SOUTH CAROLINA NATIVE AT THE HEART OF CANDIDATE’S ONGOING IMPLOSION
Two months ago, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson‘s 2016 presidential campaign was flying high.
According to an aggregate polling compiled by Real Clear Politics, he had overtaken frontrunner Donald Trump in early-voting Iowa. In fact he was poised to open up a double-digit lead in the critical midwestern bellwether – leading Trump by nearly nine points in early November.
Meanwhile in early-voting South Carolina, Carson had climbed into a statistical dead heat with “The Donald” – trailing him by a little over two percentage points.
All of a sudden the brash-talking frontrunner was on the ropes … with the soft-spoken Carson seemingly offering “Republican” voters the alternative many of them had been looking for.
Right around that time, though, Carson’s campaign was rocked by reports that he fabricated portions of his personal narrative. Since then, Carson has been free falling … “out into nothing,” as Tom Petty might say. Err, sing.
After pulling even with Trump in national polling the first week of November, Carson has since cratered. His support among the GOP electorate has plummeted from 24.8 percent all the way down to 8.8 percent – dropping him from first to fourth place in the race.
He’s also now under ten percent support in Iowa and New Hampshire – and falling.
Earlier this week, Carson’s candidacy seemed to veer even further off the rails when his campaign manager and nearly two dozen staffers abruptly resigned. Two of the top resigning officials cited issues with conservative commentator Armstrong Williams, one of Carson’s closest business and political advisors.
A South Carolina native, Williams is no stranger to controversy.
A decade ago, he was paid $240,000 (in undisclosed taxpayer money) by former president George W. Bush‘s administration to promote the “No Child Left Behind” law. Specifically, Williams was hired “to promote the law on his nationally syndicated television show and to urge other black journalists to do the same.”
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) later concluded these payments were illegal.
Prior to that, Williams – a social conservative who has repeatedly lashed out against homosexuals – was sued by one of his former employees for sexual harassment. The male employee – Stephen Gregory – alleged that Williams repeatedly groped him and tried to have sex with him on business trips. When Gregory refused, Williams allegedly retaliated by cutting his pay and eventually terminating his position.
That case was settled out of court.
Carson has attempted to distance himself from Williams in recent months.
“Armstrong is an independent agent,” he said during an Alabama event in mid-November. “He happens to be a friend of mine. He has nothing to do with the campaign. Nothing formal.”
Hmmmm …
Despite his collapsing public support and questionable political associations, Carson’s campaign continues to rake in big money. According to Politico, Carson raised $23 million during the fourth quarter of 2015 – one-upping an impressive $20 million haul by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.
Unfortunately for Carson, his organizations is blowing through money at a prodigious clip – spending more than half of what it took in during the third quarter of the race.
98 comments
I used to think he was exceptionally smart, then he decided he wanted to be a politician.
He was an excellent neurosurgeon, but his surgeon’s ego drove him into the realm of politics, where he was exposed as a buffoon. End of story.
A gifted neurosurgeon could never be a buffoon. Your comment is oxymoronic. Thus, you are a moron.
Of course he can! There is no inherent connection between a person being able to learn medicine and being skilled with his hands and that same person having sensible political and religious views. The two areas are entirely disparate and have nothing in common.
When Carson was in the OR it didn’t MATTER that he thought that prison turns you gay or that the pyramids were used to store grain, among other far-out beliefs he has. When we are vetting a prospective president, those things DO matter. Carson comes across as a buffoon in the political realm.
“far-out beliefs”…as in it was all about a video, that’s even worse, thinking the electorate are buffoons. You can’t fool all the people all the time but some buffoons in politics think they can.
You are REALLY straining here.
Not straining at all, calling them like I see them. Other than guns or apportions there’s not a dimes worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats. I love that line from Hunt for Red October…it goes something like, when we’re not kissing babies we’re stealing their lollipops.
my favorite line from that movie: “Son, a Russkie doesn’t take a dump without a plan”! Classic!
