I think him not being a politician first is a good thing... we need someone who hasn't been corrupted by the sham known as the "United States Political Machine". Look where it has gotten us the past couple of decades. No matter who we elect, its the same shit over and over again. They only care about getting re-elected and how much money they can gain for themselves or their campaign.
Hopefully we can get a normal, non-politician, to change the way this country is run. Instead of conforming to the normal reach-arounds with lobbyists, special interest groups, unions and shady backroom meeting and deals.
Take immigration now...... We have people here ILLEGALLY, but one side wants to keep them here for cheap labor, and the other side wants to make them legal for votes. When most sane, hard working AMERICANS want them gone. Yet, its now a political issue...
Based on his comments over the years....I can never vote for a guy that far out there. Although chris christie has shown to be a weasel, he is only repub that can win. If he can win over the far right nuts....and get thru primary I think he could win but he has to get the sheriif joe votes in primary and that isn't likely.
There is a pretty large gap between career politician and having no experience in public office whatsoever.
To think some rogue is gonna comeout of nowhere and rage against the machine sounds nice and all but it is pretty much empty idealism. If he was truly serious he would try competing for a lower office to increase his chances of being President in the future.
A senate seat in MD just opened up because of retirement and he is extremely popular there.
To think some rogue is gonna comeout of nowhere and rage against the machine sounds nice and all but it is pretty much empty idealism. If he was truly serious he would try competing for a lower office to increase his chances of being President in the future.
A senate seat in MD just opened up because of retirement and he is extremely popular there.
I agree with you that some gays are born that way and some choose to be gay. Which is why Carson's statement was an idiotic one to make. Whether he meant it or not, he is saying all gays choose to be gay and I believe most don't believe that to be true. Scott was correct with his post, if this guy wants to run for President, he needs to stay away from this type of issue. It only hurts him.
If he really gave a shit about public office he probably wouldn't be making Nazi comparisons and talking about prison sex so much. That is just serving up red meat.
Has he even talked about the stuff you are railing against? Lobbying, special interests, corruption? Serious question, I didn't know that was a platform of his. If there is no sign that it is then I'm not sure why you think he is going to be the Cape Crusader.
Not a good start for Dr Ben. As a Doctor, who relied on Science, he needs to be smarter than some idiot Wingnuts on this site, who think people choose to be gay. He's simply got to do better on the main stage. Gay rights and origin isn't a praticularly important electoral position to me, but believing in Science vs wingnut theories is, so Ben needs to educate himself on this topic and "evolve" like plenty of smart people have.
What I still like about him is he isn't strident, when speaking with a person who clearly was severely disagreeing with him about this issue. It was a civil discourse. That's a good thing he has going for him.
What I still like about him is he isn't strident, when speaking with a person who clearly was severely disagreeing with him about this issue. It was a civil discourse. That's a good thing he has going for him.
Good for Dr Carson. Made a stupid, idiotic statement, got feedback from normal people about it, realizes it and apologizes. Learn from your mistakes, apologize. That's very promising. Something alot more Politicians and people in general need to do. Shows alot of decency in the man.
Ben Carson apologizes for comments on gay people
By Eric Bradner and Alexandra Jaffe, CNN
Updated 7:28 PM ET, Wed March 4, 2015
Source: CNN
Ben Carson
Washington (CNN)Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson apologized for commenting Wednesday that prisoners' changes after they leave jail proves being gay is a choice, but said that the science is still murky on the issue.
In a statement, Carson said he "realized that my choice of language does not reflect fully my heart on gay issues."
"I do not pretend to know how every individual came to their sexual orientation. I regret that my words to express that concept were hurtful and divisive. For that I apologize unreservedly to all that were offended," he added.
Carson referenced his medical education and his work at Johns Hopkins Hospital and asserted that the verdict is still out on whether people are born either gay or straight.
"Some of our brightest minds have looked at this debate, and up until this point there have been no definitive studies that people are born into a specific sexuality," he said.
The statement was an attempt to walk back comments Carson made earlier Wednesday morning on CNN's "New Day." Asked by Chris Cuomo whether being gay was a choice, Carson replied: "Absolutely."
"Because a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight -- and when they come out, they're gay. So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question," Carson said.
That argument, Carson said, "thwarts" the notion that homosexuality isn't a choice, which is at odds with the majority of the medical community, including the American Psychological Association, who says "most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation." Slate's Mark Joseph Stern also outlined the scientific arguments against this particular belief last year.
Carson's comment comes as Republicans try to avoid the kinds of incendiary comments on cultural issues that cost the party two Senate races -- when Missouri's Todd Akin and Indiana's Richard Mourdock drew national attention for their remarks on rape -- and hurt Mitt Romney in 2012.
Other Republicans who are considering 2016 campaigns were silent on Carson's comments Wednesday, with several failing to respond to requests for comment from CNN.
Carson also said he believes the issue of allowing or restricting same-sex marriage should be decided on the state level, rather than by federal courts -- even as the Supreme Court prepares to take up a case this spring that could legalize gay marriage nationwide.
He said it's possible to grant the legal rights that accompany marriage to same-sex couples -- or to any two people at all -- without applying the word "marriage" to their relationships.
"Why do gay people want to get married? Why do they say they want to get married? Because they want to have various rights -- property rights, visitation rights," he said. "Why can't any two human beings, I don't care what their sexual orientation is, why can't they have the legal right to do those things? That does not require changing the definition of marriage."
