Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson stood by his comments Monday night about not supporting a Muslim president.
However, he did clarify that he was referring to Muslims who had not rejected Islamic Sharia law.
“We don’t put people at the head of our country whose faith might interfere with them carrying out the duties of the Constitution,” the retired neurosurgeon told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday night. “If you’re a Christian and you’re running for president and you want to make this [country] into a theocracy, I’m not going to support you. I’m not going to advocate you being the president.”
He added: “Now, if someone has a Muslim background, and they’re willing to reject those tenets and to accept the way of life that we have, and clearly will swear to place our Constitution above their religion, then of course they will be considered infidels and heretics, but at least I would then be quite willing to support them.”
Carson, who is currently polling second (18.8 percent) in a RealClearPolitics average of polls to Donald Trump (28.5 percent), has come under fire since a Sunday interview on NBC’S “Meet The Press” in which he said a president’s religion should matter to American voters and that he “would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation.”
Article VI of the United States Constitution says, “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office,” and Carson has faced backlash from not just numerous Muslim groups but other presidential hopefuls, such as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
Prior to his Monday statement, Carson had taken to his Facebook page to fire back at his fellow Republican candidates who had criticized him. “Those Republicans that take issue with my position are amazing. Under Islamic Law, homosexuals – men and women alike – must be killed. Women must be subservient. And people following other religions must be killed. I know that there are many peaceful Muslims who do not adhere to these beliefs. But until these tenants are fully renounced … I cannot advocate any Muslim candidate for president.”
Carson also added, jokingly, “I also can’t advocate supporting Hillary Clinton either by the way.”
