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 much for the Carson surge.
STOP IT :)
“One does not ‘apply’ to West Point. You must apply to a congress critter or distinct other officeholders for an ‘appointment’ . This appointment is made, but NOT guaranteed to be admitted.”
Oh really? It seems the Office of Admissions at West Point feels differently.
http://www.usma.edu/admissions/SitePages/Steps.aspx
The truly sad fact is that when the dust finally settles on the wreck of the Carson campaign, he will be remembered for this and not for his decades of work as a brilliant and gifted surgeon. Carson has seen to the ruining of his own reputation.
And it definitely takes starting the admission process to be offered a scholarship?
You may be right on this. Looks to me like a POLITICO hack job.
I find it interesting that some people here are quick to believe POLITICO yet their candidate of choice has called POLITICO dishonest.
There’s also...
No horse, no wife, and no moustache.
Draft Colonel West?
It’s a big deal in any town.
“So this is just a big train wreck for Carson”
Only because Politico is ginning it up.
This is a nothing story. It is about a surgeon looking back at his time at the transition to College, remembering his choices and how he decided to do what he did.
Politico actually provides the proof of his claims and shows that it was not on Memorial Day but in In February.
Do you have any doubt Carson at that age with his ROTC background was not told he could get a scholarship if he wanted?
He tells the story in the book not to claim he had been awarded a full scholarship (and he never claimed that in the book) but to write about his choices at that age and how he ultimately chose to go and become a brain surgeon.
Good grief - when you “concede that the story was false,” fabrication is rightly implied.
+1
LOL
Thank you. I had business opportunities in my life that I talk about but I had to turn down and never applied for because of family responsibilities, but that doesn’t make it not true.
Well I am for either Cruz or Trump, but I hope Cruz didn’t mean executive orders other than Obama’s hidden records. I think all Americans should have the opportunity to see the fraud that was elected.
You're right. He should be very proud of all he's accomplished.
And that's what makes this so puzzling. Why lie about this? It is pointless; I'm reminded of Hillary lying about being named after Sir Edmund Hillary. Why?
Ben Carson has never been my first choice, but I admire him.
However, this coupled with the pyramid nonsense... I think he's done. Republicans are like Democrats. We don't get over blatant lies.
“You may be right on this. Looks to me like a POLITICO hack job. “
Respectfully, there was nothing “hack” about it. This may be the most well thought out, finely structured Hit Piece I have ever read : )
I thought I was the only one seeing that. What's up with that?
I don lie. And now you lie.
Carson’s fatal mistake is admitting the allegation made by Politico is true.
Even if it is a hit job, which I agree it was.
We live in a society, because iniquity abounds, where one cannot admit wrong without suffering permanent consequences for it.
Unless you are a Leftist - which never happens, because they never admit wrongdoing - and if they are presented with enough evidence of their involvement in evil, and they admit it - the media will preach the virtues of forgive and forget.
This is war folks. All is fair.
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