Ben Carson Apologizes And Makes ‘Liberal Press’ A Gay Rights Promise (Audio)

Dr. Ben Carson is in hot water yet again for his anti-gay comments. He’s just offered an apology and he’s making the “liberal press” a promise – will he keep it?

Early Wednesday morning CNN aired an interview with Dr. Ben Carson in which the retired pediatric neurosurgeon falsely claimed that prisons prove being gay is “absolutely” a choice. Those comments have been the top story on many news sites today, putting Carson, who is planning a presidential run, in hot water, yet again.

LOOK: ‘Insane’: What Experts Say About Dr. Ben Carson’s Claim That Prison Turns Men Gay

CNN’s Chris Cuomo brought up the subject of same-sex marriage, and asked Carson if being gay is a choice. “Absolutely,” Dr. Carson replied. “Because a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight — and when they come out, they’re gay. So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question,” Carson posited.

This afternoon, Carson of course was invited to speak on Sean Hannity’s radio show. 

“It was a 25 minute interview they chopped, and you see what part they emphasized,” Carson told Hannity. “I did learn something very important: For certain networks, never do a pre-taped interview. Always do it live.”

If Carson is trying to claim CNN spliced and diced the interview to take his comments out of context, he’s mistaken. Besides, in what context could his remarks be viewed as anything but offensive – and just plain wrong?

Dr. Carson also made members of the “liberal press” a promise. 

“I’m not really going to talk about that issue anymore because every time I’m gaining momentum the liberal press says, ‘Let’s talk about gay rights.’ And I’m just not going to fall for that anymore.”

Promise?

It would make life so much better for people, especially LGBTQ children and teens, to not have to hear homosexuality being compared to pedophilia and bestiality, as Carson did in March of 2013. It would make life so much better for people, especially LGBTQ children and teens, to not have to hear Carson “joke” about anti-gay bakers putting poison in wedding cakes, and then excuse it by accusing those upset of being “immature.”

Carson late this afternoon also took to Facebook to apologize.

“I realized that my choice of language does not reflect fully my heart on gay issues,” Carson writes. “I do not pretend to know how every individual came to their sexual orientation. I regret that my words to express that concept were hurtful and divisive. For that I apologize unreservedly to all that were offended.”

“I know that we are all made in God’s image, which means we are all deserving of respect and dignity,” he continues. 

Carson also goes on to advocate for unequal status and rights for LGBT people.

“I support human rights and Constitutional protections for gay people, and I have done so for many years. I support civil unions for gay couples, and I have done so for many years. I support the right of individual states to sanction gay marriage, and I support the right of individual states to deny gay marriage in their respective jurisdictions.”

In other words, separate but equal.

Where have we heard that before?

 

Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr and a CC license
Hat tip: No More Mister Nice Blog and Mediaite