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 ...
“If this is true and Carson is forced to drop out, most of his support will go to Trump.”
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I don’t think he’ll drop out over this directly. The spirit of the story is still there. “Fake but accurate.” It is compounded by his nonsensical pyramid comments. Neither one is devastating alone but the two together start to build an uncomfortable narrative.
But it will likely cost him several points in the polls. Whether that will be enough to make him fold remains to be seen.
Who gets those several poll points is anyone’s guess. I sense a lot of anti-Trump in the Carson people. It is not a slam dunk that they go to Trump.
People may start to yearn for clarity and integrity. In a word, Cruz.
I like Cruz, but I think only Trump can beat Hillary now.
The link doesn’t work.
I’m sad too. I wasn’t ever going to vote for him. My candidate is Trump. I am just really sad at what is being discovered about Carson and his character.
I’m sad too. I wasn’t ever going to vote for him. My candidate is Trump. I am just really sad at what is being discovered about Carson and his character.
“A lot of decent folks are supporting this guy.....but very very gullible.”
I suspect most of them are white guilters. Carson is in no way qualified to run a country, he’s never run anything larger than a surgical team. Plus, he supports amnesty, gun control, actually stated that his goals are the same as Al Sharpton’s, and keeps a Farrakhan supporter on staff as an advisor.
totally agree with you about the ‘special character symbols’ they are very bothersome, and it make me wonder if FREE REPUBLIC IS A SAFE SITE...
MY SECURITY SAY IT ISN’T...but I’ve come here for years and years, but have noticed all the GREAT POSTERS are all gone..sad to see...
but it does make me wonder!!!!!!
Ofcourse, it's not the fabricating. It's the admitting.
If we learn anything from watching the left, you never admit to, apologize for or show any remorse for any wrong doing.
Some people would benefit from reading SJWs Always Lie.
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.
For example, a friend long ago qualified for an appointment, made the connections and had the excellence in grades and accomplishments. Went to USMA for the process... and failed the medical exam- they discovered rheumatic heart disease, and rejected him. Now the prelim medical would stop the process early. He went on to live until age 44, and was a great loss to potential leadership.
This treatment of Carson is being done by....GOPe and possibly hitlery too, working in tandem to engineer hitlery vs. yeb. imho. Carson is a bright man but not politically smart. The story was poorly, innaccurately written.
I agree he’s not presidential material ... so putting him as backup to the president isn’t wise. Surgeon general sounds about right.
Did the campaign use the word "False?" Or is that a fabrication by poetic?
I can see a top commander, impressed with the young Carson and wanting to see an African-American do well, offering to "find a way" to get him in. It DOES happen.
Are you not all familiar with how the service academies use their "Prep School" systems to get (marginally) better football players in?
So this all about Trump's ally POLITICO, helping the Trump campaign.
Do I have this right Mr. FreeReign?
I’m sad too. I wasn’t ever going to vote for him. My candidate is Trump. I am just really sad at what is being discovered about Carson and his character.
Federal executive orders only apply to federal entities, so if you are looking for the undoing of these orders to open the door as to who Zero is. You are very likely to be disappointed. State agencies & private organizations - schools, colleges & universities will still have their own rules and the personal privacy laws (which have been broadened & strengthened over the pass 30 years!) still apply. It will take a court order which you know will be fought tooth & nail. It will take someone with deep pockets & equally deep determination.
>> I can’t believe they let this idiot work on peoples’ brains.
By all accounts, he did a wonderful job working on childrens’ brains, and Dr. Carson’s medical skill has been a blessing to a great many people.
But he should have quit while he was ahead. He has no place as a presidential candidate.
Well, if the busboys at Trump Grill are anything to go by, he’s a great boss.
Does this mean Carson is a loser?
In that case, I’m betting money that Westmoreland DID talk about West Point. IIRC, Carson is a Harvard grad....some Ivy League grad.
I’m certain he’d have been accepted at West Point, and certainly with Westmoreland’s backing. I wonder if there was ever any other kind of inquiry that became an inquiry about application that was warmly received.
We must remember that Carson was a great student, black, from Detroit, and this would have been right around 1970 or so. He would have been a shoo-in.
You don’t “apply” to West Point. It’s not UCLA or Wellesley. You seek an appointment by a limited number of authorized govt. types. A distinct list of people who can submit your name.
There is no such thing as a “scholarship” to West Point.
That term has never been used, NEVER.
The fact that Carson does not even know the proper term used,
leads me to believe the entire story is bogus.
The term always used is “appointment”.
The word "fabricated" was used in the headline. If you can find where it was used by his campaign please provide a quote.
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