As it stands, 17 Republican candidates are currently vying for the party’s nomination for President of the United States. With a field this large, it can sometimes be difficult for the average voter to keep track of each candidate’s platform and qualifications. Because of this, I will be writing a series of articles focusing on each candidate’s political stances and life stories over the course of the next several weeks. Last week, I wrote about Senator Marco Rubio. This week, I will be discussing retired pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson.
Arguably the greatest strength of Carson’s campaign is found in his powerful life story. Carson was raised by his single mother, Sonya, who instilled upon him a deep sense of personal responsibility and hard work. His mother, who was a third-grade dropout, was determined for her sons, Ben and Curtis, to have a brighter future than she was afforded. This persistence paid off for Ben when he was granted acceptance to Yale University to pursue a degree in Psychology. Ultimately, Carson would graduate from the University of Michigan’s School of Medicine, and become the director of pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins hospital. His greatest medical achievement to date is being the first physician to separate twins who were conjoined at the head. Both twins survived, and Carson gained international recognition for his medical prowess.
As a guest speaker at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, Carson became a leading Republican voice by criticizing the Affordable Care Act with President Obama in attendance. A month later, he announced his retirement from the field of medicine, and would soon be hired by Fox News as a political contributor. After releasing two books, the first of which was titled “America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great,” Carson solidified his presence on the national stage. Republicans have consistently praised Carson for his commitment to conservative ideals and unflappable personality.
In May, Carson announced his official bid to become President of the United States. Carson’s supporters cite his lack of history in public office as his greatest strength. By not having direct affiliations with special interest groups and lobbyists, Carson does not fall victim to crony capitalism and can instead make decisions based on conscience.
Carson recently participated in the Fox News Republican Debate along with his fellow candidates who were, at the time, ranked in the top 10 in the national polls. Carson, who arguably delivered the most powerful closing remarks of all the candidates, saw a sharp rise in the poll. Along with Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, he saw a significant increase in his presidential stock.
In terms of social issues, Carson has perhaps gained most national recognition for his views on civil rights and health care. As an African American, Carson is uniquely positioned to tackle civil rights issues. Growing up as a minority in inner city Detroit, Carson has a perspective that is unlike any other Presidential hopeful, Republican or Democrat. Likewise, as a retired physician, he has a perspective on health care that is also unlike any of the other contenders from either party. In this growing field of Republican candidates, Carson is formulating his niche as a thoughtful and uniquely experienced contender.
