Posted on 11/06/2014 9:58:17 AM PST by forbushalltheway
Its not just the United States Senate that switched political parties on Election Day.
Ben Carson, the neurosurgeon and conservative phenomenon who rocketed to fame when he challenged Barack Obama at a prayer breakfast last year, also officially changed his political affiliation, moving from independent to Republican.
The step is another indication Carson may run for president in 2016.
Carson, whose career was spent as a doctor at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Maryland, filed the paperwork in his new home county of Palm Beach, Florida, a traditional Democratic Party stronghold.
Its truly a pragmatic move because I have to run in one party or another. If you run as an independent, you only risk splitting the electorate, Carson told the Washington Times just after making the change. I clearly would not be welcome in the Democratic Party, and so that only leaves one party.
Fortunately, the fit is pretty good, he added. I believe in reasonable sized government. I believe in personal responsibility. I believe in individual freedom. And I believe in creating an environment to let free markets grow our economy. And all of that is very consistent with being a Republican.
Carson told the paper he actually grew up a Democrat, but then changed his party affiliation to Republican in the 1980s after hearing Ronald Reagan.
Like most Democrats who were black I was told most Republicans were evil, racist people. But then I started listening to Ronald Reagan and I thought, God, it just makes so much sense. Let me investigate this, said Carson.
He switched to being an independent about 15 to 20 years ago after getting a sour taste watching Republicans who had their own personal foibles impeach President Clinton over an extramarital affair. I just saw so much hypocrisy in both parties, he
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
He has the heart. Does he have the endurance. He will be filthed from pole to pole. (To be a presidential candidate)
I thought Dr. Carson already was a Republican. Anyway, welcome and please run for president.
I ain’t voting for a book tour candidate.
As much as I like and respect Dr. Carson and think he has a bright future in politics, I think it is usually ill advised to make the presidency your first run for elective office.
I personally will be paying special attention to the governors, especially Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal among others.
This looks like a historical second chance for the GOP. Will it do what is right now? The Barack presidency has been a bitter lesson in vanity and even evil for the land. A deep vacuum now longs to be filled. Dear Lord let it be filled with the right thing.
That’s under business as normal.
But nothing is normal now.
I may be in the minority here, but I don’t think you jump from being a nuerosurgeon to Presidential candidate. He does not have any political experience. If he was the nominee of the Republican party, we would be doing the same thing that we accused the Democrats of 6 years ago with Obama (supporting a neophyte at the top of the ticket), only worse. Obama had more political experience at that time than Dr. Carson.
While I truly admire and respect Dr. Carson, he is not ready to be a Presidential candidate.
He wants to be President with judgement like that?
If you like, here is a website that is for drafting Ben to run, you can also sign up for emails to keep informed. http://www.runbenrun.org/?utm_campaign=we_won&utm_medium=email&utm_source=runbenrun
I don’t necessarily agree.
After our most recent experience with the current cluster foxtrot who now occupies 1600 Pennyslvania Ave., I think the voters would like to see someone with some experience under his belt and who has accomplished tangible things in office.
It was for lying to a judge and other lying under oath. It didn't have anything to do with an affair.
Totally Agree.
Experience and track record still count, at least IMHO.
To be “devil’s advocate” what political experience did George Washington have? He hadn’t been the governor of anything.
I wouldn’t mind Dr. Carson in a cabinet post or some advisory capacity first. How about HHS secretary?
After 8 years of a black, white-hating, Marxist POTUS, we need a breather. He doesn’t have the experience, either. Seems like a future possibility.
Yup...Dr. Carson as HHS under President Walker. Sounds like a plan.
Note that "judgement" is filtered through media before you hear about it.....
I’d rather not have a president who has openly advocated for firearm registration and BANS on most of the ones I already own.
The lies were about the sex....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.