When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12
billion to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater,
on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below
freezing to 300 C.
The Russians used a pencil.
I saw one of those pens on Seinfeld once.
I’ve owned two of them — the short ones that look like an elongated capsule — they were excellent for carrying in the watch pocket in jeans — they could be ordered from the manufacturer in Arizona or New Mexico in a variety of styles, and they may still be available —
Makes you love the military industrial complex doesn’t it ?
The space shuttle went into orbit for a fifteen month mission. This was a joint mission of America, Russia, and Japan. Each astronaut was allowed to take with him a maximum of 125 pounds of personal possessions. The American took 125 pounds of Yuengling beer; the Russian took 125 pounds of Cuban cigars; and the Japanese took his 100 pound wife. Upon returning the American was looking and feeling mellow; the Japanese and his wife were carrying a ten pound baby boy; and the Russian was screaming – “Has anybody got a damn match?”
On some air bases the Air Force is on one side of the field and civilian aircraft use the other side of the field, with the control tower in the middle.
One day the tower received a call from an aircraft asking, “What time is it?” The tower responded, “Who is calling?” The aircraft replied, “What
difference does it make?” The tower replied “It makes a lot of difference.
1) If you are an American Airlines flight, it is 3 o’clock.
2) If you are an Air Force plane, it is 1500 hours.
3) If you are a Navy aircraft, it is 6 bells.
4) If you are an Army aircraft, the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 3.
5) If you are a Marine Corps aircraft, it’s Thursday afternoon and 120 minutes to “Happy Hour.”
A student Marine pilot became lost during a solo cross-country flight. While
attempting to locate the aircraft on radar, ATC asked, “What was your last
known position?”
Student: “When I was number one for takeoff.”
Speaking of airports in Germany, the one servicing the Hamburg area is known to be staffed by a rather snooty ground control crew. They expect you to know exactly where to go and what to do, which may lead to frustration on the part of aircraft captains new to the route. This is the account of one such flight in
particular, concerning a senior captain …
“Tower, British Airways one-seven, completed rollout, awaiting further
instructions.”
“British Airways one-seven, this is Hamburg ground, clear to taxi to Gate Seven.”
“Roger, Hamburg ground, request directions to Gate Seven.”
“British Airways one-seven, have you never been to Hamburg before?”
“Yes, a number of times, Hamburg ground, in 1944, but we did not
stop!”
” Other than guns or abortions there’s not a dimes worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats”
This is what ignorant people who do not know history or follow politics say.
“ignorant”, “buffoon”…well aren’t you the intellectual. Here’s some history for you…Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms. ~ Aristotle
Try following politics without a jaundice eye, it took both Republicans and Democrats to achieve the $18.8 Trillion National Debt.
The two parties are very, VERY different at this point. Lumping them together is lazy, shallow, and inaccurate.
No they aren’t, they are both trying to control their own destiny. At present they play to the fringes and then move to the middle to win the White House. They play on emotions of people (guns and abortions) and accuse the other side of not following the Constitution.
The politics are not different, the government continues to increase in size as the debt raises.
Your use of lazy, shallow and inaccurate, speak volumes. If you think, “The two parties are very, VERY different at this point.” try reading Madison, Hamilton and Jay.
You think you are very, very smart, don’t you?
I am a complete IDIOT!!! I owe you an apology however.Republicans and Democrats ARE different on the following issues:
1.Tax policy
2.Social issues
3.Labor and free trade issues
4.Health care
5.Social programs
6.Foreign policy
7.energy issues
8.education
9.crime and punishment
10.liberty and individual rights
Here is the deal.The MSM,elitists and the secular culture hate Christians in our society today.If a political candidate wears his/her Christian faith on their ‘sleeves’ today as the base of their political campaign they will be destroyed.
It would have been safer and politically smarter for Carson to run as a radical Islamist terrorist.The same whimpering victim hood lunatics that elected Obama would have fallen right in line.
