Wait, what?
Ben Carson phoned it in to the conservative NewsMax Network's "The Steve Malzberg Show" to attempt to recover his brand point out that Trump was the only alternative available to him for endorsement.
“I have to look at what is practical. I didn’t see a path for (John) Kasich, who I like, or for (Marco) Rubio, who I like…So I have to look at what is practical and what is going to save this country and the American dream for the next generation…Is there another scenario that I would have preferred? Yes — but that scenario isn’t available.”
And besides, it's not like a Donald Trump presidency would be a ...disaster or anything. It's only four years, after all. No, he really truly said that.
“Even if Donald Trump turns out not to be such a great president, which I don’t think is the case, I think he’s going to surround himself with really good people, but even if he didn’t, we’re only looking at four years as opposed to multiple generations and perhaps the loss of the American dream forever.”
I guess Ben Carson is betting that Donald will pick totally awesome Supreme Court nominees that will be immediately confirmed by the totally possible and utterly cooperative Republican Senate. Plus, the "good people" Donald Trump will have around him will include famed neurosurgeon Ben Carson, "certainly in an advisory capacity."
“He will surround himself with very good people…I will be doing things as well…certainly in an advisory capacity…We haven’t hammered out all of the details but it is very important that we work together in this country…Again, I’m not going to reveal any details because all of this is still very liquid.”
Ben Carson's brand used to be "amazing neurosurgeon who overcame racial bias to achieve success thanks to Jesus." This brand was solid, and many in the African-American community and elsewhere held him in high esteem. Standing next to Donald Trump in a craven effort to remain relevant? No one is buying that, and the past accolades (and future paychecks) look to be at risk based on this very bad decision. And now Ben Carson is saying it's not so bad and by the way, I had no choice.
I hope future charlatans learn their lesson from the Palins and Carsons and their struggles. Take the lower golden ring, go the motivational speaker/Crystal Cathedral route, and you'll be on the gravy train for life. The suckers at the political level only last so long, and it's harder to maintain the grift.
h/t Towleroad for the transcript.
