Former neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who’s surging in the latest polls, said Sunday that Americans need to talk about Islam and sharia law.
In response to a question about his controversial comment last week that he would not advocate making a Muslim president, Carson said on ABC’s “This Week” that the first part of his statement, that he would support anybody who followed American values and principles, was always left out by the media.
“Why do you guys always leave that part out, I wonder?” asked Carson, who is fourth in the Washington Examiner‘s presidential power rankings.
Host Martha Raddatz replied: “I don’t think we do, Dr. Carson, and it really was quite clear: ‘I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation.’ You also talked about sharia law; that they must denounce sharia law. You assume that all Muslims embrace sharia law?”
“What we should be talking about is Islam, and the tenets of Islam, and where do they come from?” said Carson. “They come from sharia. They come from the Koran. They come from, you know, the life works and examples of Muhammad. They come from the fatwas, which is the writings of the scholars.”
“You know, and if you go back and you look at — what I would like for somebody to show me is an approved Islamic text that opposes sharia,” said Carson. “If you can show me that; I will begin to alter my thinking on this.”
“But right now, when you have something that is against the rights of women, against the rights of gays, subjugates other religions, and a host of things that are not compatible with our Constitution, why in fact would you take that chance?”
