This is called gilding the lily
by digby
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.
“In 1969, those who would have completed the entire process would have received their acceptance letters from the Army Adjutant General,” said Theresa Brinkerhoff, a spokeswoman for the academy. She said West Point has no records that indicate Carson even began the application process. “If he chose to pursue (the application process) then we would have records indicating such,” she said.
When presented with this evidence, Carson’s campaign conceded the story was false.
“Dr. Carson was the top ROTC student in the City of Detroit,” campaign manager Barry Bennett wrote in an email to POLITICO. “In that role he was invited to meet General Westmoreland. He believes it was at a banquet. He can’t remember with specificity their brief conversation but it centered around Dr. Carson’s performance as ROTC City Executive Officer.”
“He was introduced to folks from West Point by his ROTC Supervisors,” Bennett went on. “They told him they could help him get an appointment based on his grades and performance in ROTC. He considered it but in the end did not seek admission.”
Appearing on CNBC’s online series “Speakeasy with John Harwood,” Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson defended comparing President Barack Obama to a psychopath, accusing him of lying about the unemployment rate.
“Obama, you referred to him as a psychopath,” Harwood noted. “What did you mean by that?”
“I said he reminds you of a psychopath,” Carson corrected.
“And tell me how.”
“Because they tend to be extremely smooth, charming people, who can tell a lie to your face with complete — it looks like sincerity, even though they know it’s a lie,” Carson said.
“Do you think he’s a liar?” Harwood pressed.
“Well, I think he knows full well the unemployment rate is not 5.5 percent,” Carson replied. “He knows that. He knows that people who are not well-informed will swallow it hook, line and sinker, even though they’re sitting there in the city and can’t find a job.”
So, if you combine the weird stuff he said about how he would behave in the presence of a disturbed gunman (lead others to run into the line of fire like he’s Audie Murphy), his unverified story of how he was a violent potential mad dog killer in his youth and now this fake story about getting a scholarship to West Point, Carson appears to be someone who is very insecure about his macho bona fides. (Most of his friends from school remember him as a smart nerdy kid which makes sense.)
It’s just sad since his verifiable real life story is truly great and needed no embellishment.
On the other hand he’s got a lot of nerve saying President Obama reminds him of a psychopath for “lying” about the unemployment rate.
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