Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is asking whether House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is “racist” or “just dumb” after she criticized the choice of Dr. Ben Carson to serve as secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department.
“Ben Carson is first HUD Sec to have actually lived in gov’t housing. Fancy Nancy Pelosi says he’s not qualified; is she racist or just dumb?” Huckabee, a former 2016 presidential candidate, tweeted Monday.
Ben Carson is first HUD Sec to have actually lived in gov’t housing. Fancy Nancy Pelosi says he’s not qualified; is she racist or just dumb?
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) December 5, 2016
Shortly after that message, Huckabee issued another statement, based on a report clarifying Carson had not actually lived in public housing.
“Mea culpa-was wrong about B Carson living in gov’t housing. Sorry—got my info from a “fake news” site-NY Times,” Huckabee wrote.
Mea culpa-was wrong about B Carson living in gov’t housing. Sorry–got my info from a “fake news” site-NY Times: https://t.co/KZHnOgV4MG
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) December 5, 2016
President-elect Trump’s transition team announced Carson as its pick to lead the department early Monday morning.
Congressional Democrats wasted no time bashing Trump’s choice.
Pelosi, a California lawmaker, called Carson a world-renowned neurosurgeon but said he is “a disconcerting and disturbingly unqualified choice to lead a department as complex and consequential.” Pelosi said Carson did not have the “experience to protect the rights of homeowners and renters, particularly in low income and minority communities,” a comment that seems to have prompted Huckabee’s response.
Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also questioned the selection of Carson on Monday.
Carson will take over in January for former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. He has said he opposes the Obama administration’s housing diversity rule.
