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Candidate Ben Carson's Muslim comment: 1 more self-inflected dent in GOP's effort to widen appeal?
Fox News ^ | 09/20/2015

Posted on 09/20/2015 4:14:05 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

WASHINGTON – Anyone in America can grow up to be president, as the saying goes, unless you happen to be a Muslim, so a leading Republican presidential candidate believes, possibly one more self-inflicted dent in the party's professed commitment to broaden its appeal and promote tolerance.

"I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation," retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson said in an interview aired Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." ''I absolutely would not agree with that."

For GOP leaders, the 2016 campaign offered a chance at redemption and fresh pitch to minorities, gays, women and others beyond the traditional core supporters.

After a blistering examination of the 2012 election, a report commissioned by Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus concluded that "if our party is not welcoming and inclusive, young people and increasingly other voters will continue to tune us out."

But it hasn't unfolded according to the hierarchy's hoped-for script, with some high-profile candidates inviting lots of eyebrow-raising. Just in the past few days, their comments have underscored that the problems extend beyond the GOP's well-documented troubles appealing to Hispanics.

To be sure, candidates Jeb Bush and others have disavowed some of that rhetoric or tried to stake out more moderate positions. It can be tough, though, to avoid getting drowned out by language sure to stir up people.

Front-runner Donald Trump declined to correct a town hall participant who wrongly said President Barack Obama was a Muslim. Days later, Carson spoke about Muslims and the presidency — remarks described as "un-American," by a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ibrahim Hooper. Hooper said the Constitution expressly bars religious tests for those seeking public office.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bencarson; muslim; president
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1 posted on 09/20/2015 4:14:06 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Promoting tolorence? What? That’s what dead people where doing before they got dead.


2 posted on 09/20/2015 4:16:06 PM PDT by The Toll
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To: SeekAndFind

I don’t know why candidates are bothering to discuss this. There’s nothing legally to prevent the voters from electing a Moslem (or, “what we have now”). End of discussion. What any of the present candidates thinks a good choice for the voters, on that issue, is irrelevant, since there is not presently a Moslem in the race.


3 posted on 09/20/2015 4:16:57 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I want to live my cat's life.)
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To: SeekAndFind

“Hooper said the Constitution expressly bars religious tests for those seeking public office.”

It does no such thing, in that a voter can vote for, or not, with what ever criteria they want to apply.


4 posted on 09/20/2015 4:18:33 PM PDT by babygene (I'm one of the 9.4 million War Heroes that served during the Vietnam war..../s)
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To: SeekAndFind

2’nd dumbest thing I’ve heard from Fox.


5 posted on 09/20/2015 4:18:53 PM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: SeekAndFind
God Bless Dr. Carson. We are a Christian nation, founded on Judeo Christian principles. We have a Moslem in the White House and he has had a “scorched earth” agenda since he was at the helm. Praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
6 posted on 09/20/2015 4:19:14 PM PDT by WyCoKsRepublican
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To: SeekAndFind

Ben Carson’s stock went UP with me!

I HATE PC and admire HONESTY!

To hell with the PC politicals’ quoted in this article: Steve Schmidt for example.


7 posted on 09/20/2015 4:19:37 PM PDT by onyx (Our 4th Qtr. FReepathon starts 10-1-! PLEASE Donate EARLY ON! Let's try to complete within 1 month)
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To: SeekAndFind

You have to say what you believe. Anything else is dishonest political pandering. The fact is that there is a time and a place. What it have been the time or the place to elect someone of Japanese decent during WWII? We, and much of the Western world, are in a global conflict with radical Islam, whether the President wants to admit it or not.


8 posted on 09/20/2015 4:20:05 PM PDT by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: SeekAndFind; MinuteGal

Screw Fox and the horse they rode in on. Trump is right, Carson is right and on this hill we should make our stand.


9 posted on 09/20/2015 4:20:20 PM PDT by flaglady47 (TRUMP ROCKS)
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To: pieceofthepuzzle

“I HATE PC and admire HONESTY!”

Absolutely agree.


10 posted on 09/20/2015 4:20:40 PM PDT by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: SeekAndFind

Oh like Republicans would gain Muslim support anyway..Muslims side with the Democrats in every election because both share that common bond of loathing Israel. We already have a Muslim in the White House who loathes Israel’s existence we don’t need anymore


11 posted on 09/20/2015 4:21:12 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: SeekAndFind

Heck, let the libs court the muslim vote and let the conservatives court the ‘concerned-about-islanimal’ vote. It’ll be nice to be on the majority side for a change!


12 posted on 09/20/2015 4:22:56 PM PDT by Oscar in Batangas (No such thing as micromanagement...It's always more like microMISmanagement)
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To: Tax-chick

I don’t know why candidates are bothering to discuss this. There’s nothing legally to prevent the voters from electing a Moslem (or, “what we have now”). End of discussion. What any of the present candidates thinks a good choice for the voters, on that issue, is irrelevant, since there is not presently a Moslem in the race.


Yup. Right out of Seinfeld. An argument about nothing.


13 posted on 09/20/2015 4:23:05 PM PDT by samtheman (2014: Voters elect Repubs to congress... 2015: Repubs defund NOTHING... 2016: Trump/(Cruz or Palin))
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To: samtheman

Would you support our electing a Russian as our President? How about a Chinese candidate?

No, I prefer a first-generation American-born Martian.


14 posted on 09/20/2015 4:25:22 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I want to live my cat's life.)
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To: SeekAndFind

This story is from Faux News.

I have not noticed any Muslims with shows or reporters.

Maybe Faux News can lead the way.


15 posted on 09/20/2015 4:25:39 PM PDT by tennmountainman ("Prophet Mountainman" Predicter Of All Things RINO...for a small pittance.)
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To: samtheman

There is a Muslim in the White House.


16 posted on 09/20/2015 4:25:45 PM PDT by Williams
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To: SeekAndFind

If, if we have arrived at a point in this country where saying anything negative about Islam, with all its terrorists activities, raping, beheadings, tortures, etc., damages the party that points it out, then it is all over for the country.

Or, the author of this piece could just as well be dismissed as a fool for trying to make the case.

Right now, I opt for the second choice.


17 posted on 09/20/2015 4:26:33 PM PDT by odawg
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To: SeekAndFind

Ted Cruz would like to remind everyone that it is unconstitutional to deny a Muslim running for office.


18 posted on 09/20/2015 4:28:24 PM PDT by ConservativeMind ("Humane" = "Don't pen up pets or eat meat, but allow infanticide, abortion, and euthanasia.")
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To: SeekAndFind

They’re working it, but:

All the King’s horses and all the King’s men can’t put Jeb back together again.


19 posted on 09/20/2015 4:28:34 PM PDT by Calpublican (Boehner,McConnell,Corker,McCain,Alexander,Hatch,Graham+More=Corrupt)
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To: SeekAndFind

Carson said it would be a bad idea, not that there should be a law against it.

GIANT DIFF the Cah-Ear (CAIR) group is just up and ignoring.


20 posted on 09/20/2015 4:28:46 PM PDT by GraceG (Protect the Border from Illegal Aliens, Don't Protect Illegal Alien Boarders...)
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