Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott applauded the Supreme Court's decision to end race-based college admissions, stating it aligns with the principle of judging individuals by their character rather than their skin color. Speaking on "The Faulkner Focus," Senator Scott expressed optimism about the future, emphasizing that a quality K-12 education empowers children to access opportunities regardless of their background. He challenged the notion that attending an elite university is the sole path to success, highlighting the importance of character, determination, and hard work in achieving the American dream.
Scott directly addressed concerns raised by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, who expressed disappointment over the ruling. He countered their perspective, arguing that the narrative of limited opportunity based on race is a harmful falsehood. He reiterated his belief that the Supreme Court's decision affirms the American ideal of judging individuals based on merit, not race.
The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision declared the use of race as a determining factor in college admissions unconstitutional. Chief Justice John Roberts' majority opinion emphasized that individual achievements and experiences, not race, should be the basis for evaluating applicants. The court deemed race-based admissions policies inconsistent with the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause.
Justice Sotomayor authored the dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Kagan and partially by Justice Jackson, who recused herself from the Harvard case due to prior involvement with the university. Justice Thomas, while concurring with the majority, provided his own perspective, criticizing race-based admissions policies as contradictory to the Constitution's principle of colorblindness.
