Dana Loesch: If Carson Doesn't Drop Out, It Means He's in It for Himself

PJ Media ^ | 02-10-2016 | Michael van der Galien

[Michael van der Galien]

TheBlaze TV and radio host Dana Loesch took to Twitter yesterday to call on Governor Chris Christie, Dr. Ben Carson and former HP CEO Carly Fiorina to do the country a favor by dropping out:

"If Christie, Fiorina, and Carson don’t exit after tonight I have to question whether they are in it for the country or themselves."

Earlier today, Christie took her advice. A few hours later, Fiorina did the same thing.

Sadly, however, Ben Carson has done the exact opposite. Instead of suspending his campaign, the famed neurosurgeon left for South Carolina yesterday evening. Unbelievably enough, he did so before the results of New Hampshire's primary were in. He actually skipped his own post-primary party.

Now, it's clear to anyone with half a brain that Carson's campaign is doomed. He disappointed in Iowa -- a state where he should have competed for the top spot -- and barely registered in New Hampshire. RealClearPolitics' poll of polls still has him in fifth place in South Carolina (with 8.7%), but those polls were conducted well before the Iowa caucuses. In other words, he will undoubtedly have fallen even further behind in the meantime.

Carson himself is, of course, fully aware of these facts and therefore knows he doesn't have a chance. He's done. Stick a fork in it.

Yet, he stays in. Why?

While thinking about this question a thought struck me: Why does it surprise me? It shouldn't. All of these candidates are some of the most ambitious and ruthless people in the country (they wouldn't be where they're at if they weren't). Of course it's all about them! Rand Paul dropped out because he's running for the Senate again, and Christie is still a governor who has to actually serve the people who elected him.

[HamiltonJay]

Carson will probably stay through SC... maybe into Super Tuesday, but can’t imagine him going much further than that... money will run out, same thing with Carly.

[sphinx]

I agree.

[scooby321]

Would it have anything to do with Carson's appeal to the Christian Vote?

Dana , Trump got more Christian votes than Cruz anyway.

I live in a South Carolina TV market.

Pac's are hitting Cruz hard.

[moehoward]

Carson is in to split evangelicals in SC. Payback for Cruz shenanigans in Iowa. He’ll drop out after.

Dana..well, at least she’s right on gun rights.

[TornadoAlley3]

Carson will come in ahead of Kasich in SC.

[Pravious]

“Why, because him being In helps Trump. For the record, I think either Trump, GOP-e, or both have asked him to stay in to take votes from Cruz in SC. I think that Carson did plan to dropout after Iowa but someone got to him and convinced him to stay in.”

I think you’re half right. The reason for him to stay in is to siphon off evangelical votes from Cruz in SC. It doesn’t mean someone “got to him,” though - after the dirty trick Cruz played in Iowa, you can’t blame Carson for wanting to get some old-fashioned revenge.

[TexasCruzin]

Carly already dropped out. Yesterday.

[No Socialist]

You are probably right, but I don’t see the benefit of anyone picking him as VP, especially if the nominee is Trump. Maybe Carson is counting on SC blacks & religious to get him more than 2%.

He’s a nice guy, obviously smart, but not prepared to be President.

[Pravious]

“If you don’t vote for Ted Cruz, then you hate Jesus and America.”

You forgot the /s tag.

[Fhios]

Wacko commentary to de-legitimize Carson s support.

Even if you don’t have a chance of winning, you run because you and your constituents become a force vector — however as small as that may be — for the direction of the country.

I hold all such comments about protest votes, protest no votes in contempt.

It s my vote, my grain of sand. I will toss it into whatever pile I see fit and see it measured and weighed accordingly.

[riverdawg]

“Carson will probably stay through SC... maybe into Super Tuesday, but can’t imagine him going much further than that... money will run out, same thing with Carly.”

Carly is out:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/10/politics/carly-fiorina-drops-out-suspends-campaign/

[jimbo807]

He’s holding down Ted so Donald can do a little ground and pound.

[Gaffer]

A little perspective here for those that don't remember NRO's "Against Trump" Issue Guest Editors of 'Conscience':

Glenn Beck

David Boaz

Brent Bozell III

Mona Charen

Ben Domenech

Erick Erickson

Steven F. Hayward

Mark Helprin

William Kristol

Yuval Levin

Dana Loesch

Andrew C. McCarthy

David M. McIntosh

Michael Medved

Edwin Meese III

Russell Moore

Michael B. Mukasey

Katie Pavlich

John Podhoretz

R.R. Reno

Thomas Sowell

Cal Thomas

[lodi90]

It’s a mistake to think all of Carson’s support would go to Cruz. Many are likely in the Carson camp because they don’t like Cruz’s abrasive style. I imagine many will head over to Rubio or Bush should Carson drop out.

[scooby321]

Not only was Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump victorious in the New Hampshire Republican primary election Tuesday, he was also the candidate most heavily favored by self-identified evangelical voters.

[deweyfrank]

Thought you were banned. Hmmmm.

[dforest]

Hey Dana, he drops out when he feels like it.

Sound fair?

[Yashcheritsiy]

I must be some kind of fancy-pants hacker or something.

[Gaffer]

Understood. I’m just so damned tired of duplicitous so-called journalists who masquerade as conservatives, unbiased journalists/commentators, and what not actually being virtual operatives for some unspecified candidate. Screw all of the ones in that NRO issue. And anytime I see their names, I’ll post the same thing all over again.

[Jane Austen]

Stupid statement. The decision is Carson’s.