BOULDER, Colorado — Ben Carson pushed back Wednesday against the suggestion that he is hostile to gays, saying that “our Constitution protects everybody, regardless of their sexual orientation.”
The former neurosurgeon was asked during the GOP presidential primary debate why he served on the board of Costco, a company ranked as among the most gay-friendly, given that its policies “seem to run counter to your views.”
Mr. Carson disputed the implication embedded in the question, saying, “Obviously you don’t understand my views on homosexuality.”
“I believe that our Constitution protects everybody, regardless of their sexual orientation or any other aspect,” Mr. Carson said. “I also believe that marriage is between one man and woman, and there is no reason that you can’t be perfectly fair to the gay community.”
“They shouldn’t automatically assume that because you believe that marriage is between one man and one woman that you are a homophobe,” Mr. Carson added.
The question came as something of a surprise, given that the CNBC-hosted debate titled “Your Money, Your Vote” was billed as focusing on the economy, not social issues.
Mr. Carson has run afoul of the gay-rights movement by, for example, suggesting that homosexuality is a choice.
He chalked up the debate question to “one of the myths that the left perpetuates on our society.”
“This is how they frighten people and get people to shut up,” Mr. Carson said. “You know, that’s what the PC culture is all about, and it’s destroying this nation. The fact of the matter is, we, the American people, are not each other’s enemy. It’s those people who are trying to divide us who are the enemies, and we need to make that very clear to everybody.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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