Ben Carson: America As We Know It Will Be Destroyed By Independent Trump Run

"I’m hoping that he will at some point come to an understanding that if he runs as a third-party candidate, he will essentially hand the election to the progressives, who will get two or three Supreme Court picks, and America will be gone as we know it. I hope he realizes the seriousness of the situation." - Ben Carson, speaking today on Fox News radio.

OPEN THREAD: GOP Top Ten Debate

Watch along with us and weigh in during the main GOP debate at 9PM eastern. The event will be live-streamed on Fox News where you'll need your cable system login to watch.

Ben Carson Isn't Sure If The Bible Has "Authority Over The US Constitution"

Ben Carson: How To Beat Operation

From the same right-wing PR firm that gave us Lindsey Graham destroying a cell phone.

Ted Cruz Tops Breitbart "Primary"

Via Breitbart:

In June, 55,000 people voted in the Breitbart Primary, and they preferred Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to win the GOP’s 2016 presidential nomination. In June’s inaugural Breitbart Primary poll, Cruz finished first nationally (33%)–and in each of the first three nominating states–with Walker (23%), who has yet to declare his candidacy, right on his heels. Sen. Rand Paul finished in third with 10%, followed by Dr. Ben Carson (7%), former Texas Governor Rick Perry (5%), businessman Donald Trump (4%), former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina (4%), and Sen. Marco Rubio (4%).

Breitbart will repeat the poll every month until the GOP convention.

Carson: Congress Can Undo SCOTUS

"I hope it will be revisited because the reason that we have separation of powers is to prevent runaway courts, runaway executive branch, runaway legislative branch. The laws are made by the legislative branch. And, you know, you can make a law to negate virtually anything, you just have to be creative in the way that you do it. So no, I don’t think it’s over by any stretch of the imagination." - Ben Carson, speaking on right wing radio. Carson added that as president he'll "certainly get involved" in overturning Obergefell.

Ben Carson Refuses To Say If He Equates Confederate Flag And Gay Pride Flag

CNN Host Brianna Keilar Grills Ben Carson On LGBT Rights: You Haven't Answered My Very Simple Question

Ben Carson phoned into CNN this afternoon following their report on his claims that gay rights are not civil rights. Host Brianna Keilar attempted to get a direct answer out of Carson, but he tried to turn the conversation back to Christian persecution. Of course. Even Carson supporters were likely cringing during this interview.

Ben Carson: Gay Rights Aren't Civil Rights Because There Aren't Gay Water Fountains

CNN reports:

Ben Carson said Wednesday night that he was "irritated" by the comparison between the fight for same-sex marriage rights and the Civil Rights Movement because there's no overt segregation against gays. Speaking on Fox News' "Special Report", Carson elaborated on his remarks on CNN in March that he believes being gay is a choice because people "go into prison straight -- and when they come out, they're gay." The GOP presidential contender told host Brett Baier that he "shouldn't have allowed my emotions" into the conversation, but was reacting to CNN host Chris Cuomo's line of questioning on the issue.

"I was a little bit irritated that he was equating the whole [gay marriage] issue with the Civil Rights movement. Because, quite frankly, I didn't remember any times when there were signs up that says, you know, 'everybody else here and gay people have to drink at this fountain,'" he said. But on Wednesday night, Carson expressed satisfaction with how the controversy played out. "They saw that as the opportunity to finally knock this guy out -- and they thought that they had done it. Stick a fork in him, he's gone. They were jubilant," he said of critics. "And now they're saying, I can't believe this guy's still here, are you kidding me?

At this writing Carson is live on CNN where he is refusing to speak further on last night's comments. I'll have that video shortly. The clip below recaps the above-linked report.

Ben Carson Is Raking In Millions

Here's the real story behind Ben Carson's quixotic run for president.

Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson and his wife, Candy, earned between $8.9 million and $27 million in a recent 16-month period, largely fueled by book royalties, speaking engagements and Mr. Carson’s service on the board of directors for two big companies. The figures were included in Mr. Carson’s personal financial disclosure, a copy of which was viewed by the Wall Street Journal. From the start of 2014 through May 3 of this year, Mr. Carson delivered 141 paid speeches, earning just over $4 million, according to the disclosure. Since announcing his campaign last month, the retired neurosurgeon has continued to deliver paid speeches that were contracted prior to his candidacy, his spokesman said. Mr. Carson will deliver four more speeches this year, the last one in November. Mr. Carson earned between $2 million and $10 million over 16 months serving on the boards of Kellogg Co. and Costco Wholesale Corp.—positions he resigned after launching his candidacy. He also earned between $1.1 million and $6 million in book royalties, and drew between $200,000 and $2 million from his positions as a contributor at the Washington Times and Fox News, according to the disclosure.

