Ben Carson defended his comments about a Muslim president Tuesday, saying they were distorted by “PC culture.”
During a press conference in Sharonville, Ohio, Carson lambasted the media for focusing on his answer itself and none of the comments he also made to “Meet The Press” on Sunday. The 2016 hopeful pointed specfically to his initial claim in the interview that he would have no issue with a Muslim who puts the Constitution and American values first, a statement he says “nobody heard.”
“If people listened to that interview, they’ll notice that I said that anybody regardless of their religion or affiliation, if they embrace American values and they place the Constituion at the top level, then I’m supportive of them,” Carson said. “That was what I said first. That part, nobody heard.”
“[I]f my initial response didn’t answer the question, then he would say ‘well, what about somebody who is of a faith that does not traditionally seperate church and state?'” Carson said when asked about the part of the question the media focused upon. “Again, it seems to be hard for people to actually hear English and understand it.”
“I said I would support anyone regardless of their background if in fact they embrace American values and our Constitution, and are willing to place that above their beliefs,” Carson said before adding that, “Sharia Law is completely antithetical to Americanism.”
The famed neurosurgeon, who has surged in the polls to the top tier of the GOP primary, went on to blast the “PC culture” in America and argue that the only way Americans can “actually start listening” is to stop fitting “everything into a PC model.”
“The only way we fix [that perception] is fix the PC culture in our country, which only can listen to one narrative. And if it doesn’t fit their philosophy, then they have to try to ascribe some motive to it to make it fit,” Carson said. “That’s how we fix it. We fix America, and we get people to actually start listening and being capable of understanding what is the principles of our country and our Constitution, and stop trying to fit everything into a PC model.”
Carson went on to say that he believes Muslim-Americans would be comfortable voting for him down the road, telling a reporter that he has spoken to many in the past 24 hours that have offered support for his comments.
He also touched on Donald Trump’s refusal to push back against an anti-Muslim question at a rally in New Hampshire last week, telling reporters that he would have indeed disputed the questioner’s assertions.
