I'd like to see that quote sourced. Not that I'd put it past him, it just looks too ridiculous to be real.

The West Point thing is such a bullshit issue. As an academy grad (USNA) and someone who was recruited to a service academy, this sounds plausible. I met with Commanders and even a retired Rear Admiral who promised me admission. They all, to a man, pumped up the idea that I wouldn't have to pay a dime for college. Once I accepted I told everyone at school that I got a full ride scholarship to the Naval Academy. I had no clue why that statement made no sense until I actually got there.

It makes sense that he thought he was being promised a scholarship to USMA. He was in ROTC, a top performer, smart (on some topics), and would have been in contact with military officers regularly.

As Politico notes:

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/be...int-215598

Quote:Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson on Friday conceded that he never applied nor was granted admission to West Point and attempted to recast his previous claims of a full scholarship to the military academy — despite numerous public and written statements to the contrary over the last few decades.

West Point has occupied a central place in Carson’s personal story for years. According to a tale told in his 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 the offer of 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 by POLITICO with these facts, Carson’s campaign conceded he never applied.

What politician isn't a bullshitter?  He's just pissed that he got caught.


So quickly.

I'm sure they are diving deeply into the rest of his life.

As a veteran, it offends me that he wants to glom onto service coattails.

It's nice that you were deemed smart enough to attend USMA. If you didn't feel like doing just that, why are you plumping the offer?

If you didn't wear the uniform, don't wear the pride.

(November 6, 2015 at 7:53 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: I'd like to see that quote sourced. Not that I'd put it past him, it just looks too ridiculous to be real.

Particularly, since it is possible to source statements like this one:

""You know Obamacare is really I think the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery. And it is in a way, it is slavery in a way, because it is making all of us subservient to the government, and it was never about health care. It was about control."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-a-p...73558.html

(November 6, 2015 at 7:53 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: I'd like to see that quote sourced.

Which ridiculous quote would you like sourced?

Again, one doesn't have to apply to be offered or promised an appointment to a service academy.

I hadn't even considered the Naval Academy when a Blue and Gold Officer approached me. I was recruited, and told I would get an appointment having never even seen an application, much less filled out or submitted one.

There are no such things as scholarships to service academies. Its free. When you are being recruited or are applying, your blue and gold officer speaks in language that any 17 year old understands. They use terms like 'guaranteed scholarships' and 'full ride.'

You actually get paid a small allowance because you cannot have a job while you're attending. The repayment is 5 years of contracted service after graduating.

This is a story that is a guy 20 years ago making an unresearched statement and Politico made a mountain out of a mole hill.

My concern is that bogus stories like this one are going to take away from the actual things that make this man woefully unqualified for office and call into question his integrity.

(November 6, 2015 at 8:30 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: As a veteran, it offends me that he wants to glom onto service coattails.

It's nice that you were deemed smart enough to attend USMA. If you didn't feel like doing just that, why are you plumping the offer?

If you didn't wear the uniform, don't wear the pride.

That would be a story line I could get behind.

Quote:This is a story that is a guy 20 years ago making an unresearched statement and Politico made a mountain out of a mole hill.

Politico did not tell him to put it in his book.  All they did was check it out and find him lying. 

It really doesn't matter to me - there is no republicunt alive that I would consider voting for - but you've got to love the conservatard shits who think this guy is so fucking honest and real.

He's no better than Trump.

 “You know Obamacare is really I think the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery. And it is in a way, it is slavery in a way, because it is making all of us subservient to the government, and it was never about health care. It was about control.”
Ben Carson, a vote against slavery.

(November 6, 2015 at 9:52 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: Again, one doesn't have to apply to be offered or promised an appointment to a service academy.

I hadn't even considered the Naval Academy when a Blue and Gold Officer approached me. I was recruited, and told I would get an appointment having never even seen an application, much less filled out or submitted one.

There are no such things as scholarships to service academies. Its free. When you are being recruited or are applying, your blue and gold officer speaks in language that any 17 year old understands. They use terms like 'guaranteed scholarships' and 'full ride.'

You actually get paid a small allowance because you cannot have a job while you're attending. The repayment is 5 years of contracted service after graduating.

This is a story that is a guy 20 years ago making an unresearched statement and Politico made a mountain out of a mole hill.

My concern is that bogus stories like this one are going to take away from the actual things that make this man woefully unqualified for office and call into question his integrity.

And yet Westmoreland wasn't in Detroit in May. Doesn't that disconnection speak to the integrity of the claimant?