Retired neurosurgeon and 2016 GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson said Tuesday that he found a measure of accountability when Sen. Ted Cruz fired a staffer Monday for sharing a false story about Sen. Marco Rubio.
“There is some there,” Mr. Carson said on “Fox and Friends” when asked if he felt like the firing gave him accountability for what happened to him in Iowa. “But you always have to ask yourself the question: is there a culture here that I’m permitting that creates a problem?”
On the night of the Iowa caucuses, Cruz supporters had seized on a report saying Mr. Carson was taking a break from campaigning and spread rumors that Mr. Carson was actually suspending his campaign.
Mr. Cruz apologized to Mr. Carson for the incident. On Monday, Mr. Cruz fired communications director Rick Tyler after Mr. Tyler had shared a story that falsely suggested Mr. Rubio had insulted the Bible.
Mr. Carson said Tuesday he successfully shook up his own campaign staff when he wasn’t satisfied with how things were going.
“There was a culture there that was not good, and we got rid of it, and it’s much better and much more effective now,” he said. “That’s what I call taking action to correct problems.”
SEE ALSO: Rick Tyler’s resignation sought by Ted Cruz after spokesman shared false Marco Rubio story
Mr. Carson, who finished in sixth place in South Carolina, said he was hopeful that the winnowed GOP field will now allow for more of a discussion of the issues and problems facing the country.
“It’s a dynamic game,” he said. “Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare. If you give up on the tortoise too early, you’re only going to have the hare who is exhausted and not very effective.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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