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 ...
So this all about Trump's ally POLITICO, helping the Trump campaign.
Do I have this right Mr. FreeReign?
Which is not even how that works. No mention of an appointment, application or that there is no need of a scholarship to attend West Point if accepted.
Regardless of the terms, it is a scholarship; a full ride scholarship. The appointment is the awarding of the scholarship.
I completed my degree and commission by way of the GI bill and an ROTC scholarship. I could have foregone all of that by accepting a direct Naval Academy appointment offered to me by the Marine Corps before my enlistment ended. Unfortunately, I was already engaged to be married and was not going to give up my beautiful wife of now 43 years. Accepting the appointment would have been exactly a full, room and board, all expenses paid scholarship with both scholarship and personal performance stipulations just like any other scholarship.
The appointment is the offer tendered for the full scholarship ride. There are many appointments offered that are never accepted.
Carson’s campaign is now effectively over.
It doesn’t matter that a Democrat would have been given a pass. It doesn’t matter that Obama was given countless passes. It doesn’t matter that Hillary could be caught in bed with a live boy, a dead girl and half of the U.S. Treasury and would be given a pass.
Carson is running as a Republican so he is toast.
Exactly! Why embellish your record when you are such a well accomplished man already? I just don’t get it man.
Why so quick to Believe politico?
I wouldn’t worry...Biden admitted to plagiarizing papers in law school...and he became VP.
So this all about Trump's ally POLITICO, helping the Trump campaign.
Do I have this right Mr. FreeReign?
The way I see it, this helps us all. Keeps us from getting saddled with a potential nominee who makes up completely unnecessarily and easily refutable lies.
I don’t think the military academies do scholarships, do they? The implication is that their tuition is waived. I’m not aware that any cadet/airman/middie pays tuition. If anything, they might get a stipend.
His Herman Cain moment. He’s finished.
Holy heck, were YOU prescient? He is the Huckster of 2016 in so many ways. I’m sad about it too.
Harvard: Conservatives actually put him in HLR: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/10/22/barack-obama-and-the-harvard-years-the-interesting-information-we-found-that-you-may-not-have-heard/
Not my pick, but have had lots of respect for Dr. Carson.
By analogy, the Titanic has collided with the iceberg. It’s just a matter of time now.
Look, I think he’s a great man. I am a little doubtful he would make a good president. I just don’t know. We have not really had a man like Carson run for president. But Carson told a deliberate lie and it is apparently easily refuted. I don’t especially think it and it alone means his demise.
But it is a standout statement. We are used to every single statement coming out of HRC being a lie, so when the next one appears it’s kind of “ho-hum”.
No, it’s not fair. Nothing is.
The book says he was offered a full scholarship.
It doesn’t say he received one. He never claimed to have tried to get one or applied or began the process.
This is typical distortion that hinges on one word “offered”.
Do you doubt he was told he could get a full scholarship if he wanted and went through the paperwork and process?
The first accurate assessment on this thread (and I’m a Cruz supporter, btw).
Carson’s story talks about getting a “scholarship” to West Point.
There is no such thing. It is NEVER referred to as a scholarship.
It is ALWAYS referred to as an “appointment”.
Always.
I agree. I do NOT like destroying good candidates just to elevate my own preferred candidate.
DO you know if we’re talking Jr Rotc High School or college ROTC?
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