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 these facts, Carson’s campaign conceded the story was false.
I have no idea how *anyone* can spin these facts in a way that benefits the temporary frontrunner. Even the simple-minded evangelical dolts who support him are bound to find this story troublesome. It’s increasingly looking like Carson’s memoir should be moved to the fiction shelves. The whole “I am a redeemed street thug” story seems to be imploding as well.
I’ve been expecting a Carson collapse. It’s what happens during the silly season before votes are actually cast. His campaign has gone from running on faith to running out of faith.
The real question is who benefits from Carson and the Insult Comedian’s woes? I think it’s Ted Cruz who is well positioned to pick up the biblethumper vote from Carson and the asshole vote from Trump. Cruz has played a sly and devious game during the silly season by attacking neither Trump nor Carson. I didn’t know that Senator Blow Torch had it in him.
In the end, Dr. Carson is looking more and more like these guys:
I remain unconvinced that this will have the effect it should on Carson’s standing with the GOP voting base. #IOKIYAR.
I tend to agree. Looking over the comments (never read the comments) at MSN’s posting of the story, there are all kinds of folks dreaming up the most convenient explanations for Carson’s variance from reality. Most of them having to do with alleged lies told by Obummer and Hitlery; or a blanket condemnation of all politicians (but it’s okay that Carson told a few stretchers, because reasons); or Carson’s account isn’t really a lie because other reasons.
The immediate impact will be Carson’s supporters sticking up for him even more vociferously, but I think his poll numbers will recede as the scrutiny ramps up and it turns out that Carson’s inspirational story has more in common with Horatio Alger than anything that actually happened.
I think Adrastos is right about Cruz waiting in the wings. Carson might not lose his hard-core supporters, but stuff like this becomes a good excuse for fence sitters to look elsewhere. Additionally, does Carson have any real organization? A lack of one will hurt in states with primaries.
Someone should have realized something smelled the moment they read “full scholarship” to West Point, because there’s no such thing, and Carson would have realized that were he to have applied. One is enlisted in the army at the time of admission. The education there is considered military training.
As for Cruz, he certainly could step in as the evangelicals’ first choice. He’s got the cred for that, but I suspect that will be downplayed or kept in the closet through most of the campaign. After all, his father is doing the campaign work with that bunch for him. And he’s a cagey enough sonofabitch to not let the evangelicals queer his chances with the business elite. I don’t expect any pious pronouncements from him until he’s got the nomination, if he gets it–which I doubt. I think he’s already made the Wall Street types nervous with all his bombthrowing over shutting down the government. That costs them money, an unforgivable sin.
Cruise’s support is a mile wide and an inch deep and he has no organization. It may take some time but I see his support melting away and headed towards Cruz. I’ve long thought Cruz will be the nominee if they choose to go full metal wingnut.
This is to mach Enlish for me: I am Dutch!