Republican candidate Carson says Muslims unfit to be U.S. president

[oberliner]

Source: Reuters

Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson on Sunday said Muslims were unfit to be president of the United States, arguing their faith was inconsistent with American principles.

"I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that," Carson told NBC's "Meet the Press."

The remarks by Carson, who is near the top of opinion polls for the crowded field of Republican candidates, followed a controversy that erupted when front-runner Donald Trump declined to challenge anti-Muslim comments made by a supporter on Friday.

Carson said he thought a U.S. president's faith should be "consistent with the Constitution."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/20/us-usa-election-republicans-idUSKCN0RK0ND20150920

[YoungDemCA]

1. Well the GOP base thinks we already have one as President

So this is just a dog whistle.

[PSPS]

7. That's exactly what it is -- dog whistle.

[trillion]

47. rofl haahaha good point.

[Liberalagogo]

2. "Unfit to be President"

Look in the mirror, Projection Ben.

[HassleCat]

3. My theocracy better than your theocracy

Some people, evidently Carson among them, look at the horrible Muslim theocracies and think the solution is a Christian theocracy here. Hey, Ben. You're a neurosurgeon. Can you re-wire your brain to enable thinking?

[marble falls]

4. And he's the "thoughtful, reasonable" one. A Trump/Carson ticket. We got to get everybody ....

registered and to the polls. We sure as hell wouldn't want that one to slip by us!

[oberliner]

6. I think he is approaching the end of his popularity

Interest seems to have turned to Carly.

[marble falls]

11. See how the Teapublican encouraged distrust of elected officials has worked against the GOP?....

Their overwhelmingly three top candidates have absolutely no time in any sort of public service. Has there ever been a President elected who held no elected office prior to being President?

The GOP has lost control of the party.

[oberliner]

12. "Has there ever been a President elected who held no elected office prior to being President?"

Dwight D Eisenhower comes to mind.

[WinstonSmith4740]

22. True.

But by the time the 1952 election rolled around, he was pretty much being credited with winning WWII by himself. According to my history teacher in high school, BOTH parties were after him, because they knew he'd win. But then again, she was a Stevenson Fan.

[maddiemom]

54. True, from what I first remember about politics as a child.

My mom was always interested, then, later active in Democratic politics in our very Republican PA county. She always said that both parties were after Ike. When he went Republican, the Democrats were very disappointed and went all out for Stevenson.

[WinstonSmith4740]

57. Something my history teacher said always stuck with me.

She called Adlai Stevenson the most qualified person to never get elected. (It was the mid '60s) I guess he was really smart and very intellectual. As I got older, I realized that was probably the start of the culture of personality in our politics. Ike was SO popular, qualifications weren't considered necessary. Hell, he won the war in Europe, right? Of course he can run the country. He was probably the last truly moderate Republican...hell, in today's party, both he and Barry Goldwater would be considered raving liberals.

[lastlib]

31. Let's start with George Washington......

Zachary Taylor, Ulysses Grant, and DDE (as noted above).

[sarge43]

32. Herbert Hoover n/t

[The CCC]

35. Let's start with George Washington......

George Washington served in the House of Bergesses.

[maddiemom]

55. Military generals, all, and major "names" who were considered war heroes.

[David__77]

16. I don't think she will "take."

I don't imagine that the Republican electorate will find her to be likable. The interest in her seems to be on the part of the media.

[elleng]

5. We KNOW who is unfit to be President!

[restorefreedom]

8. i will say one thing for the guy

he doesnt try and parse words or obfuscate his positions.

*cough cough*

[sarge43]

9. And the Constitution requires "faith" exactly where

Unlike Carson I have read it and in fact it clearly states that a religious test for public office is forbidden (Art VI, sec 3)

The basic laws of Islam

1. Faith
2. Prayer
3. Charity
4. Fasting
5. Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

How are they incompatible with the USC? Yes, it's rhetorical.

[trillion]

48. This site really needs an up button.

[ReactFlux]

10. The same could be argued for any religion

There are lots of parallels with the nazis these days and I don't like it one bit.

[trillion]

49. It's been going on since bush 1. When the tea party showed up it got 1000 times worse.

Don't get me wrong, the Republicans were always racists since at least the 70's when I started watching them.

[Truprogressive85]

13. dummy

I wonder if Bill Maher is fan now

[WinstonSmith4740]

14. I know it's just not me.

I have such a huge problem with people who want to run this country, who will put their hand on a Bible (or holy book of their choice. I'm pretty sure for most of today's Republicans, it was "Atlas Shrugged&quot , swear to uphold The Constitution, who have NO DAMN IDEA what that document says.

Article 6, Section 3:
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

[Ccarmona]

17. We all know

Half of the 2nd Amendment is the only part of the Constitution the Repugs honor as law.

[WinstonSmith4740]

20. You got it right!

I love to play, "Yes, but what does the FIRST part of the 2nd Amendment say? You know, before the comma?" with the few ammosexuals that I know. The deer in the headlight look is priceless. Heartbreakingly ignorant, but priceless.

