Carson calls for Cruz camp dismissals after cheating allegations

Politico ^ | 02/02/2016 | Nolan McCaskill

[GIdget2004]

Ben Carson is calling on Ted Cruz to fire anybody on his campaign allegedly involved in spreading the misinformation that the retired neurosurgeon had suspended his campaign before the Iowa caucuses.

"If Ted Cruz doesn't know about this, then he clearly needs to very quickly get rid of some people in his organization," Carson told "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday. "And if he does know about it, isn't this the exact kind of thing that the American people are tired of? Why would we want to continue that kind of, you know, shenanigans?"

[miss marmelstein]

You can’t believe anything Cruz says. Nasty trick. Carson came in fourth, I believe. Where would he have been without this trick?

[RasterMaster]

“...opportunity to attack Trump.”

There was no “attack”. Trump SLANDERED Ben Carson, on many occasions. Carson is my #2 pick, something Trump, a man of shallow character, would never be.

[LuvFreeRepublic]

And people wonder why ‘bible thumpers’ are not held in high regard.

[huldah1776]

So Steve king admitted he was the tweeter?

[gov_bean_ counter]

So now distributing news from a loose lipped campaign is considered “dirty tricks”.

[Lx]

There's no crying in politics!

[Pravious]

“Trump SLANDERED Ben Carson, on many occasions.”

Nonsense. Trump repeated Carson’s own words.

[dynoman]

"Do you know who else sent out a mailer like Ted did?"

And Obama.

Proof Ted is status quo. That is a huge letdown. I actually thought Ted was above crap like this. I would have happily voted for him as the nominee. Now it will be a "cream of the crap" if I vote for him.

---

"Cruz Iowa staffer Spence Rogers sent precinct captains an email during the caucus hinting that Carson planned to leave the race, despite the fact that Carson's campaign said he would continue.

"Breaking News. The press is reporting that Dr. Ben Carson is taking time off from the campaign trail after Iowa and making a big announcement next week," the email, acquired by CNN, read. "Please inform any Carson caucus goers of this news and urge them to caucus for Ted Cruz."

Meanwhile, Cruz surrogate Iowa Rep. Steve King told followers on Twitter that "Carson looks like he is out."

Carson looks like he is out. Iowans need to know before they vote. Most will go to Cruz, I hope. https://t.co/lW5Js50EMA— Steve King (@SteveKingIA) February 2, 2016

Carson told Fox News his wife, Candy, had to correct the misinformation at one event.

"She spoke at one of the caucus sites and before she got there one of the Cruz people had again disseminated that information to the crowd," he said. "And one of the organizers told her 'I'm so glad you're here, so you could set the record straight.' And she did and we actually won in that precinct."

Carson's campaign was furious when they first learned of the tactic, and Carson decried it as a "dirty trick" during remarks Monday night at a party with supporters in West Des Moines.

"This is really a dirty trick," Carson said. "This makes me more determined than ever to keep going."

Cruz's campaign defended the Rogers message to the precinct captains.

"Carson said he was taking time off to go home. We simply repeated what he said," Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said Monday. "Our email simply stated the facts."

When asked what the "big announcement" mentioned in the email referred to, Frazier did not respond."

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/01/politics/ben-carson-home-florida-iowa-caucuses/index.html

---

[Sacajaweau]

Carson has suspended his campaign several times to make a little side money via book signings and PAID speeches.

The last suspension was when one of his campaign workers was killed in a traffic accident. IIRC, That was on January 20th. Lotsa headline that said he suspended his campaign.

[heights]

Wait, I thought he surrounded himself with Christians?

[V K Lee]

‘Nothing is Cruz’s fault!’
Like that slogan! :-))

It is so reminiscent of the slogan we’ve heard countless times for the past 8 years. Refreshing to hear another saying those same words. Iowans are x-ceptional voters. Frankly, the preferred method is to walk into a booth,pull lever, push button, and walk out. Takes only a few moments and preferable to having to sit around all night with persons who would feel more at home staring daggers thru you.

[RasterMaster]

[Fresh Wind]

How did “Carson taking a short break” turn into “Carson dropping out of the race”?

[cuban leaf]

Third hand interpretations of what Cruze actually said. It is heresay.

[Mariner]

This is all part of hardball politics and the "ground game". It's perfectly legal and dirty as hell.

One is compelled to say Cruz won fair and square. If Carson had a volunteer at every precinct it would have no impact.

He needs to quit whining and quit the race.

[cuban leaf]

Apparently. Those pouncing on him for this are saying more about themselves than him.

[miss marmelstein]

Cruz isn’t running as pastor in chief? If his psalm-singing ads running in the New York market are anything to go by, he is indeed running as pastor in chief. What a bore!

[Beagle8U]

CNN reported it, and everyone repeated it. Carson should have called CNN and corrected them.

[VerySadAmerican]

I’m not a fat of Cruz. But I want to hear from voters who changed their votes from Carson to Cruz because of the announcement. No harm. No foul.

[dynoman]

Ping to 68, it is confirmed as true.

Pretty sad to see Ted pull political status quo crap like this and the scare mailer. I actually thought he was above that.