doesn't look great going forward. some of the leading lights then start looking at other things. this is certainly the case with demint. i asked him after your interview here, i asked him, look, would you done this if republicans had won control of the senate? he said if we controlled the senate and romney were president, it would be a different question altogether. >> bret: juan, you know, some people were critical. saying he did it for the money. you know, leaving the senate. and byron saying being in the minority is a bummer. others say this is a brilliant move. he can influence

but if he chooses someone like tim scott, who everyone in the party likes, who'sed a adequately conservative, they're going to train their sites back on graham's seat. look, he's survived challenges before. he's very well-liked but again, it's a republican primary in a time when you're going to have so much energy. >> doesn't lindsay graham's behavior on the senate floor and his prominence in some of these issues, really taking on the administration suggest he's running scared and scared in his own primary? >> yes. every single republican up in 2014 if you'll note also voted against bob dole's bill. he wanted to see a disability bill through the senate because they were worried it was going to upset the tea party's vote. gwen: interesting. this may have been the week where the u.s. decided it can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines when it comes to syria. the tipping point? chemical weapons. >> this is a red line for the united states. i'm not going to telegraph in any specifics what we would do in the event of credible evidence that the assad regime has resorted to using chemical weapo

well there's certainly any number of candidates, strom thurmond ran against tim scott before. there's always the possibility, mark san ford, this will be a hotly contested race. if they can clear the field, remains to be seen. it's certainly a hot seat, it's interesting for house republicans that are looking for leadership these days. tim scott was a guy that you would have tapped as a future leader in the house of representatives and now has a possibility of being a leader in the senate. >> if he comes back from the scandal, that is an eye opener. let's go to newark, new jersey, may or booker who was talked about as running for the governor of new jersey, shifting gears here. >> it will be tough, it looks right now to beat chris christie who is popular because of his handling of the hurricane sandy disaster. now, in the case, the question is, will the incumbent senator, who is going turn 89 soon, will he run for re-election? it will be a tough race for booker to run against him, he would have to argue he is too old, he is out of it. and a lot of democrats, including the democ

reaction, now, from senator designate tim scott. congressman, i don't know what you scale you? congratulations? >>guest: tim is a good one. thank you very much. >>neil: what did you think of the editorial you are making history and here they are getting all snippy? >>guest: well, i thought it was funny. there is no content or substance if that editorial but what i can say is the governors are giving me an opportunity to represent the good people of south carolina because if you look at an 18 year contract record we created jobs on the local level and got boeing and now we are fighting for spending reform as a member of congress and you look at $16 trillion debt and deficits over $1 trillion we find ourselves in a good position to change the direction so we can save the american dream for the american people. >>neil: congressman, when i talk to the machine you are replacing, senator demint, part of the reason why he said he was leaving is because he felt limited on what he could do, but the idea was it was the democrats' home and harry reid runs it and there is only so were you

a lot of people are talking about the possibility of tim scott. that would mean he would be the first african-american senator in the republican party from south carolina, certainly, since reconstruction and the first african-american in the senate in two years. well, last night, south carolina native stephen colbert said he had an idea who should fill the seat, and it wasn't tim scott. >> who will she pick? let's see, you want somebody young, somebody conservative, somebody from south carolina, maybe somebody who had a super pac. wait a second. [ cheers and applause ] watch where you point that thing, it's powerful! okay. >>> new jersey governor chris christie visited the white house yesterday, making his case to president obama to get more federal aid for victims of hurricane sandy. president obama's expected to ask congress for an additional $50 billion to help states hit by the october storm, but christie says sandy will cost new jersey alone up to $37 billion. new york governor andrew cuomo and new york city mayor michael bloomberg also made

senator, congressman tim scott. the one interesting reaction in the media this week after nikki haley taps tim scott to replace jim demint. the first time since 1978 that black republicans is in the u.s. senate. while many praised the appointment, one wrote an op-ed offering a different view, writing that this rhetoric interprets african-american political successes, including that of president obama is part of a morality play that dramatizes how far we have come. it scares the fact that modern black republicans have been more tokens and signs of progress. republicans will not gain support must dictate policy positions. no other single tokens will change that. michelle malcolm is a columnist and fox news contributor. michelle, thank you for being here. the writer of this is adolph reed junior. he is a political science professor at the university of pennsylvania, "the new york times" saw no issue in printing this, allowing him to princess in the paper, and that is sort of the mildest of what he says in this piece. >

tim, the only advice i can give you is that you got here by being tim scott, not lindsey graham, not jim demint, just keep being tim scott and that will be good for our state. you have a unique opportunity for the conservative cause. you have unique burdens. i want to help you where i can. anything my office can do to help you get started we will do. the only advice i can give you is just keep being the good person you are. the thing about tim, not only is he good at being a congressman, he'll be a great senator. he is a better person than he is a politician. [applause] >> i think just being you, you can inspire kids in a way unique and you can do more good in many ways than any piece of legislation. so i just can't wait to work with you. jim, i will miss you. governor, you're tough. you're one tough lady. you put up with more crap than anybody i know in politics. i just want to be that blunt about it. i want to help you because you're very enthusiastic about selling this state. i have been around for a while now. i have never seen anybody work harder to put our state on the map in t

