Ben Carson's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
Key
Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
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Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.
Ben Carson has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.
Issue Positions
For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2016.
- "As a pediatric neurosurgeon, I took the Hippocratic Oath to "First, Do No Harm." My medical career was devoted to protecting and enhancing the lives of children and their families. Protecting innocent life is a duty consistent with that solemn oath." (www.bencarson.com)
- "There are a lot of people who say, "I agree with you. I think that it is wrong, and I would never have an abortion; but I don't feel that I have the right to impose my feelings on other people." That may be the response of many people, but suppose the abolitionists had felt that way back in the 18th and 19th centuries. Suppose they had said, "I'm not going to own any slaves. I really think that slavery is wrong, but if you want to own slaves?that's fine." If the abolitionists had had that attitude, where would we be now? We have to grapple with these great moral issues, and abortion is an important issue for our generation. You just can't stick your head in the sand." (www.freemaninstitute.com)
- "I would propose a luxury tax on very expensive items which provides an opportunity for the wealthy to pay down the national debt, since all money collected for luxury items would be directed to that purpose" (www.forbes.com)
- "We need a fairer, simpler, and more equitable tax system. Our tax form should be able to be completed in less than 15 minutes. This will enable us to end the IRS as we know it." (www.bencarson.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- "We now have a federal debt of $17 trillion, which continues to grow. The current administration proudly points out that its growing slower now than before. Such a claim makes it clear that they do not appreciate the seriousness of our spending problem. If a balloon is so full of air that is about to burst, it would be far better to begin deflating the balloon than to put just a little more air into it." (www.washingtontimes.com)
- "The important thing is that whatever we come up with, it needs to eliminate the IRS," (www.breitbart.com)
- "We need a fairer, simpler, and more equitable tax system. Our tax form should be able to be completed in less than 15 minutes. This will enable us to end the IRS as we know it." (www.bencarson.com)
- "Our education system must be run by involved parents and engaged teachers and principals. Any attempt by faceless federal bureaucrats to take over our local schools must be defeated." (www.bencarson.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- "Today is being called Earth Day. I believe everyone wants to leave our children with an environment that is better than the one we inherited. But I also believe institutions like the Environment Protection Agency of the Federal Government should be a research institution and thought leader on how to wisely use our resources and value our environment instead of the police force it has become. Government should lead not force their bureaucratic will on the people." (www.facebook.com)
- "I cannot and will not support any efforts to weaken The 2nd Amendment." (www.bencarson.com)
- "It is slavery, in a way, because it is making all of us subservient to the government...It was never about healthcare. It was about control." (www.newsmax.com)
- "We didn't need the monstrosity of the $1.2 trillion Affordable Care Act. Even after it is fully implemented for 10 years, 23 million people still won't have any health insurance." (www.bencarson.com)
- "As long as we reward people who break laws, they will continue to break laws. We do need a continual flow of immigrants, but choosers need not be beggars. We make decisions based on our needs. People who refuse to comply with the rules must forfeit chances of legalization in the future. Anyone caught involved in voter fraud should be immediately deported and have his citizenship revoked. The point is this: We must create a system that disincentivizes illegal immigration and upholds the rule of law while providing us with a steady stream of immigrants from other nations who will strengthen our society. Let's solve the problem and stop playing political football." (www.nationalreview.com)
- "Marriage is between a man and a woman. No group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality, it doesn't matter what they are. They don't get to change the definition." (mediamatters.org)
- "All options should remain on the table when dealing with international bullies such as President Putin." (www.bencarson.com)
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