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Special Report

Ben Carson: America’s Doctor

Neurosurgeon who upstaged Obama to star in Hannity Special tonight.

Dr. Ben Carson is fast becoming America’s Doctor.

And he will make an hour-long house call with Sean Hannity in a Hannity Special on Fox News Friday night.

Along with a handful of guests in an on-set audience, of which I will be privileged to be one.

Dr. Carson, of course, has been in the news lately for this speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. In which, with a surgeon’s precision, the good doctor deftly dissected both Obamanomics and Obamacare — with President Obama seated two seats away.

If you aren’t yet familiar with Dr. Carson you should make the time.

Here is a man whose single mother, one of 24 children — you read that right — married at 13, had two children (Ben and his brother Curtis), eventually finding out that her husband had an entirely different wife and family. Which is to say, he was a bigamist and soon departed from Ben’s family when the discovery was made by Ben’s mother. He was as well a man with an alcohol problem. Mom had a third grade education.

Not exactly an auspicious start for a young African-American kid in Detroit.

But Mom — that would be Sonya Carson — presented with her share of life lessons that every human being walking must face, was paying attention to her two boys. First, she set the example herself. Determined to avoid the welfare system, she worked “constantly,” Carson tells us. Her faith in God having her insist to her son, “Bennie, we’re going to be fine.”

No. she said, you cannot watch television all the time. She laid down a rule — one of many. Young Ben would not be allowed more than two or three TV programs a week. What he must do instead is read two books from the Detroit public library — and write book reports on each.

So began Ben Carson’s lifelong love affair with education — with reading. Dutifully, he would make the trek to the library, read the two books of his choice, write up book reports — and get them back from his mother with a check mark to acknowledge his work.

Did I mention that Sonya Carson couldn’t read? No matter — only much later would young Ben figure this out. In the meantime Ben Carson went from being called “dummy” by his fifth grade friends to a top student at Yale University not to mention the top of his class at the University of Michigan Medical School. And now one of the world’s most accomplished (not to mention famous) physicians, presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush.

With his low-key bedside manner that doctors the world over must surely envy, Carson’s story is the stuff of Hollywood movies — and in fact there is a movie. A movie based on Carson’s own autobiography Gifted Hands, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as Ben Carson. Here’s the trailer for the film and over here some excerpts. Here’s a link to the book version as well as Carson’s current bestseller America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great.

What’s striking when one reads Gifted Hands is seeing just how Carson refused the lure of blaming his problems on race. When one reads Carson in Gifted Hands — and goes back to read President Obama in Dreams From My Father — the difference between the two men is striking.

Here’s Carson on race and what he refused to do:

I could easily have decided that life was cruel, that being Black meant everything was stacked against me.

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About the Author

Jeffrey Lord is a former Reagan White House political director and author. He writes from Pennsylvania at jlpa1@aol.com.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (167) |

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 6:39AM

OK, First let me register my Conservative Boner-Fides.
A: I wouldnt be surprised if Obama was the 20th Hijacker(they never show up on time)
2: I rate Clarence Thomas right up there with umm whoever the best Surpreme Court Judge is, and I like how he doesn't talk, like Teller.
iii: I voted for Ronald Reagan, I know, big deal.
IN 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who else did??
OK, that being said, what Dr. Carson did was a Chickenshit move, just as what the 20th Hijacker did to the Surpremes in the 2010 SOTU.
And you non-medical Rubes don't realize it, but all Surgeons are like that, they get to pick the Music, the Temperature, and they can tell everyone to shut up, just because they have a patients Medulla Oblongata(I love that word) in there hands.
And I bet Dr. Carson voted for EICSSOTUS(Evolver in Chief Skeet Shooter of the US) in 08' he's got that whole Surgeon Scorned thang goin on.
Seriously, what he did was like flipping a State Trooper the Bird, when he's already pulled over, writing some other sucker a ticket, and you're in a rental car someone else rented, not that I've ever done that.

Frank

Joellen| 2.15.13 @ 6:52AM

By the way, Hannity's ratings will soar tonight!

This while Maddow and her ilk are still reporting that Senator Rubio took a sip of water while giving his speach! Now that's REPORTING!

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 7:05AM

I dont get all the love for Rubio, are Italian-Americans that big of a Constituency??
And from the neck up he looks like a 12 year old(calm down Jack), and sounds like a 13 year old(Calm down Jack). And has a Senator from Florida ever been elected to the Presidency? I rest my Case.
"Ruby-O"??wasn't he in "the Godfather".
I hate to say it, but the next Repubiclan President probably hasn't been born yet.

Frank

Bob Grant| 2.15.13 @ 9:12AM

You're "breaking my heart" Frank. Don't be such a downer. Rubio will make a fine prez. The first Latino/Italian...whatever.

loulou| 2.15.13 @ 11:15AM

No, Rubio would not be a fine prez.
If he could overcome his RINO tendencies he might.

Bob Grant| 2.15.13 @ 12:05PM

Come on, Loulou.

A single issue!

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 2:58PM

We're getting together at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.

Clothing Optional.

Simon Templar| 2.15.13 @ 5:39PM

He is not an Italian American. He speaks Spanish not Italian, not sure why you did not notice that.
Second, The Italian slur and reference to the Mafia really was not necessary.
The constituency he is associated with by all accounts is huge and will be more politically powerful in the future. Particularly after they get amnesty.

Minuteman78| 2.15.13 @ 8:38AM

You're the best argument I've ever seen for all computers to have a "delete" key.

Or for that matter, for God to have a "delete" key.

moey2720| 2.22.13 @ 11:20AM

If you are referring to Frank - I AGREE!!!

Jacob McCandles| 2.15.13 @ 9:17AM

Frank you sound like an anesthesiologist.

Bob Grant| 2.15.13 @ 9:26AM

"Frank you sound like an anesthesiologist."

Let's just say he's the Frank Booth of anesthesiologists.

