View Full Version : Dr. Ben Carson: "The issue is experience."
Dr. Carson responds to questions about his lack of political experience on his Facebook page:
Tonight, going through all of your questions, I wanted to touch on a few issues that seem to be asked by many people.
I would like to deal with one question tonight in some detail. The issue is experience. Several people ask what they should tell their friends when people say “I like Carson but he has no political experience”.
You are absolutely right — I have no political experience. The current Members of Congress have a combined 8,700 years of political experience. Are we sure political experience is what we need. Every signer of the Declaration of Independence had no elected office experience. What they had was a deep belief that freedom is a gift from God. They had a determination to rise up against a tyrannical King. They were willing to risk all they had, even their lives, to be free. Today we find ourselves with an entire class of politicians. No one in Philadelphia, during that summer our nation was born, dreamed that service was a career with a pension. America was the land of the Citizen Statesmen. They were merchants, lawyers, farmers — and yes, even doctors. They were willing to stand for freedom. Today, the political class stands in the way, not for the people. They demand pensions and perks. This is not what our Founders envisioned for America. I spent my life treating very ill children. Over 15,000 times I gave my all to prolong their lives. I was blessed to do it. But when it came time for me to retire, I simply could not sit back any longer. These children became my family. What our government is doing to them is outrageous. I am prepared to risk all that I have to try and make a difference in their future. I built one of the nation’s best medical centers. I served for two decades on the boards of Costco and Kellogg. I built a national scholarship program.
My experience is very different than what we have come to expect. I grew up poor. I know what it is like to be homeless and hungry. I know the pain of poverty. I also know that education and a mother’s love can be the path out of dire poverty. I know what it is like to see water fountains you are not allowed to drink out of because of your skin color. I also know that once you peel back the skin, the brain is the same no matter what your skin color or continent you live on. I know that victimhood is a trap. I know that it is our Christian responsibility to offer those less fortunate a hand up. I know my faith is strong and my ego is small.
I know that my path to the White House is different than most. But I also know I bring all of the pain and joy, the success and failure, the lessons learned through love and sorrow in my life’s journey. Bill Clinton was famous for saying “I feel your pain” — well, I have walked in your shoes.
I do not have political experience, I have a life journey. A journey that not only made it possible for me to relate to so many different people, but also one where time and time again I was told I would fail, only to succeed. My candidacy is different, that I grant you. I have neither Donald Trump’s money or Jeb Bush’s political network. However, I wouldn't trade a single child I treated for all of Trump’s money. While I admire the Bush family’s dedication to service, I too served — nights, weekends, holidays, birthdays and anniversaries with severely injured patients were my public service.
I didn’t go to embassy cocktail parties or beg lobbyists for money. I spent night after night in a quiet, sterile room trying to save the life of a small child. That was my life’s service. This is my life’s experience. What I have is a lifetime of caring, integrity and honesty. I have experienced the American Dream. No where in the world, other than America, could a man whose ancestors were slaves, rise to become a leading brain surgeon and one day seek the Office of President.
The very fact that I am running is testament to the greatness of America. If all you want is political experience then I cannot be your candidate.
Thank you for staying up with me.
Goodnight,
Ben
https://www.facebook.com/realbencarson/posts/549786315187839?fref=nf
Pat
One of the best explanations that I have heard concerning anything since this process began.
Team Sergeant
11-05-2015, 12:16
Yeah, right.
Not for the democrats/progressives..... neither is a low IQ, being a drug addict, liar or bottom-feeding scumbag.
I'm sure Dr. Carson would do just fine as President of the United States. If he takes the nomination I'd vote for him.
Very good explanation.
I'm not sure the good Dr. can get elected in the TV era. His slow speaking pattern and habit of speaking with his eyes closed made it very difficult to follow his thoughts during the last debate. Relative to the other candidates especially Rubio and Cruz he sounds like he is on Valium.
SittingElf
11-05-2015, 14:45
Dr. Carson has been my choice since day one of this election cycle when he decided to run.
I have longed for the day when a non-politician would step up, and have the intelligence and platform to run against career politico's, and the true potential to WIN.
Being a potential winner of the office as a black conservative is also a game changer, and for once, one who has a real plan and what I have come to believe to be a hard core commitment to the constitution.
He is eloquent, phenomenally smart, and his confidence is extremely enticing as a potential national leader. His soft demeanor belies the strength behind his convictions. A Reagan in disguise, IMHO!
