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Did the National Prayer Breakfast Create a New Conservative Superstar?
http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/sarahposner/6852/did_the_national_prayer_breakfast_create_a_new_conservative_superstar/February 19, 2013 11:06am
Post by SARAH POSNER
The Atlantic's David Graham has a great assessment of the apparently sudden and meteoric rise of Dr. Ben Carson, the evolution-denying pediatric neurosurgeon and keynote speaker at this year's National Prayer Breakfast:
Carson delivered an opening shot against "political correctness," and then -- after namechecking Tocqueville, recapping his own inspirational life story, and calling for a better education system -- voiced concern about the national debt and argued the case for a flat tax, using the Bible's injunction to tithe a set percentage, and for health-savings accounts, a medical option popular that has gained currency among conservatives. Crucially, he delivered this speech from a podium just feet from President Obama, who of course oversaw the passage of a very different health-care plan and has been a major proponent of progressive taxation.
This, Graham reports, has earned Carson accolades from conservative pundits, and even a Wall Street Journal editorial bearing the headline "Ben Carson for President."
Graham notes what should be obvious, but of course what isn't discussed by conservatives fawning over Carson:
Though many commentaries have tried tiptoe around it, it's impossible to pretend there's no racial dimension involved in a successful black conservative castigating the liberal black president. Black conservatives remain fascinating to Americans of all political persuasions and ethnicities; look no further than Herman Cain's presidential campaign. And in the age of Obama -- when many on the right feel that any criticism of the president is liable to draw undeserved claims of racism -- a champion for the cause who can sidestep that retort is sure to be welcomed. Jonah Goldberg came closest to addressing this question,likening Carson to Booker T. Washington.
Graham also zeroes in on the conservative star-making machinery, and draws interesting comparisons between the rise of Carson and that of Herman Cain.
more at link
14 replies
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I would choose him in a heartbeat.
However, I'm sure there are other equally fitting neurosurgeons out there. Neurosurgery is science, and if he denies one aspect of science because it doesn't fit in with his beliefs, that's pause for concern to me.
Anyway, I see your point, but he went to Yale, trained at Johns Hopkins and separated the first conjoined twins.
I'm going to guess that his religious beliefs (he's a Seventh Day Adventist, by the way) have not significantly interfered with his medical training.
Looks like he has stayed out of politics up until the Prayer Breakfast, but when he dives in, he really, really dives in.
