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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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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)?
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.