# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/21 "2014-12-02T22:01:31Z")
Against gay marriage, doesn’t believe in evolution, calls the ACA the worst thing since slavery. Typical right wing social views. If that’s what he’s selling, I’m not buying. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/22 "2014-12-02T22:33:23Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Against gay marriage, doesn’t believe in evolution, calls the ACA the worst thing since slavery. Typical right wing social views. If that’s what he’s selling, I’m not buying. Holy shit. He is against evolution. Think about that. How utterly delusional you need to be to be a \*neurosurgeon \*who disbelieves evolution. That kind of willful delusional insanity needs to be nowhere near the button. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/23 "2014-12-02T22:40:21Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/24 "2014-12-02T22:40:35Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > So tell me why he would be horrible for America as president or great for America as president other than he’s a republican…yada yada yada. > > \ > > Conservative That alone would suffice to place him in the “horrible column.” But, [there’s more.](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Ben_Carson) ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/25 "2014-12-02T22:42:23Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Carter ran against Ford. I’m aware of that but Ford wasn’t elected, he merely finished out Nixon’s term and had no political base of his own. Plus he was a republican. So the Democrat-biased media whipped everyone up over what an evil guy Nixon was and presented Carter as a good, honest man who was the opposite – supposedly just the guy the country needed in order to ‘heal’ and restore its faith in the presidency. :rolleyes: People swallowed that line and as a result inflicted the gloriously inept Jimmy Carter upon the nation for the next four years. Then they got all whipped up over the idea of electing a man to the presidency mostly because he was black [and little else], and here we are. To have an effective presidency a candidate has to be strong, a good negotiator, have an understanding of the political process and ability to work with members of congress, and be good at foreign relations and in dealing with foreign leaders. Neither Obama nor Carter was any good at any of these. I doubt that Ben Carson has these abilities either. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/26 "2014-12-02T22:44:26Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I’m aware of that but Ford wasn’t elected, he merely finished out Nixon’s term and had no political base of his own. Plus he was a republican. So the Democrat-biased media whipped everyone up over what an evil guy Nixon was and presented Carter as a good, honest man who was the opposite – supposedly just the guy the country needed in order to ‘heal’ and restore its faith in the presidency. :rolleyes: > > People swallowed that line and as a result inflicted the gloriously inept Jimmy Carter upon the nation for the next four years. > > Then they got all whipped up over the idea of electing a man to the presidency mostly because he was black [and little else], and here we are. > > To have an effective presidency a candidate has to be strong, a good negotiator, have an understanding of the political process and ability to work with members of congress, and be good at foreign relations and in dealing with foreign leaders. Neither Obama nor Carter was any good at any of these. I doubt that Ben Carson has these abilities either. Wrong on nearly every point, but at least we agree on Carson. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/27 "2014-12-02T22:49:48Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I’m aware of that but Ford wasn’t elected, he merely finished out Nixon’s term and had no political base of his own. Plus he was a republican. So the Democrat-biased media whipped everyone up over what an evil guy Nixon was and presented Carter as a good, honest man who was the opposite – supposedly just the guy the country needed in order to ‘heal’ and restore its faith in the presidency. :rolleyes: And even worse, all without noticing that Carter was really a Republican. It would happen again with Clinton and Obama. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/28 "2014-12-02T23:12:20Z")
Ben Carson is a [creationist](http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dr-ben-carson-creationist/). He’s a 6-day creationist too – he literally believes that God created the earth in 6 days. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/29 "2014-12-02T23:15:08Z")
Would be interesting if there was again a non-holder-of-political-office running for President with substantial support. I believe the last one was Ross Perot. As for “creationist” etc. - I don’t really care. President’s views on evolution have no relevance to any of his tasks/duties. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/30 "2014-12-02T23:17:24Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > As for “creationist” etc. - I don’t really care. President’s views on evolution have no relevance to any of his tasks/duties. To me, they tell me whether someone understands and respects modern science. Despite his great intelligence and skill as a physician, rejecting the overwhelming scientific evidence for evolution leads me to believe that Carson either doesn’t understand or doesn’t respect science and the scientific method. If someone doesn’t understand or respect science, I worry about their decision-making skills on a variety of issues. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/31 "2014-12-02T23:23:22Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > To me, they tell me whether someone understands and respects modern science. To you. To me, it doesn’t tell me that. He’s a neurosurgeon. I think he understands and respects modern science. In fact I would bet he understands it more than you. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/32 "2014-12-02T23:26:05Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > To you. To me, it doesn’t tell me that. > > He’s a neurosurgeon. I think he understands and respects modern science. In fact I would bet he understands it more than you. No, he understands a pie wedge that relates to his specialty. Creationism is as stupid as astrology or homeopathy. It’s drivel. And only fools, the ignorant, and the delusional believe it. And he’s not ignorant, since he had to get an MD. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/33 "2014-12-02T23:32:26Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > In fact I would bet he understands it more than you. And you base this on your rigorous perusal of my training and college transcripts? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/34 "2014-12-02T23:34:37Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > As a matter of fact I almost posted my regrets that there appears to be no Ronald Reagan on the horizon to lead the country back into the light. 🙂 …the light of an oncoming train, maybe. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/35 "2014-12-03T00:19:06Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I think he understands and respects modern science. In fact I would bet he understands it more than you. Not if he believes all species were created in their present form 6,000 years ago he doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/36 "2014-12-03T00:49:46Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Would be interesting if there was again a non-holder-of-political-office running for President with substantial support. I believe the last one was Ross Perot. > > As for “creationist” etc. - I don’t really care. President’s views on evolution have no relevance to any of his tasks/duties. It’s hugely relevant to who he appoints to key posts, and what legislation he’d be willing to sign, just like for any president. Religious ideologues are moralistic science deniers who are willing to defund global warming initiatives, repeal emissions standards, ban abortions, and deny gay marriage. And then there is that whole Republican notion of 2+2 economics theory. Cripes. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/37 "2014-12-03T01:11:58Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I’d say it’s more like we’re once again done with electing an ill-equipped candidate based on what he is rather than who he is (ala Jimmy Carter) and now perhaps we can go back to electing candidates who are qualified by experience and performance to hold the office. That’s as much as to say that President HRC would be a “woman president” by that standard – but, no. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/38 "2014-12-03T01:13:01Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Hijack aside/ if Obama :: Carter, then I hope the 2016 POTUS elect :: Reagan, whoever that is. 'Fraid not. Obama :: Hoover. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/39 "2014-12-03T01:16:11Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > As a matter of fact I almost posted my regrets that there appears to be no Ronald Reagan on the horizon to lead the country back into the light. 🙂 [Tear Down This Myth.](http://www.amazon.com/Tear-Down-This-Myth-Right-Wing/dp/1416597638) [See also.](http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Bridge-Fall-Nixon-Reagan/dp/1476782415/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417569338&sr=1-1&keywords=invisible+bridge) I never really realized what heartless hollow worthless scum Reagan was until I read that book. For instance, did you know he was a cold and indifferent father? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154/40 "2014-12-03T01:17:57Z")
> [@Count\_Dracula](#): > > He has nice tasting blood. I’d vote for him. Meh. So do rats and squirrels. Or so I’ve heard. [wipes lips] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-about-ben-carson/706154.md?page=3)