CNN's Brianna Keilar badgered Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson on Thursday's Wolf program over his recent comment on LGBT issues: "I didn't remember any times when there were signs up that says...gay people have to drink at this fountain. I was a little irritated." Keilar repeatedly asked Carson: "Do you think that gay Americans are discriminated against?" When the candidate refused to give a direct answer, the journalist reprimanded him: "If you're running for president, I think it's fair to ask you this question. Part of being a candidate is to answer questions." [video below]
Just before beginning her phone interview with Dr. Carson, Keilar spotlighted a clip from a previous contentious interview from March 2015 on CNN's New Day with Chris Cuomo, where the crypto-LGBT activist asked, "You think being gay is a choice?" The former neurosurgeon replied, "Absolutely....because a lot of people who go into prison – go into prison straight – and when they come out, they're gay." She also played a soundbite of Carson's "little irritated" remark from a recent Fox News Channel interview.
The CNN correspondent first asked, "I want to get to these comments about gay rights and gay marriage that are in the spotlight again. Can you just clarify for us, sort of, where you stand on this issue? I know you're saying that...gays haven't been segregated when it comes to – say, water fountains – the way African-Americans have been. But do you think that gay Americans are discriminated against?" The Republican replied with a question of his own: "I don't really want to talk about the gay issue, except maybe, you can get the answer for this question: what position can a person take – who has no animosity towards gay people, but believes in the traditional definition of marriage – that would be acceptable?"
Keilar wasn't satisfied with this response, and made her "I think it's fair to ask you this question" line. She spent the next two minutes sparring with Dr. Carson over the issue. At one point, the presidential candidate wondered, "Is there anything more important to talk about?" The journalist retorted, "No. You haven't answered my question. You haven't answered my question. Are gay Americans discriminated against? It's a very simple question. I'm just asking you to clarify your remarks."
This isn't the first time that CNN has hounded Carson. Cuomo also sparred with the Republican during a February 4, 2015 interview on New Day over the issue of vaccines. The anchor asserted that "it seems as though the Republican Party has a problem with science – that they're always pushing back against science."
The transcript of the relevant portion of Brianna Keilar's interview of Dr. Ben Carson from CNN's Wolf program on Thursday:
BRIANNA KEILAR: Presidential candidate Ben Carson says the push for gay rights should not be compared to the civil rights movement in the U.S. Carson says that his irritation over the comparison prompted this remark in a CNN interview with our Chris Cuomo in March.
CHRIS CUOMO (from March 2015 interview on CNN's New Day): You think being gay is a choice?
DR. BEN CARSON, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Absolutely.
CUOMO: Why do you say that?
CARSON: Because a lot of people who go into prison – go into prison straight – and when they come out, they're gay. So did something happen while they were in there?
KEILAR: In a Fox News interview, Carson said he shouldn't have allowed his emotions into the conversation, and he explained why he said what he did.
CARSON (from Fox News Channel interview): Quite frankly, I didn't remember any times when there were signs up that says – you know, everybody else here, and gay people have to drink at this fountain. I was a little irritated.
KEILAR: Retired neurosurgeon and Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is joining us now on the phone. I do want to talk to you about some of the poll numbers that we're seeing nationally and in Iowa. But I want to get to these comments about gay rights and gay marriage that are in the spotlight again. Can you just clarify for us, sort of, where you stand on this issue? I know you're – you're saying that – you know, gays haven't been segregated when it comes to – say, water fountains – the way African-Americans have been. But do you think that gay Americans are discriminated against – that they face discrimination?
CARSON: I don't really want to talk about the gay issue, except maybe, you can get the answer for this question: what position can a person take – who has no animosity towards gay people, but believes in the traditional definition of marriage – that would be acceptable?
KEILAR: Well, sir – I mean, if you're running for president, (laughs) I think it's fair to ask you this question. Part of being a candidate is to answer questions. Can you – can you tell us if – I understand if you're saying it's – it's not exactly the same. But people look at that – some people look at that, and they say we're talking about two groups that have faced discrimination; and I wonder if you think gay Americans face discrimination, even if it's not at water fountains.
CARSON: I made my – my opinion quite clear on this issue. I think the Constitution protects every single American; and everybody has equal rights. Nobody has extra rights.
KEILAR: Sure – but if you're saying it protects people from discrimination, I'm asking you then if you think gay Americans are protected from being discriminated against and – and do they face discrimination. Do you think they do?
CARSON: Everybody should be protected against discrimination-
KEILAR: Are they – and are gay Americans facing discrimination?
CARSON: Can we – can we – can we move on to something more important? Is there anything more important to talk about?
KEILAR: No. You haven't answered my question. You haven't answered my question. Are gay Americans discriminated against? It's a very simple question. I'm just asking you to clarify your remarks.
CARSON: I just said everybody needs to be protected from discrimination. Everybody probably has somebody who discriminates against them, because there are people with small minds who think that way.
KEILAR: So you're saying gay Americans are discriminated against?
CARSON: I'm saying there's – every group faces some type of discrimination. Christians face a the lot of discrimination. I wish we would talk more about that
CARSON: Then – so do you not want to talk about discrimination against gay Americans?
CARSON: I just gave you an answer.
KEILAR: Okay. I think – I will say that I think you gave me part of an answer, but not a complete one.
