Dr. Ben Carson was the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2008. His speeches and six best-selling books have inspired the public to call for Ben Carson to run a 2016 presidential campaign.
Here are his views on seven political positions.
1. To critics who charge Carson can’t know enough about economics as a neurosurgeon, Carson retorts, how many people who created the Affordable Care Act had health care training? Carson is a firm believer in the free market, which can create more jobs, he maintains. Although he favors some financial oversight, a balance is necessary in legislative bodies to avoid over-regulation. Carson also said in 2012 he favors cutting spending in every government agency by 10 percent.
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2. Carson has been one of the most vehement attackers of Obamacare. He has said it “was the worst thing since slavery.” Slavery was a lot worse, he points out, but the health care program shifted massive power to the government. He endorses a health savings account from birth in which people can contribute money throughout their lives, and even pass the account on to family members upon death.
3. School choice increases the competitive nature of education and schools should emphasize academics over athletics, Carson says. A 2016 Ben Carson presidential campaign might stress education reform. He founded the Carson Scholars Fund to promote academics for students.
4. Carson opposes same-sex marriage. He believes marriage should remain between a man and woman. He notes, “gay people should have the same rights as everyone else.” However, they should not have “extra rights” and get to redefine marriage.
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5. His medical background may have influenced his views to allow marijuana for medical use. However, Carson is opposed to legalizing the drug for recreational use. Carson says his religious upbringing helped steer him away from promiscuous sex and drugs during the 1960s.
6. Carson takes a non-interventionist approach when it comes to foreign policy. Even following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S., Carson said he would not have invaded Afghanistan, but use covert action to concentrate on capturing Osama Bin Laden. He favored the same approach for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. He believes the U.S. should strive to become oil independent, using offshore resources, which will be much more effective than involving ourselves in Middle East conflicts.
7. As a doctor, Carson took an oath to "do no harm," and he abhors the idea of abortion for convenience. Pro-life groups would be attracted to a Ben Carson 2016 campaign. He notes how people “turn a blind eye to the wanton slaughter of millions of helpless babies” while trying to save baby seals and other animals.
He once convinced a pregnant woman, who had a child with hydrocephalus, fluid on the brain, to not have an abortion. The woman kept the baby, who was given neurosurgical treatment after birth.
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