With a dizzying 17 clowns now in the race car for the Republican presidential nomination—and with the first debate only five days away—it seems like a good time to take an in-depth look at the top-ten candidates and their current stands on the issues. This is a just-the-facts review of Ben Carson.
A pioneering brain surgeon, Ben Carson is considered a moderate Libertarian conservative. He grew up poor in inner-city Detroit and says he overcame his youthful violence and anger by studying the Bible. It’s a story that has won him a large and loyal grassroots following—despite a CNN/ORC survey that found 48% of registered voters don’t know who he is.
Once a self-described “flaming liberal,” Carson was later captivated by “Ronald Reagan’s message of optimism and opportunity.” The physician’s liberal views then started to shift and turned strongly conservative after he noticed “how many able individuals were relying on the government to live their lives.”
Given his own rise from poverty to prosperity, Carson strongly believes in American exceptionalism. He argues that it’s not too late for the country to reclaim all that made it great. He is confidant he can mount a successful national campaign, despite being a political neophyte, and thinks the naysayers forget “one very important thing—the people.”
Carson’s pet issues are fiscal irresponsibility and the partisan divide, which he believes are threats to the nation's stability. Along those lines, he supports a flat tax and a constitutional amendment to impose congressional term limits.
As the only black Republican candidate, Carson acknowledges that there is “and will always be” racism in the world. But, again drawing on his own life experience, he believes people can rise above the “ignorant Americans” who espouse bigotry.
Carson may be a long shot in the race for the Republican nomination. But he tends to stir conservative crowds in much the same way Obama did during his campaign. According to Huffington Post, Carson’s supporters seem to feel an almost spiritual connection to the man. As one supporter explained, "I pretty much hear people open their mouths and expect it not to be true. But when he speaks, I believe him. He is one of the most inspiring figures we've ever seen."
Claims to fame
• First surgeon to successfully separate conjoined twins at the head
• Presidential Medal of Freedom (2008)
• “Living Legend” designation by the Library of Congress (2001)
• Recipient of 60 honorary degrees
Strongly opposes—
A woman’s right to choose (”abortion for convenience”)
Higher taxes on the wealthy
Expansion of free trade
Opposes—
A reduction in EPA restrictions
Stricter punishments to reduce crime
Expansion of the military
Foreign entanglements (e.g., fighting ISIS)
Expansion of Obamacare
Same-sex unions (but not all gay rights)
Green energy as a priority
Federally determined education standards (e.g., Common Core)
A pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants
Strongly favors—
A market-led recovery versus a stimulus
Keeping God in the public sphere
School vouchers to allow choice
Congressional term limits
A flat or proportional tax rate
Favors—
Absolute right to gun ownership
Has no opinion on—
Privatizing Social Security
Making voter registration easier
Legal requirements for hiring women and minorities
Believes—
Homosexuality is a choice.
Climate change debate is “irrelevant;” temperature change is cyclical.
Marijuana is a gateway drug, but medical use is okay.
Proposes to—
Replace Obamacare with health savings accounts.
Memorable quote
Comparing Democrats to Nazis (March 2014): “I mean, [America is] very much like Nazi Germany. And I know you’re not supposed to say ‘Nazi Germany,’ but I don’t care about political correctness. You know, you had a government using its tools to intimidate the population. We now live in a society where people are afraid to say what they actually believe.”
What to watch for
Watch Carson for style points. Many view his lack of a political background or a polished touch as making him relatable and separate from fellow social conservatives. But that same unpolished style has also led to provocative comments that alienate other voters. How Carson balances the two sides of his impulsive style will very much affect how he fares in the debate.
Having never held political office before, Carson lacks the domestic executive experience of the governors running for the nomination and doesn’t have the international perspective of the senators. Although he’s been studying economics as well as foreign affairs and policy, it remains to be seen if he can hold his own among the veteran politicians.
Carson doesn’t rely on prepared remarks for his speeches, preferring instead to “speak from the heart.” As a result his addresses can be meandering. He has also said he won’t be filling his head “full of talking points.” Watch to see if he manages to contain his tendency to roam, uses his time effectively, and scores points others aren’t equipped to win.
Other articles in my "Just the Facts" series:Ted Cruz, Scott Walker
Sources:
The Hill, On the Issues.org, PBS, Addicting Info, Huffington Post, Christian Post, Washington Examiner, Bradenton