Dr. Ben Carson's position on gun control

[CPUd]

Its been pretty clear for the past year or so that SOME organization is behind pushing straw poll votes for him. IIRC they even bussed them in at some of them that have been reported. The question is WHO has been organizing it?

It is AFP or whoever organized the town hall shout downs in 2009.

 

[Massachusetts]

The conversation should start and end with how we are going to expose Dr. Carson's weaknesses to help Rand. And his position on guns, whether perceived or reality is definitely a weakness in the primary.

 

[CPUd]

The conversation should start and end with how we are going to expose Dr. Carson's weaknesses to help Rand. And his position on guns, whether perceived or reality is definitely a weakness in the primary.

We don't. The other campaigns will do a good job of that.

 

[CaptUSA]

The conversation should start and end with how we are going to expose Dr. Carson's weaknesses to help Rand. And his position on guns, whether perceived or reality is definitely a weakness in the primary.

No. That is where this conversation should end. We should not be in the business of exposing the weaknesses of our potential allies. Trust me, the other campaigns will do this just fine. The conversation we should be having - which many of you still fail to grasp - is how we can build a bridge with the supporters of Dr. Carson. Let Rand Paul be their second choice. Help them to see that if Carson were to drop out, the next best thing in their minds would be Rand Paul.

Think. Don't be stupid.

 

[Massachusetts]

No. That is where this conversation should end. We should not be in the business of exposing the weaknesses of our potential allies. Trust me, the other campaigns will do this just fine. The conversation we should be having - which many of you still fail to grasp - is how we can build a bridge with the supporters of Dr. Carson. Let Rand Paul be their second choice. Help them to see that if Carson were to drop out, the next best thing in their minds would be Rand Paul.

Think. Don't be stupid.

How is it stupid? You don't win elections by trying to be everybody's friend. Mitt Romney sure didn't try to be everybody's friend. Especially when everybody is going to be gunning for Rand regardless...

Ben Carson doesn't have enough true support to justify "befriending" him.

 

[jmdrake]

How is it stupid? You don't win elections by trying to be everybody's friend. Mitt Romney sure didn't try to be everybody's friend. Especially when everybody is going to be gunning for Rand regardless...

So....your answer to "everybody gunning for Rand" is to attack the one person that isn't, and most likely won't be "gunning for Rand"? And when Ben Carson inevitably drops out of the race, if Rand follows your "Let's stop Ben Carson at all costs" strategy, where are Ben's supporters likely to go? I'm glad you brought up Romney. Ron should have spent more time attacking him and less time attacking other candidates. When the other candidates dropped out, Ron did not pick up their supporters.

Ben Carson doesn't have enough true support to justify "befriending" him.

Then he doesn't have enough true support to justify attacking him either. In fact that makes attacking him even less smart. You would get no electoral support and you would just increase your own negatives.

 

[CaptUSA]

When the other candidates dropped out, Ron did not pick up their supporters.

Also interesting to note is that Ron Paul was nobody's second choice. It was either their first choice or he was unacceptable. And there were many of his supporters that wanted it that way. Go back and look through the threads... Too many people were caught up in "Ron Paul is the only choice". While that was certainly true, it didn't help that we then went on to attacking every other candidate relentlessly. The supporters of those other candidates resented the "Ron Paul folks" and would never join them. Period.

If you want to win, you have to make Rand Paul an acceptable alternative to people's candidate of choice. That is an easy thing to do with a candidate like Carson. There are so many parallels and opportunities.

If, by a nearly impossible chance, it came down to Carson and Paul, then you could go after the differences. In the meantime, try to understand his appeal. Then, maybe you will be able to work with his supporters instead of against them.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Carson on Ebola and gun control.

 

[jmdrake]

Carson on Ebola and gun control.

Thanks for posting this. While I personally have no intention of ever running for anything, I'm glad I've had a chance to hash my ideas out without being under the spotlight of "Are you considering running for X"? I totally disagree with the "smart gun" idea. Here's why. Anything that is computer controlled can be hacked. On of the technologies in Star Trek is the ability of the ships captain to send out a command to disable all phasers on ship. The NSA forced major phone carriers to give them backdoors for spying and they were threatened not to let their customers know about it. Say if the BATF pushes gun manufacturers in the same direction? Plus with the greater ability of home manufacturing people are just going to CNC their own "ghostguns" anyway if such invasive technology becomes widespread. And do I want to be thumbscanned every time I use my gun? Will that data be recorded to the gun or broadcast elsewhere? I'm sure that's the kind of data law enforcement would like to have so if thumbscanning became a part of firearm ownership and usage then privacy concerns are going to immediately come into play. That said, I really feel for Dr. Carson here. He hasn't said anything that I haven't thought about while transitioning from pro gun control to pro second amendment.

 

[Massachusetts]

So, he backpedaled on his previous comment initially, then doubled down. has the same position on smart technology that Eric Holder has. Great.

Seems to me the guy doesn't have principled views. I imagine that is going to get much worse if he runs for President. Seems like a panderer.