Sen. Tim Scott (R., S.C.) wasn't hearing a liberal blogger's dismissal of him as being a mere minority "prop" on Wednesday, the day Republicans celebrated passing an overhaul of the nation's tax system.
In a now-deleted tweet, HuffPost contributor Andy Ostroy noted Scott appeared alongside President Donald Trump—and dozens of other lawmakers—at the White House after the Republicans passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
"What a shocker ... there's ONE black person there and sure enough they have him standing next to the mic like a manipulated prop," he wrote.
Scott, the only black Republican in the U.S. Senate, had a ready retort that won widespread praise, pointing out to Ostroy he was instrumental in the bill's passage and hitting him for only seeing his skin color.
"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," he wrote.
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 deleted the tweet and apologized, writing there "many other ways I should've and could've made my point," although it's unclear what that point was.
.@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
Scott spoke at the White House celebration and thanked Trump for getting assistance to distressed communities through the legislation.