Dr. Ben Carson: "Poverty Is A State Of Mind"

Dr. Ben Carson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

The New York Times reports that the current Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson who has no background in housing, told Armstrong Williams at SiriusXM Radio that poverty is "a state of mind."

“I think poverty to a large extent is also a state of mind,” he said, according to a transcript of the interview that was released on Wednesday. “You take somebody that has the right mind-set, you can take everything from them and put them on the street, and I guarantee in a little while they’ll be right back up there.” He added that helping people may not better their lives. “You take somebody with the wrong mind-set, you can give them everything in the world — they’ll work their way right back down to the bottom,” Mr. Carson said.

And Twitter had a field day:

Ben Carson said poverty is a state of mind.

Next month, I'm going to tell my landlord that I paid my rent with positive thinking!

— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) May 24, 2017

I just imagined a few million into my bank account, thanks Ben Carson https://t.co/uYqFjQwWXR

— thomas a moore 🎈 (@Thomas_A_Moore) May 24, 2017

Poverty is a state of mind Ben Carson? Tell that to a kid who can't afford lunch for school or won't have anything to eat for dinner.

— still kimberly (@bkimberlyb) May 24, 2017

Ben Carson Says 'Poverty Is a State of Mind'.

So if your kids are hungry today, just think them up a hamburger.

— Chris Downing (@chrisdowning) May 25, 2017

Ben Carson says that poverty is a "state of mind."
Tell that to my low-income students whose parents struggle w/the basic necessities.

— Talia (@2020fight) May 25, 2017

Radio Show: Jennifer Holliday Cancels, CMT's Cody Alan Comes Out, Ben Carson Still Confused

This week on my BlogTalkRadio show, I recap these LGBT headlines and more:

• Tony & Grammy Award winner Jennifer Holliday agrees to perform at the Trump inauguration, then reverses in an open letter to her LGBT fans.

• CMT and iHeartRadio host Cody Alan comes out to fans.

• A new Gallup poll shows the LGBT community in the US growing to the tune of over 10 million.

• Dr. Ben Carson still thinks LGBTs want "extra rights," and he's wrong.

• Randy Rainbow parodies Into The Woods as he suggests President-elect Trump consider pulling back on the Twitter.

HUD Nominee Dr. Ben Carson: LGBTs Shouldn't Get "Extra Rights"

Concerning, but not surprising language, from Housing and Urban Development Secretary nominee Dr. Ben Carson on the rights of LGBT people today during his confirmation hearing.

Dr. Ben Carson gets questions about LGBT Equality at his HUD Secretary Nomination Hearing by Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Via The Hill:

Trump Cabinet pick Ben Carson reiterated his belief Thursday that LGBT Americans don’t deserve “extra rights.” During Carson’s confirmation hearing, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) pressed the Housing and Urban Development nominee about whether he would enforce LGBT protections in the public housing sector.

“Of course, I would enforce all the laws of the land,” Carson responded. “Of course, I think all Americans should be protected by the law.” “What I have said before is I don’t think anyone should get ‘extra rights,’” he added.

Carson’s remarks mirror those from his 2014 CPAC speech: “Of course gay people should have the same rights as everyone else, but they don’t get extra rights,” Carson said at the time. “They don’t get to redefine marriage.”

I have no idea what "extra rights" he's talking about. Somehow he seems to conflate my right to marry my husband as an "extra right?"

I guess not surprising when you consider, as JoeMyGod reminds us, that this is the same guy who says prison makes people gay, and asking bakers to make a wedding cake for a same-sex wedding could result in poison in the cake.

New Poll: Donald Trump Leads Competitors By 20 Points

A new CNN/ORC poll shows White House hopeful Donald Trump way ahead of his fellow GOP competitors.

The Donald looks to have his biggest lead yet in the race for Republican nominee for 2016:

Donald Trump: 36%
Sen. Ted Cruz: 16%
Ben Carson: 14%
Sen. Marco Rubio: 12%

It's interesting to note a friend from Texas, who is a Republican, wondered my direction why folks are paying so much attention to Trump. My friend said, "He's a clown.  He'll never be the nominee."

Well...?

Wait for Trump to go after Ted Cruz in 3, 2, 1...

Dr. Ben Carson: It's Not Fair For Transgender People To "Make Everyone Else Feel Uncomfortable"

Speaking to Fusion, current GOP White House front-runner Dr. Ben Carson says he believes LGBTs can "do anything they want" but he doesn't believe transgender folks should have the right to "make everyone else uncomfortable."

Questioned about Houston voters’ rejection of a law banning LGBT discrimination this week, Carson said: “How about we have a transgender bathroom?” “It is not fair for them to make everybody else uncomfortable,” Carson said of transgender people.

