CNN's Alisyn Camerota badgered and lectured Armstrong Williams, Ben Carson's business manager, on Monday's New Day over the Republican presidential candidate's Sunday statement that he "would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation." Camerota quoted Article VI of the U.S. Constitution regarding religious tests for public office, and contended that "Dr. Carson's belief system violates that part of the Constitution." She later accused the neurosurgeon of having a double standard regarding religion's role in public life. [video below]
The morning newscast's anchor led into her interview of Williams by playing a clip of Dr. Carson's statement from Sunday's Meet the Press. She first asked, "What was Dr. Carson thinking when he was saying that a Muslim cannot be president of the U.S.?" The guest answered, in past, by noting that the candidate "understands that there are tenets of Islam that hates (sic) Jews; will kill homosexuals...It may have been an unconvenient (sic) truth, but it is the truth."
Camerota immediately countered, "You're talking about an extremist/radical strain – not the strain that millions of American Muslims practice here in this country." She also spotlighted that "there are more American Muslims than there are Episcopalians." Williams stayed on his point that Dr. Carson was trying to tell a truth, but the CNN journalist twice interrupted him:
ALISYN CAMEROTA: Armstrong, you're talking about an extremist/radical strain – not the strain that millions of American Muslims practice here in this country. You know there are more American Muslims than there are Episcopalians. You're talking about a radical strain.
WILLIAMS: Dr. Carson was asked his opinion....he would not vote for a Muslim in the White House. This is why he's not a politician. This is why he's not trying to be politically correct. This is America. It's a place of freedom of speech-
CAMEROTA: And freedom of religion-
WILLIAMS: You express what you believe and how you feel-
CAMEROTA: I mean, and – and freedom of religion!
WILLIAMS: This is not an issue – it is not an issue of religion to Dr. Carson. This is an issue of one's belief system, on how they will govern....
The anchor then made her quote of Article VI of the Constitution and claimed that "Dr. Carson's belief system violates that part of the Constitution." Williams emphasized again that "he [Carson] would not be comfortable with someone who shares the Islamic/Muslim faith in the White House," and added that "everything is not about winning the White House for him. It's about standing up for what he believes in – telling the truth. Even if it makes CNN and others uncomfortable, it is what he believes."
Camerota later cited the Kim Davis controversy as part of her contention that the Republican presidential candidate had a double standard on religion:
CAMEROTA: Dr. Carson is talking about religion, Armstrong. He says it here – let me read you his own words: 'Muslims feel that their religion is very much part of your public life and what you do as a public official; and that's inconsistent with our principles and our constitution.'
What is so striking about this, Armstrong, is that Dr. Carson also believes that his religion is very much a part of his public life. Look at all of the outcry over the Kentucky clerk, Kim Davis, who was putting her religion over the law of the land – in terms of gay marriage licenses – and he and others supported her. He does think this is about religion, and he does think that sometimes religion can trump the law, as we've seen.
She concluded the interview by pointing out that "Muslim civil rights groups have called for him to get out of the race. Obviously, that's not happening." She then wondered, "Will he sit down with Muslims today to clarify how he feels about them?"
A week earlier, Camerota hounded Dr. Carson's fellow Republican candidate, former Senator Rick Santorum, over his support for Davis. She touted how the Supreme Court "decided...that not allowing gay marriage is discrimination," and asserted that "there are lots of laws that you yourself don't agree with, but you follow the law. That's what we do as Americans."
The transcript of Alisyn Camerota's questions to Armstrong Williams from Monday's New Day on CNN, along with some of the guest's answers for context:
ALISYN CAMEROTA: What was Dr. Carson thinking when he was saying that a Muslim cannot be president of the U.S.?
ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS, BEN CARSON'S BUSINESS MANAGER: He's thinking like someone who loves America first – who wants to protect America. He understands that there are tenets of Islam that hates (sic) Jews; will kill homosexuals; will kill Muslims – do not advocate the belief and value systems that made America into the country that it is in today. It may have been an unconvenient (sic) truth, but it is the truth.
CAMEROTA: Armstrong – Armstrong, you're talking about an extremist/radical strain – not the strain that millions of American Muslims practice here in this country. You know there are more American Muslims than there are Episcopalians. You're talking about a radical strain.
WILLIAMS: Dr. Carson was asked his opinion. His opinion was, the timing – at this point, he would not vote for a Muslim in the White House. This is why he's not a politician. This is why he's not trying to be politically correct. This is America. It's a place of freedom of speech-
CAMEROTA: And freedom of religion-
WILLIAMS: You express what you believe and how you feel-
CAMEROTA: I mean, and – and freedom of religion!
WILLIAMS: This is not an issue – it is not an issue of religion to Dr. Carson. This is an issue of one's belief system, on how they will govern. Your beliefs – what you believe in; how you look upon people; how you value people is dictated by what you believe.
CAMEROTA: Armstrong, let me read to you Article VI of the Constitution, which says that anyone of any religion can serve in public office. Here it is: 'No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.' Dr. Carson's belief system violates that part of the Constitution.
WILLIAMS: Dr. Carson – Alisyn, as you're alluding to, was not speaking about religion – not at all. His – like most Americans, in their hearts – if they search themselves and they ask questions; if you see what's going on in the world today and what we're becoming as a nation – if you search yourself deeply and ask yourself, at this time in the history of our country – in the question that was posed to him, which he asked – and answered truthfully – is that he would not be comfortable with someone who shares the Islamic/Muslim faith in the White House-
CAMEROTA: Is Dr. Carson only-
WILLIAMS: And if Dr. Carson, because – let me finish; let me finish. And if Dr. Carson, because of his love for America, he is willing – everything is not about winning the White House for him. It's about standing up for what he believes in – telling the truth. Even if it makes CNN and others uncomfortable, it is what he believes.
CAMEROTA: Is Dr. Carson comfortable with anyone other than a Christian being president?
WILLIAMS: It is not about Christian. It is not about Jew. It is not about religion. It is about what one believes – believes and what they will advocate if they become president of these United States – a place that you and I – and I have no doubt about it – love and cherish, and wants (sic) to protect. And Dr. Carson is saying what he believes, and he believes it, Alisyn. And he will not take it back.
CAMEROTA: Dr. Carson is talking about religion, Armstrong. He says it here – let me read you his own words: 'Muslims feel that their religion is very much part of your public life and what you do as a public official; and that's inconsistent with our principles and our constitution.'
What is so striking about this, Armstrong, is that Dr. Carson also believes that his religion is very much a part of his public life. Look at all of the outcry over the Kentucky clerk, Kim Davis, who was putting her religion over the law of the land – in terms of gay marriage licenses – and he and others supported her. He does think this is about religion, and he does think that sometimes religion can trump the law, as we've seen.
(...)
CAMEROTA: Muslim civil rights groups have called for him to get out of the race. Obviously, that's not happening. But will he sit down with Muslims today to clarify how he feels about them?
WILLIAMS: Only, Alisyn – you and others feel there's something to clarify. You don't need to clarify what you believe in. It is consistent. It is – it is who you are.
(...)
Dr. Carson is the voice that's willing to stand and speak for those Americans who are solid in their hearts; who don't want to speak this inconvenient truth – then let it be. Let the chips fall where they may. He believes in telling the truth. You may not like the truth; but it is the truth and when you tell the truth, Alisyn, there's nothing to apologize for.
