Ben Carson criticized the media’s “PC” interpretation of his comments about President Barack Obama being “raised white” during a tense CNN interview on Tuesday.
CNN host Poppy Harlow pressed the GOP presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon on his choice of words, pointing out that Obama’s father was black.
“I wasn’t criticizing him,” Carson said. “Excuse me, but that’s you guys in the news media who are trying to make it into a fight. I’m just stating the obvious facts.”
In a Politico podcast released earlier Tuesday, Carson argued that it was “a bit of a stretch” for Obama to “claim he identifies with the experience of black Americans” because his mother was white and he spent time living in Indonesia. Carson also claimed that he, unlike Obama, had experienced “real racism.”
On CNN, Carson insisted that he was simply trying to outline “the facts” rather than dismiss Obama’s life experiences.
“That’s how many people interpret it, I will tell you,” Harlow told him. The CNN host then asked if Carson was saying he would be the first “truly African-American president if elected.”
“That was you guys—” Carson cut in.
“I’m asking—that’s why I’m asking you,” Harlow responded.
“I never said that,” Carson said before responding with a firm “no.”
“Do you believe the headlines that said that this morning?” Harlow asked.
“I believe all the emphasis on race is way overblown,” Carson replied. “And I think—I think this conversation is contributing to it. I think this is a nothing burger myself.”
Sounded more like a " soyberger" to me Ben —
I love it when politicians try to use what they see as modern slang and fail terribly.
Dude, when you start calling people “oreo’s,” then you get slammed for it.
“Zebras” too.
Poppy Harlow? I saw her on a couple Super-8 reel-to-reels back in the 70s. Co-starred with Rod Steelman I think. She’s held up well.