In an interview on a TV talk show, Ben Carson said the following:
The Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson has said no Muslim should be president of the United States of America.
In an interview with NBC for broadcast on Sunday morning, the retired neurosurgeon said: “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that.”
…In his NBC interview, Carson was asked: “So do you believe that Islam is consistent with the constitution?”
“No,” he said, “I don’t, I do not.”
There is so much that is wrong in such a short space. First, let’s take the ignorance. One is of course that the US constitution explicitly and unambiguously in Article VI prohibits any religious criteria for any public office, not just president: “No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
Second, let’s look at the bigotry. While there are undoubtedly things in Islam that are inconsistent with the constitution, that is pretty much true for all religions, including Christianity and Judaism, and I wish interviewers would point this out or at least ask more specifically which aspects of Islam are inconsistent with the constitution, since it is likely to be true of Christianity and Judaism as well.
Finally, the arrogance. Not only is he placing his own opinion above that of the constitution, it looks like he is saying that if the majority of voters in the country want to vote in a Muslim as president, he will oppose that result. When he says that he would not ‘agree’ to it, does he mean he would not like it? That would be fine and nobody would care what he likes anyway. But he seems to be implying something more, that he would try and defy the will of the people and the constitution, and that is unbridled arrogance.
I’ll bite:
There done 😀
So, where are the Adventists denouncing Carson, calling for his expulsion from the church? Adventists endlessly repeat that they support religious freedom and oppose theocracy, and have always said so. This Christian Dominionist Carson shows that that is and always was a lie.
But a Christian who is just drooling over the end of the world, even if he/she has to cause it -- now that’s presidential material!
What kills me about these “Black” conservatives is, the lack of self-awareness. Does he really believe by spouting racist, and hateful rhetoric, that he will get a pass, if the bigots actually got what they wanted? Guess he hasn’t learned from history that collabarators are the first to go when the fascists get in power. How can an authoritarian trust a traitor? Especially one, who would sell out his own tribe. Can’t wait for him to get his wake up call ala- James Blake!
I have to somewhat object to the Article VI reference that everyone brings up. Carson is not acting as part of the government. Unfortunately, he, as a private citizen, can have a personal religious test if he wants. That said, what he has said would be concerning if he were in office as it is a good indicator that he may very well violate the law when staffing his administration.