Posted on 12/31/2015 3:56:26 PM PST by springwater13
U.S. Republican Ben Carson's 2016 presidential bid was thrown into chaos on Thursday when his campaign manager and some 20 other staff members quit amid infighting, dropping poll numbers and negative media coverage.
Barry Bennett, who oversaw Carson's rapid rise to the top tier of Republican contenders and his later fall, said he quit over differences with another top adviser to Carson, Armstrong Williams.
Specifically, Bennett blamed Williams for an interview Carson gave last week to The Washington Post suggesting that the campaign was in disarray. "It's one of the stupidest things I've ever seen a candidate do," Bennett said.
Things had "boiled over" with Williams, Bennett told Reuters. "For the past seven weeks, I've been doing nothing but putting out Armstrong Williams-started fires," Bennett said.
He also charged Williams was behind a story in The New York Times that suggested Carson was out of his depth on foreign policy.
Carson's communications director, Doug Watts, also resigned due to differences with Williams, Bennett said. Some 20 staff in total left, he said. Among them was deputy campaign manager Lisa Coen.
Williams, a political commentator who holds no official role with the campaign, said he was "shocked" by Bennett's criticism. "They're giving me a lot more credit than I deserve," he told Reuters.
He suggested Bennett and Watts left the campaign rather than be fired. "Right now, they’re upset and they need a scapegoat, and I’m the scapegoat," Williams said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Rita you are OK... you and I used to square off in the old days, I was for Sarah and you were not
I am a Cruz/Trump guy now. Cruz has always been my first choice, but when Trump speaks at a event, I dont want it to end, I love his plans for Negotiators
Trump... I have negotiators that you would not want for dinner,they are horrible people but can they negotiate... Who do we have now.. Caroline Kennedy
He makes a lot of sense , I will be thrilled if he is the nominee, even though Cruz is my first choice
I said “political moron” not “moron”.
There is a difference.
I liked Carson....until he ran for President. He may be a great surgeon, but knows nothing about being a leader.
I said accomplished neurosugeon, not politician.
There’s a differance.
Very interesting. Thanks for posting.
I believe you are probably right.
I don't believe this is true. I think Dr Carson is a good, decent man who got rolled by the political consultants. Problem is . . if he gets rolled by his own team . . what will Putin and the Democrats do to him?
Nice guy. Smart. Kind. But not ready to swim with the sharks.
Williams gets a lot of criticism for his support of Louis Farrakhan:
http://dailycaller.com/2015/10/17/top-carson-aide-wants-taxpayers-to-fund-farrakhan/
He was also criticized for accepting $240,000 to promote the No Child Left Behind Act on his radio and television shows.
Armstrong Williams is an idiot and a liar. Carsons affiliation with him is disqualifying.
Williams is always playing the race card and is a fake conservative .
Now he’s going to blame whitey for taking all of Bens money
I like Ben Carson. And I’m glad he threw his hat in the ring.
Hopefully His supporters will jump on the Cruz bandwagon in the hopes that Carson will get the chance to serve in the cabinet.
Ben Carson hitched his star to Armstrong Williams. Really really dumb idea.
Well said.
"Like Surgeon General, or something..."
That star was a dwarf. He had limited appeal and was quickly exposed as a lightweight on too many issues.
Well I can’t say I’m surprised Carson is being criticized for being weak in Foreign Policy. I seriously doubt the good doctor has any experience what so ever.
Bennett and Watts are White, Armstrong Williams is Black. So now we start seeing the “skin color game” coming out with Carson. One Black p-resident in my lifetime is enough. And given what we got, it’s one too many! Give me a Col. Alan West on the ticket and we will talk, but Carson is a looser.
In what state does Dr. Carson live? I believe his heart is right but maybe he should run for a statewide elective office first.
Barry Bennett, who oversaw Carson's rapid rise to the top tier of Republican contenders and his later fall... blamed [Armstrong] Williams for an interview Carson gave last week to The Washington Post suggesting that the campaign was in disarray. "It's one of the stupidest things I've ever seen a candidate do," Bennett said... "For the past seven weeks, I've been doing nothing but putting out Armstrong Williams-started fires," Bennett said. He also charged Williams was behind a story in The New York Times that suggested Carson was out of his depth on foreign policy. Carson's communications director, Doug Watts, also resigned due to differences with Williams, Bennett said. Some 20 staff in total left, he said. Among them was deputy campaign manager Lisa Coen.Click the link, this has been on the boil since early November.
The REAL problem is Armstrong Williams and his love of Louie Farrakhan. It is amazing this didn’t happen before.
At least it is not PC. People used to write maroon.
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