Ben Carson? Shock factor or legitimate candidate?

According to a poll published in the New York Times, Ben Carson took the lead of the Republican primary voters after the last debate, edging out Donald Trump for the first time in months. A month ago, we were calling Donald Trump the “unlikely frontrunner” as he surprised political scientists and pollsters over and over again with successful GOP support.

Now, that title seems like an understatement for a retired pediatric neurosurgeon who catapulted himself into the political arena 2 years ago by criticizing President Barack Obama's policies on healthcare, taxation, and the national debt at one of the few non-political events in Washington D.C., National Prayer Breakfast while standing next to President Obama.

While the speech went viral, commentators on both sides of the political spectrum criticized Carson for his distasteful behavior and outright rudeness. But there was one viewer who both identified with Carson’s sentiments and praised his impudence: Rush Limbaugh.

Carson has had the Limbaugh seal of approval for over two years now, as the talk show host has been urging Carson to run for president since the whole charade. I should’ve known then that Carson would be a rival to Trump as the best producer of shocking and offensive quotes; yet here I am, five months into his campaign, still appalled by every ignorant thing that comes out of his mouth.

While analyzing Carson’s campaign we could point out his lack of experience in any elected office, but he has retorted that that is one of his strongest qualities as a candidate: he is not a politician. In his typical scriptural rhetoric, he said “The arc was built by amateurs while the Titanic was built by professionals.” So we can just leave that component of his campaign alone for now. We could look at his questionable relationship with Mannatech, Inc., a company that produces dietary supplements and has been the subject of several deceptive-marketing lawsuits in Texas over claims that its products could cure autism and cancer. However, the CNBC GOP Debate Moderators beat us to that punch and Carson is already trying to distance his name from the company.

Instead, let us focus on the controversial and undeniably offensive quotes that capture Carson’s platform. Running unapologetically on his faith, Carson has repeatedly highlighted his strong opinions about abortion and homosexuality. As far as republican platforms go, that is unsurprising. However, Carson has taken in about 100 steps further (and too far, for the record) by equating abortion to slavery and claiming that prison can turn you gay.

On NBC’s Meet the Press in October, Carson compared women who terminate their unwanted pregnancies to slave-owners who “thought that they had the right to do whatever they wanted to that slave.” Then on CNN Carson said that homosexuality is a choice, citing people who “go into prison straight – and when they come out, they’re gay” as proof. In response to the Oregon shooting earlier this fall and to back is gun-rights platform, Carson explained on CNN that gun control was the fatal flaw that allowed Hiller to rise to power, saying “I think the likelihood of Hitler being able to accomplish his goals would have been greatly diminished if the people had been armed,” Carson said. “There’s a reason these dictatorial people take the guns first.” 

This was not the first time Carson has utilized comparisons to the Holocaust to make a point and when he was pressed on the validity or morality of these statements he simplistically explained that he has heard members of the Jewish community make these same comparisons.

During an interview on Meet the Press in September, Carson now infamously said that a Muslim could not become the president of the United States. “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation,” he said. “I absolutely would not agree with that.” Instead of apologizing, Carson went on to explain his remarks. In order for a Muslim to become president, he said, “you have to reject the tenets of Islam.”

Where do these comments by Carson leave him in the media and the polls? Well, although late night hosts are having a field day with his quote-worthy mess ups and their material is practically writing itself, the mainstream media has not lost any respect for this radical candidate. Carson has only gotten better polling numbers and more air time with every controversial statement. From this case study and what we have seen from Rush Limbaugh, it isn't hard to come to the conclusion that the key to more press is the shock factor and sensationalism is taking over mainstream media.