The White House slammed Ben Carson’s view that a Muslim shouldn’t be president, as Press Secretary Josh Earnest pointed out that Carson’s views are completely inconsistent with the Constitution.
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White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest was asked about the growing calls for Carson to drop out of the Republican race:
You know, this goes to something that we talked a great deal about in this room on Friday, which is that we have seen not just a tendency but a willingness on the part of some successful Republican politicians, and let’s face it, Dr. Carson in many of the polls ranks second or third so at least in the past few months he has been quite successful at elevating his status in the Republican Party.
And we’ve seen a willingness on the part of many of those candidates to countenance offensive views all in pursuit of political support. And in the case of the Republican primary, pursuit of votes. And you know, I think what’s particularly disappointing to many observers including me is that we haven’t seen a significant outcry from all of the other candidates in the Republican race. And it’s for the same reason. They’re chasing for the same votes.
And the fact is this is not something that’s consistent with the values of a vast majority of Americans. And ironically enough, I actually do think that the views articulated by Dr. Carson are entirely inconsistent with the Constitution that does actually guarantee the freedom of religion in this country.
So ultimately, there will be consequences, and those views will be taken into account by voters. Both in the primary, but also in the General Election.
Instead of apologizing for his bigotry, Ben Carson doubled down. In an interview with The Hill, Carson said, “I do not believe Sharia is consistent with the Constitution of this country. Muslims feel that their religion is very much a part of your public life and what you do as a public official, and that’s inconsistent with our principles and our Constitution.”
Carson wants to impose a religious requirement on the presidency. His idea is not only radical. It is also illegal and unconstitutional. The White House was right to rip Carson, but his position isn’t about being a Muslim. Carson is proposing to violate the Constitution.
Anyone who believes in the rule of law should be appalled by Carson’s remarks. Ben Carson wants to throw away the Constitution. This position should disqualify him from being the next President Of The United States. Even if his views do make him more attractive inside the Republican Party, Ben Carson is now completely unelectable.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