Jacob McCandles| 2.15.13 @ 9:47AM

Been a long time since I've seen that... but I get the picture. I gotta give Dr. Carson the benefit of the doubt with his speech though. Maybe it was an inappropriate forum, but the good doctor probably figured it was the only place and time it could be done face to face with Obama.
And Obama deserved it.

loulou| 2.15.13 @ 11:17AM

It was a totally appropriate forum.
It was the perfect forum in my opinion.

The lefties are sputtering about the appropriateness of the forum. You're better than that, Jacob McCandles.

WRTolkas| 2.15.13 @ 11:55AM

Jacob McCandles: Big Jake. Good Film.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 3:00PM

Get thee to The Contest.

Tuesday's AmSpec Story on the State of the Union.

moey2720| 2.22.13 @ 11:22AM

It was the bang on right forum!!! Dr. Carson did a wonderful job, concise, to the point, respectful and very very knowledgeable. About time someone had the guts to stand up and just tell the truth. One NEVER has to apologize for truth!!

Solo| 2.15.13 @ 3:29PM

@ Jacob McCandles...
"And Obama deserved it.".

You damned right he deserved it! And then some!

That feckless mob-agitating bastard fully intended to use the good doctor as a prop to lend legitimacy to whatever leftist nonsense he was about to puke forward.

The doctor knew full well what was going on and decided that he wasn't going to be a part of it. Brain surgeons tend to be pretty smart and this guy is obviously no exception.

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 10:53AM

It was a prayer breakfast and you think bringing up how God directed us to handle things at a prayer breakfast was chickenshit?

Possible Prima Donna or not Frank, and innapropriate location or not, you have not said anything he stated was not true.

Lay off the Nitrous Oxide. It's starting to affect your thinking.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 3:02PM

Very well done.

Obviously you got that from the Left side of the Bangkok House Menu.

You should use that at The Contest.

Controse| 2.15.13 @ 1:26PM

Does anyone else but me notice that Frank here goes all Carson's-not-worthy on us? Nothing about the substance of his speech. Frank, when and under what circumstances do we get to debate the substance of liberal verses conservative ideas? I'm thinking probably your answer is "never is to soon."

KennesawJack| 2.15.13 @ 1:57PM

Frank, to my way of thinking, he who continually gives Chickenshit moves (that would be Obamarx) can't bitch when he gets a Chickenshit move. It's that old what goes around comes around kinda thing. Obamarx is, without doubt ,the President with the least class in history (and you gotta work hard to wrest that crown from Slick Willy) so he just got back a little (very little) of what he does to others.

Occam's Tool| 2.18.13 @ 2:00AM

Carson has always been awesome. One of my medical heroes. Drackman is a gaspasser; he took what could have been a severe social problem and turned it into a career. :-)

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 6:48AM

Carson Rant, Continued

OK, I actually read Mr. Lord's piece.
"Gifted Hands"??
what a Prick, lets see his MCAT/Board Scores, you gotta be in the top 5% of your class to get into Neurosurgery, at least thats what my Neurosurgeon buddies(all 1 of them) say.
and look at that smug look Dr. Carson's got as "W" gives him the Legion of Doom, or whatever Deputy Dawg badge his Non-Military Serving Ass(Carson, not "W", they also serve, who flew F-102's in Houston) is getting. I only smile like that when I've done something really noteworthy, like driving solo in the HOV lane or grabbing change from that annoying Salvation Army broad..

Frank

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 7:09AM

its "The Presidential Medal of Freedom" won by such Heroes as Lucille Ball, Martha Ray, and Bob Hope.

Frank

Moe Blotz| 2.15.13 @ 8:20AM

Jealous, Franky?

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 8:27AM

lets just say I've been in the Surgeons Locker Room at John Hopkins, and I can measure up to Dr. Carson, Nome Sayin?

Frank

Moe Blotz| 2.15.13 @ 9:37AM

Big deal , Frank. I delivered the aluminium for their helicopter landing pad at Johns Hopkins. If you had a look at where I backed in a 72 ft. long tractor trailer, you would wonder how the hell I did it. P-tuh, man can he drive!

bustunloose| 2.15.13 @ 5:01PM

Frank thinks he's Sonny Corleone. I wonder if on his commute he stops to pay a toll ?

R Martin| 2.15.13 @ 9:43AM

Apparently spelling, grammar and punctuation are not entry requirements to the surgeons' locker room at Hopkins.

Most of us have only read about Dr. Carson and read Frank Drackman, so we have to base our opinions of the two men on those readings. The latter is somewhat amusing at times but, if I have to choose one to cut a hole in my head, there is no doubt who I'd pick.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 3:05PM

If I had to choose someone to Drill a Hole in your Head?

There's no doubt who I'd pick, either.

And, it ain't Dr. Carson.

moey2720| 2.22.13 @ 11:27AM

Gross comment!!!

Bob Grant| 2.15.13 @ 9:14AM

"Jealous, Franky?"

He's black with envy.

fmm| 2.15.13 @ 9:56AM

Think someone stepped on Draconian's
God complex.

loulou| 2.15.13 @ 11:18AM

I suspect Dr Carson's MCATs, etc. are sky high.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 3:07PM

All I know is that his Integrity, and his sense of Honour are Sky High.

And, that's good enough for me.

Occam's Tool| 2.18.13 @ 2:04AM

Not to mention his skill level.

Unlike Kagan at Harvard, Carson has to be superb at his job to be chairman at Hopkins. The quality of legal skill turned out is meaningless among America's top law schools, as connections is what matters there. The quality of surgeon turned out at Hopkins matters in the real world.

Joellen| 2.15.13 @ 6:48AM

Great article Mr. Lord, but lets start something new here - let's NEVER refer to the person's race again.

I dont care that Doctor Carson is a BLACK

(Not African, he wasnt born in Africa, just like I wasnt born in Europe)

American or that Senator Rubio has hispanic heritiage.

