Carson Claimed West Point Scholarship...Admits to NYTimes He Wasn’t Offered Aid

Ben Carson’s campaign on Friday admitted, in a response to an inquiry from POLITICO, that a central point in his inspirational personal story was fabricated: his application and acceptance into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The academy has occupied a central place in Carson’s tale for years. According to a story told in Carson’s book, “Gifted Hands,” the then-17 year old was introduced in 1969 to Gen. William Westmoreland, who had just ended his command of U.S. forces in Vietnam, and the two dined together. That meeting, according to Carson’s telling, was followed by a “full scholarship” to the military academy.

West Point, however, has no record of Carson applying, much less being extended admission.

“In 1969, those who would have completed the entire process would have received their acceptance letters from the Army Adjutant General,” said Theresa Brinkerhoff, a spokeswoman for the academy. She said West Point has no records that indicate Carson even began the application process. “If he chose to pursue (the application process), then we would have records indicating such,” she said.

When presented with these facts, Carson’s campaign conceded the story was false.

“Dr. Carson was the top ROTC student in the City of Detroit,” campaign manager Barry Bennett wrote in an email to POLITICO. “In that role he was invited to meet General Westmoreland. He believes it was at a banquet. He can’t remember with specificity their brief conversation but it centered around Dr. Carson’s performance as ROTC City Executive Officer.”

“He was introduced to folks from West Point by his ROTC Supervisors,” Bennett added. “They told him they could help him get an appointment based on his grades and performance in ROTC. He considered it but in the end did not seek admission.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/ben-carson-west-point-215598?cmpid=sf

My take - If you guys in the right wing hate the 'dishonesty' of Hillary and Obama so much, why are you willing to overlook Carson's lies ? Look, once in office most politicians lie. But this is different. This guy has never held political office and he's already been caught lying his ass off on many issues. I know the right with justify/dismiss Carson's lies, or deflect the topic to the lies told by previous Democrats - but for a candidate to be this deep in BS is rare. Sorry, GOP - I think you gotta find another candidate.

 

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Default Ben carson, just another liar?
Imo a fundamental attraction of ben carson is that he seems so real. He seems uninfected by the typical inclinations of politicians to spin reality, to shape their expressions based upon their audience and extensive polling. Ben carson seems to have the direct candor of someone from the real world.

And, i continue to wish that to be true.... Despite some extreme disagreements i have with what he says

Unfortunately, the reliability of ben carson is now facing some serious challenges.

I am sure everyone is familiar with the issue of the violent early history being questioned. Well that is what it is.... And i am willing to give him a pass on the issue,

Now there is something more. Something that Starts to make this seem a part of his character

Here is an article about his claims regarding being offered a scholarship to west point. Read it to the end

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/1...t-point-215598

In a nutshell, he made a false claim about this incident
.... And his campaign backed off the original claim

But his revised story involved general Westmoreland
And what the general told him at dinner

Well westmoreland was not there
And would not have told him what he claims if they did meeta

So you have layer upon layer of fabrication

So maybe carson has developed an enhanced memory of the past
Sort of like brian williams
So maybe it is not a conscious lie
But it is a bit concerning that this keeps happening

If carson is not intentionally lying
At best he seems to restructure past events to conform to a convenient narrative
...

In all this, i came across a 1998 speech
Where he used biblical authority to claim the pyramids were constructed
By Joseph as enormous grain storage buildings
As he said it
That is the only explanation for the hermetically sealed rooms within
And recently he defended this opinion
And dismissed critics as being anti religious, anti bible nuts

So again, his view of reality seems perplexing.... At best .

 

It's sad because he's such a brilliant neurosurgeon but he seems to have a rather shady background, and his character is being questioned extremely early. I assure you, big GOP donors are going to be hesitant to throw money at guy who's getting called out on lies every week.

 

I do have a problem with it. His honesty is important. We cannot have more Clinton, Obama type people anymore. I do however weigh his work with underprivileged kids and the thousands of scholarships he has awarded along with his medical work to be huge pluses. The man is a true difference maker in America.

Were you Liberals all upset when Hillary Clinton claimed she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary? (He didn't become famous until after she was born.)

 

Also sad because he does seem like a sincere person
And it now seems this political adventure may tarnish his reputation

 

Thank you for your consistency.

 

SO do you think people just magically learn the form of lying AFTER they become politicians? No, successful politicians are just generally good at hiding their lies, skeletons, and whatever else before they become politicians and then excel at their "art form" when they become politicians.

 

He is not excelling at lying - he sucks at it.

