Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said he didn’t think reporting on what Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson stated years ago was fair game.
NBC “Meet The Press” host Chuck Todd asked Sanders what he thought about “the Ben Carson stuff.”
“Because you have seen some people leak out stuff you wrote 30 and 40 years ago,” Todd continued. “Is this fair game?”
“No,” Sanders replied. “And look, I listened to the interviews with Dr. Carson. And it’s interesting. But you know what, Chuck? The American people want to know why the middle class of this country is disappearing.”
“I think it might be a better idea, I know it’s a crazy idea, but maybe we focus on the issues impacting the American people and what candidates are saying rather than just spending so much time exploring their lives of 30 or 40 years ago,” Sanders continued. “And I think the reason that so many people are turned off to the political process has a lot to do with the fact that we’re not talking about the real issues impacting real people.”
This stuff isn’t about things someone leaked that Carson said 40 years ago. It’s about his autobiography and changing stories about his life. If any of it is from that long ago then its perfectly fair game to show the pattern of dissembling and a lack of concern for facts.
I couldn’t disagree with you more, Senator.
Sen. Sanders, context is everything. Personally, I do believe it very well might be important to bring up an issue or subject someone (such as yourself or Dr. Carson) commented on 30 or 40 years ago. It could be important–or not–in helping to shape an opinion of the person’s growth over the years. Obviously not every single subject or comment on it is relevant today – but I think it’s foolish to not research a person’s history when considering them for such an important position as POTUS or judgeship, etc.
I disagree Senator, Dr. Carson’s behavior is repetitive.
If what a person said in the past reveals that the person in question is a dangerous lunatic or a serial fabricator, it’s fair game.
If prior statements involve policy choices, on the other hand, the candidate can always say, simply, “At one time I thought that was the correct way to go. I no longer think so, and here’s why…”