Politics

Carson: Obama Can’t Identify With African-Americans Because He Was ‘Raised White’ [AUDIO]

Steve Guest Media Reporter
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Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson says President Barack Obama cannot identify with the experience of African-Americans because he was “raised white.”

In Glenn Thrush’s “Off Message” podcast, Carson said, “Many of [Obama’s] formative years were spent in Indonesia. So, for him to, you know, claim that, you know, he identifies with the experience of black Americans, I think, is a bit of a stretch.”

Thrush began by asking Carson about Obama’s inauguration: “Was that significant for you? As somebody who sat and watched that ‑‑- I was there, I was in the crowd, right? It was a pretty interesting moment in American history, right? Did you derive any joy out of that? Any sense of pride? How did you sort of ‑‑- how’d you process that?”

Carson, who was born and raised in Detroit, responded, “You know, I did not — I mean, like most Americans, I was proud that we broke the color barrier when he was elected, but I also recognize that his experience and my experience are night-and-day different. He didn’t grow up like I grew up by any stretch of the imagination.”

Thrush agreed, saying, “That’s right.” Carson added, “Not even close.” Ben Carson: ‘Enforcing Our Immigration Laws Is Not In Contradiction With Love And Kindness’

The liberal journalist responded, “He’s an ‘African’ American as opposed to an African-American.”

Carson replied, “He’s an ‘African’ American. He was, you know, raised white. Many of his formative years were spent in Indonesia. So, for him to, you know, claim that, you know, he identifies with the experience of black Americans, I think, is a bit of a stretch.”

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