THEY ARE AMERICANS - once we change the narrative back to AMERICA FIRST, and instill unity throughout, well we can begin to rid the country of the illness that the good Doctor, with the rest of GOD Loving Americans, will begin to cure.

Obama and his ilk follow the Alinsky rule of isolating and divide - they have succeeded, so far.

Let's begin now, an American strategy - no more Black, Hispanic, Italian, German, American reference.

No - its "I am an American" - and as Dr. Carson & Senator Rubio have already demonstrated,
"our only concern is to restore America to its constitutional foundation".

I am just saying.

And a special appreciation to Dr. Carson's Mother. He was blessed and the beautiful thing is he knows it.

Cobalt| 2.15.13 @ 7:29AM

......so I guess it will no longer be important to most of Obama's base, that he isn't a damn white man.

Moe Blotz| 2.15.13 @ 8:18AM

Anecdotal evidence to show how silly such labels are: My brother works for a large insurance company that has offices around the globe. One of his contacts hails from Argentina where his Italian parents settled after the last big war. Full blooded Neapolitan from Argentina and his green card lists the bloke as "Hispanic".

Al Adab| 2.15.13 @ 8:25AM

Hard to understand what the fuss is all about. After all we were told year in and year out by those now in office that we should "speak truth to power"and that "dissent is the highest form of patriotism". If the emperor has no clothes should not someone be considerate enough to mention it?

We will have to wait a bit to see what action the administration takes against the good doctor, other than the media lynching, but we can rest assured that just as they punish businesses and states which oppose the agenda, they likewise will punish him.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 3:11PM

Get used to: Dr. Uncle Tom.

Dr. House Negro.

Dr. Oreo Cookie.

Dr. Not down for the Struggle.

C. Vernon Crisler | 2.15.13 @ 9:59AM

My ancestors came here to America from Austria sometime in the 1600s. I'm therefore technically an Austrian-American. Somehow, if I ever run for political office, I don't think journalists would really be much interested in highlighting this little known ethnic fact. Oh, Hitler was from Austria, too, so maybe they'd play up that angle.

You're right Joellen, we're all Americans, not hyphenated Americans. Focus on ethnic identity is simply political correctness. If you're in the "right" ethnicity, it's played up. If you're not, then it doesn't mean anything, unless the journalist can work up a Hitler analogy.

It's just a sign of the political corruption of our times.

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 10:13AM

technically they came from "The Holy Roman Empire"
it didn't become Austria till ummm later.
Throw another Shrimp on the Barbie, Mate!

Frank

Quartermaster| 2.15.13 @ 12:46PM

Mein lieber freund, that is a statement born of abysmal ignorance. What is known as Austria now, was also known as Austria in the Holy Roman Imperial times as well.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 2.16.13 @ 9:39AM

Sehr gut, aber, war es Oesterreich. Wenn man uebersetzet, gibt es "The Eastern Kingdom".

loulou| 2.15.13 @ 11:20AM

Did your parents speak Austrian?

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 3:12PM

They still do.

Stephie| 2.15.13 @ 11:20AM

Using the hyphenated words to describe someone is only to keep us as a people, divided. obama and the rest of the left love to keep people divided and pitted against one another in order to push his regressive progressive agenda through.
The left will never stop using race against us.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 3:13PM

Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.

Clothing Optional.

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 11:00AM

Agreed. If we have to use Hyphen's to describe people's ethnicity why is American always after the hyphen? We don't fly another national flag above ours.

From now on I want to be called that drunken American-Scot/Irish-Native American Sailor.

Moe Blotz| 2.15.13 @ 11:05AM

Can't we just call you our brother?

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 11:32AM

That works as well.

SUBVET| 2.17.13 @ 10:30AM

Or swab jocky..........

Al Adab| 2.15.13 @ 11:26AM

D/S:
Which of those top ten scotch brands from yesterday do you find most enjoyable?

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 11:36AM

Alas, Al, yesterday was a bit rough and I didn't even get a chance to see yeserdays post.
Had to fire a young man for theft. He is married, just bought a house, and had a child and he risked his job over a stupid mistake. Kind of put a bummer on my day, and I don't drink when in that mood. No one likes a grouchy drunk.

Concentrated on cooking my family some awesome New York Strip steak dinner complete with potatoes, steamed veggies and garlic bread instead. That always brightens my day.

Care to make a recommendation for the weekend?

Al Adab| 2.15.13 @ 12:19PM

Sorry to hear about your young employee. I was never good at that part of business either. Mistakes like this have potential for great fallout and I wish him well in his future. Hope you are better.

Nothing to recommend but enjoy your family and rest comfortably with them and your conscience.

Joellen| 2.15.13 @ 12:45PM

Not so Drunk Sailor and Al Adab - your comments are why I love coming to this site.

Al Adab, your comment, "I wish him well in his future", a fine example of what your character is all about.

GOD Bless you both, and as Al Adab said, may your conscience be at peace GOOD SAILOR!

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 12:57PM

Thanks Al, and Joellen. He is a good kid and a hard worker, just made a stupid mistake. He has my phone number if I can help him in anyway. This will not go on his record so he should be able to land on his feet.

Al Adab| 2.15.13 @ 1:54PM

Joellen, you humble me. Coming from you (of great and noble character) it is a compliment indeed. Have a wonderful weekend. God bless you and yours.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 3:56PM

I recommend you send me some a those Steaks!

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:07PM

As far as you're young Employee goes?

My Stepfather used to be a Captain, Flying Corporate Jets for ITT. He only flew the Chairman of the Board of the Company. He had Kiisinger and General Westmorland on his Plane, just to name a couple.

He told me a story about how on one particular Flight, during his Pre Flight, as he got set to take off, he noticed that one of the Fuel Tanks was completely Empty. The Flight Engineer had Flucked Up.

Everyone wanted this guy Fired. But my Stepdad refused.

His reasoning was that this guy had been so Jolted by his mistake, and his Near Fired Experience, that he would never let that happen, again.

The Flight Engineer kept his job, and it never happened, again.

