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Is Ben Carson's campaign one big con?
The Week ^ | 11/4/15 | Paul Waldman

Posted on 11/04/2015 6:18:09 PM PST by Amntn

Ben Carson's presidential campaign is many things. A curiosity, an oddity, a fascinating yet disturbing commentary on today's Republican Party? Absolutely. But there's also some reason to believe that it's a giant confidence game.

That isn't to say that Carson isn't genuinely trying to become president. He has even moved into the lead in a couple of recent national polls. But the inner workings of his campaign will look awfully familiar to those who understand how one right-wing movement has been bilking gullible conservatives over the last half-century.

Like many outsider candidates, Carson is relying on small donors to raise money - lots of it. He took in over $20 million in the third quarter, more than any other Republican (though less than Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders). But he has also spent much of it already. As of the end of the third quarter, he had raised $31 million but spent $20 million, almost two-thirds of the haul, an unusually high "burn rate."

Spending lots of money early in an election isn't necessarily bad, if you're investing it in things that will be valuable for you later. If you have a big staff in Iowa, for instance, presumably they'll be organizing activists, persuading voters, and putting in place the infrastructure you'll need to get your supporters to the caucuses.

But that's not where Ben Carson's money is going.

(Excerpt) Read more at theweek.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: carson; carson2016; carsonarticle; carsoncampaign; election; elections
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To: Amntn

does sound fishy, but on a side note, i read a few articles from this site.

what a left wing rag.

wow.


21 posted on 11/04/2015 6:34:06 PM PST by dp0622
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To: WENDLE
"I just know he is being used by those that would exploit him. He is a political nothing.'

That is basically what this article is saying.

Also, the Hp piece that sayd he has software that allows one staff member to answer 9000 questions.

I thought his whole Face Book thing was that he was answering those questions himself.

22 posted on 11/04/2015 6:35:33 PM PST by Amntn
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To: Karl Spooner

Trump will pocket the money when he writes his book too.


23 posted on 11/04/2015 6:35:50 PM PST by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
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To: WENDLE

The new governor of Kentucky was a relative amateur, intensely conservative. And a state that was thoroughly Democratic now has a Republican governor.


24 posted on 11/04/2015 6:36:12 PM PST by 50sDad (A Liberal prevents me from telling you anything here.)
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To: unsycophant

Carson is one of the GOPe’s splitters.


25 posted on 11/04/2015 6:36:48 PM PST by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto!)
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To: Amntn

IMHO I don’t believe that Jeb is genuinely TRYING to win either.


26 posted on 11/04/2015 6:37:12 PM PST by CMailBag
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To: Alberta's Child

The theory gives one food for thought. What is more perplexing is that Carson was at about 5% in the polls before the first debate. He makes a witty remark about Washington needing brain surgery and then hes been rising ever since?? Makes no sense.


27 posted on 11/04/2015 6:37:17 PM PST by usafa92 (Conservative in Jersey)
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To: TigerClaws
He’s being inflated now so he can be deflated later.

Exactly! This whole plan was published a couple of weeks ago. They pump up Carson as there's no danger of his becoming a real threat. Then once Carson's dethroned Trump, they diss him.

Here's what these geniuses aren't taking into account. This usually does the job because once a candidate drops in the polls, his donors exit stage left. Big difference with a self-funded candidate. He'll make his own decisions.

28 posted on 11/04/2015 6:38:15 PM PST by Kenny (RED)
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To: Fungi

It’s the US edition of a British publication, purporting to have multiple political perspectives. I couldn’t see much of an overall tilt. Individual opinion pieces get partisan, but they come from various directions.


29 posted on 11/04/2015 6:38:40 PM PST by sparklite2 (All will become clear when it is too late to matter.)
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To: Amntn

Thank you.


30 posted on 11/04/2015 6:38:47 PM PST by Fungi
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To: Amntn
 photo notagain_zpszce98ztb.jpg

The imagery Carson is projecting is a little TOO familiar for me.

31 posted on 11/04/2015 6:38:48 PM PST by RetSignman (Obama is the walking, talking middle finger in the face of America)
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To: ConorMacNessa
"He's relying on the money of "small" donors? That would be ordinary people like me."

The article is not accusing him of any wrongdoing. It is asking if he is being taken advantage of by political operatives.

I think it is a fair question because it doesn't appear that they are spending any money on a campaign structure.

32 posted on 11/04/2015 6:39:06 PM PST by Amntn
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To: Amntn
I have always had a funny feeling about Ben Carson...

It's not just his religion, but it has to do with his campaign manager that likes Farrakhan...there is more to this story than meets the eye...

I have wondered if he wasn't an ‘obuma’ plant... something there just doesn't feel right either...

And to go off his campaign to sell his books doesn't feel right either...some of his remarks are ‘tin hat’ at times...and there is just something physical about him that gives me a creepy feeling...

He's not what he is suppose to be and that is very evident...but I haven't put my finger on it just yet, but I do believe as the time gets closer, we will find out just what he is and it isn't going to be good...

33 posted on 11/04/2015 6:39:23 PM PST by HarleyLady27 (I have such happy days, and hope you do too!!!)
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To: Amntn

Not Carson, but Trump could be playing everyone


34 posted on 11/04/2015 6:39:47 PM PST by Linda Frances (Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.)
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To: Jonty30

All of the proceeds from his books goes to charity. Always has been that way. He has been doing that for a long time. I can tell you didn’t know that. Now you know.


35 posted on 11/04/2015 6:39:55 PM PST by Karl Spooner
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To: sparklite2

Merci beaucoup.


36 posted on 11/04/2015 6:40:36 PM PST by Fungi
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To: Jonty30

Trump said he was donating the proceeds from his book.

If Ben doesn’t do that I don’t fault him for it but don’t be so accusing toward Trump.


37 posted on 11/04/2015 6:41:52 PM PST by Amntn
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To: Nervous Tick

What?

How do you come up with racism from this?


38 posted on 11/04/2015 6:42:57 PM PST by Amntn
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To: Fungi

avec plaisir


39 posted on 11/04/2015 6:44:08 PM PST by sparklite2 (All will become clear when it is too late to matter.)
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To: 50sDad

One exception - the new governor is/was a successful businessman. Ben Carson is not.


40 posted on 11/04/2015 6:45:02 PM PST by Catsrus ( I callz 'em as I seez 'em.)
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