“It’s one of the things that I don’t particularly like about the [LGBT] movement. I think everybody has equal rights, but I’m not sure that anybody should have extra rights—extra rights when it comes to redefining everything for everybody else and imposing your view on everybody else.”

“The way this country was designed was live and let live,” Carson said, as he sipped a tall glass of orange juice in Miami’s Moonlite Diner.

“I feel, gay people, they can do anything they want.”

“But you’re against gay marriage,” Ramos pointed out.

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll Shows Trump And Carson In Virtual Tie

Much like the earlier USA Today/Suffolk University poll I posted earlier today, the new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows Donald Trump virtually tied with Ben Carson, and Carly Fiorina and Sen. Marco Rubio tied in 3rd.

Stephen Colbert's "All-Inclusive Wedding Cake Toppers"

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert went after the still-lingering crazies who think they will turn back the clock on marriage equality last night.

"Folks, gay marriage is still a controversial issue in this country, despite the fact that it's not..."

“I think everyone should love whoever they want.

“So, I was miffed when Kentucky County Clerk and forehead magnate Kim Davis refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. But I also felt bad for her when that judge sent her to jail and even worse when she was sentenced to send an afternoon with Mike Huckabee. It’s cruel and unusual,” he joked.

With that in mind, Colbert introduced his own line of "all-inclusive wedding cake toppers."

GOP Presidential Contenders Jump On Ben Carson's "Opposition To Muslim President" Comment

Dr. Ben Carson

On yesterday's edition of MEET THE PRESS, White House hopeful Dr. Ben Carson told Chuck Todd that he could not support a Muslim candidate for president.

Carson said Islam is "inconsistent with the values and principles of America" and is incompatible with the Constitution.

Now, some of his fellow GOP nominees are piling on saying his statements were out of line and out of touch.

Sen. Ted Cruz: “You know, the Constitution specifies there shall be no religious test for public office and I am a constitutionalist."

Sen. Lindsey Graham: "I think this shows that Dr. Carson is not ready to be commander-in-chief. He said that they didn't believe somebody of the muslim faith could be loyal to the Constitution. If he understood the world and how dangerous it is he would not say things like this. We have to partner with people in the faith to destroy radical Islam, and most Muslims throughout the world reject what radical islam is trying to do to the world and their faith so this is an example to me that Mr Carson may be a good doctor, but he is not ready to lead a great nation. .

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal: "If you can find me a Muslim candidate who is a Republican, who will fight hard to protect religious liberty, who will respect the Judeo-Christian heritage of America, who will be committed to destroying ISIS and radical Islam, who will condemn cultures that treat women as second class citizens and who will place their hand on the Bible and swear to uphold the Constitution, then yes, I will be happy to consider voting for him or her," he said. "If you can’t, I’ll settle for voting for a Christian Governor from Louisiana."

Ben Carson Questions Donald Trump's Faith; Trump On Carson "He's An OK Doctor"

Donald Trump practically loses his mind calling in to CNN's "New Day" with Chris Cuomo this morning to slap back at Dr. Ben Carson, who yesterday appeared to question the depth or reality of Trump's religious faith.

On Wednesday, reporters asked Carson what differences there were between the two candidates. From CNN:

"Probably the biggest thing -- I've realized where my success has come from and I don't in anyway deny my faith in God," Carson said.

He explained what he meant by quoting what he said was one of his favorite bible verses.

"By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life and that's a very big part of who I am. I don't get that impression with him," Carson said of Trump. "Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't get that."

“Who is he to question my faith?” Trump asked this morning. “He knows nothing about me. I am a man of faith."

“I hardly know Ben Carson. I’m a believer, big league in God. I will hit back on that.”

“I don’t think he’s a great religious figure. If you look at his faith, you’re not going to make it very far.”

Trump also addressed Carson's personal energy as problematic. "He makes Bush look like the energizer bunny. Ben Carson is not going to be your next president."

Meme Of The Day: You Go In, You Come Out

Remember what GOP hopeful Dr. Ben Carson said about how folks "become" gay?

"A lot of people who go into prison straight, and when they come out they're gay."

Careful what you wish for, County Clerk Kim Davis...

Iowa: Ben Carson Ties Donald Trump in New Monmouth University Poll

Guess who's going to be the next target for Mr. Trump?

Retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson has surged in Iowa to pull into a dead heat with Donald Trump among likely Iowa Republican caucus goers.

Both Carson and Trump received 23 percent of likely caucusgoers' support, according to the latest Monmouth University poll.

However, Carson leads Trump on favorability - Carson notches an 81% favorable rating while The Donald is down at 52%.

Coming in behind the two front runners, 10% of likely caucusgoers threw their support to Carly Fiorina, 9% to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and just 7% for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R).