I would recommend that you give him his job back, as he will forever know that he can never take that chance, again.

"Let him who is without Sin, cast the first stone."

I hope that helps.

And, I hope your Contest Entries get better.

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 5:11PM

I would love to Tim and I agree with you, but we deal in Pharmaceuticals, that includes controlled drugs, with a inventory of just at 300 million.

This young man, was on the access list to work in that controlled are as a back up. He didn't take any of that stuff but the potential was there. DEA has no sense of humor when it comes to that and would fine us heavily if a controlled drug turned up missing, we suspected someone yet kept him on. Thus the companies, zero tolerance policy.

I am just in charge of dealing with the fed and state agencies as well as security details. Kind of like Barney Fife without the one bullet. Was not my decision, but guess who had to interview him and escort him out the door.

Like I said, he was a damn good kid, who made a stupid, stupid mistake, even after a questionable issue 3 months ago. It's all on him but with a new house and baby, I can't help but feel sorry for him. He has my number and I told him I would help him in anyway I can.

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 4:55PM

Next time I promise. Unfortunatley I have two growing teenagers so they didn't last more that 30 min off the grill. One is beginning to start the process of joining the army so my food bill should bet smaller in the near future.

KennesawJack| 2.15.13 @ 2:05PM

Couple of years ago I was at a party and somehow the topic of ethnicity came up. Some ditzy blonde looks at me and says, "Oh. You must be a German-American." I said, "No. I'm an American of German descent." I'm not sure if she ever grasped the distinction.

Jerry88| 2.15.13 @ 5:14PM

"American" is the second word (sometimes after a hyphen, sometimes just the second word without a hyphen) because it is the noun. The first word -- Italian, Black, African, Irish or whatever -- should be considered the adjective that modifies the noun/base word. At least that would be my explanation. Some may see it otherwise.

KennesawJack| 2.15.13 @ 6:29PM

Jerry, The fact it IS a modifier is the issue for me. I, personally, don't like the idea of modifying what it is to be American. Maybe it's just me.

Appleby| 2.15.13 @ 7:23AM

I am patiently ignoring Frank in hopes that sooner or later somebody will give him the bum's rush out the door and make sure he doesn't get back in.

I am 100% with those who advocate that we stop hyphenating Americans and behaving as if they are dogs who can walk on their hind legs alone -- as if any time one of them succeeds he has to be exalted to the skies. Remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? Didn't he say he wanted his children to be judged NOT BY THE COLOUR OF HIS SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF HIS CHARACTER? So why are we still acting as if people with brown skin are somehow more worthy than the rest of us?

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 8:12AM

its "Color" not "Colour"
AND WHEN YOU TYPE IN ALL CAPS ITS LIKE SHOUTING
see how annoying that is?
and funny how "Dr"(what kind of "Dr" was he anyway) King OK, I was going to make a crude remark about how he cheated on Coretta, but I'll save it for later, like you do with a good pickoff move.

Frank

Stephie| 2.15.13 @ 8:24AM

Jesus Frank, we GET IT! You don't like Dr Carson!
Now let the rest of us enjoy the common sense approach of this man and the fact that he spoke it in obama's smug face.
Have a good weekend Frank.

Moe Blotz| 2.15.13 @ 9:39AM

Frank thinks it is his way or the highway. Colour is the correct spelling in most of the English speaking world, except the USA. Open your mind Doc.

WRTolkas| 2.15.13 @ 12:01PM

Colour is the spelling in the story The Rainbow Goblins I read to my grandson. Hay to my Canadian friend Miss Appleby.

Seek| 2.15.13 @ 12:52PM

Another deracinated "conservative." I'm sorry to report the news: Race does matter. It certainly matters to the blacks, who view everything through a racial prism, and who aren't hesitant to use violence to press their case. Out of self-defense, we whites need to develop more racial self-respect.

Never mind that race is a highly complex subject, a lot deeper than "skin color." Never mind as well that Martin Luther King was anything but a color-blind universalist (he took his own blackness seriously and in fact favored what we now call "affirmative action"). The main point is that a nation can't be sustained on an amorphous ideal of "values" alone. It is dangerous self-deception.

Tina B| 2.15.13 @ 7:40AM

Joellen, everything you said is true. I was born in England, of Polish and British stock. I am 100% American. My parents were 100% American from the day they got here, naturalised exactly 5 years after they arrived. I can totally resonate with your post.

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 8:14AM

"Resonate??
I like that, I really really like that.
Its almost like "Vibrate" in fact, its just a type of Vibration, the kind that can cause bridges to collapse, and tectonic plates to shift, you know, like when I make love to a woman...

Frank

Moe Blotz| 2.15.13 @ 8:21AM

The vibration probably comes from your passing gas during your ins and outs.

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 11:02AM

Frank,
She isn't vibrating, she is smothering laughter.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:10PM

Tina B.

Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.

Clothing Optional.

Hardcard| 2.15.13 @ 8:18AM

dreckman put the pills and the vodka down and STFU.... toughguy, we'll see !!!!

Maxwell| 2.15.13 @ 8:23AM

As always I have a pretty simple question. Are we so desperate that we will take someone, anyone that sounds half way rational, conservative, like they have a couple three brain cells, and elevate them to the front of the pack?

I am sure Dr. Carson is a bright man, has more smarts than I do as a grunt / programmer & probably drives something newer than a twelve year old truck.

The life story of Dr. Carson is what makes this country great, that is, it can be done.

Al Adab| 2.15.13 @ 12:23PM

Yes Max, we are desperate for any spokesman or leader with the courage of conviction. This is why the accommodationist GOP continues to disappoint as they are so fearful of offending that they fail to stand for anything. It is a sad state indeed that the once strong Conservative Movement has been led astray by GOP handlers. Time to stand.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:13PM

I, too, have a pretty simple question, Maxwell.

Have you been to The Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on the State of the Union?

Clothing Optional.

