Carson: 'I Didn't Go to Cocktail Parties, I Spent Nights Saving Children'
GOP candidate Dr. Ben Carson has posted a long and impassioned statement concerning his lack of political experience while running for president, noting that what he has instead is real-life, practical experience, much of which he spent saving children's lives in surgery.
"I didn't go to embassy cocktail parties or beg lobbyists for money. I spent night after night in a quiet, sterile room trying to save the life of a small child. That was my life's service. This is my life's experience," Carson wrote in a Facebook message Wednesday night concerning his career as a neurosurgeon.
"What I have is a lifetime of caring, integrity and honesty. I have experienced the American Dream. Nowhere in the world, other than America, could a man whose ancestors were slaves, rise to become a leading brain surgeon and one day seek the office of president."
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The GOP frontrunner has posted answers to several questions concerning his life and candidacy on social media, and on Wednesday chose to focus on concerns about his lack of political experience.
Carson said it's true he has not served time in office before, but reminded readers that neither had the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
"Every signer of the Declaration of Independence had no elected office experience. What they had was a deep belief that freedom is a gift from God. They had a determination to rise up against a tyrannical King. They were willing to risk all they had, even their lives, to be free," he wrote.
He went on to criticize America's current political class, arguing that it stands in the way, instead of for the people.
"They demand pensions and perks. This is not what our Founders envisioned for America. I spent my life treating very ill children. Over 15,000 times I gave my all to prolong their lives. I was blessed to do it," he said.
He added that he grew up poor and knows what it is to be "homeless and hungry."
"I also know that education and a mother's love can be the path out of dire poverty. I know what it is like to see water fountains you are not allowed to drink out of because of your skin color," he continued.
"I also know that once you peal back the skin, the brain is the same no matter what your skin color or continent you live on. I know that victimhood is a trap. I know that it is our Christian responsibility to offer those less fortunate a hand up. I know my faith is strong and my ego is small."
He repeated that while he doesn't have political experience, he has a "life journey" that has made it possible for him to relate to many different people.
"My candidacy is different, that I grant you. I have neither Donald Trump's money or Jeb Bush's political network. However, I wouldn't trade a single child I treated for all of Trump's money. While I admire the Bush family's dedication to service, I, too, served — nights, weekends, holidays, birthdays and anniversaries with severely injured patients were my public service," Carson wrote.
Trump, who for months led the Republican race, says he isn't sure why Carson is doing so well in the polls, concerning the latter's 29-23 percent lead among GOP primary voters in the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.
"I like Ben, but Ben can't do the job, I mean, there's no question about it," Trump told Fox News on Tuesday. "He's not going to be able to negotiate with China. It's not his thing. ... It's not in his wheelhouse. He's never done it before, and I don't think it's, you know, meant for him."
Carson, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, has been outspoken about his faith, and said that his success in the race is down to the "power of God."
The retired neurosurgeon said during an interview in October that he turned to prayer for advice on whether he should run for president, following which "the doors began flying open," much to the surprise of pundits who told him it's impossible.
"And yet, you see it is happening and they don't understand the power of God," Carson said of his doubters.
