Politico hit piece on Ben Carson West Point application fact-checked, declared ‘Pants on Fire’
This is why we refer to the so-called “mainstream media” as the “Democrat-media complex.”
On Friday, Politico breathlessly reported that GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson admitted that he lied when he applied to West Point. Here’s a screenshot of their headline as of this writing:
The article claimed:
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
The academy has occupied a central place in Carson’s tale for years. According to a story told in Carson’s 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 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 with these facts, Carson’s campaign conceded the story was false.
“Dr. Carson was the top ROTC student in the City of Detroit,” campaign manager Barry Bennett wrote in an email to POLITICO. “In that role he was invited to meet General Westmoreland. He believes it was at a banquet. He can’t remember with specificity their brief conversation but it centered around Dr. Carson’s performance as ROTC City Executive Officer.”
“He was introduced to folks from West Point by his ROTC Supervisors,” Bennett added. “They told him they could help him get an appointment based on his grades and performance in ROTC. He considered it but in the end did not seek admission.”
There’s only one problem. The story isn’t true. As usual, it required the efforts of the alternative conservative media to set things straight.
Here’s what Carson actually wrote:
“I felt so proud, my chest bursting with ribbons and braids of every kind. To make it more wonderful, we had important visitors that day. Two soldiers who had won the Congressional Medal of Honor in Viet Nam were present. More exciting to me, General William Westmoreland (very prominent in the Viet Nam war) attended with an impressive entourage. Afterward, Sgt. Hunt” — his high school ROTC director — “introduced me to General Westmoreland, and I had dinner with him and the Congressional Medal winners. Later I was offered a full scholarship to West Point.
I didn’t refuse the scholarship outright, but I let them know that a military career wasn’t where I saw myself going. As overjoyed as I felt to be offered such a scholarship, I wasn’t really tempted. The scholarship would have obligated me to spend four years in military service after I finished college, precluding my chances to go on to medical school. I knew my direction – I wanted to be a doctor, and nothing would divert me or stand in the way.”
An article at Freedom Outpost notes:
It goes on from there, but clearly he never said he applied nor was accepted. Being offered something does not equate to applying for a scholarship nor being accepted to West Point. Though flattered, he pursued college rather than West Point.
Ben Shapiro added:
But Carson never said he applied. He said he was extended a full scholarship offer. What’s more, West Point doesn’t offer scholarships: all admission is free contingent on serving in the military afterwards. It thus seems probable that Westmoreland or another military figure tried to recruit Carson, telling him that he wouldn’t have to pay for his education – and that Carson read that as a “full scholarship,” and never applied.
Carson’s campaign manager tried to set the record straight in an email but Politico spun that as well. Here’s the email:
Dr. Carson was the top ROTC student in the City of Detroit. In that role he was invited to meet General Westmoreland. He believes it was at a banquet. He can’t remember with specificity their brief conversation but it centered around Dr. Carson’s performance as ROTC City Executive Officer. He was introduced to folks from West Point by his ROTC Supervisors. They told him they could help him get an appointment based on his grades and performance in ROTC. He considered it but in the end did not seek admission.
Here’s how Politico spun it: “When presented with this evidence, Carson’s campaign conceded the story was false.”
Shapiro added:
That’s nonsense. They did no such thing. They provided details that corroborated Carson’s story and explained his loose use of the language. If someone told you that you could go to college for free, you might reasonably conclude that you had been offered a full scholarship to attend that university. But Politico would call you a liar if you used such language to describe the exchange.
In other words, Politico put out a hit piece and simply twisted the facts to fit their template.
Again — this is why we call it the “Democrat-media complex,” and the reason so many no longer trust the media.
H/T Freedom Outpost
Related:
- Majority of Americans agree with Ben Carson, say a Muslim should not be president
- Gay sex columnist Dan Savage to Ben Carson: ‘Suck my d**k’
- Ben Carson called racist after saying a Muslim shouldn’t be president
- Yes, Virginia, there is a Democrat-media complex
- Majority of voters view media as biased and unethical
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