This is a rather simplistic analysis for someone so “smart”.
I am a simplistic idiot.
All I can think of is that your account has been hijacked. In any case, I will not be responding further to you.
There are two idcydums right now. One’s a Troll (the one above) the other is real. The flag avatars are different. The troll seems to be Flip/Pogo/etc/etc/etc.
So is the user name.
I gathered that from the sudden shift in tone. It’s happened to me too. Very annoying.
You are a lying POS. Fuck you.
I am a gay buffoon but know what I am talking about.They both hold national political conventions and that proves they are the same.
I have no idea what this cryptic comment is supposed to mean.
I don’t either.
You are defeating me intellectually so I go into full blown insane mode.
You do seem to have some kind of mental or emotional issue, yes.
Did you watch Stanford beat Iowa? I just hope Dr.Phil ain’t on reruns Monday.
Obama believed the seas would stop rising and recede if elected and that climate change caused ISIS.Who is dumber-Carson or the Kenyan Clown?
My goodness, you are really out in the weeds, aren’t you?
I don’t smoke weed,kid.
Have you ever been around doctors? 90% of them are the nerdiest and strangest people you’ve ever been around. It’s not surprising to me that Carson turned out to be a nutjob.
One look at their handwriting on prescriptions will make you wonder how they even made it through college.
Trump was an excellent
neurosurgeonbusinessman/TV personality, but hissurgeon’sbizz/TV ego drove him into the realm of politics, where he was exposed as a buffoon. End of story.Bible Thumper was an excellent poster but Haley drove him into insanity where he was exposed as a liberal.End of story.
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Yet, Trump is leading all over the place.
What do you have to say about that, besides another stupid comment?
Oh wait. That’s all you do LMFAO!!!!
“Yet, Trump is leading all over the place.”
So was Carson, two months ago. Opinion polls mean nothing. No one has received any votes yet.
Trump has been leading since the beginning of this presidential race.
Nice try though. Silly little socialists like you are very entertaining to mock.
Your mocking for entertainment puts you in bad company.
Luke 22:63-65
Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him, and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?” And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming.
Thats an adorable little faerie tale quote.
Too bad your god is, well you know, fake LOL!!!
Mocking religious fanatics is also very entertaining.
So not only are you a deadbeat socialist. Youre also a brainwashed cultist.
How does it feel to be a massive failure? XD
There are many things in the bible that the leading world historians and archaeologists dispute, but that one I quoted is not one of them. Atheist and believers alike who are experts don’t challenge the authenticity of those verses.
It is you who are the uneducated one who disputes the best and most knowledgeable experts. You choose to live with faerie[sic] tales. Most experts in history and archaeology would agree that you are the fanatic. Your veiws are the extreme ones, not mine.
Good old proverbial “don’t quit your day job” applies to him.
Ben Carson is too nice to be an effective politician, he can’t make himself get down into the gutter.
“Prior to that, Williams – a social conservative who has repeatedly lashed out against homosexuals – was sued by one of his former employees for sexual harassment. The male employee – Stephen Gregory – alleged that Williams repeatedly groped him and tried to have sex with him on business trips. When Gregory refused, Williams allegedly retaliated by cutting his pay and eventually terminating his position.”
LMAO!!!! Sounds like a Lindsey man!
Hear that, listen carefully, there it goes again
There is absolutely nothing that matches up to the sound of a 9 1/2D Cole Haan Connolly Wing Tip Shoe sole sharing the same space with a Cockroach
Fuckin’ Cockroaches
Jim, several days ago I gave you an up vote on my reply to you about “liking your style” which is in reference to your writing style. But today I question if it is stylish for you to be wearing those shoes while in your bib coveralls?
Only wear the wing tips while showering
The two-tones with the white tips?
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4okf……
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marylgreggs must like you.
??? – who is she
Same avitar, but changed her name to Geneva Patterson. How did she do that? I copy pasted it.
ok – never notice them
melting down like a chocolate Easter Bunny …..