Ben Carson apologizes for comments on gay people
By Eric Bradner and Alexandra Jaffe, CNN
Updated 7:28 PM ET, Wed March 4, 2015
Source: CNN
Ben Carson
Washington (CNN)Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson apologized for commenting Wednesday that prisoners' changes after they leave jail proves being gay is a choice, but said that the science is still murky on the issue.
In a statement, Carson said he "realized that my choice of language does not reflect fully my heart on gay issues."
"I do not pretend to know how every individual came to their sexual orientation. I regret that my words to express that concept were hurtful and divisive. For that I apologize unreservedly to all that were offended," he added.
Carson referenced his medical education and his work at Johns Hopkins Hospital and asserted that the verdict is still out on whether people are born either gay or straight.
"Some of our brightest minds have looked at this debate, and up until this point there have been no definitive studies that people are born into a specific sexuality," he said.
The statement was an attempt to walk back comments Carson made earlier Wednesday morning on CNN's "New Day." Asked by Chris Cuomo whether being gay was a choice, Carson replied: "Absolutely."
"Because a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight -- and when they come out, they're gay. So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question," Carson said.
That argument, Carson said, "thwarts" the notion that homosexuality isn't a choice, which is at odds with the majority of the medical community, including the American Psychological Association, who says "most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation." Slate's Mark Joseph Stern also outlined the scientific arguments against this particular belief last year.
Carson's comment comes as Republicans try to avoid the kinds of incendiary comments on cultural issues that cost the party two Senate races -- when Missouri's Todd Akin and Indiana's Richard Mourdock drew national attention for their remarks on rape -- and hurt Mitt Romney in 2012.
Other Republicans who are considering 2016 campaigns were silent on Carson's comments Wednesday, with several failing to respond to requests for comment from CNN.
Carson also said he believes the issue of allowing or restricting same-sex marriage should be decided on the state level, rather than by federal courts -- even as the Supreme Court prepares to take up a case this spring that could legalize gay marriage nationwide.
He said it's possible to grant the legal rights that accompany marriage to same-sex couples -- or to any two people at all -- without applying the word "marriage" to their relationships.
"Why do gay people want to get married? Why do they say they want to get married? Because they want to have various rights -- property rights, visitation rights," he said. "Why can't any two human beings, I don't care what their sexual orientation is, why can't they have the legal right to do those things? That does not require changing the definition of marriage."
In a recent interview on CNN, I realized that my choice of language does not reflect fully my heart on gay issues.
I do not pretend to know how every individual came to their sexual orientation. I regret that my words to express that concept were hurtful and divisive. For that I apologize unreservedly to all that were offended.
I'm a doctor trained in multiple fields of medicine, who was blessed to work at perhaps the finest institution of medical knowledge in the world. Some of our brightest minds have looked at this debate, and up until this point there have been no definitive studies that people are born into a specific sexuality. We do know, however, that we are always born male and female. And I know that we are all made in God's image, which means we are all deserving of respect and dignity.
I support human rights and Constitutional protections for gay people, and I have done so for many years. I support civil unions for gay couples, and I have done so for many years. I support the right of individual states to sanction gay marriage, and I support the right of individual states to deny gay marriage in their respective jurisdictions.
I also think that marriage is a religious institution. Religious marriage is an oath before God and congregation. Religious marriage must only be governed by the church. Judges and government must not be allowed to restrict religious beliefs.
I am not a politician and I answered a question without really thinking about it thoroughly. No excuses. I deeply regret my statement and I promise you, on this journey, I may err again, but unlike politicians when I make an error I will take full responsibility and never hide or parse words. As a human being my obligation is to learn from my mistakes and to treat all people with respect and dignity.
I do not pretend to know how every individual came to their sexual orientation. I regret that my words to express that concept were hurtful and divisive. For that I apologize unreservedly to all that were offended.
I'm a doctor trained in multiple fields of medicine, who was blessed to work at perhaps the finest institution of medical knowledge in the world. Some of our brightest minds have looked at this debate, and up until this point there have been no definitive studies that people are born into a specific sexuality. We do know, however, that we are always born male and female. And I know that we are all made in God's image, which means we are all deserving of respect and dignity.
I support human rights and Constitutional protections for gay people, and I have done so for many years. I support civil unions for gay couples, and I have done so for many years. I support the right of individual states to sanction gay marriage, and I support the right of individual states to deny gay marriage in their respective jurisdictions.
I also think that marriage is a religious institution. Religious marriage is an oath before God and congregation. Religious marriage must only be governed by the church. Judges and government must not be allowed to restrict religious beliefs.
I am not a politician and I answered a question without really thinking about it thoroughly. No excuses. I deeply regret my statement and I promise you, on this journey, I may err again, but unlike politicians when I make an error I will take full responsibility and never hide or parse words. As a human being my obligation is to learn from my mistakes and to treat all people with respect and dignity.
Sorry there BP, can't agree with the 2nd half of that last statement. I know plenty of left and right who could care less about the gay rights issues. Not in a negative way. They could just care less. Only a small % really care about that shit. I'm sure most politicians feel the same way but are forced into left or right leaning answers by a press that just can't let it go. Let the states vote and leave it at that.
Love the hyperbole. This is more of a generational thing than anything. 61% of Republicans/Republican leaners aged 18-29 favor gay marriage. Also, mplastered is spot on. Most people have an opinion on gay rights, but the issue isn't going to drive many people to vote for one candidate or another. Issues such as the economy, education, women's rights and foreign policy are going to be significantly more important to your average American. It's human nature to care more about the issues that effect you personally, and gay rights simply don't effect many Americans on an individual level.
