Courtesy of The Grio
Ben Carson bungled a great opportunity.
Three months ago, he was known as one of the most accomplished doctors in the country, a man with a prestigious post at John Hopkins University, a long list of achievements that included the separation of conjoined twins and a Presidential Medal of Freedom award.
His books and speeches had given some hints of his conservative politics, but even African-Americans who disagreed with his political stances respected Carson as a medical expert and motivational speaker.
Carson could have smoothly entered politics in a number of ways, from appearing on television shows to talk about health care to getting himself in position to be tapped for a post in a Republican administration if the GOP wins back the White House in 2016.
Nevermind all that. In only a few weeks, Carson has tossed away much of his credibility in what appears to be a shallow attempt to draw attention to himself.
The problem isn’t that Carson blasted President Obama at a traditionally non-partisan prayer breakfast, with the president sitting a few feet away, and made very controversial comments on gay marriage.
Carson, like many Christian conservatives, sounds like he has genuine concerns with President Obama’s record and increased national momentum to allow same-sex unions.
The problem is that the surgeon’s media blitz, as he told the Washington Post himself, was not geared toward impacting public policy, or even becoming one of the leading black voices in a Republican Party that has little diversity.
He just wants a tv show.
The post How Ben Carson Bungled A Potential Political Career appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.