Carson to Media: Find a Real Scandal and We'll Talk

Candidate says he can't sit and watch unfairness he's treated with
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 8, 2015 6:16 AM CST
Updated Nov 8, 2015 6:16 PM CST
Carson to Media: Find a Real Scandal and We'll Talk
In this Nov. 6, 2015 file photo, Ben Carson speaks during the Black Republican Caucus of South Florida event in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.   (Alan Diaz)

Ben Carson kept up his drumbeat against the media, saying he faces an unprecedented level of scrutiny about the veracity of his life story and questioning whether the issues dogging him over his autobiography are important to the nation's search for the next president. "The whole point is to distract the populace, to distract me," Carson told CBS News. "If you've got a real scandal, if you've got something that's really important, let's talk about that." Moving on, at least in the short term, is unlikely. The accuracy of Carson's autobiography has dominated his campaign in the past few days, and there are likely to be more questions asked during Tuesday's debate. "It's not particularly getting under my skin, obviously it's helping me," said Carson, per reports CNN. "But I simply cannot sit still and watch unfairness. I am always going to call that out when I see it."

Donald Trump on Sunday tried to keep the allegations alive. On several news shows, he repeated examples from Carson's autobiography, Gifted Hands, including Carson's claim that he hit his mother and unsuccessfully tried to stab someone. Several times, Trump quoted Carson as describing his younger self as having a "pathological" temper—and then demurred on his own opinion of Carson's character and veracity. "I just don't know. I mean, I'm not involved," Trump said on CNN. Carson insists no other candidate has received the level of scrutiny that he has. Asked on NBC whether he is getting more than President Obama and former President Clinton, Carson replied: "Not like this. Not even close." Carson is a newcomer to presidential politics, so much about his life, career and published works are being raked over for the first time. (More Ben Carson stories.)

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