Pro Life, Pro 2A, Pro Equality, and fiscal sanity. A self made and successful man.
And for Cabinet, I think Trump would make an EXCELLENT Secretary of Commerce....but nothing else. (also like North for VA, West for DHS, Palin for Interior, Jindal for EPA, and Gowdy for DOJ!)
My $.02 for what it's worth....
Cheers
Pro 2A,
He's actually been all over the road on 2A. First he said the guns were OK in rural areas but not urban environments. Then they would be OK if they used "smart gun" technology. I'm not sure where he is at the moment but he'd better pick a lane quickly and stay in it.
Pat
GratefulCitizen
11-05-2015, 15:54
He's actually been all over the road on 2A. First he said the guns were OK in rural areas but not urban environments. Then they would be OK if they used "smart gun" technology. I'm not sure where he is at the moment but he'd better pick a lane quickly and stay in it.
Pat
Concur.
Given his life experience and religious background, this is an issue in which he might lack (relative) understanding and/or will.
It would also be interesting to hear him answer some tough questions regarding the difficult choices a Commander-in-Chief must make involving the risking and taking of lives.
Curious what his interpretation of Romans 13:4 is WRT CiC responsibilities.
You people kill me.
You want Carson or Hillary?
The guy's on or near the top. There's a year left. Get behind him or badmouth a dem if you're gonna pontificate.
And, no, I'm not being hypocritical; Cruz DOES need more bass in his voice...
Badger52
11-05-2015, 16:57
And, no, I'm not being hypocritical; Cruz DOES need more bass in his voice...For when he's at his own events someone needs to run his sound - a high-pass filter & cutoff stuff below 125Hz or so, a slight 2dB bump maybe in the 300Hz region, and a similar bump in the 2-3kHz range. Ready to read bedtime stories.
Way better than the current imperial Il Duce chin (h/t Pete) pointing at the ionosphere that got elected twice. Every time I see Jarrett's puppet do that it's like a mole at a carnival game...
'Course if someone had pointed that out in a media outlet they would be a waacis' and out of a job.
:rolleyes:
Team Sergeant
11-05-2015, 17:42
You people kill me.
You want Carson or Hillary?
The guy's on or near the top. There's a year left. Get behind him or badmouth a dem if you're gonna pontificate.
And, no, I'm not being hypocritical; Cruz DOES need more bass in his voice...
I'd like to see Ted or Trump as president, Dr. Ben as VP. That would give Dr. Ben the experience he needs and then he'll be the first Black president of this country.......
I'd like to see Ted or Trump as president, Dr. Ben as VP. That would give Dr. Ben the experience he needs and then he'll be the first Black president of this country.......
I'll take anybody the slimeball media, the dems or the blueblood rinos don't want to be elected.
The guy's on or near the top. There's a year left. Get behind him or badmouth a dem if you're gonna pontificate
A year is a long time in show business, er I mean politics...
IIRC correctly Herman Cain was near the top of the polls in October 2011, it didn't end so well for him. From everything I've read Dr. Carson is a better man and candidate in every way, my $.02 he just doesn't have the charisma to beat the wicked witch of Arkansas
Recent history shows the American people prefer an eloquent young senator, this profile beat Hillary in 2008, and was re-elected in 2012.
Rubio in a very subtle way is an extremely skilled politician, he can skewer people while still appearing positive and optimistic. So many of the other GOP candidates come across as angry old guys.
In the last debate Rubio;
1) Called Hillary an outright Liar over Benghazi.
2) Blasted the MSM for their bias, without penalty, Cruz despite being a Harvard debate champion couldn't.
3) Made Bush look slow and weak for attacking him on vote attendance.
4) Charmed the crowd and a hostile CNBC panel with his " I always do whats best for mother quip"
5) Still came across as positive and confident, without the Trump hubris that alienates folks.
Yet the media still crowned him the winner. All of this plus his Hispanic heritage should scare Hillary to death, in contrast she comes across as old, dishonest, and utterly lacking in judgement. He also didn't back down from calling her a liar the following morning on CBS Morning.
IMHO, Rubio is the best chance for the GOP in this election. Dr. Ben as VP would work well with this.
Team Sergeant
11-05-2015, 17:47
I'll take anybody the slimeball media, the dems or the blueblood rinos don't want to be elected.
