Posted on 11/06/2015 8:33:42 AM PST by GIdget2004
Ben Carson’s campaign on Friday admitted, in a response to an inquiry from POLITICO, that a central point in his inspirational personal story was fabricated: his application and acceptance into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
The academy has occupied a central place in Carson’s tale for years. According to a story told in Carson’s book, “Gifted Hands,†the then-17 year old was introduced in 1969 to Gen. William Westmoreland, who had just ended his command of U.S. forces in Vietnam, and the two dined together. That meeting, according to Carson’s telling, was followed by a “full scholarship†to the military academy.
West Point, however, has no record of Carson applying, much less being extended admission.
“In 1969, those who would have completed the entire process would have received their acceptance letters from the Army Adjutant General,†said Theresa Brinkerhoff, a spokeswoman for the academy. She said West Point has no records that indicate Carson even began the application process. “If he chose to pursue (the application process) then we would have records indicating such,†she said.
When presented with this evidence, Carson’s campaign conceded the story was false.
“Dr. Carson was the top ROTC student in the City of Detroit,†campaign manager Barry Bennett wrote in an email to POLITICO. “In that role he was invited to meet General Westmoreland. He believes it was at a banquet. He can’t remember with specificity their brief conversation but it centered around Dr. Carson’s performance as ROTC City Executive Officer.â€
“He was introduced to folks from West Point by his ROTC Supervisors,†Bennett went on. “They told him they could help him get an appointment based on his grades and performance in ROTC. He considered it but in the end did not seek admission.â€
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
You have to be kidding. Hillary’s every word is a lie, a fraud and a scam.
Carson is a pretty honorable man. Maybe we should wait to hear what he has to say.
I doubt this will affect him much not in today’s world. Obama a liar. Hillary a liar. Democrats liars.
Carson has not explained yet and he is out. Are you nuts!
It can be so easy to embellish. Especially when you don’t think you’ll be caught. When he came up with the story, he didn’t think he would be running for President. That’s how it always is. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Be sure your sin will find you out.
A bit off the subject but since Obama hid all with executive order can the next President nullify that and open records? If so no wonder liberals are terrified of Trump. He is the only one of the candidates that I think would do that.
“I thought after Obama it wasn’t possible to get such information from universities. “
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The Bamster ordered a full search of the West Point records! /s
I think it’s bigger that that.
I think he forfeited the game.
It's a reminder that the FReepathon is on right now, and they're accepting Euros...
Carson was in ROTC. What pisses me off is conservatives jumping on the Politico bandwagon meant to destroy a good and decent man. Democrats defend outright lies and criminal acts while conservatives eat their own for inconsequential embellishments. Nasty.
“The VP’s primary job is to be able to take on the President’s job should the President leave office. “
Constitutionally, the VP is President of the Senate. Nowadays that’s waived and we have a Senate Majority Leader who fills that role and the VP goes to funerals, runs his own PR campaigns, settles Senate ties and watches the POTUS heartbeat.
“I can’t believe they let this idiot work on peoples’ brains.”
Explains the increase in Democrat/Liberal voters in the past 20 years....
Honesty & Trustworthy was his major selling point...rut roh!
If he switched parties and Jeb gets the GOP nomination I would consider voting for Ben in spite of all this bizarre stuff coming out lately.
OK, now there are three: Trump, Cruz and Rubio. …and the soon-to-drop-out dwarfs.
According to the article and people interviewed, he would have been accepted if he had applied.
I don’t support him for president but I’m not going to write him off. After all the horrible lies of Obama, Hillary, Biden and the rest, I’m not going to write off one or two white lies.
Libs loathe black conservatives and accuse them of all the old stuff - lying, going after white women, etc., just like they pulled with Cain and Thomas.
Rubio.
Yes, it was JROTC and not ROTC. (My son is in JROTC. Should have noticed that.)
Of course this doesn’t excuse Hillary but you can’t hit Hillary on being a liar if you are a liar too.
Thanks. It was a big deal in the small Ms town of 10,000 we grew up in.
Is that the Donald Trump who said he knew what it was like to be a soldier because he went to military school?
“I still think Carson could add value as a VP.”
How about Surgeon General?
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