Ben Carson Admits He Fabricated West Point Scholarship


Politico has reported that GOP 2016 hopeful Dr. Ben Carson’s campaign admitted on Friday that “a central point in his inspirational personal story did not occur as he previously described.”

“Dr. Carson was the top ROTC student in the City of Detroit,” campaign manager Barry Bennett wrote in an email to POLITICO. “In that role he was invited to meet General Westmoreland. He believes it was at a banquet. He can’t remember with specificity their brief conversation but it centered around Dr. Carson’s performance as ROTC City Executive Officer.”

“He was introduced to folks from West Point by his ROTC Supervisors,” Bennett went on. “They told him they could help him get an appointment based on his grades and performance in ROTC. He considered it but in the end did not seek admission.”

West Point has become a part of Carson’s extraordinary life story, much of which we are now finding out was probably fabricated, whether it was being a part of a gun holdup in Popeyes Chicken or being violent on the playground with his friends. All lies, probably. I said this yesterday when I shared a FreakOutNation story:

 

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My friends corrected me and told me it was a Ben Stiller movie, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.”

This is what Carson said in his book Gifted Hands, just in case the right wing nutjobs try to spin it differently:

“I felt so proud, my chest bursting with ribbons and braids of every kind. To make it more wonderful, we had important visitors that day. Two soldiers who had won the Congressional Medal of Honor in Viet Nam were present,” he wrote. “More exciting to me, General William Westmoreland (very prominent in the Viet Nam war) attended with an impressive entourage. Afterward, Sgt. Hunt” — his high school ROTC director — “introduced me to General Westmoreland, and I had dinner with him and the Congressional Medal winners. Later I was offered a full scholarship to West Point.”

West Point has no record of Carson applying, and most certainly none of him being offered admission or a scholarship. They gave this response to Politico:

“In 1969, those who would have completed the entire process would have received their acceptance letters from the Army Adjutant General,” said Theresa Brinkerhoff, a spokeswoman for the academy. She said West Point has no records that indicate Carson even began the application process. “If he chose to pursue (the application process), then we would have records indicating such,” she said.

For his part, Carson says he turned down the scholarship because he wanted to be a doctor and didn’t want to dedicate four years of his life to the military. As it turns out, Carson may not have even actually met General Westmoreland??? From Politico:

Politico also requested records of Westmoreland’s schedule on the day Carson says he met with him in Detroit but, “the general’s records suggest he was in Washington that day and played tennis at 6:45 p.m.” A similar event to the one Carson described took place in February, not May.

In this video, you can see Dr. Carson challenging the American people, asking “Do you think I’m an honest person? I’ll leave it to the American people to make that decision.” Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPz-OMizNtQ

Of course, Fox manages to tie Carson’s lies into Hillary and Benghazi…unbelievable.

The American people are deciding now, Dr. Carson. Just as you suggested we should do. Drop out of this race, Dr. Carson. Now. You, sir, are a compulsive LIAR and can not be trusted to run our country.

The Donald agrees. Fark, I hate being forced to agree with The Donald on anything.

Featured image via Flickr

I had a successful career actively working with at-risk youth, people struggling with poverty and unemployment, and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. In 2011, I made the decision to pursue my dreams and become a full-time writer. Connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.