Republican Darling Is Sorry He Can't Speak Nicely About Gay People
Ben Carson is a darling of the conservative movement (some say for all the wrong reasons). Also, he thinks gay marriage and pedophilia deserve to be grouped together. Wait, I mean, he doesn't think that at all...or he does, but he's sorry people are offended...I'm confused.
Not long after delivering a speech at CPAC that wowed many conservatives and secured Carson's place as a talking head on a myriad of Fox News programs, Carson made some pretty controversial (see: horrible) comments about same-sex marriage on the Sean Hannity Show:
Marriage is between a man and a woman. No group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality — it doesn't matter what they are. They don't get to change the definition
A day later Ben Carson issued a standard non-apology apology in an interview with the Baltimore Sun.
I think people have completely taken the wrong meaning out of what I was saying...Now perhaps the examples were not the best choice of words, and I certainly apologize if I offended anyone...But the point that I was making was that no group of individuals, whoever they are, whatever their belief systems, gets to change traditional definitions. The reason I believe the way I do, I will readily confess, is because I am a Christian who believes in The Bible.
Obviously, that apology didn't cut it for some people. So Carson sent an email to the Johns Hopkins University Community, where he's scheduled to give a commencement speech this year, issuing a half-apology. The email was obtained by Politico.
As you know, I have been in the national news quite a bit recently and my 36 year association with Johns Hopkins has unfortunately dragged our institution into the spotlight as well. I am sorry for any embarrassment this has caused...but what really saddens me is that my poorly chosen words caused pain for some members of our community and for that I offer a most sincere and heartfelt apology. Hurting others is diametrically opposed to who I am and what I believe...There are many lessons to be learned when venturing into the political world and this is one I will not forget. Although I do believe marriage is between a man and a woman, there are much less offensive ways to make that point. I hope all will look at a lifetime of service over some poorly chosen words.
That's still not an apology for his faulty logic, just the way he said it. He didn't say he was wrong to compare gay marriage to pedophilia and bestiality, just that his words were hurtful. Maybe he'll give a seven-eighths apology next week.
