# Where is the outrage?!! (Ben Carson - Muslims unfit to be POTUS)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [September 20, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007 "2015-09-20T20:27:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 5

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/81 "2015-09-21T22:44:36Z")

</div>

Many are. Adventists, like Mormons, are really into health as holiness, so many abstain from meat except for fish. Many others keep kosher. Almost none smoke or drink.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/82 "2015-09-21T22:46:15Z")

</div>

> [@tomndebb](#):
>
> :rolleyes:
> 
> And if or when she says something, your next post will be claiming that she is simply piling on in partisan fashion.
> 
> This is an internal Republican issue and the Democrats need do no more than shake their heads or point and laugh, because regardless of what any Democrat says, Republican partisans are going to claim it is nothing but politics.

This isn’t about me. If Carson had said a woman or a Jew couldn’t be President, almost everyone on both sides would have said, “Yes a woman or a Jew so can be a President! We should elect one ASAP!”

The statements in response to Carson have been extremely carefully composed to avoid endorsing the idea of a Muslim for President.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/83 "2015-09-21T22:48:03Z")

</div>

> [@adaher](#):
>
> Actually, of all the responses, I haven’t seen a single one that actually says that it would be fine for a Muslim to be President. Courage is not the watchword of the day, apparently.

I can’t see any other interpretation of Sanders remarks. You don’t have to spell everything out.

Sanders: [INDENT][INDENT]This is the year 2015,” Sanders told NBC News at a campaign field office in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

“For a long, long time in the history of America, there were people who would say, ‘You know, we don’t want a Catholic to be president of the United States.’ And then John F. Kennedy became president in 1960,” he explained.

“And then people said, ‘Oh, we don’t want a black guy — African American to be president of the United States,’ and then finally Barack Obama became president of the United States,” he continued.

“Look, you judge candidates for president not on their religion, not on the color of their skin, but on their ideas on what they stand for,” Sanders concluded. “That’s what democracy is supposed to be about. So I was very disappointed in Dr. Carson’s statement and I disagree with him.” [/INDENT][/INDENT] [http://www.salon.com/2015/09/21/this\_is\_the\_year\_2015\_bernie\_sanders\_rips\_ben\_carsons\_islamophobic\_remarks\_as\_being\_un\_american/](http://www.salon.com/2015/09/21/this_is_the_year_2015_bernie_sanders_rips_ben_carsons_islamophobic_remarks_as_being_un_american/)

He goes on to criticize the remarks on Twitter. I think it’s fair to say that Sanders wouldn’t have a problem with a Muslim President. Nor would I: I base my vote on the issues.

ETA: You may have been discussing Republican responses.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/84 "2015-09-21T22:49:09Z")

</div>

Sanders I’m not surprised by, good on him, although I’d note that John Kasich said something very similar to that.

I’d also note that Bernie Sanders still isn’t even a Democrat.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/85 "2015-09-21T22:55:23Z")

</div>

> [@adaher](#):
>
> Sanders I’m not surprised by, good on him, although I’d note that John Kasich said something very similar to that.
> 
> I’d also note that Bernie Sanders still isn’t even a Democrat.

There’s no such thing as a party card. How do you know he isn’t registered to vote as a Dem?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/86 "2015-09-21T22:58:17Z")

</div>

He has refused to change his registration. But that’s neither here nor there. We know that Sanders says what he believes. Which is why he’s doing well. The Democrats are not covering themselves in glory here. It’s remarkable what they are not saying, as in they are not saying they actually disagree with Carson. They just don’t seem to think he should have said it out loud

Like I said, the focus groups must have been brutal for them to be this cautious.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/87 "2015-09-22T00:37:27Z")

</div>

Rand Paul said there is no religious test for office. Sounds like the Republicans have been much more forceful in rebuking Carson than Democrats have. Buncha cowards.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/88 "2015-09-22T00:48:29Z")

</div>

> [@adaher](#):
>
> Rand Paul said there is no religious test for office. Sounds like the Republicans have been much more forceful in rebuking Carson than Democrats have. Buncha cowards.

You are such a blinkered partisan tool that it’s actually funny to watch your flailing.

