Ben Carson

[pinstripers]

I'm liking Ted Cruz more and more every day. I continue to be impressed with Rubio and Fiorina and I agree with @Kung Wu:, were I king, Rand Paul would be in my cabinet somewhere.

I think I'd have Christie on my NLLB staff as well.

I like Cruz, but I think he is too much of an azzhole to get elected.

[Play Angry]

Cruz is wicked smart but I question whether he really believes half the stuff he says. Last night's quote about returning to the gold standard is a not-great-but-serviceable example - he has to know this is pure lunacy given how world economics evolved post-Nixon, and it was instead probably an attempt to raid what little support Rand Paul has remaining.

He's very calculating, though.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

I'm not Ben Carson's biggest fan, but I've always considered him one of the most honest men to run for the Presidency in a long time. With that said, I'm not sure how to process his recent comments about Mannatech.

From the debate Wednesday night after a question about why his involvement with the company continued after the company paid $7 million to settle a deceptive marketing lawsuit:

“Well, it’s easy to answer,” Carson quickly replied. “I didn’t have an involvement with them. That is total propaganda and this is what happens in our society. Total propaganda.” He then backtracked a little. “I did a couple of speeches for them. I did speeches for other people, they were paid speeches,” he told the crowd before switching back to a full denial. “It is absolutely absurd to say that I had any kind of relationship with them.” Then he again acknowledged a role. “Do I take the product? Yes, I think it’s a good product.”

Really Dr. Carson? You "didn't have an involvement with them"? Saying that you did is "total propaganda"?

I don't think the Mannatech issue would have been more than a blip on the radar, but now, it clearly has given ammo to his critics and I'm sure it will have at least some impact on Carson's "trustability". I know it has impacted my view of him already.

I guess I'm just frustrated because I thought Carson was the one guy I could at least trust to be fully honest and not use garbage "politician speak", AKA lie. The fact is he gave speeches promoting the company as far back as 2004, and as recent as 2013. To say that he hasn't had "continued involvement" is just not true.

[Play Angry]

Definitely one of those "probably not a big deal" on the surface issues but he has handled it clumsily for sure. Jim Geraghty at the National Review has written a few decent stories on it.

[Kung Wu]

I'm not Ben Carson's biggest fan, but I've always considered him one of the most honest men to run for the Presidency in a long time. With that said, I'm not sure how to process his recent comments about Mannatech.

From the debate Wednesday night after a question about why his involvement with the company continued after the company paid $7 million to settle a deceptive marketing lawsuit:

“Well, it’s easy to answer,” Carson quickly replied. “I didn’t have an involvement with them. That is total propaganda and this is what happens in our society. Total propaganda.” He then backtracked a little. “I did a couple of speeches for them. I did speeches for other people, they were paid speeches,” he told the crowd before switching back to a full denial. “It is absolutely absurd to say that I had any kind of relationship with them.” Then he again acknowledged a role. “Do I take the product? Yes, I think it’s a good product.”

Really Dr. Carson? You "didn't have an involvement with them"? Saying that you did is "total propaganda"?

I don't think the Mannatech issue would have been more than a blip on the radar, but now, it clearly has given ammo to his critics and I'm sure it will have at least some impact on Carson's "trustability". I know it has impacted my view of him already.

I guess I'm just frustrated because I thought Carson was the one guy I could at least trust to be fully honest and not use garbage "politician speak", AKA lie. The fact is he gave speeches promoting the company as far back as 2004, and as recent as 2013. To say that he hasn't had "continued involvement" is just not true.

Read this and you will have the full context: http://www.nationalreview.com/articl...n-jim-geraghty

It was written back in January, so it is not "tainted".

[tropicalshox]

You can watch the video of Carson's business manager state there was a contract between the parties. He takes pride in Carson changing the script before the promotion. Seems like a contract to do a promotion is clearly a relationship.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/armstrong-williams-carson-mannatech-contract?utm_content=bufferc0c72&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[MoValley John]

You can watch the video of Carson's business manager state there was a contract between the parties. He takes pride in Carson changing the script before the promotion. Seems like a contract to do a promotion is clearly a relationship.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/ar...ampaign=buffer

Who cares? Really? Is this how deep we have to dig to get some dirt on a guy with no political baggage?

