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 ...
“Yeah and according to the poster, this whole thing was done by POLITICO to “Help Trumpâ€.
As if POLITICO is a Trump ally or as if POLITICO is supporting Trump for President.
If anyone believes that, they’ll believe anything.”
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That just someone letting his denial have a free rein.
If he never “applied”, how did he have a “scholarship” offered to him? You do realize that West Point doesn’t go around offering appointments to teenagers that a) don’t apply, and b) don’t apply through a Congressional office, right?
And they admitted it was a fabrication. Why the gymnastics to excuse this?
A fabrication artist just like prez Zero.
Well, OK. Now, when did Hillary ever tell white lies about her past?
Or, about Benghazi?
Just checked and it’s not there anymore so maybe they realized it was misleading?
He should have written: I learned that I could possibly, even likely, qualified for West Point, but I decided instead to be a doctor. (It's not really that bad of a misstatement.)
Which is odd, because obamaumao likes being the “catcher” being the mack-daddy queer chicagoan “organizer” of the Paki-the backie persuasion. Same club as Ram e-manual.
Oh, the difficulty in finding an honest man!! or woman. (period)
Dr. Ben, hopefully you weren’t relying on this new position in the oval office. Just what other untruthful utterings have you offered WTP? Never having read your autobiography, not familiar how this was covered in your tome. HOWEVER, do know persons who have read. Will there now be a new one coming out to correct the fallacies in the original? Something similar to o-puppet. Not the best of weeks has it been for you, sir. WTP, it is believed, have seen quite enough of liars and the lies they tell. We’ve had one in our oval office going on 8 years. It is suggested you come out next Tuesday night (if not before) correcting this assumption, problem, or “whatever”.
Let’s remember this is Politico!
I have little tolerance anymore for these political party groupies and their glaring BS. Attempting to connect or tie Trump in on this POLITICO piece was just over the top.
I agree to “what” it is. I am just saying I have never heard of anyone (and I probably know 10-12 off hand) who have ever referred to it as a “scholarship.” It was always “an appointment” whereas “ROTC scholarships” were always referred as such.
Its the terminology that I am speaking of, not the content of the appointment. It simply is not how someone who has gone through the grueling process of applying would describe its culmination.
Even with affirmative action or a 37 yr old woman getting through ranger school? I wonder if his temper would have been found out? Would he have told them about it and been offered a place at the school?
That’s a nice bit of spin but I predicted his campaign might run with that exact angle but I still don’t buy it. He is running as a Republican candidate you don’t embellish points about West Point or the military in general as a Republican candidate. It’s insulting to those who indeed obtained an “appointment” (not a scholarship) to West Point.
He didn’t even use the correct term. I’m sorry I think that’s relevant. It’s very prestigious to be offered an appointment there, so it’s insulting to those that have to call it a “scholarship”, as if the best football player in college ball can get in as long as he takes Basketweaving type courses.
I’m sorry I don’t buy it. We will see though if his supporters are as kind as the Daily Wire.
Someone has been posting a small poster on FB. It has Nixon saying he erased 18 minutes of a tape and was kicked out of office. The next one said, “I caused the death of 4 people and people want me as President.”
Yes, I realize WP doesn’t offer appointments to potential candidates who did not apply.
He seems to have understood the offer of a nomination by Westmoreland or others as being an offer of full scholarship since WP provides a full ride to those formally appointed.
His campaign did not admit anything was a fabrication. That’s a POLITICO spin on the campaign’s statement.
No gymnatics necessary. Read what Carson wrote and listen to how he has told the story. Read the campaign statement.
I don’t even know if Carson can be a surgeon general now, although before this fabrication I thought it would be a logical fit for him. Chances are if Carson lied about this, he lied about other things as well and furthermore the press has just drawn major blood on him and is now out for more. In addition, I bet you Trump will be looking to slit his throat now and go thermo-nuclear on Ben at the debate.
I can assure you that is what is written on the website.
However,without the appointment, you cannot have “applied”— officially.
There are also other “tracks”. It’s a very special club, for warriors and ring tappers (vets here know what is meant by that) and you ain’t in it. This is a well-craft bull fecal hit job by the ho’s at politico, and the source of the direction for this aids several candidates— none of whom will be the candidate.
Back to conventional school, chilluns.
As I listened to Rush, I take back what I said - sounds like a hit piece.
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