I haven’t had this much fun since your “skewed polls” threads during the last election.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/89 "2015-09-22T00:49:57Z")

</div>

Cite the statement from a leading Democrat that supports your claim.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/90 "2015-09-22T00:56:18Z")

</div>

I make no claim, other than you are a blinkered partisan tool. Also, water is wet.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/91 "2015-09-22T00:57:34Z")

</div>

To answer the OP  
Does anyone (even Republicans) take Carson seriously?  
Why condemn Carson if it’s not going to help you in the polls? All it can do is hurt you because Americans are idiots.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/92 "2015-09-22T01:01:51Z")

</div>

> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> I make no claim, other than you are a blinkered partisan tool. Also, water is wet.

Ah, so you weren’t actually disagreeing, just not liking what I said. Just like the other Democrats who weighed in on Carson.😃

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/93 "2015-09-22T01:02:41Z")

</div>

> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> Adventists are vegetarian?

[Always have been](http://www.adventist.org/vitality/health/).

> [@](#):
>
> Exercise and avoidance of harmful substances such as tobacco, alcohol and mind-altering substances lead to clear minds and wise choices. A well-balanced **vegetarian** diet that avoids the consumption of meat coupled with intake of legumes, whole grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables, along with a source of vitamin B12, will promote vigorous health.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/94 "2015-09-22T01:03:33Z")

</div>

> [@Saint\_Cad](#):
>
> Why condemn Carson if it’s not going to help you in the polls? All it can do is hurt you because Americans are idiots.

And there you have your answer, although I don’t endorse the “Americans are idiots” part. Except for Ellison, Democrats waited to weigh in, which tells me they did in fact focus group this, didn’t like what they heard, and decided to be cautious.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/95 "2015-09-22T01:05:34Z")

</div>

> [@adaher](#):
>
> This isn’t about me. If Carson had said a woman or a Jew couldn’t be President, almost everyone on both sides would have said, “Yes a woman or a Jew so can be a President! We should elect one ASAP!”
> 
> The statements in response to Carson have been extremely carefully composed to avoid endorsing the idea of a Muslim for President.

That is true of the Republicans. The Democrats are just sitting back watching the Republican horde self-destruct as they did four years ago.

So, as long as you keep making silly comments, it is about you. 😃

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![canned\_mayhem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/53a042/32.png) [@canned\_mayhem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/canned_mayhem)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/96 "2015-09-22T01:10:02Z")

</div>

I personally don’t see what the big deal is.

Muslims aren’t fit to lead this nation. Neither are Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Scientologists, Witch Doctors or any other shitty organized religion.

I would much rather have someone who is an independent thinker and who doesn’t blindly swallow whatever bronze age theology that happened to be spoon fed to them by their simple simon parents…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/97 "2015-09-22T01:10:49Z")

</div>

The facts do not support your argument. Kasich, Paul, and Cruz have said pretty directly that there should be no religious test for office. Aside from Sanders, other Democrats have not even gone that far. Perhaps they shouldn’t have weighed in. To the extent they have, they’ve looked cowardly.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/98 "2015-09-22T01:48:47Z")

</div>

> [@canned\_mayhem](#):
>
> I would much rather have someone who is an independent thinker and who doesn’t blindly swallow whatever bronze age theology that happened to be spoon fed to them by their simple simon parents…

I think you are touching on an important and interesting point: would any candidate, from either party, give his/her explicit approval of an atheist holding the office of POTUS? Has it ever even come up?

The only time I remember anything related to the issue of atheism coming out of the mouth of a president or a presidential candidate was when Obama (I think in one of his inauguration speeches) said words to the effect that America includes people of every religion . . . including those who don’t believe. Or something like that.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/99 "2015-09-22T01:48:58Z")

</div>

> [@adaher](#):
>
> Kasich, Paul, and Cruz have said pretty directly that there should be no religious test for office.

Very weak sauce.

They didn’t even disagree with Carson - he didn’t claim _there should literally_ be a religious test. Just that Muslims “weren’t fit.” McCain wouldn’t have side-stepped the issue like that. They’re trying to sound reasonable while not pissing off the bigots they hope to pick up when Carson drops out.

“There should be no religious test” is like saying, “citizens who have attained the age of 35 should be eligible to run.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007/100 "2015-09-22T01:54:28Z")

</div>

Perhaps, but they at least establish logically that a Muslim can be elected President, whereas Wasserman only supported the right to run. Which is even weaker sauce, since I’m sure Wasserman supports the right of Republicans to run too.

Clinton’s was the weakest of all. She simply said, “Don’t stoke paranoia”.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007.md?page=4)

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-outrage-ben-carson-muslims-unfit-to-be-potus/732007.md?page=6)