[lastlib]

43. I've played that game with them too....

pointing out that the 2nd Amendment has THREE commas, and that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms" is between two of them (making it a subordinate clause to "A well-regulated militia".) Few of them have a clue what a subordinate clause is, or the logical significance of it.

[WinstonSmith4740]

56. Love that game!!

Except, of course, for the ignorance part. I really, really love it when I get into The Constitution mandating the regulation of militias (and therefore, their guns), the sputtering generally starts, I get called a traitor, and they drift away.

[smirkymonkey]

34. No, it's not just you.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Than you for your interest in the open position, Dr. Carson

Please don't call us; we'll call you.

Meanwhile, please read the First Amendment and Article VI of main body, where it says "No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

[NonMetro]

18. Most Americans Will Say They Disagree With Carson

At least publicly.

[mike dub]

19. Hell, in a rethug utopia, so are atheists. Eom.

[Dems to Win]

21. Rep. Keith Ellison for Bernie's VP!!!

Keith is high on my list for Bernie's VP because he is a very active, energetic supporter of the Fight for $15, and other good causes. And, he is younger (in his 50s), which I think is really important.

Comments like Ben Carson's make me want to push for Ellison even harder. Poke a stick in their eye, stand for our principles, and WIN!

[restorefreedom]

24. excellent pick

love ellison!

and yes, i agree that a younger veep will be important.

[davidpdx]

41. He would be one of several great choices for VP

I think having a minority on the ticket is important, especially one whom is young and capable of running for president when the time comes. HUD Secretary Julian Castro would be another possible choice.

[Dont call me Shirley]

23. Wrong Ben! You are unfit to be President! Project much?!

[Geronimoe]

25. The logical one?

Carson is running as the logical one. He practices the same faith as Kim Davis. Perhaps in next debate he will talk in tongues so that we can better understand him.

He also doesn't believe in evolution.

[trillion]

50. This makes me question how good of a surgeon he is. His racism also makes me question how ethical of

a doctor he is. I would not trust him with any minority. Racism usually goes across the board - and even extends to bigotry against women.

[svpadgham]

26. Based on bakeries, pizza restaurants, and some County Clerk's office in Kentucky

I would say that the Christian faith is also incompatible with American principles. You know, equality, liberty, and all that silliness.

[airplaneman]

42. bingo we have a winner n/t.

[Tab]

27. I'm glad he said that

Makes it easier to justify voting elsewhere.

[surrealAmerican]

28. Now he needs to explain how ...

... his own faith is "consistent with the Constitution."

Surely our vigilant press will now be asking specifics, right?

[Iggo]

29. They are as fit to be President as christians are.

And they worship the same god as you do, fuck-o.

(fuck-o = Ben Carson, just in case there's any knee-jerks around.)

[3catwoman3]

30. Carson obviously knows...

...nothing about the constitution.

I saw that clip and was horrified.

[lastlib]

33. Dr. Carson, do you recognize this?

"...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

Hint: it's from a document you profess to love.

[oberliner]

40. Amazing, isn't it?

That presidential candidates can be so brazen about this.

Sharia Law, Christian style.

[The CCC]

36. Republican candidate Carson says Muslims unfit to be U.S. president

Muslims as well as people of any religion or non-religion may or may not be fit to be President of the US. But Dr. Carson's stupid answer makes him unfit for any public office.

[lastlib]

45. "Muslims say Republican candidate Carson unfit to be President.

Liberals and other intelligent people agree

[Skittles]

37. can someone PLEASE tell me

how someone as STUPID as Carson could have been such a successful surgeon? He consistently sounds like an IDIOT.

[mdbl]

39. I know! All that schooling and he can't even read!

Remarkable.

[SpankMe]

38. Perhaps Christians shouldn't be president, either. n/t

[lastlib]

46. (Except Jimmy Carter!)

[trillion]

44. I want to thank all of the republican candidates for being consistent. Consistenly racist bigots.

Do they have ANYTHING TO offer? I haven't seen it yet.

[muntrv]

51. I feel sorry for his patients.

[riversedge]

52. Carson is unfit to serve as President for saying such vileness.

[sofa king]

53. Toss in asshole Christians, including yourself, and it's a deal!

[getting old in mke]

58. O Gawd, I feel so dirty...

I find myself agreeing (for probably the first time in my life) with Jonah Goldberg:

"How is this question relevant to anyone's life? Is there a Muslim candidate in the wings I am unaware of?" he asks. Todd had no legitimate reason to raise such a question with Carson, except to "feed the news cycle on MSNBC (and elsewhere) for the coming week," he writes.

Link

Ewww.

I would have preferred something more current, 'cause I could have predicted those answers. Then again, I guess, consider the source, Todd.

Still, ewww. After this, Jonah, stay away.

[demwing]

59. "faith should be consistent with the Constitution." - AGREED

And since the constitution specifically prohibits any religious test for office, your faith should be specific with that rule.

[Skittles]

60. a lot of his base feels the same way about black people

shameful