Presidential candidate Ben Carson’s remarks that a Muslim would not be fit to lead the United States caused plenty of controversy Monday. To try and clear things up, Carson went on Fox News’ Hannity Monday evening.
Sean Hannity Assists Ben Carson In “Tempering” Muslim RemarksEdit descriptionmediamatters.orgCarson tried to clarify his statements by saying his comments applied not just to Muslims but to all religious people. “So if, for instance, you believe in a theocracy, I don’t care if you’re a Christian, if you’re a Christian and you’re running for president and you want to make this into a theocracy, I’m not going to support you. I’m not going to advocate you being the president,” Carson said.
In the interview, Sean Hannity, who hosts and who the show is named for, tries to steer Carson along his own line of thinking.
HANNITY: “Was that what you were thinking in your mind when you were answering the question, in other words, the way Muslim theocracies currently operate?”
CARSON: “That’s correct. I mean, they currently do not tend to operate the same way that our system does. Now, if someone has a Muslim background and they’re willing to reject those tenets and to accept the way of life that we have, and clearly will swear to place our Constitution above their religion, then, of course, they will be considered infidels and heretics, but at least I would then be quite willing to support them.”
HANNITY: “All right, so what I hear in your statement there is you kind of are tempering those remarks. For example, if there was a moderate Muslim that denounced Sharia, that denounced radical Islamists, that denounced quotes in the Koran about killing the infidels or not taking Christians and Jews for your friends, that denounced the controversial life of Mohammad, you would be open to that Muslim running for president?”
CARSON: “Of course.”
Carson, and Hannity, apparently have some fundamental misconceptions about Islam.
Regardless of Carson or Hannity’s point of view on the subject, a Muslim can become president whether or not he disavows Mohammad’s life.
Article VI, paragraph 3 of the United States Constitution, states that “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”