The longtime business manager of retired neurosurgeon and 2016 GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson said Monday that Mr. Carson’s statement that he would not advocate a Muslim serve as president is not about religion to Mr. Carson, but a “belief system.”
“Dr. Carson was asked his opinion. His opinion was the timing at this point, he would not vote for a Muslim in the White House,” Armstrong Williams, who is also a conservative commentator, said on CNN’s “New Day.” “This is why he’s not a politician. This is why he’s not trying to be politically correct.”
“This is America. It’s a place of freedom of speech. And you express what you believe and how you feel,” Mr. Williams said.
“It is not an issue of religion to Dr. Carson. This is an issue of one’s belief system” of how they would govern, he said.
“Your beliefs, what you believe in, how you look upon people, how you value people is dictated by what you believe,” said Mr. Williams, who writes a column for The Washington Times.
Asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday if he thinks Islam is consistent with the U.S. Constitution, Mr. Carson said, “No, I do not.”
SEE ALSO: Ben Carson, GOP presidential candidate: We should never elect a Muslim president
“I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that,” Mr. Carson said.
Mr. Carson said he might be open to supporting a Muslim for Congress.
“If there’s somebody who’s of any faith but they say things and their life has been consistent with things that will elevate this nation and make it possible for everybody to succeed and bring peace and harmony, then I’m with them,” he said.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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