Now that is ???????, I know the word but can’t think of it, wait a minute I see it coming around on the tapes now, funny
Carson has lied repeatedly about Williams’ connection to his campaign, and has now hired a full-on evangelical whack-job in Dees to run things for him. What could possibly go (more) wrong?
I had high hopes for Carson but didn’t capitalize on his popularity before the attacks started. He’ll make a good VP or Secretary of HHS for the final Republican Nominee. At this point it’s really down to three; Trump, Cruz and Rubio. The rest need to get out as quickly as possible in order to the show on the road. Iowa is in 29 days, this is about to start getting really interesting really quick.
Why would you have high hopes for a black presidential candidate in the GOP.
The party is made up of WASP’s and lots of racist bigots and infantile narcissists.
as opposed to the other party which is made up of of lots guilt ridden whites and anti-white bigots with their hands outs?
You’re the racist bigot, why do you feel the need to label everyone by the color of their skin?
I label you by your avatar. I label myself because I am Chinese.
An extremely intelligent and likable person who was a victim of his political naivete.
His inexperience in foreign affairs coupled with a few gaffes earlier in the year has relegated him to scrap heap of Presidential hopefuls.
He has the credentials to be considered for an appointment within a Republican administration.
Carson has tanked since San Bernardino. No national security experience. No wacky solutions like Trump is offering to the Teaparty, libertarian and the “let’s kick Mexican and Muslim ass” types.
Joe Biden got there as VP because:
— Biden remarks to Obama every morning how handsome he looks today.
— Biden promised to have a red light implanted on his forehead that turns on every time he is about to say something stupid.
— Biden helped with voters who don’t speak English.
— Biden has a copy of Obama’s college transcripts.
— Biden promised to eat fish three times a week to improve brain function.
He was a victim of his ego and pridefulness.
Credentials for anything other than surgeon general?
He would make a great Surgeon General. There he could use his knowledge to make America great again.
I think they were going for the female evangelical he’s better looking than Obama vote
Ben Carson never had a chance. I think it’s borderline retarded that his party actually believed that he did. Good for him, can’t wait to see him fall back into mediocrity.
You post on a blog, using an anonymous name, and dare to insult a man of accomplishment such as Dr. Carson.
You are crap. Truly, a piece of crap
Carson is a fucking moron who is being used by Armstrong as a clueless cash cow. You’re just a sucker…an anonymous one at that!
Your mother
i know! there are tons of “borderline retarded” neurosurgeons!
Can’t figure out if some of these wanabe intellectuals are trying to put Carson down to their level or raise themselves up to his.
No. but there are a lot of “borderline retarded” voters who believe being a neurosurgeon is a prerequisite to be President. He doesn’t have a coherent solution to fix any problems. Except prayer. Yeah, that’ll work just pray your way out of everything.
One flew over the cuckoo’s nest
one of my favorite movies …
Dear Wil Folks, ….think for a second. Your points in this article seem evident. Now, if you were advising Carson, what would you advise him to do to counter this negative “breeze”? Furthermore, what are the chances that Mr. Trumps campaign will not suffer the same associated “tactics” at the appropriate time? How would you, Mr. Folks, warn Trump to overcome these tactics before they occur?
Mr Folks ….your a smart man. Read this article here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_ITALY_TOXIC_DUMPING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-02-11-20-11
How would you advise Ben Carson or Donald Trump to hold Hillary Clinton and Tim Scott accountable for such coordinated informational “dumping”..? Think for a second Mr. Folks…how many of your readers would look where DoD and Navy installations are located in Naples Italy? (Airport, Greciano….etc.) Dare to wonder what information NAVFAC has on the history of air and water quality around the bases that our troops are stationed at..? Dare to wonder what information Tim Scott had privy too when he sat on Charleston County Council concerning landfills and Methane Tapping and Plasma Gasification solutions? How would Carson or Trump triangulate this info between Hillary Clinton, Tim Scott and the comment section of FITSNEWS to attack the MSM…?
