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Ben Carson admits fabricating West Point scholarship
Politico ^ | 11/06/2015 | Kyle Cheney

Posted on 11/06/2015 8:33:42 AM PST by GIdget2004

Ben Carson’s campaign on Friday admitted, in a response to an inquiry from POLITICO, that a central point in his inspirational personal story was fabricated: his application and acceptance into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The academy has occupied a central place in Carson’s tale for years. According to a story told in Carson’s book, “Gifted Hands,” the then-17 year old was introduced in 1969 to Gen. William Westmoreland, who had just ended his command of U.S. forces in Vietnam, and the two dined together. That meeting, according to Carson’s telling, was followed by a “full scholarship” to the military academy.

West Point, however, has no record of Carson applying, much less being extended admission.

“In 1969, those who would have completed the entire process would have received their acceptance letters from the Army Adjutant General,” said Theresa Brinkerhoff, a spokeswoman for the academy. She said West Point has no records that indicate Carson even began the application process. “If he chose to pursue (the application process) then we would have records indicating such,” she said.

When presented with this evidence, Carson’s campaign conceded the story was false.

“Dr. Carson was the top ROTC student in the City of Detroit,” campaign manager Barry Bennett wrote in an email to POLITICO. “In that role he was invited to meet General Westmoreland. He believes it was at a banquet. He can’t remember with specificity their brief conversation but it centered around Dr. Carson’s performance as ROTC City Executive Officer.”

“He was introduced to folks from West Point by his ROTC Supervisors,” Bennett went on. “They told him they could help him get an appointment based on his grades and performance in ROTC. He considered it but in the end did not seek admission.”

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bencarson; cantbepresident; carson; carsonbio; elections; lies; mediabias; politicolies; scholarship; slander; smear; westpoint
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

You have to be kidding. Hillary’s every word is a lie, a fraud and a scam.

Carson is a pretty honorable man. Maybe we should wait to hear what he has to say.

I doubt this will affect him much not in today’s world. Obama a liar. Hillary a liar. Democrats liars.

Carson has not explained yet and he is out. Are you nuts!


121 posted on 11/06/2015 9:02:27 AM PST by GilGil
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To: Tijeras_Slim

It can be so easy to embellish. Especially when you don’t think you’ll be caught. When he came up with the story, he didn’t think he would be running for President. That’s how it always is. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Be sure your sin will find you out.


122 posted on 11/06/2015 9:02:31 AM PST by refreshed
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To: Art in Idaho

A bit off the subject but since Obama hid all with executive order can the next President nullify that and open records? If so no wonder liberals are terrified of Trump. He is the only one of the candidates that I think would do that.


123 posted on 11/06/2015 9:02:51 AM PST by nclaurel
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To: DesertRhino

“I thought after Obama it wasn’t possible to get such information from universities. “
______________________________________________________________________________

The Bamster ordered a full search of the West Point records! /s


124 posted on 11/06/2015 9:03:06 AM PST by HoosierWordsmith
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To: magua

I think it’s bigger that that.

I think he forfeited the game.


125 posted on 11/06/2015 9:03:10 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (The Great Wall of Trump ---- 100% sealing of the border. Coming soon.)
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To: Drawsing
why are so many of the posts infected with special character symbols?

It's a reminder that the FReepathon is on right now, and they're accepting Euros...

126 posted on 11/06/2015 9:03:20 AM PST by Old Sarge
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To: xzins

Carson was in ROTC. What pisses me off is conservatives jumping on the Politico bandwagon meant to destroy a good and decent man. Democrats defend outright lies and criminal acts while conservatives eat their own for inconsequential embellishments. Nasty.


127 posted on 11/06/2015 9:04:07 AM PST by jwalsh07 (.)
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To: Soul of the South

“The VP’s primary job is to be able to take on the President’s job should the President leave office. “

Constitutionally, the VP is President of the Senate. Nowadays that’s waived and we have a Senate Majority Leader who fills that role and the VP goes to funerals, runs his own PR campaigns, settles Senate ties and watches the POTUS heartbeat.


128 posted on 11/06/2015 9:04:31 AM PST by DBrow
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To: gdani

“I can’t believe they let this idiot work on peoples’ brains.”

Explains the increase in Democrat/Liberal voters in the past 20 years....


129 posted on 11/06/2015 9:04:32 AM PST by ObozoMustGo2012
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To: rdl6989

Honesty & Trustworthy was his major selling point...rut roh!


130 posted on 11/06/2015 9:04:32 AM PST by HoosierWordsmith
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To: Glad2bnuts

If he switched parties and Jeb gets the GOP nomination I would consider voting for Ben in spite of all this bizarre stuff coming out lately.


131 posted on 11/06/2015 9:04:34 AM PST by Wilderness Conservative
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To: GIdget2004

OK, now there are three: Trump, Cruz and Rubio. …and the soon-to-drop-out dwarfs.


132 posted on 11/06/2015 9:05:07 AM PST by cookcounty ("I was a Democrat until I learned to count" --Maine Gov. Paul LePage)
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To: GIdget2004

According to the article and people interviewed, he would have been accepted if he had applied.

I don’t support him for president but I’m not going to write him off. After all the horrible lies of Obama, Hillary, Biden and the rest, I’m not going to write off one or two white lies.

Libs loathe black conservatives and accuse them of all the old stuff - lying, going after white women, etc., just like they pulled with Cain and Thomas.


133 posted on 11/06/2015 9:05:35 AM PST by miss marmelstein (Richard the Third: I'd like to drive away not only the Turks (moslims) but all my foes.")
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To: tennmountainman

Rubio.


134 posted on 11/06/2015 9:05:36 AM PST by Boogieman
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To: xzins

Yes, it was JROTC and not ROTC. (My son is in JROTC. Should have noticed that.)


135 posted on 11/06/2015 9:05:39 AM PST by BuckeyeTexan (There are those that break and bend. I'm the other kind. ~Steve Earle)
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To: GIdget2004
He's done...


136 posted on 11/06/2015 9:05:44 AM PST by tcrlaf (They told me it could never happen in America. And then it did....)
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To: Vermont Lt

Of course this doesn’t excuse Hillary but you can’t hit Hillary on being a liar if you are a liar too.


137 posted on 11/06/2015 9:06:07 AM PST by Amntn
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To: stephenjohnbanker

Thanks. It was a big deal in the small Ms town of 10,000 we grew up in.


138 posted on 11/06/2015 9:06:16 AM PST by tennmountainman ("Prophet Mountainman" Predicter Of All Things RINO...for a small pittance.)
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To: conservative98

Is that the Donald Trump who said he knew what it was like to be a soldier because he went to military school?


139 posted on 11/06/2015 9:06:21 AM PST by jwalsh07 (.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

“I still think Carson could add value as a VP.”

How about Surgeon General?


140 posted on 11/06/2015 9:06:21 AM PST by HoosierWordsmith
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