Michael Hernandez
22 September 2015•Update: 22 September 2015
WASHINGTON
The White House on Monday strongly rebuked Republican hopeful Ben Carson after he made controversial comments about Muslims that stoked widespread backlash.
“This is not something that's consistent with the values of the vast majority of Americans, and ironically enough, I actually do think that the views articulated by Dr. Carson are entirely inconsistent with the Constitution that does actually guarantee the freedom of religion in this country,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
“What's particularly disappointing to many observers, including me, is that we haven't seen a significant outcry from all of the other candidates in the Republican race, and it's for the same reason, because they're chasing for the same votes,” Earnest added.
Carson, the sole black GOP candidate, said Sunday that he would not support a Muslim holding the presidency.
“I absolutely would not agree with that,” he said during an interview with broadcaster NBC, arguing that Islam is not compatible with the U.S. constitution.
Carson didn't walk back his comments after they elicited sharp criticism, but he doubled down, telling the Hill newspaper that "Muslims feel that their religion is very much a part of your public life and what you do as a public official, and that's inconsistent with our principles and our Constitution."
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of religion while Article VI states “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States”.
US Muslim group calls on Carson to withdraw from prez race
Meanwhile the country’s largest Muslim civil rights group on Monday called on a Republican presidential candidate to withdraw from the race after he said he would not “advocate” having a Muslim as president."We urge politicians, general public, community leaders, presidential candidates to repudiate his views," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"We ask Mr. Ben Carson to withdraw from the presidential race because he is unfit to lead," he added during a press conference at the group's Washington headquarters. "Because his views are in contradiction with the U.S. Constitution."
Carson told NBC’s Meet the Press a day earlier that he would not be comfortable with a Muslim in the Oval Office.
“I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation,” Carson said. “I absolutely would not agree with that.”
In an interview with The Hill newspaper later in the day, he said he doesn't believe Sharia is consistent with the Constitution. Sharia is the legal system for those living under Islamic rule.
Awad said he, very much like many American Muslims, was shocked by Carson’s remarks.
He noted that the Republican candidate should be reminded of Article VI of the U.S. Constitution.
"The Constitution of the United States clearly says that 'No religious test shall be ever required as a qualification to any office or a public trust under the United States.’ This cannot be misunderstood. This is a clear language to all Americans and to all generations," he added.
Awad also urged all Americans to learn Islam from its original source, the Qur'an, and announced that the organization will deliver copies of the Qur'an to all presidential candidates.
"We will be sending one of the Qur’ans to Mr. Carson so that he can read for himself that Islam is consistent with American values," he said.
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of religion while Article VI states “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States”.
