Exclusive: Carson claimed West Point 'scholarship' but never applied

Breaking on Politico.

Ben Carson admits fabricating West Point scholarship

Ben Carson’s campaign on Friday admitted, in a response to an inquiry from POLITICO, that a central point in his inspirational personal story was fabricated: his application and acceptance into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The academy has occupied a central place in Carson’s tale for years. According to a story told in Carson’s book, “Gifted Hands,” the then-17 year old was introduced in 1969 to Gen. William Westmoreland, who had just ended his command of U.S. forces in Vietnam, and the two dined together. That meeting, according to Carson’s telling, was followed by a “full scholarship” to the military academy.

West Point, however, has no record of Carson applying, much less being extended admission.

UH OH. This isn't a gaffe, this is a complete fabrication. Can we count Ben "Brian Williams" Carson out now?

The claim was made in his book Gifted Hands:

At the end of my twelfth grade I marched at the head of the Memorial Day parade. 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 soliders who had won the Congressional Medal of Honor in Viet Nam[sic] were present. More exciting to me, General William Westmoreland (very prominent in the Viet Nam war) attended with an impressive entourage. Afterward, Sgt. Hunt 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.

I didn't refuse the scholarship outright, but I let them know that a military career wasn't where I saw myself going. As overjoyed as I felt to be offered such a scholarship, I wasn't really tempted. The scholarship would have obligated me to spend four years in military after I finished college, precluding my chances to go on to medical school.

SOURCE EDIT:

Editor’s note: POLITICO stands by its reporting on this story, which has been updated to reflect Ben Carson’s on the record response. The original story and headline said that Carson’s campaign had admitted he "fabricated" a "full scholarship" from West Point, but now Carson denies that his campaign’s statement constituted such an admission, and the story and headline were changed to reflect that. POLITICO’s reporting established that Carson said he received a "full scholarship" from West Point, in writing and in public appearances over the years — but in fact he did not and there is actually no such thing as a "full scholarship" to the taxpayer-funded academy. And today in response to POLITICO he acknowledged for the first time that was not the case. Carson never explicitly wrote that he had applied for admission to West Point, although that was the clear implication of his claim to have received an offer of a "full scholarship," a point that POLITICO’s initial report should have made clear.

a reply to: theantediluvian

Sadly this would be ignored.

Carson is slowly becoming exposed as a liar and not a very decent human being.


He also admitted to plagiary

Ben Carson Issues Apology for Plagiarism in His Book

abcnews.go.com...

Dr. Ben Carson apologized today for plagiarizing parts of his 2012 book, "America the Beautiful," saying he is working with his editors to add attribution to text taken from other publications.

“I attempted to appropriately cite and acknowledge all sources in America the Beautiful, but inadvertently missed some. I apologize, and I am working with my editors to rectify the situation,” Carson said in a statement provided to ABC News.

BuzzFeed revealed earlier this week that several sections of Carson’s book were lifted from different sources including a website titled SocialismSucks.net, a CBS News article, several other online articles, and from other conservative writing

Ouch. I don't think it will be ignored. It certainly shouldn't be. This is why I pay exactly zero attention to candidates until the nominations. Let the weeds get pulled, then focus on the actual runners.

People used to say, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

In the vast speedy internet age, people just say, dont fool me, period.

Something smells like bad meat or good cheese..

I would expect Dr. Ben to be dropping out of the campaign soon.

This revelation will haunt him for even his future political aspirations.

He might as well retire to florida....

This is almost like stolen valor...... someone call Don Shipley!!!

one GOP down.
Good riddance Ben Carson!

Bye, bye, Ben.

Look we all exaggerate on resumes but it’s a line one crosses when they outright lie about something like this or plagiarizes


He, with all his self-righteousness and attempts to be extraordinary (a tough guy from the streets…genius brain surgeon [who btw has been sued 8 times for mal practice]) is a very extraordinary in one regard: he is an extraordinarily deceptive person

He’s got a lot of Obama and Hillary in him

See you later Ben

Now who will be Trumps buddy

originally posted by: ~Lucidity

Bye, bye, Ben.

I wish I could give you ten stars!

one of you're best


How about a Ben Carson Pinocchio graphic

a reply to: theantediluvian
I wish the media would of vetted Obama like they do the Republicans then we wouldn't be in the mess that we are in. No worries Carson can always get a job at NBC, they let you make things up over there.

a reply to: theantediluvian

Looks like the juicy part of the election season has finally started.

originally posted by: Enochstask
a reply to: theantediluvian
I wish the media would of vetted Obama like they do the Republicans then we wouldn't be in the mess that we are in. No worries Carson can always get a job at NBC, they let you make things up over there.

Vetting Obama, like his birth certificate controversy? The fact that he was only a community organizer before a Senator? Accusations of his involvement with the mob (because he's from Chicago of course)? But nah, the media were NEVER critical of Obama. /sarc

wow,
why did they not vet obama's book

very sorry to hear this, ben seemed like a nice guy.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t

originally posted by: Enochstask
a reply to: theantediluvian
I wish the media would of vetted Obama like they do the Republicans then we wouldn't be in the mess that we are in. No worries Carson can always get a job at NBC, they let you make things up over there.

Vetting Obama, like his birth certificate controversy? The fact that he was only a community organizer before a Senator? Accusations of his involvement with the mob (because he's from Chicago of course)?

All of what you posted and more. I doubt if the Kenyan Communist was properly vetted him and that ghoulish she male that he passes of as a wife would never be in the White House.

originally posted by: Enochstask
a reply to: theantediluvian
I wish the media would of vetted Obama like they do the Republicans then we wouldn't be in the mess that we are in. No worries Carson can always get a job at NBC, they let you make things up over there.

You see Obama is a well trained conman.

Carson should have gotten some Manchurian candidate training like Obama got before he started to run.

But of course all these lies were done a while back and nothing could cover that up.

Also, Carson doesn’t have the gift of the gab like Obama so it’s hard for him to come off eloquent so he has to lie about being an ex-tough guy to look exceptional.

The common man running for president is fine but you still need to do your homework and still be a reasonably honest guy.

You couldn't question Obama with out being called a racist.

a reply to: Stormdancer777

That's not true many progressives knew Obama was a fake and said so at the time.

Maybe a little of that (take it easy on the black guy) but not much