Harry Reid slams Carson for Muslim comments
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid fired another broadside at the GOP presidential field Monday, saying that comments from Ben Carson that a Muslim should not be U.S. president were “disgusting” and calling on other Republicans to denounce the 2016 hopeful’s remarks.
The Nevada Democrat raised Carson’s comments as he paid tribute to U.S. Army Specialist Kareem Khan, a Muslim-American who died in 2007 fighting in the Iraq War. Flanked by a poster showing Khan’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery, Reid accused Carson of remarks that “denigrated Kareem Khan and all Muslim-Americans” and said such comments are an immediate disqualifier for the White House.
“Ben Carson questioned Muslims’ devotion to the United States. He questioned their integrity and then Ben Carson unilaterally disqualified every Muslim in America from becoming president of the United States,” Reid said Monday. “Shame on Dr. Carson. Shame on every person who spews such hateful rhetoric.”
The retired neurosurgeon stirred controversy Sunday when he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he did not believe Islam was consistent with the Constitution and that a Muslim could not serve as president, arguing: "I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation.”
In the 24 hours since, Carson – who was ranked third nationally in the latest CNN/ORC poll released Sunday – has faced considerable backlash from fellow GOP candidates and religious organizations.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has called on Carson to withdraw from the race. And though Carson’s aides have said the presidential candidate has no plans to apologize nor clarify his remarks, the comments have drawn some criticism from fellow 2016 hopefuls including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Texas Sen. Ted Cruz noted that the Constitution says there should not be a religious test for public office and "I am a constitutionalist."
The firestorm began last week when GOP front-runner Donald Trump declined to correct inaccurate assertions from an audience member in New Hampshire that President Barack Obama is a Muslim and not an American.
And later Monday, Reid piled on.
“I call upon every Republican to denounce Dr. Carson’s disgusting remarks,” Reid said. “That shameful intolerance and bigotry have no place in America today. Sadly, it seems they have a lasting place in the Republican Party.”
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