Posted on 03/19/2015 5:17:54 PM PDT by Kaslin
Thank God for Hugh Hewitt.
Despite an abiding respect for Dr. Ben Carson’s vision, intellect, and accomplishments, many conservatives began to wonder whether he was prepared to mount a presidential bid when his artless comments about the nature of homosexuality inspired a news cycle dedicated to the complexities of sexual relationships in prison. Needless to say, this was intellectual energy that could have been better spent.
If conservatives had doubts about Carson’s readiness to run for the presidency, they were confirmed on Wednesday when the “Hewitt Primary” claimed its first scalp.
In an extended interview in which Hewitt grilled Carson on a variety of issues relating to foreign policy, Carson’s responses failed to impress.
Hewitt asked if NATO should be willing to go to war if Russian leader Vladimir Putin attempts to do in the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania) what he’s already done in Ukraine.
“I think they would be willing to go to war if they knew that they were backed up by us,” Carson said. “We need to convince them to get involved in NATO and strengthen NATO.”
“Well, the Baltics, they are in NATO,” Hewitt responded. [In fact, they’ve been member states since 2004.]
After a commercial break, Carson explained that he was confused. “Well, when you were saying Baltic state, I thought you were continuing our conversation about the former components of the Soviet Union,” he said.
Those inclined toward generosity of spirit and forgiveness should not dismiss Carson’s ill-preparedness. Carson was simply unaware that the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have been NATO members for over a decade, and has no policy to address Russia’s ongoing attempts to destabilize those countries.
This is not an abstract matter. In 2007, Estonia was the target of a massive, virtually unprecedented cyber-attack linked to Moscow. The attack was prompted by a row sparked when Estonian officials sought to remove a Soviet-era statue from the Estonian capital of Tallinn. As recently as September, Russian forces reportedly abducted an Estonian soldier from a border checkpoint at gunpoint and charged him with espionage. The border guard was scheduled to be released in January, but he remains captive in Moscow’s infamous Lefortovo Prison. Russia claimed that the border guard had infiltrated Russian territory when he was captured, but his detention was preceded by the use of smoke grenades and communications jamming technology by Russian forces.
These provocations will undoubtedly continue, and a miscalculation on Moscow’s part could easily lead to an escalating international crisis that forces NATO and Russia to the brink of war.
Later in the interview, Hewitt pivoted from a discussion on the flashpoint in Europe to the flashpoint in the Middle East, where American forces are again combatting an Islamist insurgency. Carson insisted that he had been educating himself on the phenomenon of militant Islam, which he contended has been a feature of Middle Eastern politics since biblical times. When Hewitt observed that the Prophet Mohamed, the founder of the Islamic faith, was not even born until the 7th Century A.D., Carson again insisted that the roots of Islam could be traced to the Book of Genesis.
Some would argue that most presidential candidates enter the race without fully formed and well-reasoned opinions on foreign policy. That’s true, and there is time for Carson to make up his knowledge deficit. But there are several candidates with a fuller resumes who are simply more experienced at the business of politics than Carson. These able candidates would not clutter the news cycle with avoidable gaffes that compel conservative to come to their defense. Dr. Ben Carson is simply not ready to run for the presidency, and his interview with Hewitt confirmed that.
I know you didn't write the article! Just what gave you the idea that I didn't? But the first thing the author (not you) jumped on was that he had offended homosexuals.
You think it's stupid to offend homosexuals?
And no, I am not calling for Carson to run for President, so can we please stop acting like I am? I'm simply astounded that a perversion that a couple decades ago was practically unmentionable is now so mainstream that any attack on it is "stupid!"
“Your qualified to be president as a matter of law and I am quite sure you would be better than the one we have.. Regardless of your self doubts”
OK you got me. But it’s not saying much since probably at least 200 million other people are legally qualified and would do a better job than Zero (or me). You will excuse me while I go start work on my inaugural address.
I don’t know WHY the author began with that gaffe and I’m not defending the author, nor Carson’s gaffe.
But it DOES show that Carson is incapable of thinking on his feet and is totally unprepared.
OTOH, a large portion of the article covers Caron’s latest dreadful answer, on more important topic.
What I believe is that Hewitt will go easy on RINOs.
Yes, I agree with that assessment.
Ordinarily a candidate not too well prepared in foreign affairs wouldn’t be a big deal were he or she strong in other areas, but this is going to be in large part a foreign affairs election, and I don’t think Dr. Carson, as much as I like him, can measure up as a prime contender - HHS Secretary sounds good for him.....
Same here. Wonderful man, but not experienced enough for Commander in Chief.
If a squish like Carson can’t handle an interview with a squish like Hewitt, he most definitely is doomed.
Exactly, potential candidate like Carson, Trump, Rice etc can be excellent in their own fields, but not seasoned enough to run a national campaign.
Usually presidents are people who in the past have run and won statewide campaigns in fairly large states. Anyone with out that on their resume is unlikely to be a good candidate for president.
Rand is a libtardtarian.
...his artless comments about the nature of homosexuality...Huh? His original comments were 100 percent correct -- where he jumped the shark was when he walked it back. He would not make a good POTUS, but I would expect him to at least be in the running for Surgeon General. Thanks Lurkinanloomin.
sorry, should have been specific, another poster was looking for your Rand Paul list
Walker has more of a chance than a lot of people give him credit for. AFAIK, he’s pretty careful about what he’s going to say.
6+ years on the job and Obama is still clearly not ready.
wrong again. I have disagreements with all candidates. I have clear determination of my positions and then I superimpose their positions. Fo example— on immigration Bush is finished with me.
I'm glad it's showing.
Although there’s no question his ideology alone places the inexperienced and unproven Dr. Carson head and shoulders above anyone the Dem party will nominate, that’s just not enough.
I mean, sure, if he’s elected, he could surround himself with great advisers. Or, not. Who knows? After 8 years of the Kenyan Marxist, we need someone ready to hit the ground running. Let’s not set ourselves up to wait around another 2 or 3 years while someone starts to learn how to govern.
He's a brilliant and excellent person but whenever he speaks I look over at my wife and say "he's just not a leader". Oh sure he can lead surgically.
"Grilling"? If Jeb will consent to give Hewitt an interview, it'll be 30 minutes or so of softballs and gentle lobs. But I err .... "softball" doesn't quite capture it. It'd be more like tee-ball, with Jebbie hitting every question over the fence.
Meanwhile, Carson's offending comments (oh, really?) about homosexuality are conveniently 404. Don't worry,pal, I'll find them anyway and decide for myself whether they were appropriate and well-informed.
Someone needs to grill up Hugh, I'm tired of his channeling the RiNO neural plexus and all their Chamber of Commerce dezinformatsiya about immigration.
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