We ignore Hillary's past and present relationships, we ignore Obama's. Trump shits on America every day and gets a free pass. Joe Biden is a disrespectful, thieving, plagiarizing liar, he is rewarded as the Vice President.

Carson gave some paid speeches, for that he needs to be disqualified?

Pathetic.

[tropicalshox]

Those who might support him because they think he is honest could care. Not a politician, honest guy is a major contributor to his success to date.

[MoValley John]

Those who might support him because they think he is honest could care. Not a politician, honest guy is a major contributor to his success to date.

And Ben Carson may have attended an Amway seminar, too! What has the world come to!!!!

[MoValley John]

Oh the humanity!!!

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Carson gave some paid speeches, for that he needs to be disqualified

MoValley John, you seem to have totally missed the point. This isn't about his promotion of that company. I bet less than 1% of people really care about his involvement with them. This is about Carson blatantly lying. This is about him doing X (which is very provable as fact) and then calling the very idea of him doing X "total propaganda". It makes no sense and is very disappointing.

I do not ignore Hillary or Biden's corruption. I despise them. I had hoped Carson was a breath of fresh air in a world of rotten smells. I'm disappointed that though smelling better than Hillary or Biden, he is still starting to stink.

Carson's relationship with that company is virtually a non issue. He should have honestly said as much and this whole thing would have already blown past. When the candidate known as one of the most honest and humble presidential candidates in years starts blatantly lying, it really feels like the nail in the coffin for any trust one might have left in politicians.

[tropicalshox]

We will see how it effects him. He won't lose his true base but suspect it will hurt picking up more support.

[MoValley John]

We will see how it efforts him. He won't lose his true base but suspect it will hurt picking up more support.

I understand it may hurt him. It just amazes me how insignificant this is, and how much hay is going to be made. This is the best they have on Carson, THE BEST THEY GOT!!! So, so disheartening to see type of politics. This "scandal" wouldn't make the back page of the National Enquirer for any of the other candidates, Republican or Democrat.

[shock]

MoValley John, you seem to have totally missed the point. This isn't about his promotion of that company. I bet less than 1% of people really care about his involvement with them. This is about Carson blatantly lying. This is about him doing X (which is very provable as fact) and then calling the very idea of him doing X "total propaganda". It makes no sense and is very disappointing.

I do not ignore Hillary or Biden's corruption. I despise them. I had hoped Carson was a breath of fresh air in a world of rotten smells. I'm disappointed that though smelling better than Hillary or Biden, he is still starting to stink.

Carson's relationship with that company is virtually a non issue. He should have honestly said as much and this whole thing would have already blown past. When the candidate known as one of the most honest and humble presidential candidates in years starts blatantly lying, it really feels like the nail in the coffin for any trust one might have left in politicians.

You totally missed what Carson was saying. He was accused of being on the Mannatech board. He wasn't. That's what he was explaining.

[Play Angry]

Here is the quote of Carl Quintanilla's question:

QUINTANILLA: One more question. This is a company called Mannatech, a maker of nutritional supplements, with which you had a 10-year relationship. They offered claims that they could cure autism, cancer, they paid $7 million to settle a deceptive marketing lawsuit in Texas, and yet you're involvement continued. Why?

This was the response:

CARSON: Well, that's easy to answer. I didn't have an involvement with them. That is total propaganda, and this is what happens in our society. Total propaganda.

I did a couple of speeches for them, I do speeches for other people. They were paid speeches. It is absolutely absurd to say that I had any kind of a relationship with them.


Do I take the product? Yes. I think it's a good product.

Again, not really a huge deal but as Jamar points out it is a little clumsy. Carson struggles in non-rehearsed speaking situations like most people do - he will have to improve and quickly in that department.