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 8:25AM

Carson rant(continued)
For someone who's so concerned about taxes, funny how Dr. Carson's never practiced outside an Academic "non Profit" setting, sort of like a certain former "Harvard Constitutional Law Professor" which means he does most of his operations on Medic-aid patients, last time I checked there was noone in the OR holding a gun to his Haid' making him Operate for nothing.
He's free(at last!) to go into private practice, hire an office staff, scrub tech, and do all the scut work that Medical Students, Interns, and Residents do for him at John Hopkins, the same Students/Interns/Residents who if they did what He did to EICSSOTUS(Evolver in Chief Skeet Shooter of the United States), would be Ex-Medical Students/Interns/Residents within 24hrs.

Frank "Yes I am "Bitter Much"" Drackman

Stephie| 2.15.13 @ 11:23AM

As he said, he likes to teach. Some are called to teach Frank and thanks be to God that he heard the call for many children have probably been saved because of it.

SUBVET| 2.17.13 @ 10:44AM

Mr. F. - D. ..............I think if you did your research you will find that the doc.....has a "non profit" history.......look it up.

Occam's Tool| 2.18.13 @ 2:07AM

POTUS isn't Carson's boss, Frank, and you know damn well why Medicine is pseudo military in the way we treat students, etc.

Carson's work is justifiably world famous. My specialty, by the way, is psychiatry.

N8tivTxn| 2.15.13 @ 8:26AM

One little point... Marco ain't no Ben Carson... the comparison is uncomfortable.

That is the problem with baby-faced little boys getting elected to the Senate before they have accomplished much, of note. It is hard for some of us to take them seriously.

I might turn on the TV to watch Hannity's i-view, although I wish someone else, less indoctrinated into (R) party screed (yeah, I know he claims to be in Inde, I suppose that's why he allows his programs (I rarely sample) to be dominated by McLoon, Rove, et al...) would occasionally get hold of these debutant people coming out to test their appeal to the low-info, cubicle dwelling, pop-culture consuming voter.

But perhaps, if Dr Carson is as arrogant as some people think, he won't allow Sean to lead him by the nose-ring, down the touchy-feely, buzz-word laden, garden path to the commieCRAT slaughterhouse.

Seems the Dem Early Strike A-team is already geared up for launch against everything Ben Carson has ever said or done. When they attack someone like Rubio, Carson, or Palin, I always ask myself, WHO are their up-&-comers, WHO's political career can WE preempt... (Deb W Shultz never had a chance) before it ever gets rolling? Then I realize, the (R) side is mortally afraid of new blood... might dilute the Blueblood. We gott'a make every sacrifice to keep the genetics pure, don'cha know.

Hardcard| 2.15.13 @ 8:37AM

He is hated by the left, they think he dissed obamao (he only told the truth), and was awarded a commendation by President GW Bush, nothing could be worse to obamao and the d-rats. This guy is right behind Justice Clarence Thomas, Dr. Thomas Sowell, on the socialist/marxist hate scale. Thank you Dr. Carson for the work you do and the lives of children you have saved. You are what America is about. May God Continue to Bless You Sir.

loulou| 2.15.13 @ 11:23AM

Put Walter Williams on the lefty hate list.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:14PM

Walter E. Williams.

Pecos Pete| 2.15.13 @ 4:48PM

Dr. Walter E. Williams

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 5:13PM

The esteemed Dr. Walter E. Williams

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 8:39AM

Dr. Carsons got 23 siblings??
How is that even possible?
And I don't mean Physiologically, I mean Socio-Economically-stylistically.
I can see getting pregnant 12, 13, heck, even 14 or 15 times.
But who's the poor sap with such a poor rap he's reduced to having sex with G23's?(thats not a Jet, a Bingo call, or a Economic Organization, its Doctor-ese for someone who's been pregnant 23 times)

Frank

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 11:04AM

Go back and try reading it again. They were from different mothers. See what happens when you don't do your homework Frank.

You are awfully bitter today. Did Dr. Carson step on your toes or did he get your parking spot?

Stephie| 2.15.13 @ 11:27AM

No! It was his mother who came from a family of 24 children, not Ben Carson. He has 1 sibling, a brother. I watched his speech again yesterday and that is what he said.

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 11:39AM

You're right. My apologies Frank seems I was cheating off your homework and got it wrong as well.

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 1:19PM

My Bad, and no wonder she got knocked up at age 13, only way to get some breathing room...

Frank

wrlord| 2.15.13 @ 1:42PM

He does not. His mother has 22. You might want to learn to read at some point.

Bob Grant| 2.15.13 @ 9:01AM

With all due respect to our 43rd president GWB (whom I voted for twice...something about the "lesser of two evils"...), it looked like he struggled mightily with the ribbon clasp, per the above pic.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Carson must have been thinking "come on, hurry up. This isn't brain surgery!"

irish19| 2.15.13 @ 11:38PM

/cue rimshot.

Von Mises Jr| 2.15.13 @ 9:02AM

Perhaps Obama should be envious and resentful that Dr. Ben Carson got a far superior intellect and work ethic making it on his own merit instead of through Affirmative Action.
Obama is simply clever being well schooled in mob manipulation techniques. Without a teleprompter, he is no more articulate than "Bite Me" or that genius Pelosi. Any college Business major worth his salt is more logical and educated than all three of these ignorant incompetents combined.
Marco Rubio is also a minority that made it on his own merit. That really eats at the Sophists in the White House and Democrat Congress, and as Van Jones realizes a major threat to their communist and fascist designs.

Dr. Sowell, Dr. Walter E. Williams, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Col. Allan West were all targeted for the same reason. Unlike these great black men, Obama is not authentically brilliant or motivated for intellectual excellence. That is also why he does not understand or rejects "American Exceptionalism."

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:16PM

I think he might be Envious, that Dr. Carson actually has a Job.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:17PM

Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.

Clothing Optional.

We need you.

bustunloose| 2.15.13 @ 9:15AM

Speaking of being targeted. If that hospital has a nurses union he will be.Nurses against Carson will emerge and be well funded.
the dirt will xome forth-if you like this man and I do be prepared. He and Rubio relate to people and must be destroyed in their book.

