The retired director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital announced Tuesday that he had filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to run in what is expected to be a crowded 2016 presidential race.
Carson, a 2008 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is celebrated for a successful 1987 operation that separated twins joined at the head. He has also written a series of inspirational books detailing his views on patriotism and citizenship, as well as an emotional memoir of his hardscrabble youth and rise to the top of the medical profession.
But it was his unexpected criticisms of President Obama at a 2013 prayer breakfast that thrust him to the center of American politics. While he has no prior political experience and his policy comments have occasionally raised eyebrows among the media and the GOP establishment, the brain surgeon has attracted a zealous and active following. Carson supporters were highly visible and numerous at last week’s Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington, D.C.
The list of prominent Republicans hoping to run next year is exceedingly long, and includes senators, governors, former politicians of various stripes and at least one business leader — former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. But Carson is the first of the likely candidates to file paperwork.
He’s not the first GOP candidate at all, however. That distinction belongs to perennial candidate Jack Fellure of Hurricane, West Virginia, who filed his intention to run immediately after the 2012 presidential election but no longer has the GOP field to himself.
The text of Carson’s email to supporters follows:
Yesterday, I filed with the Federal Election Commission the necessary paperwork to formally consider a run for President of the United States in 2016.
Let me tell you why I’m taking this step today, and how you can help.
For many years, I have traveled the country closely studying our politics. I believe we are on the verge of robbing our children of the American Dream.
We are racking up a virtually insurmountable debt, stifling our economic potential and placing our children’s future at risk.
At home and abroad, we are silencing honest debate about our challenges, our differences and our culture, all in the name of political correctness.
We are ceding more and more power to Washington bureaucrats at the expense of our personal liberty, ignoring the wisdom of our founders who risked their lives to form “a more perfect union.”
Too many of our children are trapped in failing schools and find themselves thrust into a deadly cycle of crime, dependence and despair.
Over the course of thousands of operations as the head of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, I have spent most of my adult life caring for very ill children. As co-founder of the non-profit Carson Scholars Fund, my wife Candy and I have spent years helping children find their own inspiration to reach their full, God-given potential.
In many ways, that is the duty of my generation – to do everything in our power to give the next generation the opportunity to achieve greatness.
I believe that with hard work and determined leadership, greatness is within our grasp. America was founded on the self-evident truth that we as a nation have the right to think big and pursue happiness.
It is this core principle that allowed me, a young boy, raised in Detroit by a single, illiterate but determined mother, to overcome poverty, bad grades, and low self-esteem to become one of the world’s leading physicians.
I’ve decided to explore a potential run for the office of President because I believe my values, life experience, and willingness to speak the truth and seek solutions, prepares me well to lead our nation toward more prosperity, security, and freedom for every American.
As I travel around the country to listen, learn and determine whether or not this is a race I can win, your financial support during the next two months will be extremely helpful.
To make a secure contribution to my exploratory committee now, please go here.
I look forward to working with you, and the rest of our fellow citizens to restore the promise of America.
Thank you, and God Bless America.
Ben Carson
