Here's a shocker. After being praised as the U.S.' potential first "real black president," by Rupert Murdoch, Dr. Ben Carson finds nothing objectionable in the comment.
Last night, Rupert Murdoch caused a Twitter storm when he tweeted, “Ben and Candy Carson terrific. What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide? And much else.” When the predictable uproar erupted, Murdoch "apologized" by saying, "Apologies! No offence meant. Personally find both men charming."
Today, on CNN, Carson was asked about it by host Wolf Blitzer.
CARSON: I know Rupert Murdoch. He's not a racist by any stretch of the imagination. He's just expressing his opinion. I think it's much ado about nothing.
...Everybody’s entitled to their opinion. I believe what he was making reference to was the fact that here was a man who was a black president that the black community was very excited about who came in and whose policies have not really elevated the black community. He has not been beneficial. There’s more unemployment, more poverty, and I believe that’s what he was really referring to.
That may be what Murdoch meant but that's certainly not what he said. And he certainly did not disavow his choice of words in his apology tweet.
It's no surprise that Carson would stand by Murdoch's side. Fox News has been a staunch defender of Carson. He's also a former Fox News contributor and probably hopes to be re-employed there in the future, once his presidential run fizzles.
Watch it below, from CNN, October 8, 2015, via Think Progress.