That's exactly why I was onboard with Trump! ;)
IMHO, Rubio is the best chance for the GOP in this election. Dr. Ben as VP would work well with this.
Rubio is GOP. Trump and Carson are outsiders.
Right now, conservatives clearly want an outsider.
What makes you think that'll change?
We're tired of grovelling-across-the-aisle, buttkissing, politically-correct liars on either side.
blacksmoke
11-05-2015, 21:32
I like Dr. Carson the more I hear about him. I wonder wher he stands with the hispanics?:rolleyes: If anything, maybe more of those bussed in people from the ghetto will come out and vote for another black president, not knowing he's conservative.
Right now, conservatives clearly want an outsider.
What makes you think that'll change?
We're tired of grovelling-across-the-aisle, buttkissing, politically-correct liars on either side
I definitely agree with your last point. I think conservatives want to beat the Dims for the WH more than they want an outsider.
Zero, The economy, and Hillary's foibles have left the Dims as vulnerable as they have been in some time, however IMHO the GOP shoots itself in the foot with it's stance on domestic social issues which do not reflect changes across US society.
If the goal is to win, any GOP nominee for POTUS will get the conservative vote, it's the independent/undecided vote you need to win. The younger candidates don't seem as tied to these alienating domestic social issues.
To me Trump is a charismatic buffoon. He is entertaining but when it comes down to it I don't think most people will vote for his hubris. In addition for all his wealth, he seems incredibly petty and vindictive with his feuds etc. There is a venom in him common to truly small men. Contrast this with the magnanimous nature a Reagan or George Bush led with.
I like Dr. Carson, he just puts me to sleep whenever he speaks, for starters his eyes are already closed, second he whispers and it takes an eternity for him to get his point across. I think Hillary would eat him alive in the debates.
On the flip side Hillary isn't a particularly eloquent or gifted orator herself. Rubio, Cruz, or Christie would eat her lunch in debates just as Obama did.
I think until the GOP adapts and rolls out someone hungry and dynamic, they keep losing.
I think until the GOP adapts and rolls out someone hungry and dynamic, they keep losing.
All they have to roll out is someone who's not afraid to call a spade a spade and isn't a Mormon, this time, so all the nondems will get off the couch on Tuesday.
Trump and Carson have survived two hostile debates. Don't expect them to fade away if they're still leading after February. Any dirt would have already been aired. The slimeballs are already trying to soil Carson for beatin' up on a couple kids in grade school, etc., while giving Hillary a pass on everything under the sun.
This is election is a crux; a GO/NO GO for the Country.
I don't care if it's Carson, Trump or Cruz, or what combination; I don't care if it's some other non-establishment repub.
It just better not be a democrat.
I'd like to see Ted or Trump as president, Dr. Ben as VP. That would give Dr. Ben the experience he needs and then he'll be the first Black president of this country.......
I'm with you too TS ^^^^
Dr. Carson gave a great explanations tho.
To date, 16 pages of mostly 'open mouth-insert foot' fact-checking to aide in choosing a candidate to go with in 2016.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/elections/2016/president-united-states/
There'll be much more before this is over.
Gutes lesen.
Richard
craigepo
11-06-2015, 11:26
I think Carson is a very nice guy, and I will vote for anyone the republicans nominate. I think he would be the guy that I would most like to eat dinner with.
But, I can find 50 guys in a 100-mile radius from where I live that would be a more effective president. Helluva lot of difference between surgery and being the chief executive officer of the United States.
craigepo
11-06-2015, 11:28
Uh-oh. He might be sunk.
http://www.erickontheradio.com/2015/11/the-beginning-of-ben-carsons-end/?utm_source=The+Conservative+Team&utm_campaign=ed17be4938-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ed44836b36-ed17be4938-265749345
But, I can find 50 guys in a 100-mile radius from where I live that would be a more effective president.
Sure, but they're not leading in the polls with less than a year left.
No direct reflection on you, Craigepo, but "beggars cain't be choicy."
Uh-oh. He might be sunk.
http://www.erickontheradio.com/2015/11/the-beginning-of-ben-carsons-end/?utm_source=The+Conservative+Team&utm_campaign=ed17be4938-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ed44836b36-ed17be4938-265749345
At this point, what difference does it make?