Jacob McCandles| 2.15.13 @ 9:35AM

you are absolutely correct. There will be stories. Just like with Justice Thomas and Herman Cain.

Moe Blotz| 2.15.13 @ 9:43AM

Our own Dr. Drackman is already working on that.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:22PM

I'm pretty sure that Dr. Carson can take care of himself.

He's a man of God. A man of Christ.

He'll be fine.

"Men shall know you by the company you keep."

Indeed.

They also know you by who your Enemies are.

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 10:17AM

Did you know most Surgeons don't wash their hands after taking an Obama? Its true, theres studies and articles, I'd quote them if I kept up with studies and articles. I just know from my experience taking dumps next to Surgeons.
And if you call them on it, they'll say "I'll Scrub in the OR" then you see them shaking hands with the VIPs touring the latest Laser/Quadrophonic piece of OR equipment...
OK I don't always wash my hands(after shaking hands yes), but I'm not sticking my hands on there Medulla Oblongata(I love that word)

Frank

Bob Grant| 2.15.13 @ 11:01AM

Medulla Oblongata sounds alot like Michelle Obama.

If you ever have the "pleasure" of touching Michelle obama, you'll need to scrub, not wash, your hands.

WaffenSS| 2.15.13 @ 11:13AM

Go back to school Frankie, as you so candidly always point out, the spelling of there should be"their".

Moe Blotz| 2.15.13 @ 6:04PM

For a bloke who has been so vastly educated, Frank keeps mixing his use of there, their,and they're. Doc Drack structures his sentences more like a dumb arse truck driver would than a well schooled surgeon should.

Occam's Tool| 2.18.13 @ 2:09AM

Moe: it's all the exposure to anesthetics.

I joke, I joke, I tease.

Hardcard| 2.15.13 @ 10:34AM

Where's the contest ? I can't be spending the whole morning searching, I have to take nap#1 soon. At this point what difference does it make? Give me a hint Tim.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:23PM

Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.

Clothing Optional.

Dukehoopsfan| 2.15.13 @ 11:10AM

Well written piece Mr. Lord. Dr. Carson is an accomplished, brilliant, and gifted individual. I would love to have the chance to vote for him, Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, or Allen West as America's first qualified black president.

Seek| 2.15.13 @ 2:43PM

Why is it so important to have a black president so long as he has the "right" values, as opposed to the wrong ones? All one does in making this point is unwittingly ratify the Left's main premise that whites should be displaced in all walks of American life. Moreover, while Dr. Carson's talents as a neurosurgeon are undeniable, that doesn't automatically qualify him as presidential material.

What head of state, by the way, draws equivalence between church tithing and a flat tax? Tithing is voluntary and belongs in the spiritual realm. If a flat tax is good public policy, its merits can stand on their own; they don't need Bible quotes or pastoral letters. On that basis along, Carson should be disqualified from serious consideration as president.

jleinf| 2.15.13 @ 11:32AM

Dr. Carson being,black,conservative and from an underprivilaged background is the lefts worse nightmare. If you doubt me checkout the losers posting here in an attempt to discredit his American success story.

Kingofthenet| 2.15.13 @ 11:59AM

That this man is a gifted Surgeon no doubt, but to talk about 'Death Panels' and Economic issues far out of his area of expertise shows a certain 'Hubris' and narcissism that unfortunately many Doctors are afflicted with.

Bob Grant| 2.15.13 @ 12:08PM

"'Hubris' and narcissism that unfortunately many Doctors are afflicted with."

Perhaps he was trying to get on Obamamandias' level?

Kingofthenet| 2.15.13 @ 12:16PM

I once had a Black (Oral) surgeon who while fantastic at the one thing that counted had all the bedside manner of Nurse Ratched, good thing I was focused on quality of work otherwise I would have dropped him for someone with a personality. That being said the good Doctor is entitled to practice Economics without a license, although IF I tried to practice Neurosurgery without one, I would be arrested. Maybe I should be allowed to do that for say a dollar and hour, no promises, of course you don't get a guarantee with the good doctor either...

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:26PM

What's the problem?

You practice writing stupid comments without a License, here, all the time.

Al Adab| 2.15.13 @ 1:52PM

Certainly prefer a doctor discussing health care than the celebrity of the week (Ashley Judd? Darryl Hanna?) potificating on public policy.

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 12:28PM

but to talk about 'Death Panels' and Economic issues far out of his area of expertise shows a certain 'Hubris' and narcissism that unfortunately many Doctors are afflicted with.

Funnty, same thing could have been said about Obama

Job| 2.15.13 @ 3:08PM

Most presidents were lawyers, farmers, and soldiers with the occaisional actor or journalist thrown in.

Many here are afflicted with this occupation/IQ fetish in the measure of a man and in the measure of success he can achieve.

How bout we consider integrity from time to time.

Job| 2.15.13 @ 3:08PM

Most presidents were lawyers, farmers, and soldiers with the occaisional actor or journalist thrown in.

Many here are afflicted with this occupation/IQ fetish in the measure of a man and in the measure of success he can achieve.

How bout we consider integrity from time to time.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:28PM

Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.

Clothing Optional.

We're open All Weekend.

Indy| 2.15.13 @ 6:11PM

Actors speak with "authority" on fracking, not a problem for you?

Pelosi is quite the economic genius, healthcare, you name it she's an expert on everything...just think how strong our economy would be if everyone was on unemployment and food stamps.

Dr. Carson spoke the truth, we have a debt crisis, our entitlement programs are not sustainable and he offered solutions. POTUS says we don't have a spending problem and his "solution" is to spend and tax more...I'll take Dr. Carson's approach all day long. While we still have freedom of speech, let Dr. Carson speak on any topic, you just might learn something.

SUBVET| 2.17.13 @ 11:04AM

Who would you believe.......a God fearing man or a moslem...

