Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson said President Barack Obama was “raised white,” whereas Carson has “had a chance to see what real racism is” in a Politico podcast published Tuesday morning.
“He’s an ‘African’ American. He was, you know, raised white,” Carson told Politico as he waited for the results of the South Carolina primary on Saturday. “I mean, like most Americans, I was proud that we broke the color barrier when he was elected, but he didn’t grow up like I grew up.”
Carson said Obama’s experience as a young man was simply different than his own.
“Many of his formative years were spent in Indonesia. So, for him to, you know, claim that, you know, he identifies with the experience of black Americans, I think, is a bit of a stretch,” he said.
The world-renowned surgeon does not often bring up race on the campaign trail, and has called for Americans to “deemphasize race.”
“Remember now, I’ve been around for 64 years, you know. I’ve had a chance to see what real racism is,” he said.
Carson told Politico that he hasn’t experienced racism from the Republican Party. Then, when asked to recount his last experience with “real racism,” Carson said he just had to look to the left and progressives.
“I think the way that I’m treated by the left is racism. They assume because you’re black, you have to think a certain way,” he added.
Listen to the full podcast, via Politico:
