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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBen Carson's West Point Lie Will Probably End His Chances At Becoming President
To call GOP presidential candidate Ben Carsons rise to one of the two overwhelming frontrunners for president an enigma would be an understatement. Aside from the evangelicals who clearly eat up his religious rhetoric, I cant understand why anyone would think hes even remotely qualified to be our next president. Even as a doctor hes spread false information about Ebola, pushed blatantly misleading information about vaccines during a debate and believes that the theory of evolution is satanic.
As I joked with a buddy of mine, leave it to the GOP to find a brilliant neurosurgeon to run for president who doesnt seem to believe in science. Not only that, but nearly everything the man says is a lie. Even his stories of adolescent violence and a Popeyes restaurant robbery have come under some rather intense scrutiny considering the odd nature of the details involved and the fact that, at least at this point, theres almost no evidence of any of these events actually occurring. No childhood friend has come forward to corroborate his stories about his past, he says the family member he tried to stab has no desire to be made public and theres no police record of any robbery taking place at a Popeyes during the time he says the event occurred.
Well, Carson better get ready to face even more scrutiny as Politico reported today that his story about getting accepted to West Point was all a lie:
From Politico:
The academy has occupied a central place in Carsons tale for years. According to a story told in Carsons book, Gifted Hands, the then-17 year old was introduced in 1969 to Gen. William Westmoreland, who had just ended his command of U.S. forces in Vietnam, and the two dined together. That meeting, according to Carsons telling, was followed by a full scholarship to the military academy.
West Point, however, has no record of Carson applying, much less being extended admission.
More: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/ben-carson-west-point-lie/
TexasProgresive
(12,157 posts)It seems they can say and do whatever and their eejit followers just go along.
spanone
(135,841 posts)notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)He probably even believes the things he says about himself
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Republicans take their military series!
busterbrown
(8,515 posts)Hell be fine for awhile...Fundies will keep him on top for awhile..but when he needs to go after the conservative block, hes dead in the water..
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)He was winning this time last go round and yet we all knew he'd never have a chance. Enter this year's Herman Cain, Carson. He stands a snowball's chance in Miami but allows the racists on the rw feel good about their "black friend" for a time.
busterbrown
(8,515 posts)Hes one of the good ones"
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)But then Donald Trump ended up being adored by so many... I don't think those people with the thick skulls care about truthiness anymore. They will call it a "noble lie" or something.
randome
(34,845 posts)West Point, to the faithful, leaves just enough wriggle room for obfuscation. Was he offered a scholarship or was he given one?
But the pyramids? Why someone would believe that a nearly solid structure of stone could be used to store grain staggers the mind.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"If you're bored then you're boring." -Harvey Danger[/center][/font][hr]
Quixote1818
(28,943 posts)He is a fucking laughing stock!
odd_duck
(107 posts)the "most damage" should come from his anti-American, anti-First Amendment statement.
Paraphrasing; 'If President, I would use the government to monitor speech at US colleges'.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)ROTC High school 'Leaders' were probably offered scholarships to the better military colleges all the time 50+ years ago.
Stuff from when he was a /Jr. High & high school kid, I don't think that's a president career breaker.
Now more recent say the last 20-30 years, his ability as a Doctor, why he quit 'retired' in 2013? and after when he CEO & earned millions for that herbal remedy Corp and then was paid couple million by fox. That is the big unknown about him.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)I'm sorry but your post is very funny.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)sorry to be funny, I'm from a military family we always called the top ranked people 'brass'
tabasco
(22,974 posts)It's JROTC at the HS level and being in a top position hardly qualifies a student for a scholarship, let alone an appointment to a military academy. It's a good point for the student, but being the captain of the football team is a much stronger point for evaluators.
I'm a product of ROTC, former regular army officer, and part of my duties at one point was to inspect JROTC units. I'm a big believer in JROTC programs; they do a lot for many kids who need structure; but being the highest ranking JROTC cadet in the school is not a big deal.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)br-ASS!!
winstars
(4,220 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)I think college students were exempt from draft in that war? He seemed to do very well with his college education. Sounded like he knew he wanted to be a Doctor from his ROTC days.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)where nothing they say is questioned. They very quickly get to think that everything they think, think they know, or say, is infallible truth. What we're seeing with Carson's weird and delusional statements, is just an offshoot of that.
Carson is delusional and apparently believes he has attained infallibility that no one can question.
Quixote1818
(28,943 posts)He is so use to people acting like he walks on water he is stunned when people suddenly don't think that and becomes hostile because his hole world is coming down. His bubble has popped!
Lee-Lee
(6,324 posts)There is no tuition for anyone, your education is given in exchange for a 6 year commitment to serve in the Army after graduation.
He claims to to offered something that has never even existed... Nobody pays to go, so there can't be a scholarship.
Generic Other
(28,979 posts)Maybe they should bury him at Arlington.
Mendocino
(7,495 posts)Wiki-A mild mannered physician decides after looking at a picture of Rick Santourum , that dullness isn't a good attribute for running for public office. So he drinks gallons of kool-aid and tea, laced with an evil substance called GOP. This gives him a personality, but in doing so, completely destroys his credibility. He throws a tantrum on live TV and slowly fades away. Is spotted from time to time on informercials, hawking prostrate pills and Chick Tracts.
lebkuchen
(10,716 posts)The Democrats should offer to pay his mike bills.
Vinca
(50,273 posts)His followers are equally batsh*t crazy. I'm convinced they think he's the second coming of Christ.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)republican fox is good at that.
Rex
(65,616 posts)Nobody likes false valor stuff.
GeorgeGist
(25,321 posts)Egnever
(21,506 posts)Despite early polling.