Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) addressed CPAC attendees this afternoon in the Potomac Ballroom, after an introduction from Al Cardenas, Chairman of the American Conservative Union.  In his remarks, Senator Scott stressed the importance of understanding the “why” of our problems rather than simply the “what.”  ObamaCare, he stated, will add a new tax of at least 25% and expands the federal government’s reach much further than it has ever been before.  Regarding this, he said, “We’re heading in the wrong direction.”

Senator Scott expounded on the fact that the federal government acts recklessly and irresponsibly when they handle taxpayer dollars.  ”Nobody in America who sits at their kitchen table, who understands that they make $22,000 per year, would choose to spend $34,000 per year.”  He stressed the importance of the economy over the government:  ”We need to grow our economy and not our government.”

Scott, a former congressman, was appointed last December by South Carolina governor Nikki Haley to the post left vacant by retiring Senator Jim DeMint. At the time, Scott was the only black member of the Senate from either party.

Optimism rang from Senator Scott’s speech; in his own words, “I believe that America’s greatest hour is still ahead of us.”