Ben Carson is taking his complaints about the press straight to the source.
During a luncheon at the National Press Club Friday, Carson bashed the media for what he said was dishonest coverage of his comments about a potential Muslim president and last week’s Oregon shooting.
Carson told the assembled reporters they are as trustworthy as used car salesmen and that he plans to “expose them” throughout the course of his campaign.
“There is only one business in America that is protected by the Constitution, and that is the press,” Carson said, which is an often-used campaign line of his. “They were supposed to expose and inform the people in a non-partisan way. When they become partisan, which they are, they distort the system as it was supposed to work. And they allow the side that they pick to get away with all kinds of things.”
“[I] think there’s still hope for the press,” said Carson, who sits second in the Washington Examiner‘s latest power rankings. “I think it is possible that some of them will recognize that it’s almost a sacred obligation that they have to the people to be honest.”
But, Carson added, “The more they attack me the better we do.”
Carson rattled through a series of recent controveries in which he’s been embroiled.
“This is the level of insincerity that we see and it really is kind of embarrassing to see that,” Carson said. “Everything needs to be looked at in its context. And when news media pick one word or one phrase, and they run with it, and they try to characterize people like that.”
“I gotta tell you guys, that’s why people don’t trust you anymore,” Carson said. “I mean, you’re down there with used car salesmen.”
In the Q&A session, Carson said he wanted to “expose” the media.
“I just want to mention — many in the press will say that I’m sensitive, and that should not be thinking about running for office because I get offended by what they do,” Carson said. “Of course they’ll say that.”
“But the reason that I expose the press is because I want the people of America to understand what they are doing,” Carson said. “So it’s not because I’m sensitive. I will continue to expose them every time they do something because as more people understand who they are and what they are doing, it will negate their effect.”
The Examiner asked Carson why he chose to go off on the media while at the National Press Club.
“Because they’ve gone after me this week more so than usual. This was a good week to have plenty of examples. Every little thing that comes out of your mouth really,” Carson replied. “Because they pick sides. You don’t see them going after Hillary or Biden for a little thing like that. It’s pretty obvious.”
After a week of non-stop media appearances to promote his new book, Carson will be in South Carolina and Georgia over the weekend.
