During a rapid-fire interview with radio host Glenn Beck, Ben Carson was asked if he would abolish the Department of Education. Carson answered that he actually had a plan for the agency:
Despite how lacking in detail that answer actually is, some are still running with it to claim Carson wants to limit free speech.
Here are some headlines:
- The Huffington Post: “Ben Carson Wants to Police Speech on College Campuses.”
- The Daily Beast: “Ben Carson: Dept. of Education Should Police ‘Extreme’ Political Bias In Colleges
- Mother Jones: “Ben Carson Wants to Censor Speech on College Campuses.”
- Daily Kos: “Ben Carson hates political correctness so much he wants the government to police campus speech.”
In their reporting, the Huffington Post points to an interview from June, during which they themselves admit that Carson “did not explain details.”
Carson made similar remarks then to the ones mentioned in his more recent interview. “I think the Department of Education should monitor institutions of higher education for political bias and withhold federal funding if it exists,” he said.
The sites all took the opportunity to tie in Carson’s penchant for not being politically correct. Daily Kos took the chance to take a stab at George W. Bush as well. It’s possible that the outrage from the left is not necessarily to do with free speech, but because Ben Carson was the proposed it.
Sites Reason and Hot Air, which are not left-leaning also expressed concern with Carson’s proposal, and how it could affect speech. Their concerns were more so expressed a concern for the role of the federal government, rather than attacking Carson’s view on being PC.
Hot Air mentioned the problems of “trigger zones” and “free speech zones.” Also addressed was the concern that such a proposal could backfire against conservatives.
Political bias may very well be an issue on college campuses. And it’s not just about speech, which some do want to crack down on. It’s also about hiring practices.
Also, what about the University of California’s thankfully done away with proposal which would have considered granting students the right not to be offended? How is that not a policing of speech?
Even if it maybe a harsh proposal to deny federal funding to universities, it’s worthwhile to actually understand Carson’s proposal before freaking out about it.
It would have been more helpful, of course, had Carson been more clear but the statements were made during a rapid-fire interview which touched upon other topics. Thus, some speculation is needed, but it does not mean that those freaking out have the answer.
