Ben Carson is talking about Muslim nominees again. However, this time it’s not for the White House.
In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Thursday, Carson argued that Muslim nominees to the Supreme Court or to a federal court need to be questioned about their background and faith. The 2016 hopeful told the host that any candidate’s background is fair game, and that an individual’s Islamic faith is a major part of their background.
“If I were the one nominating such a person, I would spend a good deal of time looking at their background and seeing if it’s consistent with the kinds of standards we expect from such a position. I would take that into account much more than what they have to say. And that’s been part of the problem with some of their selections. You know, we listen to what they say and not what they have done.”
“I wouldn’t have a problem [nominating a Muslim to the Supreme Court]. It’s not being a Muslim. It’s a matter of whether one is willing to accept the principles and values of America and our Constitution. It’s a matter of their lifestyle, which, Islam, which incorporates Sharia [Law] is a lifestyle,” said Carson. “If they have clearly rejected that, will do that publicly, and their life has manifested that, then there’s no inconsistency whatsoever.”
When Hewitt pressed Carson on whether that means a Muslim nominee’s religion should be discussed during a confirmation hearing, the former neurosurgeon said that it should be on the table for discussion given that Islam is “more than just a religion.”
“If we are talking about a whole different way of life, which includes Sharia, we obviously want to make sure that if a person comes from a background where that is likely to be their belief system — and it’s more than just a religion,” he continued. “It’s a political aspect and a whole style of living. If that is the case, obviously we need to know about that.”
The comments come nearly two weeks after Carson told “Meet The Press” that he would not “advocate” for a Muslim nominee for president. While Carson received substantial media blowback, he did see a spike in fundraising in the 24 hour period following the comment, which contributed to the $30 million his campaign pulled in during the third quarter.