At the end of the day (or this day at least) what does this all mean? That the top 3 GOP hopefuls are all non-politicians. That Republicans, at least in Iowa, are tired of career pols and want to maybe try something new?

According to a recent Gallup poll, a dismal 14% of Americans approve of the job the GOP-led Congress is doing.

Quote Of The Day: Ben Carson On Donald Trump

Talking to Fox News radio, GOP presidential hopeful Ben Carson expressed his concerns about a Donald Trump independent run for the White House:

"I’m hoping that he will at some point come to an understanding that if he runs as a third-party candidate, he will essentially hand the election to the progressives, who will get two or three Supreme Court picks, and America will be gone as we know it. I hope he realizes the seriousness of the situation."

Dr. Ben Carson Doesn't Know If He Equates The Confederate Flag With Gay Pride Flag

GOP presidential candidate has yet another off-moment in an interview when he can't answer a question regarding the Confederate flag being compared to the LGBT community's rainbow flag.

His pause to think of a response is cringe-worthy.

From Mediate:

Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson appeared Wednesday morning on CNN’s New Day, so that can only mean two things: Yes, host Chris Cuomo asked the retired neurosurgeon a gay rights question and, yes, Carson was uncomfortable and avoided answering.

The moment came towards the end of an interview in which Carson and Cuomo had discussed ongoing controversy over public display of the Confederate flag.

Carson spoke of the need for firm leadership following last week’s racially-motivated slaying of nine parishioners at a historically black church in Charleston, S.C., which prompted Cuomo to ask him the following:

Let me hold you to your own test on a different level. Many people are equating what the Confederate flag stands for with the Gay Pride flag, and saying, ‘Hey, that flag should be taken down, too, because all it stands for is hatred toward Christians and people who don’t favor gay rights. Do you see an equation between those two symbols?

(Note: By “many people,” Cuomo was mostly referring to a certain perpetually-outraged Breitbart.com columnist who calls the rainbow flag a “fascist” symbol because words don’t mean anything anymore.)

Carson paused in his response, clearly unhappy with the pivot: “I decided that I really wanted to talk about the Confederate flag during this time.”

And Cuomo pressed further: “But you just said, doctor, that you cannot avoid these difficult situations because that’s how they fester. You must deal with what is difficult to deal with, that’s part of leadership.”

But Carson held firm: “Like I said: If you want to talk about that, let’s do that on a different segment.”

Because, as president, you can just hit 'pause' whenever you want and only make the decisions you want to make...?

Matt Baume On Ben Carson's Polygamy Query

Matt Baume addresses Ben Carson and the other trolls who keep asking: "If we let gay couples get married, won't we have to let polygamous couples get married too?"

It's the question that just keeps coming up, even from the Supreme Court.

So let's answer it once and for all: why is gay marriage different from polygamous marriage?

And is Ben Carson REALLY running for president? OR just having an extended audition for Fox News?

Fox News Asks Ben Carson: Do You Really Believe All Those Things You Say?

During a lightning round Sunday morning, Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace asked neurosurgeon  Ben Carson if he really believed all the things he said. The presidential hopeful said yes, he did.

Wallace pressed Carson on his comparison of the U.S. to Nazi Germany and his characterization of the Affordable Care Act as the worst thing in America since slavery. Carson defended the former by saying most of Germany did not agree with Hitler’s programs but said little.

“But people oppose Barack Obama all the time!” Wallace objected.

“There are a lot of people in our society who are afraid to say what they really mean because they may get an IRS audit, people will call them names, their jobs may be interfered with,” Carson said.

Most interestingly, Wallace asked Carson about a statement this week in which he intimated that a president could ignore a Supreme Court ruling. “Dred Scott is a perfect example,” Carson said. “The Supreme Court came up with this and Abraham Lincoln (R-The North) did not agree with it. Now, admittedly it caused a lot of conflict and eventually led to a Civil War, but we’re in a better place because of it.”

Wallace asked whether Carson was disagreeing with Marbury v Madison, which established the principle of judicial review. “This is an area that we need to discuss,” Carson said.

from Mediaite)

Ben Carson: Federal Gov't Doesn't Have To Recognize SCOTUS Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

Newly-minted GOP presidential contender Dr. Ben Carson tells Newsmax that, should the Supreme Court rule in favor of marriage equality, the federal government doesn't have to recognize that decision:

“First of all, we have to understand how the Constitution works, the president is required to carry out the laws of the land, the laws of the land come from the legislative branch,” Carson said. “So if the legislative branch creates a law or changes a law, the executive branch has a responsibly to carry it out. It doesn’t say they have the responsibility to carry out a judicial law.”

