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Ben Carson admits fabricating West Point scholarship
Politico ^ | 11/06/2015 | Kyle Cheney

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.”

“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.”

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


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bencarson; cantbepresident; carson; carsonbio; elections; lies; mediabias; politicolies; scholarship; slander; smear; westpoint
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To: Zuben Elgenubi
I don't recall the MSM investigating Barak this thoroughly.

On the contrary they helped hide what I believe to be a lot of ugly truths.

181 posted on 11/06/2015 9:14:42 AM PST by DungeonMaster (Now I understand why my grandparents quit voting.)
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To: GIdget2004

Well that “front runner” status didn’t last long! Shame cause he seems like a nice guy! Bye Ben.....


182 posted on 11/06/2015 9:14:57 AM PST by freddy005
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To: Zuben Elgenubi

That’s not true, unfortunately. There were several people who remembered Barack at Harvard Law.


183 posted on 11/06/2015 9:15:39 AM PST by LS ("Castles Made of Sand, Fall in the Sea . . . Eventually" (Hendrix))
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To: mkjessup

Plan A of the GOPe = Bush...but he is a nothing and can’t do anything, which they didn’t consider...

Plan B of the GOPe = Carson, knock off Trump, possibly Cruz and all of Carson goes to Bush, who hands the White House to Hillary....

But it hasn’t worked...so watch this next debate, see who goes after who...that will tell you what is going to happen next....


184 posted on 11/06/2015 9:15:49 AM PST by HarleyLady27 (I have such happy days, and hope you do too!!!)
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To: GIdget2004

Stolen Valor
Later Gator


185 posted on 11/06/2015 9:16:34 AM PST by RaceBannon (Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for)
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To: Amntn

It’s a problem. Again, I don’t support Carson. I do feel a little sorry for him because I know people are going through his underwear drawers trying to find something in which to destroy him. So far the cherchez la femme hasn’t worked; must be killing the libs that he didn’t rape a white woman.


186 posted on 11/06/2015 9:16:59 AM PST by miss marmelstein (Richard the Third: I'd like to drive away not only the Turks (moslims) but all my foes.")
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To: SamAdams76

We know which one is far more serious. We also know which one will be hounded into dropping out of the race.

Ben mispoke. Hillary has blood on her hands. She allowed her husband to demonize the women he abused. The list is long on her you all know it I am tired today.

Wow Are Americans so out of it? Islam taking over.

What the heck!?!?!?


187 posted on 11/06/2015 9:17:01 AM PST by Uversabound (Our Military past and present: Our Highest example of Brotherhood of Man & Doing God's Will)
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To: Tennessean4Bush

In interviews he plainly said he met the General, the subject of West Point came up. Then he stated he was offered a scholarship to attend West Point and turned it down because he was interested in medicine. He told it as though he didn’t apply and they just offered him an education. I heard that with my own ears. He has told that story many times. He didn’t seem to realize that people accepted at West Point do not pay so there is no “scholarship” for anyone. Of course they do pay for their education by agreeing to serve in the Army, but no tuition.

The way he told that story put me off to begin with, to me he sounded like he thought he was too good for the Army or West Point and that is why he turned them down.

I had some serious interest in him early on, but his waffling on the 2nd Amendment and illegal immigration put me off before this came out.


188 posted on 11/06/2015 9:17:03 AM PST by Tammy8
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To: miss marmelstein
Boy, these apostrophe problems are multiplying, aren't they??

Apparently we need to retype apostrophes...etc, on every cut and paste.

This time I did it.

189 posted on 11/06/2015 9:17:07 AM PST by FreeReign
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To: BlackFemaleArmyCaptain

I wonder if he is getting Herman Caned or Clarence Thomased?


190 posted on 11/06/2015 9:17:22 AM PST by mosaicwolf (Strength and Honor)
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To: nclaurel
"A bit off the subject but since Obama hid all with executive order can the next President nullify that and open records?"

If I recall correctly executive orders can be undone by the next president if they choose to do so. Ted Cruz says he will undo any of Obama's unconstitutional executive orders.

191 posted on 11/06/2015 9:17:30 AM PST by Spunky
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To: celmak

I was thinking the same thing. All his campaign has done is just elaborate on the story a bit more. It doesn’t conflict with his account in the book that I can see. He said in the book this general offered him a spot at West Point. His campaign said the offer came after meeting with some others as well as the General. No where did Carson claim to have applied to West Point. Again, that I can see.


192 posted on 11/06/2015 9:18:03 AM PST by FourtySeven (47)
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To: GIdget2004

Geez, when I was at the academy, the code was thou shall not lie cheat or steal, nor put up with those who do.


193 posted on 11/06/2015 9:18:03 AM PST by batterycommander (- a little more rubble, a lot less trouble.)
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To: GIdget2004

Unfortunate. His record was impressive enough without having to lie about it. At least he came clean about it.


194 posted on 11/06/2015 9:18:21 AM PST by LiveFree99
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To: LS

Yes, they remember he did no work on the Harvard Law Review. And it is true that no one remembers him at Columbia.


195 posted on 11/06/2015 9:18:21 AM PST by miss marmelstein (Richard the Third: I'd like to drive away not only the Turks (moslims) but all my foes.")
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To: Buckeye McFrog
Ha...How about Hillaries VP....fits right in with the lies...

...and Hillary will have someone to boss around.

196 posted on 11/06/2015 9:18:35 AM PST by spokeshave (MDSM = Mentally Discombobulated Screaming Media)
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To: mosaicwolf

He did this to himself.


197 posted on 11/06/2015 9:18:37 AM PST by jimbo807
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To: grania
Then there's the aspect that he pretends to be a religious, humble man.

It always struck me as an act, kind of like the "ever so 'umble" Uriah Heep.

198 posted on 11/06/2015 9:18:47 AM PST by ek_hornbeck
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To: Zuben Elgenubi

Now THAT is the unfair part. Obama’s fraudulent long form BC was left alone; no one is sure how he got into or paid for Columbia; no one is quite sure how he made it into Harvard Law. OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT CANNOT PASS E-EVERIFY. His SS number is freaking FRAUDULENT!!!

I am in no way excusing this egregious lie by Dr. Carson. But if he were a Dem all the media right now would be reporting that, well, as the highest ranking ROTC member in the state, he would have gotten in, slam dunk, the details don’t matter. Right??


199 posted on 11/06/2015 9:18:48 AM PST by Yaelle
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To: Amntn; GIdget2004; going hot; V K Lee; hoosiermama; RoosterRedux; JoeSeales; onyx

Yup...unfortunately for the good doc...it’s curtains.

As others have said...where was all of this investigative reporting on 0blama and Hellary? Hmmm?

And, why the constant crickets from Pubbies when this happens?


200 posted on 11/06/2015 9:18:50 AM PST by Jane Long ("And when thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek")
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