Occam's Tool| 2.18.13 @ 2:12AM

King:

if you have ever worked as a Senior Medical Consultant in an NHS, you would know about "Death Panels." In the Commonwealth, they are known as NICE: The National Institute of Clinical Excellence. Look up Wet Macular Degeneration and NICE. Then get back to us with a full report, please.

Economic issues regarding Medicine are NOT far out of a Department Chair's Depth at one of America's best medical schools. He is responsible for teaching future Neurosurgeons.

Kingofthenet| 2.15.13 @ 12:33PM

I think Great Surgeons are 80% in the hands, and 20% in the head. I think other Great Craftsmen who work in TOTALLY different industries 'could' become Surgeons if they choose to and had a desire to do so. People like Skilled Mechanics, Woodworkers like Norm Abrams, maybe super skilled Barbers.You can be a great Surgeon with an average IQ, as long as you have fantastic 'Eye-Hand' coordination, but not in reverse.

Bob Grant| 2.15.13 @ 12:56PM

Is this your awkward way of saying Dr. Carson sucks and obama's great?

Your hand-brain coordination is well below average, based on these posts, Queenie.

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 12:59PM

I see your problem.

"I think"

No, not really.

Frekki| 2.15.13 @ 3:23PM

You have no idea what you are talking about. I am ambidextrous. It's not a gift, it's like having two left hands. But by age 21 I was the top mechanic and shop manager at an expensive foreign car repair shop. Why? Because I could read and absorb all the info in the factory manuals and turn around and diagnose/repair anything that came in. Now in my late 50's I have essential tremor and can't weld anymore, but I am still a Master; Electrician, Mechanic, High Voltage, Hydraulic, Crane Operator and Team Leader in a Steel Mill. I can fix anything. But I have a very hard time writing my name legibly.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:31PM

The next time you need Surgery, Kingofthenuts, give me a call.

I have a wonderful Skill Saw, as well as a Husqvarna Chainsaw, in my basement.

I'll hook ya up, no problem.

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:31PM

And, I'll do it for Free.

Pecos Pete| 2.15.13 @ 4:53PM

May I watch, please? I'll bring my Stihl to back you up ... if needed.

Bob Grant| 2.15.13 @ 5:27PM

TLP,

The blade...nice and rusty?

Please say yes.

chuck| 2.17.13 @ 9:44AM

I'm a carpenter by trade, can really handle tools, and turn a piece of wood into a work of art. By Queenieboy's thinking, I should be able to do some damned fine surgery on that brain of his, if only I could find it.

JmsA| 2.17.13 @ 6:01PM

Your comments do not amount to anything more than mere suppositions. On the other hand, upon hearing Dr. Carson's comments, the following quote, which I first heard as a child, came to mind:

"Scrupulous observation, logical reasoning, and strict adherence to the truth are the most efficacious means to keep oneself free from falsehood and to value the most precious endowments of man's intelligence: his initiative." --Dr. Carlos J. Finlay

JmsA| 2.17.13 @ 6:03PM

The comments above were intended for Kingofthenet.

Occam's Tool| 2.18.13 @ 2:15AM

King: and you would be very, very, wrong. You have to have a high IQ plus great eye hand coordination to be a good neurosurgeon, because first you must be an excellent neurologist.

By the way, I'm a Psychiatrist with poor coordination. I'm also a Mensan with an MCAT above the average at Harvard when I went to medical school. I was accepted as an OUT OF STATE student at UTMB.

So, I have no dog in this fight. But I know what I know, and I have observed Neurosurgeons in training.

Thanks for playing, moron.

StanAmSpec| 2.15.13 @ 1:18PM

" it isn’t brain surgery to realize just why so many Americans have stopped to listen to Dr. Ben Carson." This is actually a clever line, but I don't think you pointed out to the readers that Dr. Carson is in fact one of the world foremost brain surgeons! And was in fact, the first doctor to separate co-joined twins, connected at the head. Read the book, it's a great read.

Frank Drackman| 2.15.13 @ 1:22PM

OK, "sorrah evrabodda"(maybe if I start talking like Obama people will like me) I guess I did take a few too many swings at Dr.(at least he's a Real Doctor) Carson.
But as anyone whos been in the Military knows, the good Doctor broke the Chain of Command, which unless you have eggs on your hat(look it up) results in the Chain being broken over Your hat.
And I'm sorry, I just don't like Surgeons, they're A-Holes, even bigger than me.

Frank

Drunken Sailor| 2.15.13 @ 2:31PM

I get what your saying but I think your looking at it backwards. The president is SUPPOSED to work for us. Or in this case DR. Carson. Think of it as a old Navy Chief providing some deckplate counseling to a young seaman.

Bob K| 2.15.13 @ 7:34PM

When did civilians get placed in the military Chain of Command?

Who Knows?| 2.15.13 @ 2:12PM

It’s NOT that Carson is a medical doctor that’s important.

Of course, in CW terms, most people think of physicians as just about the best kind of human being---after all, they exist to keep you alive!

However, his life story is what matters.

Speaking---or writing---of “matter”, consider the “life story” of matter = energy, and Einstein’s insight—

“… matter distorts, or causes a curvature of, the space-time continuum in its vicinity. According to Einstein’s ultimate vision, which he never ‘proved’ (demonstrated mathematically), a piece of matter IS a curvature of the space-time continuum! In other words, according to Einstein’s ultimate vision, there are no such things as ‘gravitational fields’ and ‘masses’. They are only mental creations. No such things exist in the real world. There is no such thing as ‘gravity’---gravity is the equivalent of acceleration, which is motion. There is no such thing as ‘matter’---matter is a curvature of the space-time continuum. There is not even such a thing as ‘energy’---energy equals mass and mass is space-time curvature.

What we considered to be a planet with its own gravitational field moving around the sun in an orbit created by the gravitational attraction (force) of the sun is actually a pronounced curvature of the space-time continuum finding its easiest path through the space-time continuum in the vicinity of a very pronounced curvature of the space-time continuum.

