Posted on 12/05/2016 3:53:06 AM PST by usafa92
Dr. Ben Carson will be Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the president-elect’s transition team confirmed Monday morning.
“Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities,” Mr. Trump said in a statement released by his team.”We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities. Ben shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of ensuring that this is a Presidency representing all Americans. He is a tough competitor and never gives up.”
Carson heavily hinted at the HUD position in a Facebook post days earlier, writing, “After serious discussions with the Trump transition team, I feel that I can make a significant contribution particularly to making our inner cities great for everyone.”
“I am honored to accept the opportunity to serve our country in the Trump administration,” Carson was quoted as saying in the statement released Monday. “I feel that I can make a significant contribution particularly by strengthening communities that are most in need. We have much work to do in enhancing every aspect of our nation and ensuring that our nation’s housing needs are met.”
Carson, who has never held elected office and failed earlier this year in a bid for the Republican presidential nomination, speculated to Fox News before Thanksgiving that Mr. Trump’s consideration for the HUD position was in part due to Carson’s upbringing.
“I grew up in the inner city and have spent a lot of time there, and have dealt with a lot of patients from that area and recognize that we cannot have a strong nation if we have weak inner cities,” he said Tuesday.
The 65-year-old has no previous policy experience in the field of urban development.
Carson, who was raised in an impoverished area of Detroit, later rose to prominence as a renowned neurosurgeon who drew national political attention this year when he ran in the Republican primary race earlier this year.
While his presidential campaign was short-lived, Carson has continued to make headlines with his early endorsement of Mr. Trump, and his advisory role with the president-elect.
In September, Mr. Trump toured Carson’s boyhood neighborhood in Detroit with the retired doctor by his side. During that trip, the then-GOP nominee pitched African Americans on his plans for inner cities and promised a “civil rights agenda for our time.”
Carson’s role in the coming administration was unclear as late as last week. Even the neurosurgeon’s longtime friend and adviser, Armstrong Williams, told The Hill that Carson wasn’t interested in running a government agency because he’d never served in a federal capacity.
“Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience, he’s never run a federal agency,” Armstrong said Tuesday. “The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency.”
Outstanding choice!!! Mr. Carson, great man and public servant that he will be, will absolutely help America become great again!!! African-Americans and all minorities, get rid of your Democrat Party scum & vermin who have done zilch, but use and abuse you all....there is a new leader& sheriff in town and his name is Dr, Ben Carson!!!
As the great Doctor, Martin Luther Kingm Jr., used to preach...sing & shout from your ghetto rooftops....”free at last, free at last, Great GOD ALMIGHTY, we’re free at last!!! ONWARD to “One America, with equality for all”....Go...Donald J. Trump & Dr. Ben Carson!!! America stands with you!!!
HOORAY Donald Trump
HOORAY Ben Carson
This is what’s being said right now. Let’s see if the remarks aren’t denied or reversed by Dr.Carson before the end of the week. There has been ongoing fluctuation concerning his inclusion in the Trump Administration.
I don’t know if the Doctor is playing coy or if he’s truly this undecided.
Typically, construction done through HUD is through a Public Housing Authority (local org) not the Feds.
HUD’s most famous/infamous programs have more to do with Fair Housing claims and residential mortgages.
A few of HUD Program Offices are:
Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Community Planning and Development
Equal Employment Opportunity
Fair Housing/Equal Opportunity
Ginnie Mae
Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
Housing
Policy Development and Research
Public and Indian Housing
I hope that’s right
We have a winnnnnner......
HUD is a classic example of the DC swamp.
Most of the “experts” are on the take one way or the other.
I wish Carson luck—even with the best of intentions and the highest integrity he will need it.
I don’t think construction or being a developer is a prerequisite. And, IMO, this is better than Surgeon General, which IMO, is really a nothing job.
I think it’s a good fit.
It is a cabinet level post that affects a lot of troubled communities. That makes it a major department to at least some degree.
Inner cities, ruled by DemonRats, need some tough love. Do you see them accepting that from a White guy?
This was a brilliant appointment.
The Doctor Ben Carson is going in to HEAL the inner cities. Woo! Hoo!
HUD used to have an exciting mission...nowadays...not so much. Most of its mission has been devolved to the States and the housing industry...much of what HUD does today is monitoring of the States, non-profits and other industry groups that use HUD/taxpayer money. Their ability to monitor this use and flow of money gets worse and worse as years go by.
Now some of you do not see this as the 'right' pick, but Dr. Carson has been an advocate of changing the direction of inner city youths and families for a long time.
Now he has the opportunity to do things they way they were meant to be done.
Oh, and one more thing. Has anyone else noticed all of Trump's picks have been people who have been successful in business, owe no one favors, or have been rivals with opinions Trump listens to? Trump is building the business that is the USA.
I see a time, in the not too distant future when he gathers members from both sides into one room, shows them what he wants, directs them to get there, because if not, he can go out the door, or Tweet, "these people are not doing work you, the voters demand. Please think about that when they come up for re-election."
Wow. Hoity Toity. You are most ignorant. You do not know all that a Neurosurgeon has to do through his YEARS of learning. All the shitty paperwork and dealing with bureaucracy and red tape to increase the skills in the care of his patients. Ben also has an education non-profit that he has run for years that has done marvelous works in many states. Don’t talk off the top your uneducated head. Ben’s is a1000 times ahead of your possible question. I was married to a Neurosurgeon who died young. You have no idea. Ben’s experiences and natural intelligence AND practicality will far surpass any government rodent.
Now we are debating whether or not he is qualified to be HUD Secretary!
I could never picture Ben Carson as president. Probably too nice of a guy to be in politics. Also, very low key.
I will have to trust Trump's judgement on this one and support the appointment. Perhaps Trump will ensure there are skilled people under him running the day to day and carrying out the necessary changes and Ben will be the "face" of HUD.
I admit to not knowing that much about what HUD does. The department has always had negative connotations for me, such as poverty and welfare. I would think that this is a department we would like to have less of in a Trump Administration and having Ben Carson at the top might help the medicine go down in the affected communities.
Kemp was a disaster in politics, almost singlehandedly responsible for the dangerously naive open borders mentality in the GOP, with Paul Ryan as his deranged disciple.
And trump has never been in Government:-)
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