 

It is far from certain who the Republican nominee will be. Your people already put a lollapalooza of a liar in the White House and you are crowning liar Hillary as your nominee. It seems that Liar has to be part of a Democrat resume---the more you tell,he more they love you. I don't know Carson's story, do I can't comment on it, but we don't need another liar.

 

I was surprised to read about this. Why do candidates, especially presidential candidates, still try and fabricate things in the modern internet age? It doesn't work.

Despite his rather kooky scientific and religious views, I think Ben Carson is a good person and a good American. I just don't think he's presidential material. And anybody who's posted any of the stuff about how much of a liar Obama is should agree, as much as it may pain some of them.

 

I feel the same way too about the good doctor. He genuinely seems like a nice guy (even though I disagree with him on many issues). It seems he feels this need to embellish to exaggerate his past to win over the right. But the irony is he doesn't need to. He was really liked by the right simply for being a mild mannered neurosurgeon who is a patriotic man.

 

This is also very strange...

But when he recounts his held at gunpoint story...

Sounds to me like Carson was kind of chickening out on the hero thing and making certain that the counter guy got shot.

 

It does work though, if you are a Democrat and have a biased media to help you out.


Case in point, noone is talking about Hillary dodging sniper fire in Bosnia today...yet they've got time to break story after story on Carson.

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Aint that the truth.

 

Not looking good for Carson. I expect Trump will reassume the lead at this point. Hopefully Ted Cruz can rise above amnesty lover Rubio. Trump and Cruz should lead to some very interesting conversations.

 

This isn't exactly a suitable comparison since Carson's news just came out and is fresh. Hillary's sniper fire fiasco was top talk back when it was fresh too.

 

FOX news has more viewers and popularity than CNN, NBC, and CBS combined. They do the same defending of GOP lies. The fact is, Carson is getting caught too much, too often, too early.

 

First, he did not "fabricate" a story, but merely made up a part of it.
Second, It does not disqualify him for president as well.
In any case far less than Obama's 22 years long membership in Rev. Wright's destructive cult.

 

Fresh news...like his Pyramid theory from 1998???? Versus Hillarys madeup dangerous run on the Tarmac from 2008?

One of them is being carried by MSNBC and CNN as recently as yesterday man. Cmon....

 

How on earth is that a "case in point"? They talked about it PLENTY at the time, and Hillary admitted she misspoke.

Why would they still be talking about it today? Today it's Carson being caught in multiple lies and bizarre statements. So today, the story is Carson.

Why is Carson the story today? Because as the frontrunner for a major party's nomination, he gets more scrutiny than if he's just one of the pack. Hillary and Sanders, for instance, get more scrutiny than O'Malley and Chafee -- unless and until O'Malley or Chafee look like they might become a frontrunner.

I honestly can't imagine how you think it's *supposed* to work.

 

Agreed that he seems to be piling on the Whoppers. Too bad too because I like the guy...I just dont like the slanted Media we have today. The same people who didnt want to hurt Obamas chances wiht this kind of thing are doing the same for Hillary.

The Media should not be choosing who wins and loses, and thats exactly what they are doing.

 

That was his campaign manager that screwed the pooch on that one and Carson took the bait and ran with it. Carson is his own worst enemy and his mouth will be the one to do it. Just another wannabe over projecting themselves.

 

LOL - this is horrible damage control. Making up party of story is fabricating it. And why do you bring up Obama's time with Rev. Wright given you're overlooking Carson's lies ?! Party politics at its best/worst.

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The Media isn't that powerful because they wanted Hillary to win in 2008 and ended up backing Obama after the liberal masses didn't bite.

 

At the time hahaha.


CNN and MSNBC were running Carsons 1998 Pyramid theory as recently as Yesterday ray.

What possible relevance was there? At the same time, they werent posting Hillarys Whoppers yesterday. All you can find is the gloss over article from 08...

It's simply impossible to "mis speak" what she said. Impossible. It was an outright lie. A fabricated tale...and noones posting it today despite all you guys on the boards pretending you are for honesty and integrity on a candidate. A 1998 Pyramid thoery is news?

 

My point being is that just because he sucks at lying doesn't mean that someone who is good at lying and never caught is any better. I have not known one person in my life who has NEVER lied about anything at some point and time and the ones I know personally aren't politicians. I am not fan at ANY of the candidates, but to me if we are going to call lying a disqualifier for President, that office is going to be vacant for a LOOOOONG time.

 

Carson's opponents now are other Republicans, not Obama or Clinton.