Who Knows?| 2.15.13 @ 2:13PM

There is nothing but space-time and motion and they, in effect, are the same thing. Here is an exquisite presentation, in completely western terms, of the most fundamental aspect of Taoist and Buddhist philosophies.”

Page 179, “The Dancing Wu-Li Masters”, by Gary Zukov, 1979

Bob K| 2.16.13 @ 7:05PM

T. S. Eliot said all this better in his "Four Quartets."

soldiermom11| 2.15.13 @ 2:44PM

I love this guy! Will be watching Hannity. How about a Rubio/Carson ticket? Wouldn't that just drive the libs into a spin?!

KennesawJack| 2.15.13 @ 4:10PM

'Dat boy bess get his black ass back on the pawtch.
He be messin' wid mah Obamaphone and my check. I needs to be gettin' mah Obamabucks so he be needin' to git his mind raht. You hear 'dat, brutha'?

TLP| 2.15.13 @ 4:33PM

I don't get it.

bustunloose| 2.15.13 @ 4:36PM

he must be a house African American in their book.

bustunloose| 2.15.13 @ 4:33PM

So why can't the whiz kids on our side for once be ready for it-vet or is it vette(some resident genius will tell I am sure) him. And, then amass an army of people who have worked with him and otherwise know him and go into a full throttle counter offensive. We whould be lying in wait as they go after him with a powerful surge of truth-and name names of the liers, including media types. We need ads and more fingering the NBC big mouths calling them out for the disgusting beasts they are.

John II| 2.15.13 @ 4:47PM

Whoa. More than one hundred responses and not a single troll. Yes, the pattern is on display again.

What an image: the trolls sit in their dark little corners with nothing to say. Reminds me of the scene in "Dr. Strangelove" (1963), when, amid an arcane conversation in the war room, the camera cuts briefly to the title character (Peter Sellers) sitting in the shadows and looking on silently through blank eyeglasses that reflect the overhead fluorescent light. The very image of the silent troll.

Where'd Timmy say the Contest is this week? I was going to give up the Contest for Lent, but the temptation is too strong. I'll give up rice and jalapeno peppers instead.

Pecos Pete| 2.15.13 @ 4:56PM

NEVER give up jalapeno peppers! Ok on the rice.

Pecos Pete| 2.15.13 @ 4:57PM

http://spectator.org/archives/.....ent_938676

John II| 2.15.13 @ 5:01PM

Great. Right into the middle of it too. Thanks, Pete!

Albert Constantine Jr.| 2.16.13 @ 9:55AM

KingoftheNet might qualify as a troll, but he's my favorite lefty troll (I can't imagine anyone paying him for his posts, so maybe he doesn't qualify in the sense that Purp, Arnie, vtwin, Jack London and some others do).

vigilant| 2.15.13 @ 5:30PM

The AmSpec comments section once again provides us with examples of how vitriol and good judgment don't mix. Thanks, Frank Drackman!

You're on a roll, Jeff Lord. Keep it coming. Ample documentation in your piece against the bigotry of those who lump all black people together into the idea of "black" culture. Dr. Carson is a shining example of "black" culture at its finest, and I personally know many more who fit that mold and are as abhorrent as anyone of poor behavior of any color. It's about ethics/values/spiritual orientation, not color.

Indy| 2.15.13 @ 6:25PM

Dr. Carson just joined twitter...it is going to be interesting to watch, I think I'll have a beverage tonight while watching his interview tonight. Watch the Left come unhinged.

http://twitchy.com/2013/02/15/.....d-twitter/

Alborn| 2.16.13 @ 11:31AM

I remember as a young social worker seeing the movie Roots and telling my husband, when people start thinking that where they came from is more important than being an American that we would be in trouble as a country. Boy, has that statement proved to be true. I fought the destruction of the family for 20 years but the political correct people never wanted to solve the problems. They want to stir resentment. We have poverty because of the government involvement in programs. That includes both parties failures in letting communities solved their problems.

RJ| 2.16.13 @ 3:12PM

Thank-you Jeff for the inspiring article about a great man and a great American. We need more citizens like Dr. Carson to participate in the public forum. There is so much he can add to the discussion on government and society. I hope we will hear a lot more from him. I greatly appreciate his courage in stating his views in front of Obama.

Rhoetus| 2.16.13 @ 5:43PM

Rules for Conservatives @
http://www.saveamericanow.us.com

BackToBasics| 2.17.13 @ 2:18PM

It was a good speech at the prayer breakfast. The contrast of Carson with Pelosi in Lord's article made me think about what Carson said concerning getting more doctors, those in business, engineers and people of other talents in the workforce to run for political office in Washington instead of predominantly lawyer-politicians. I agree with that. Lawyers are often great with language and words but this talent predisposes many of them to ideas and headiness that are less grounded in the reality of everyday life for most people. A better mix in the political class would be a help in creating more practical solutions rather than doing things like "passing a 2000+ page 'law' to see what is in it afterwards" or yelling climate change whenever there is a storm or heat wave.

BackToBasics| 2.18.13 @ 2:55AM

It would be great to hear more common sense in a national venue like that given by Carson.

Some question if Obama knows what he is doing. The look on his face most fo the time when Carson was speaking shows he clearly knows the difference between the type of "climate change" he is planning and what Carson was saying.

I doubt that Carson is planning to run for any political office. But he was a breath of fresh air.

Kingofthenet| 2.17.13 @ 9:25PM

Sometimes you need to be a Whore so you can be a Slut.

moey2720| 2.22.13 @ 11:14AM

This man is so down to earth, although he heads the most prestigous specialty department at the most highly respected Johns Hopkins and you would never know it from the honest, straightforward way he speaks - RIGHT TO YOU. I truly hope that Mr. Obama squirmed inside and was extremely uncomfortable. It is about time there was someone in this world with the appropriate credentials stood up and told him just like it 'really is in the real world." Standing ovation, Dr. Carson!!!!

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