Conservative activist and former pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson said Thursday that Americans were losing confidence in a government that continues to delay imposing a commercial travel ban on Ebola-ridden West African countries.
“You don’t want to let something that dangerous voluntarily come into your country,” Mr. Carson said in an interview with Fox News. “If other countries have seen the wisdom in doing this, why are we the last?”
Dr. Carson, who is considering running for president, echoed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is also contemplating a 2016 bid, saying a travel ban “is just common sense.”
He predicted that the U.S. would eventually instate a travel ban but said the delayed decision was causing people to lose confidence in the government.
Dr. Carson speculated that officials have been holding off on a travel ban for unstated political reasons, citing alternative travel options for aid workers that would not be affected by a commercial ban.
“Either there’s some politics here or there isn’t much deep thinking — one of the two. Neither one of those are things that are appealing,” he said.
Dr. Carson also warned that the American people would be in greater danger of contracting the deadly disease should it reach Central America.
“With our southern border being rather porous, can you imagine what will happen to this country? And I think the average American understands that, and that’s why they’re concerned. And they’re concerned also that our government doesn’t seem to understand that,” Mr. Carson said.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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