Ben Carson: I ‘would not advocate that we put a Muslim in’ the White House
BY Adam Edelman
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Updated: Sunday, September 20, 2015, 5:19 PM
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Jim Cole/AP 'I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation,' Ben Carson said on NBC’s 'Meet the Press.'
"I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that," the retired neurosurgeon said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Carson’s statement came in response to a question from host Chuck Todd about whether the faith of the President should matter.
"It depends on what that faith is,” Carson said. “If it's inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter. But if it fits within the realm of America and consistent with the constitution, no problem.”
Todd then asked Carson whether he believed "Islam is consistent with the Constitution."
"No, I don't, I do not," said Carson, who went on to say that he “absolutely would not” support having a Muslim President.
Carson, however, said he would accept Muslim members of Congress.
“Congress is a different story, but it depends on who that Muslim is and what their policies are, just as it depends on what anybody else says, you know. And, you know, if there's somebody who's of any faith, but they say things, and their life has been consistent with things that will elevate this nation and make it possible for everybody to succeed, and bring peace and harmony, then I'm with them,” he said.
His comments come just days after Donald Trump came under fire for remaining silent during a political rally, where a supporter called Obama a Muslim.
Trump has repeatedly refused to correct the man and state that Obama is a Christian citizen of the U.S.
Carson, on the other hand, was able on Sunday to admit the truth in that case.
“I believe that he is,” Carson said when asked if he believed that “the President was born in the United States and is a Christian.”
“I have no reason to doubt what he says,” Carson added.
Carson's initial comments, however, immediately drew strong criticism from the country's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
“To me this really means he is not qualified to be President of the United States,'' said the group's spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper. “You cannot hold these kinds of views and at the same time say you will represent all Americans, of all faiths and backgrounds.''
Hooper said the Constitution expressly forbids religious tests for those seeking public office and called for the repudiation of "these un-American comments.''
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the first Muslim to be elected to Congress, also weighed in, saying that “every American” should be disturbed by Carson’s comments.
“The freedom of religion is a founding principle of our nation. Our constitution gives this right to all Americans — including elected officials. For Ben Carson, Donald Trump or any other Republican politician to suggest that someone of any faith is unfit for office is out of touch with who we are as a people,” Ellison said in a statement. “It’s unimaginable that the leading GOP presidential candidates are resorting to fear mongering to benefit their campaigns, and every American should be disturbed that these national figures are engaging in and tolerating blatant acts of religious bigotry.”
In a separate appearance on NBC, one of Carson's rivals for the GOP nomination, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, was asked whether he would have a problem with a Muslim in the White House.
“The answer is, at the end of the day, you've got to go through the rigors, and people will look at everything. But, for me, the most important thing about being President is you have leadership skills, you know what you're doing and you can help fix this country and raise this country. Those are the qualifications that matter to me.''
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, for his part, said on ABC’s “”This Week” that it was “a big waste of time” to even be discussing the issue.
With News Wire Services
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