Uh-oh. He might be sunk.
http://www.erickontheradio.com/2015/11/the-beginning-of-ben-carsons-end/?utm_source=The+Conservative+Team&utm_campaign=ed17be4938-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ed44836b36-ed17be4938-265749345
It's funny how the MSM use an electron microscope when looking into GOP candidates and look through the objective end of the Hale telescope when looking at Dems. Typical.
He never said that he went to WP.
Pat
It's funny how the MSM use an electron microscope when looking into GOP candidates and look through the objective end of the Hale telescope when looking at Dems. Typical.
He never said that he went to WP.
Pat
They're attacking him because they're scared of him, to state the obvious.
I ain't the only one still steamin' over Benghazi; I think the issue will raise it's head at a crucial point during the process.
I don't believe anybody who's carrying Carson on their shoulders right now gives a hoot about the West Point/schoolyard knifing anecdotes...
Zero, The economy, and Hillary's foibles have left the Dims as vulnerable as they have been in some time
Vulnerable in whose eyes?
They don't care about anything that Hillary has done, nor understand the consequences of what she hasn't done.
In the eyes of the democrats, the only answer to "who will be the next president" is either Sanders or Hillary. Younger voters prefer Sanders due to his socialists promises for more free stuff, elder voters prefer Hillary because they dislike Sanders socialist tendencies.
The same folks who bemoan voting for Obama's second term have not crossed the aisle, so to speak. They simply acknowledge that Obama was a bad choice, still, any dem is way better than any republican in their eyes.
Knowing this, it is hard for me to see any discussion on this topic as anything more than a discussion on which rep candidate is going to get the majority of minority of the votes.
I hope I'm wrong though.
:mad:
Vulnerable in whose eyes?
They don't care about anything that Hillary has done, nor understand the consequences of what she hasn't done.
In the eyes of the democrats, the only answer to "who will be the next president" is either Sanders or Hillary. Younger voters prefer Sanders due to his socialists promises for more free stuff, elder voters prefer Hillary because they dislike Sanders socialist tendencies.
The same folks who bemoan voting for Obama's second term have not crossed the aisle, so to speak. They simply acknowledge that Obama was a bad choice, still, any dem is way better than any republican in their eyes.
Knowing this, it is hard for me to see any discussion on this topic as anything more than a discussion on which rep candidate is going to get the majority of minority of the votes.
I hope I'm wrong though.
:mad:
I almost totally agree with you here. The only people who care about Hillary and all of her incompetence and lies, are already voting Republican. The rest do not care, she could be caught doing any completely disgusting thing, and still receive their votes.
The only question is whether or not more Republican voters will get out and vote. Hopefully that will happen.
I almost totally agree with you here. The only people who care about Hillary and all of her incompetence and lies, are already voting Republican. The rest do not care, she could be caught doing any completely disgusting thing, and still receive their votes.
The only question is whether or not more Republican voters will get out and vote. Hopefully that will happen.
She has a cult following that will vote for her no matter what comes up. She is in their "Voter DNA." They can't do anything about it...they feel "compelled" to vote for her. Numbers don't matter...facts don't matter...she WILL get their votes.
Vulnerable in whose eyes?
Vulnerable in the sense despite 7 years of the FED printing free money, the economy still sucks, ISIS is as dangerous and better funded than AQ ever was, and the Dims leading candidate Hillary has some serious hair on her, and as you said people acknowledge Obama was a poor choice.
IMHO the undecided people would be less likely to vote for change if the economy was booming like when Clinton ran for his second term.
I've been told the same national malaise you infer was present under Carter in the late 70's, and that led to Reagan.
Uh-oh. He might be sunk.
http://www.erickontheradio.com/2015/11/the-beginning-of-ben-carsons-end/?utm_source=The+Conservative+Team&utm_campaign=ed17be4938-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ed44836b36-ed17be4938-265749345
The response from the Carson Camp:
Here is the full statement Watts provided to TheDCNF:
“Dr Carson was the top ROTC student in the City of Detroit. In that role he was invited to meet General Westmoreland. He believes it was at a banquet. He can’t remember with specificity their brief conversation but it centered around Dr. Carson’s performance as ROTC City Executive Officer.
He was introduced to folks from West Point by his ROTC Supervisors. They told him they could help him get an appointment based on his grades and performance in ROTC. He considered it but in the end did not seek admission.
There are “Service Connected” nominations for stellar High School ROTC appointments. Again he was the top ROTC student in Detroit. I would argue strongly that an Appointment is indeed an amazing full scholarship. Having ran several Congressional Offices I am very familiar with the Nomination process.
