Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:48 pm
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) tore apart Ben Carson’s non-answer on whether or not any HUD money would go to Trump and his family to expose an incoming administration that is creating a climate of corruption.
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Sen. Warren wanted assurances from Carson that not a single taxpayer dollar that Carson will give out will financially benefit Trump or family.
Carson answered, “I can assure you that the things that I do are driven by a sense of morals and values, and therefore I will absolutely not play favorites for anyone.”
Warren said that her question wasn’t about Carson’s good faith, but whether or not a single HUD dollar will be used to benefit President-elect Trump or his family.
Dr. Carson refused to give a straight answer, “It will not be my intention to do anything to benefit any American. It’s for all Americans.”
Sen. Warren came back strong, “Do I take that to mean you may manage programs that will significantly benefit the president-elect?â€
Carson continued do deliver non-answers, “You can take it to mean that I will manage things in a way that benefits the American people. That is going to be the goal. If there happens to be an extraordinary program that’s working for millions of people, and it turns out that someone that you’re targeting is going to gain $10 from it, am I going to say, ‘No, the rest of you Americans can’t have it?’ I think logic and common sense probably would be the best way.â€
Warren laid the corruption issue out for all to see, “The problem is that you can’t assure us that HUD money — not of $10 varieties but of multi-million dollar varieties — will not end up in the president-elect’s pockets.”
Carson never answered Warren’s simple yes or no question, which was very telling. All Dr. Carson had to say was that he would make sure that no program dollars go the president-elect or his family. It’s an easy answer. He also could have said that he doesn’t believe that there will be a conflict of interest between the Trump real estate business and HUD.
The lack of a straight answer was an answer. The potential for corruption isn’t going to be limited to the White House. The executive branch is going to be an ATM for the wealthy and the special interests. Carson’s answers suggested that it would be fine with him if the Trump family made money off of HUD, as long as it fit his definition of “common sense.”
Sen. Warren is showing the American people what is coming. Ben Carson’s refusal to answer told every citizen all that they needed to know.
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
