# So tell me about Ben Carson... **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 2, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154 "2014-12-02T19:11:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/201 "2015-03-02T19:27:50Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > It also explains the great respect showed by republicans for John Kerry’s military service, and the complete rejection of noted draft-dodgers George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. I think you misspelled Bill Clinton. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/202 "2015-03-02T22:48:17Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I think you misspelled Bill Clinton. He omitted Bill Clinton, but his references to GWB, and Cheney, (along with others he could have named: Wolfowitz, Rove, Gingrich, etc.), were accurate. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/203 "2015-03-03T00:06:37Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > It also explains the great respect showed by republicans for John Kerry’s military service, and the complete rejection of noted draft-dodgers George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. :dubious: 😛 IOIYAR. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/204 "2015-03-03T00:16:25Z")
From what I have read, Ben Carson did so well in high school ROTC that West Point offered him a scholarship. He went to Yale instead. This would have been about '69 or so. Oddly, he does not seem to be listed as a Bonesman. ---
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/205 "2015-03-03T11:07:11Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > It also explains the great respect showed by republicans for John Kerry’s military service, and the complete rejection of noted draft-dodgers George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. Remember how the GOP didn’t just take Kerry’s service in stride, but instead, Umm, honored it: [http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/30/gop.purple.hearts/](http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/30/gop.purple.hearts/) Getting back to military service-it would be nice, but not required. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/206 "2015-03-03T14:33:24Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Neither was Romney. Or Obama. Or Hillary. Why should it matter? Because Romney, Obama and Hillary’s views on the rules of engagement are relevant since they are potential (or actual) commanders in chief, probably. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/207 "2015-03-03T16:20:04Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > From what I have read, Ben Carson did so well in high school ROTC that West Point offered him a scholarship. He went to Yale instead. This would have been about '69 or so. > > Oddly, he does not seem to be listed as a Bonesman. Was S&B multiracial in the '60s? Serious question. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/208 "2015-03-03T16:29:43Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I’ve found that to be fairly common for doctors. No offense to our resident Docs, but I’ve known way too many doctors who think they are experts at everything. Obstinate ignorance – e.g., not claiming expertise, but denying the relevance of relevant expertise; or, complete failure to comprehend and disinterest in comprehending alternative world-views – is also fairly common for RWs. In fact, [it seems to be a defining element nowadays.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747846) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/209 "2015-03-03T16:37:52Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > He omitted Bill Clinton, but his references to GWB, and Cheney, (along with others he could have named: Wolfowitz, Rove, Gingrich, etc.), were accurate. No they weren’t. Neither Bush nor Cheney were draft dodgers in the sense that Clinton was. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/210 "2015-03-03T16:40:08Z")
He didn’t specify any “sense.” You can attempt to spin it to your own distorted view of the word, but the names he mentioned were accurate. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/211 "2015-03-03T17:38:08Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No they weren’t. Neither Bush nor Cheney were draft dodgers in the sense that Clinton was. > > Regards, > Shodan Right. Clinton was a poor draft dodger, and Bush and Cheney were rich draft dodgers (Cheney wasn’t as rich as Bush). Poor kids dodged the draft in a different way than rich kids. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/212 "2015-03-03T17:38:19Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Was S&B multiracial in the '60s? Serious question. [There appears to have been a black jazz musician](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Skull_and_Bones_members#1970s) who was a Bonesman in the mid '70s, which is pretty darn close to the time that Carson was at Yale. From what I gather, it is not really about race but about breeding. A very smart, charming white guy is not going to get in if he has the wrong background, which, as others have pointed out, probably would have been the case for Carson. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/213 "2015-03-04T01:20:28Z")
Carson is forming a presidential exploratory committee: [Dr. Ben Carson Announces Presidential Exploratory Committee](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/dr-ben-carson-announces-presidential-exploratory-committee-n316306) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/214 "2015-03-04T01:33:48Z")
It’s fitting that the committee is exploratory, because his electoral chances keep getting smaller and smaller. ---
**Author:** ![Donald\_Rump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/215 "2015-03-04T13:59:34Z")
As if on cue with the announcement of his presidential run, Ben Carson spouts more [ridiculous nonsense](http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/04/politics/ben-carson-prisons-gay-choice/): > [@](#): > > Asked whether being gay is a choice, Carson responded: “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. I thought that nothing would top the last cycle’s GOP primary debates for pure entertainment value, but Carson’s participation could very well change that. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/216 "2015-03-04T14:09:28Z")
> [@Donald\_Rump](#): > > As if on cue with the announcement of his presidential run, Ben Carson spouts more [ridiculous nonsense](http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/04/politics/ben-carson-prisons-gay-choice/): > > I thought that nothing would top the last cycle’s GOP primary debates for pure entertainment value, but Carson’s participation could very well change that. Can’t wait until the Republican debates!!! Go Carson go!!! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/217 "2015-03-04T14:49:46Z")
> [@Donald\_Rump](#): > > As if on cue with the announcement of his presidential run, Ben Carson spouts more [ridiculous nonsense](http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/04/politics/ben-carson-prisons-gay-choice/): > > I thought that nothing would top the last cycle’s GOP primary debates for pure entertainment value, but Carson’s participation could very well change that. This is interesting in that I’ve never heard _anyone_ claim this before, not even from the most rabidly anti-gay televangelist. Um, one could argue it speaks well for his creativity. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/218 "2015-03-04T15:43:46Z")
He did say that Prison proves being gay is a choice. He sounds way too typical a right wing nutter to me. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/219 "2015-03-04T15:56:54Z")
> [@Donald\_Rump](#): > > As if on cue with the announcement of his presidential run, Ben Carson spouts more [ridiculous nonsense](http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/04/politics/ben-carson-prisons-gay-choice/): > > I thought that nothing would top the last cycle’s GOP primary debates for pure entertainment value, but Carson’s participation could very well change that. The odd thing is that even if it were true (people going in straight and coming out gay), that still wouldn’t prove it was a choice. Who chooses to get raped in prison??? And, of course, the cure then becomes obvious. Have the guy rape a woman. Problem solved!! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/220 "2015-03-04T16:57:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The odd thing is that even if it were true (people going in straight and coming out gay), that still wouldn’t prove it was a choice. Who chooses to get raped in prison??? And, of course, the cure then becomes obvious. Have the guy rape a woman. Problem solved!! [If only you were making that up.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrective_rape) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154.md?page=12)