Again though his Senior Commander was in touch with West Point and told Dr. Carson he could get in, Dr Carson did not seek admission.
The Politico story is an outright Lie. Dr. Carson as the leading ROTC student in Detroit was told by his Commanders that he could get an Appointment to the Academy. He never said he was admitted or even applied.
The campaign never 'admitted to anything'
This is what we have come to expect from Politico.”
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2015/11/06/team-carson-politico-story-is-an-outright-lie/#ixzz3qk5A7kiI
I'm thinking it's past time to start doing background checks on "journalists". I could have started with one CBS female who was my neighbor in Hollywood. I almost did when she went after Palin a few years ago, but she's off the air now.
Pat
Team Sergeant
11-06-2015, 14:18
I'm still waiting for Politico to run the story that obama applied for and received admission to Harvard based on his application stating he was a "Kenyan Foreign Exchange Student"
But seriously who in the democratic/socialist party actually cares?
Harvard is the joke.
craigepo
11-06-2015, 14:20
The response from the Carson Camp:
I'm thinking it's past time to start doing background checks on "journalists". I could have started with one CBS female who was my neighbor in Hollywood. I almost did when she went after Palin a few years ago, but she's off the air now.
Pat
The Erickson post from earlier has already been retracted. A damn lie will get around the world before truth gets its shoes on.
Badger52
11-06-2015, 14:32
+1 They (the dem machine) have their target folders - constantly being revised - and will trot them out as needed depending upon their perception of who's the most immediate threat (polls, MSM coverage etc.). Truth has very little skin in the spectator sport of politics. Just like asking a question that can't be answered with any good-appearing result (e.g., "Now, just when was it you stopped beating your wife?").
Fast-rising contenders like Dr Carson tend to go through a process of discovery, scrutiny, and decline. Carson’s now in the “scrutiny” phase. That scrutiny sank some past hopefuls such as Herman Cain and Michelle Bachmann. Will it do the same for Dr Carson?
For Dr Carson, it’s his personal story and his quiet air of authority that are his biggest assets. If voters and donors begin to think it’s an act, they’ll move elsewhere.
Dr Carson has a habit of making statements outside his field of expertise (e.g., his comments in the Fox News interview that there should not be rules for how the U.S. Armed Forces conducts itself during times of war) and allowing his religious beliefs to blind him to factual evidence (e.g., the pyramids were not tombs but built by Joseph for grain storage). Add to that his most recent statements inre to questioning what he wrote in his autobiography “Gifted Hands” in which he claims as an ROTC student in Detroit in 1969 he was offered admittance and a full scholarship to West Point and declined it following a meeting with Army Gen. William Westmoreland at a Memorial Day banquet, and...:confused:
To me, these are not qualities we need in a POTUS, and I don't think Dr Carson will be on the campaign trail much longer.
MOO.
Richard
Agree that Carson will be skewered by the press...and will most likely fail.
And yet, a POS slow moving tusnami of corruption with no honor nor integrity - like Hillary Clinton will survive. She may even make it to the WH.
Dr. Carson by all accounts is a good man who has done real good in this world...
Hillary...:confused:
We do live in interesting times.
So there are actually folks out there that can't believe an outstanding JROTC cadet (Carson was in high school at the time; ROTC is for college students), who was also a racial minority, was courted by West Point recruiters to consider applying to the school (where, incidentally, EVERY cadet receives a 4 year de facto 'full scholarship')...in 1969? With the Army suffering from racial tensions and recruiting difficulty?
GratefulCitizen
11-07-2015, 12:18
There are many voters out there who will not vote for the R candidate regardless.
There are many media figures out there who will oppose the R candidate regardless.
In the selection process for the R candidate, why do their opinions matter?
To me, these are not qualities we need in a POTUS, and I don't think Dr Carson will be on the campaign trail much longer.
Agreed 100%, as others have previously posted after 8 years of Zero, we need a leader. Despite Dr. Carson's impressive accomplishments, his pyramids were granaries theory, considering it's been known for sometime the pyramids aren't hollow, and if there is anything to this West Point thing raise questions over his judgement.
IMHO the main thing he has even less command presence than Zero, which is saying something. I absolutely agree Hillary is at best an incompetent turd who gets away with murder, but she is a better politician, and politics is a fickle game of perception.