Ben Carson Announces 2016 Bid

Dr. Ben Carson speaks during the Freedom Summit, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Several months back, neurosurgeon and social conservative darling Ben Carson said “the fingers of God” were pressing him to run for President.

On Sunday, they appeared to give him a final push.

“I’m willing to be part of the equation and therefore, I’m announcing my candidacy for president of the United States of America,” Carson told local Ohio station WKRC during an exclusive interview.

Carson will deliver a speech on his announcement on Monday from his hometown of Detroit, the station reported. He formed an exploratory committee back in March.

“I began to ask myself, why are people clamoring for me to do this?” he said. “I represent a lot of the same thoughts that they have.”

Carson has become well known for his off-the-wall remarks about homosexuality and repeated comparisons of America to Nazi Germany. Recently he appeared to praise the convictions of the Islamic State terror group and called for the removal of U.S. judges who rule in favor of gay marriage.

“Don’t wander off into those extraneous areas that can be exploited,” Carson told WKRC when asked what he has learned so far about being on the national stage.

The former neurosurgeon was forced to walk back one particular digression that he made only hours after he announced his exploratory committee.

“A lot of people who go into prison, go into prison straight — and when they come out they’re gay,” Carson said on CNN in Mach. “So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question.”

He apologized for the remark shortly after.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. I’ve got another finger for you, Uncle Ben:

  2. So Doctor Uncle’s saying the ‘Fingers of G-d’ stimulated him to run? His church must have one holy heck of a jack shack :feelsgood:

  3. TPM Headline: Ben Carson Announces 2016 Bid

    AKA: Ben Carson Announces 2016 Tea Party Grift

  4. I think this will be incredibly entertaining. Run, Ben, Run.

  5. TPM:

    Several months back, neurosurgeon and social conservative darling Ben Carson said “the fingers of God” were pressing him to run for President.

    Amazing how the “fingers of God” seem to perform the exact same function as a masturbatory ego grip.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

29 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for alliebean Avatar for buckguy Avatar for josephebacon Avatar for brooklyndweller Avatar for avattoir Avatar for fargo116 Avatar for trippin Avatar for Lacuna-Synecdoche Avatar for mantan Avatar for sherlock1 Avatar for phillydave Avatar for tao Avatar for themiddleman Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for darrtown Avatar for upstateny13027 Avatar for benthere Avatar for cincypix Avatar for henk Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for edhedh Avatar for ljb860

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: