Famed neurosurgeon Ben Carson made no apologies after his now-legendary speech at the National Prayer Breakfast last year, even to the White House after it requested Carson apologize to President Barack Obama for “offending him.”
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Carson recalled the administration’s request following his speech at last year’s breakfast in his new book, “One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America’s Future,” according to The Daily Caller, which obtained an advance copy of the book.
“He did not appear to be hostile of angry, but within a matter of minutes after the conclusion of the program, I received a call from some of the prayer breakfast organizers saying that the White House was upset and requesting that I call the president and apologize for offending him,” Carson wrote. “I said that I did not think that he was offended and that I didn’t think that such a call was warranted.”
Carson’s speech at the Prayer Breakfast catapulted him to conservative stardom. The former director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital denounced the “pc police” and outlined his own alternatives for healthcare reform as the president looked on.
The famed neurosurgeon, though, stood by his remarks even as detractors criticized him for disrespecting President Obama.
“Many have commented that the president appeared to be uncomfortable during my speech, but I was not paying particular attention to him or his reactions, as my comments were really directed more at the American people than the people on the dais,” Carson said. “At the conclusion of the program, the president approached me to shake my hand and thank me for my participation.”
Since his address, many conservatives have called on Carson to explore a White House run in 2016. Supporters formed the superPAC “National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee” and launched a website, RunBenRun.org, to bolster support.
But, Carson himself said he has no plans to run.
“But I have not felt called to run,” he wrote in his book. “I suspect that there are many others who think logically and are interested in a political future who might be better candidates than myself. Nonetheless, if I felt called by God to officially enter the world of politics, I certainly would not hesitate to do so.”
Carson’s book is scheduled to be released May 20.
h/t The Daily Caller