(Tipped by JMG reader David)

Ben Carson Wins GOP Straw Poll

Via The Hill:

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson won the presidential straw poll at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City on Saturday, beating out Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Carson won 25.4 percent of the vote, while Walker took 20.5 percent and Cruz received 16.4 percent. Other GOP presidential hopefuls and potential candidates finished far behind the top trio. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie finished a distant fourth with 5.3 percent of the vote, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry took 5 percent, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush won 4.9 percent. Winning the straw poll could provide a boost to Carson’s long-shot candidacy. “The fact of the matter is that I believe our founders set up a system that wasn’t supposed to cater to a political class,” Carson said at the conference. “It was supposed to cater to the people.”

Walker and Perry are expected to formally announce their candidacies in the next couple of weeks.

Matt Baume Takes Down Ben Carson

"If we let gay couples get married, won't we have to let polygamous couples get married too? It's the question that just keeps coming up, even from the Supreme Court. So let's answer it once and for all: why is gay marriage different from polygamous marriage?"

Ben Carson: I've Got The Experience

"I believe that in order to be a good leader you have to be wise. You have to know how to get things accomplished. And I'm not sure that there's too many people running who've done a lot of complex things that no one else has done before. I'm not sure there's too many people running who've had as much corporate experience as I've had, serving on Kellogg's board for 18 years, Costco for 16 years. I'm not sure there's too many people who've started a national nonprofit that is active in all 50 states and has won multiple national awards for how effective it is. And I could go on talking about the surgical career and some of the things that have been done, but my point being that you can gain experience from a variety of different ways. It doesn't all have to be in the political sphere. And in fact, I'm sure I can name many people who've spent their whole lives in politics who you probably wouldn't want solving your problems."- Ben Carson, speaking this weekend in South Carolina.

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

Clip recap: "Texas lawmakers vote this week on whether the state should officially defy the Supreme Court's ruling on marriage. Alabama and Minnesota are debating bills to undermine marriage equality. At least one presidential candidate seems to think that if elected he could veto the Supreme Court. But a new survey shows that Americans are getting tired of these anti-gay shenanigans."

Chris Wallace To Ben Carson: Do You Really Believe The Crazy Things You Say?

Ben Carson: God Gave Me The Answers To My Chemistry Test In A Dream

Ben Carson: Feds Can Ignore SCOTUS

"First of all, we have to understand how the Constitution works, the president is required to carry out the laws of the land, the laws of the land come from the legislative branch. So if the legislative branch creates a law or changes a law, the executive branch has a responsibly to carry it out. It doesn’t say they have the responsibility to carry out a judicial law." - Ben Carson, speaking yesterday to Newsmax.

Tony Perkins Celebrates Carson's Bid

"Ben Carson is an amazing physician -- but can he fix what's ailing America? Conservatives will be the judge, now that the famed doctor is throwing his surgical cap into the 2016 ring. Joining a crowded field that already includes Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, and Carly Fiorina, Dr. Carson isn't your run-of-the-mill presidential candidate -- and that may be the best thing the neurosurgeon has going for him! A lifetime in medicine, not politics, has given the popular speaker a different perspective on the country's woes -- one that many believe is desperately needed. From his rise out of poverty to his stellar career, Dr. Carson's path to the presidential campaign has taken plenty of twists. As he has his whole life, this doctor is determined to beat the odds. Ben often says that liberals 'don't know what to call' black conservatives -- but in this case, 'worthy adversary' certainly applies!" - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, via email.

DETROIT: Ben Carson Makes It Official

Tea Party darling Ben Carson officially tossed his bible into the 2016 presidential race this morning in a Detroit speech that was preceded by a glory hallelujah star-spangled Jesus frenzy that included a color guard, a gospel choir, and a performance by a Christian vocal quintet who sang God Bless America and The Battle Hymn Of The Republic. Things get started at the 31:00 minute mark below and Carson finally takes the stage with his wife at the 1:00:00 mark. Set your faces to dumbfounded. By the way, that's Mrs. Carson on violin during the national anthem. For realz.

Ben Carson To Announce Tomorrow

Via the Detroit News:

In Michigan on Monday, Carson will pray with a group of pastors at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History before officially launching his bid for the Republican presidential nomination before supporters at the Detroit Performing Arts Center. He chose to launch his campaign in his hometown, and his afternoon is booked with events across Iowa. Faith has permeated Carson's personal, professional and now his public life. His political manifesto contains frequent references to the Ten Commandments and God's creation. He uses parables to explain policy goals. His 2014 book "One Nation" slams the "godless" government. His swift rise in conservative circles began after he criticized President Barack Obama's health care policies at the February 2013 prayer breakfast — as Obama sat two seats away.

Carson has never held elected office, a fact rarely mentioned by his conservative supporters who regularly denounce Hillary Clinton's "lack of accomplishments."