(via Right Wing Watch)

Right-Wing Conservative Ben Carson Announces Run For GOP 2016 Nomination

Huffington Post has the details:

Celebrated neurosurgeon Ben Carson has officially announced his intention to run for president.

“I’m willing to be part of the equation and therefore, I’m announcing my candidacy for president of the United States of America," Carson told Ohio's WKRC.

A darling of the conservative movement, Carson enters a crowded Republican field vying for a position ahead of what is expected to be a very competitive primary. He maintains a large following with grass-roots conservatives, which is likely to put him on a collision course with other potential rivals who are popular on the right, such as Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

You'll recall In April, Carson had a disastrous Chris Cuomo interview in which he claimed that it's possible to prove that homosexuality is a choice because some people are gay when they leave prison:

"Because a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight -- and when they come out, they're gay. So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question."

He's also compared being gay to bestiality and pedophiles: “Marriage is between a man and a woman. It’s a well-established pillar of society and no group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality—it doesn’t matter what they are, they don’t get to change the definition.”

In America the Beautiful: Resdiscovering What Made This Nation Great, a 2012 book written with Candy Carlson, he said marriage equality could bring about the end of the United States:

“[I]f we can redefine marriage as between two men or two women or any other way based on social pressures as opposed to between a man and a woman, we will continue to redefine it in any way that we wish, which is a slippery slope with a disastrous ending, as witnessed in the dramatic fall of the Roman Empire.”

Ben Carson To Make "Major Announcement" May 4th In Detroit

So far, we have Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio announcing runs for the Republican nom for prez in 2016, with Scott Walker, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie stills waiting in the wings.

And yesterday, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson said he will make a "major announcement" come May 4th in Detroit. Of course, we assume it will be HIS initial prez pitch.

The retired neurosurgeon has been traveling the nation over the past six months, giving paid speeches and meeting with supporters to gauge interest in a bid. He recently traveled to Iowa and New Hampshire, and spoke last weekend at the National Rifle Association's meeting in Tennessee.

Carson's relative political inexperience, however, hasn't turned him away from the campaign — if he runs, he'll look to make it an asset, framing himself as a common-sense alternative to the broken policies of Washington politicians.

Carson's inexperience has reared it's head by opening him up for criticism over several misstatements to the press.

Gallup: Hillary Clinton Way Ahead Of Prez Hopefuls On Favorability & Familiarity

Results of a new poll by Gallup shows Hillary Clinton's devastating lead over other Democrats and Republicans who may be in the hunt for the presidency in 2016.

According to the poll, 89% of Americans are familiar enough with her to have an opinion of her. And her favorable number (50%) is 11 points higher than her unfavorable number (39%). This bests anyone else currently mentioned as a contender for prez.

The graph plots 16 potential candidates --11 Republicans and five Democrats -- on a two-dimensional chart displaying their familiarity and favorability ratings. The candidates who appear in the upper-right quadrant are in the most advantageous position at this point as they are both relatively well-known and have higher favorable than unfavorable ratings. In addition to Clinton, Republicans Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee and Rand Paul reside in this space. However, Americans rate each of those Republicans only slightly more positively than negatively, with net favorable scores of +2 or +3, compared with Clinton's +11. And Huckabee and Paul have just slightly above average familiarity. Generally speaking, the further candidates are away from the intersecting lines, the better their image.


Candidates in the lower-right quadrant -- including Chris Christie and Rick Perry -- are among the better-known candidates, but Americans do not view them positively overall. Joe Biden and Ted Cruz are on the edges of this quadrant. Biden is well-known, but opinions of him are equally positive and negative, while Cruz is viewed negatively but has average familiarity. The challenge for these politicians should they run for president is to alter existing perceptions about them so they are more positive than now, or alternatively, to get the smaller group of Americans who are unfamiliar with them to get to know them and view them positively.

Only Dr. Ben Carson has comparable positive favorable numbers, but his familiarity is much lower than Hillary.

The actual numbers from the poll below:

Ben Carson Is Concerned US Hasn't Responded To ISIS - After Thousands Of Airstrikes Led By US

Ben Carson, who stepped in it last week saying homosexuality is a choice because folks in prison have sex, has opened his mouth and inserted foot once again.

Writing for WorldNetDaily, Carson bemoans the "fact" that President Obama has not "responded" to attacks by ISIS in the Middle East:

We need to be the leader and take serious action. I am extraordinarily concerned about the fact that we are not responding to the barbaric acts that are taking place, as there is a tremendous leadership void. A coalition will form if it has a leader.

Someone should inform the former neurosurgeon that Obama HAS already formed a multinational anti-ISIS coalition that has led to THOUSANDS of airstrikes against the terrorist group.

Bless his heart, but he just keeps talking about things he doesn't seem to know anything about.