Alternative Facts 101: 10 Lessons From Ben Carson's School Of Thought
Carson’s frame of mind shows us that the brightest aren’t prone to the whiff of ignorance.
Ben Carson is hoping to make a mark as President Donald Trump’s secretary of Housing and Urban Development but instead has taken on the role of your rambling professor with less facts and more wacky and damning statements.
As the only African-American of Trump’s cabinet, the former beloved neurosurgeon integrated immigration and slavery in an effort to spark unity to his staff on Monday (March 6). His words were questioned by political pundits, director Ava Duvernay, Samuel L. Jackson and more who wondered about Carson’s logic. It also rolled over onto Twitter where others shared other possible plausible thoughts from Carson.
https://twitter.com/trillestjgoody/status/839140774226890753
Carson’s frame of mind shows us that the brightest aren’t prone to the whiff of ignorance. Here are some other comments from Carson you shouldn’t use in a scholarly essay or as an inspirational Instagram quote post. Check them out in the gallery above.
10 Lessons From Ben Carson's School Of Thought
On Donald Trump's Sexual Assault Allegations
"Not the important issue."
During a heated debate with 'Morning Joe' talking heads, host Katty Kay asked the then former Republican presidential candidate if he believed the several sexual assault allegations leveled against Trump were false and he replied it was "not the important issue."
Thesis: Chylllllleeee.
On The Transgender Bathroom Debate
"It's not fair for them to make everybody else uncomfortable."
During a sit-down interview with Fusion anchor Jorge Ramos, Ben Carson made it known where he stands on the transgender bathroom debate.
Thesis: The real question is are we all washing our hands once we leave the restroom, not who is allowed to use which restroom.
On Nazi Germany
"I think the likelihood of Hitler being able to accomplish his goals would have been greatly diminished if the people had been armed."
While promoting his book, A More Perfect Union: What We The People Can Do To Reclaim Our Constitutional Liberties, Ben Carson said the six million Jews of the Holocaust would've survived had they had guns to arms themselves.
Thesis: Blaming the victims of the Holocaust for their demise, Mr. Carson, will NEVER win you brownie points.
On The Right To Bear Arms
"I grew up in the slums of Detroit. I saw plenty of gun violence as a child. Both of my cousins were killed on the streets. As a doctor, I spent many a night pulling bullets out of bodies," he wrote. "There is no doubt that this senseless violence is breathtaking — but I never saw a body with bullet holes that was more devastating than taking the right to arm ourselves away. Serious people seek serious solutions."
Carson took to Facebook to offer his two cents on the right to bear arms.
Thesis: No one is ever debating one's right to defend themselves, but with Sandy Hook, Columbine, and Virginia Tech mass shooting that left 32 dead, stricter and harsher gun laws may prove to be a good thing.
On Whether A Muslim Should Be President
"I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of the nation. I absolutely would not agree with it."
During an NBC interview with Chuck Todd for Meet The Press Carson made it emphatically clear he wouldn't support a qualified Muslim candidate leading the nation, but that person could be a member of Congress.
Thesis: This train of thinking coming from the man who believes that slavery and immigration are the same thing.
Ben Compares Abortion To Slavery
“During slavery, a lot of the slave owners thought that they had the right to do whatever they wanted to that slave. Anything that they chose to do. And what if the abolitionists had said, ‘I don’t believe in slavery. I think it’s wrong, but you guys do whatever you want to do.’ Where would we be?”
Carson made these comments during the presidential primaries in 2015. As a firm believer in the takedown of Roe. v. Wade, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development says he’s down to listen to anyone that wants to change his mind on the matter.
Thesis: Forcing someone to do something that can possibly be detrimental to their livelihood sounds a bit like slavery.
On Supporting Trump
“Even if Donald Trump turns out not to be such a great president, which I don’t think is the case — I think he’s going to surround himself with really good people — but even if he didn’t, we’re only looking at four years, as opposed to multiple generations and perhaps the loss of the American dream forever,” Carson said.
In an interview on The Steve Malzberg Show, the neurosurgeon explained he wanted to endorse another candidate but was unable to due to the “the politics of personal destruction.”
Thesis: Getting in where you fit in doesn't apply any and everywhere, fam.
On Almost Killing Someone
“When I was a youngster, I almost stabbed someone. Had it not been for a belt buckle under their clothing, they would have been killed or seriously injured,” Carson said. “And it was the last time I ever did anything like that.”
In an effort to pull at the heartstrings of the religious, Carson retold an alleged story from his childhood during the same conversation with Fusion’s Jorge Ramos. The details of his story changed frequently during his presidential campaign after the potential victim changed from a friend to a “close relative.” Details from his 1990 autobiography, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, were also questioned when he shared that the names of those he fought in his youth were “fictitious” but never stated that in the book.
Thesis: Why you always lyin?
On Standing his Ground
“I have had a gun held on me when I was in a Popeye's organization. Guy comes in, put the gun in my ribs. And I just said, 'I believe that you want the guy behind the counter.”
Carson decided to tell this story to SirusXM’s Karen Hunter days after his comments on the Oregon community college shooting. Aside from victimizing blaming (which he denied), his Popeye's story shows how sketchy he can be. He continued, "Not only would I probably not cooperate with him, I would not just stand there and let him shoot me. I would say, 'Hey, guys, everybody attack him! He may shoot me but he can't get us all.”
Thesis: Some things are easier said than done, huh?
On The LGBTQ Community
“A lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight — and when they come out, they’re gay,” Carson said. “So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question.”
Like Republicans Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz and Rick Perry, Carson thinks that being gay is a choice, like picking takeout from Seamless or Grubhub. While he’s apologized for calling homosexuality a gateway to pedophilia and bestiality, he’s still unapologetic about discriminating against the LGBTQ community and those in the criminal justice system.
Thesis: Can we get Jordan Peele on the phone?