when we come back, tim scott, another senator. more from "the gaggle." busy week. >>> it is very important to me as a minority female that congressman scott earned this seat. he earned the seat for the person that he is. he earned the seat for the results he has shown. he earned this seat for what i know he's going to do in making south carolina and making our country proud. >> let's bring back "the gaggle," daniela gibbs-leger. a.b. stoddard. >> we know we have issues with nonwhite america. >> yes. >> can tim scott help? >> no. and i feel -- i felt pained when i heard her have to keep saying "he earned it, he earned it." why do you have to keep saying? that republicans have been good about putting people of color on stage and they deserve some credit for that. but when you look at their po policies, that's what turns off people of color. >> that has been the issue. as daniela points out, the people on stage look like america. president bush's cabinet looked like america. but it is not translating. >> well, also, the democrats heavily target the black re

congressman tim scott. tim scott went on the record . >> governor, nice to see both of you. >> hey, greta. how are you? >> i am well. this is an exciting day for south carl scarl and first freck freck senator from the south since 1881 and the first freck freck gop septemberor in the senate since 1979. i take it. even though it is fun to be first. it is not the reason you chose congressman scott. >> what we were looking for south carl exarl and the country was leader and congressman scott showed leadership on the way he moved up through the house leadership without compromising his courage. he fought against raising the debt soling. he's done all of that in a way to make south carolina provide. >> they have a point of this. and what he earned it for the person he is. and aaroned it for the results he's provep and continue to earn it for the leadership we shows. the only thing we want on you to take out of the minoritiuation. only in this country an indian woman become governor and freck freck to be fran cong

>> now that tim scott is appointed, it's obviously very early to tell but i don't think he'll get as much as primary challenge. he's very -- pretty well regarded among conservatives in the state. lindsey graham, there were several people maybe someone in the sell gibbs, a state senator perhaps who might challenge him in the primary. still up in the air, but i'd be very surprised if he didn't get a challenge of some sort in the primary next year. >> ifill: in general, do these kinds of races, are these watched closely for fundraising purposes, for ambition purposes or just all town themselves? >> all of the above, quite actually. you have a lot of money can be raised very quickly in a short period of time. but also there's a lot of national groups that get there interests advocated for. in addition to to that usually shorter timeframe people aren't running for a year, they can run and turn out you can spend less money to implement more voters. >> ifill: how unusual to have these special elections? are we just overreacting because it seems like so many happened so quickly? >> it's fair

i think tim scott would do well and get elected. but there are other options. i think it is going to -- a couple competing forces. there's senator lindsey graham who would love to see his primary be avoided, nikki haley could buy herself political help with what she does. those will be the main factors. >> thank you so much, maggie haberman. massive protests as the political crisis gross in egypt today. we're live in cairo next. plus, tragic news out of london from the hospital where the duchess of cambridge had been treated. send me your thoughts on facebook and twitte twitter @mitchellreports. this is "andrea mitchell reports" only on msnbc. [ metal rattling ] ♪ boo! i am the ghost of meals past. when you don't use new pam, this is what you get. residue. [ female announcer ] bargain brand cooking spray leaves annoying residue. that's why there's new pam. let's see if we can get the same item at walmart for less? okay. fijit friends. fifteen bucks on rollback. wow! that's a savings of over 29 bucks! twenty-nine bucks!!?? and they're powered by friendship. se

what tim scott is saying about that. details ahead. christmas is almost here and i'm with mitch who's shopping for low prices on last minute gifts. think walmart can help make this the best christmas ever? we'll see? let's go see. xbox rollback -- $179.96. my son's gonna love that. you're gonna play it too. you got me. easybake oven -- rollback -- $39.96! whoo. can't beat that. you're doing great for the last minute. diamond hoop earrings -- 68 bucks! what? she's gonna think you shopped for weeks. man -- you're saving my life! you finished your christmas shopping -- that's the total. whoa! see for yourself! shop walmart's low prices for all your last minute christmas gifts. you'll see the difference. >>> all right. anyone who owns a dog can tell you that man's best friend is not just a pet, but a member of the family. well, the first family took that to the very next level this year. not only did the first dog, bo, grace the cover of the white house christmas card. he also started in his own christmas video. ♪ >> colleen birk is the

in a statement demint called tim scott a "principled leader and an important voice for conservatives across the nation." coming up, as america mourns the victims of the sandy hook shooting, the story that had most of the -- the story that most of the country had been focused on has rightly remained on the sidelines. will washington put aside the squabbling and reach a deal on the fiscal cliff? we will ask luke russert just ahead. oh...there you go. wooohooo....hahaahahaha! i'm gonna stand up to her! no you're not. i know. you know ronny folks who save hundreds of dollars switching to geico sure are happy. how happy are they jimmy? happier than a witch in a broom factory. get happy. get geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. i've got a nice long life ahead. big plans. so when i found out medicare doesn't pay all my medical expenses, i looked at my options. then i got a medicare supplement insurance plan. [ male announcer ] if you're eligible for medicare, you may know it only covers about 80% of your part b medical expenses. the rest is up to you. call now and

south carolina governor nikki haley picking tim scott to replace outgoing senator jim demint. scott vowing to continue focusing on our country's soaring debt. >> no matter how much we increase taxes it will not have a dint on the deficit. for us to close the gap we are going to have to have a serious discussion about spending reform. >>> scott will become the fist black senator from line gnaw. he will have to run again for 2014. >> he will be home for christmas. former president george h.w. bush expected to be released from the hospital in the next week. the 41st president is being treated for a bronchitis related cough. he has been in the hospital since november 23rdrd. but doctors say he is continuing to make progress. >>> one of our nation's wounded warriors will be having an extra special christmas this year. he will finally be able to walk on his own again. last christmas day corporal was hit with an i eastbounding d and lost one of his legs. this year he's learning to use his brand new prosthetic leg. >>> a year after you get injured or whatever happens and that's really