Mr. Folks…..a campaign meltdown mode may just be the right “recipe” for a SC counter attack….! Wonder how much energy is in YOUR trash that you and you family are not getting paid for…or your very readers?
Wonder if Trump or Carson knows…?
Wil……..you may want to pick up your phone and call Nancy Mace and Mark Sanford…….! Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Chris
Dear Ben Carson campaign operatives and Nancy Mace,
When campaign operatives analyze the media metrics associated with articles such as these, how do they use them to weigh an anchor tied to a campaign ship? How was an anchor used by a pirate ship in a Johnny Depp movie to pivot a ship into attack position…?
Just for thought……lets say that Wil Folks is exactly 100% right about the Carson campaign implosion, how would Carson use an “implosional quit” tactic to garner heavy media exposure for a political counter event? Is this not the same tactics used by Trump to ensure free media exposure? How would a Carson media event three nights before the Iowa Caucus be used to question the MSM coverage of Rubio, Cruze, Clinton and Sanders to chime a Carson voter bell..?
Maybe Trump can sponsor a bell for Carson to ring at Midnight similar to a ball drop…?
I saw Nancy Mace’s name mentioned on a website associated with the Trump campaign in SC.
uhhhhhh, what?
Fans of Hee Haw.
With an imbecile like Armstrong Williams, a la Jim Clyburn, as an advisor his campaign should be imploding. Both of these flunkies owe their success to ass kissing abilities. They are a gross embarrassment to the black community. How they graduated from high school then a black college is a miracle.
Armstrong Williams fires his employee. Surprise! surprise! Then the employee decides to sue. That’s an old story. Since Williams is the defendant and the employee has no wealth for a counter-suit, he settles for a fee that is cheaper and less publicity than a court case. Williams could win the suit against himself, but that just means he doesn’t have to payout. He still has to pay the lawyers. Even a lawsuit Williams wins can do a public figure great harm. His radio employers and sponsors could get scared away. Williams other employees and coworkers backed Williams story that it never happened and their were no other accusers.
When did a gay person ever have to harass? Can’t you just go to the interstate rest stop or online. OK, I’m sure it happens, but how often. It’s just like Will’s story about Haley. When has more powerful women public figure been exposed having an affair with a disgraced less powerful and poorer man. Catherine the Great? Cleopatra? Name one in American history. Just one that has been accepted by historians or mainstream media as true. Their has been examples of gay harassment, but it always seems to be after he has been fired or in some other way harmed and used as a way of getting back, like women who never claimed their husbands physically abused them or their child until their husband asks for a divorce. The Christian radio host up in Greenville who was cleared recently is an example. Christian public figures are particularly vulnerable to these type of accusations can do them more harm even if false.
Remember the lies told about McCain having a black child out of wedlock or the recent lies told about Sen. Rubio having a mistress and illegitimate children. These are types of scummy stories that Fitnews peddles to the sheeple like corruptionincolumbia who believe he is legitimate journalist.
Clemson beat FSU
Gamecocks beat Memphis, 13 – 0, but haven’t caught up to 14 – 0 Clemson, yet.
Both schools picked up big football commits today.
WHERE IS THE SPORTS STORY?
Chuc Mai Chin (Will’s Chinese intern) is holding back her reporting until Will allows her to cover the international Ping Pong tournaments …..
I don’t think he ever wanted to be president. I think he wanted to sell more books and become more famous. His campaign was a train wreck the minute it left the station. I’m surprised it lasted so long.
I prefer Bernie Sanders as a communist.Carson is a Christian and I prefer radicak Isalmists like our President Obama.
It doesn’t matter that Armstrong may be in the closet.
What matters if you are doing business with him is that he is a known grifter – as suspected for decades by many and as proven by the Bush deal.
Does not speak well of Ben’s judgement of friends or business managers.
Shit, and I was really hoping to build a few grain silo pyramids during my presidency.