Rising conservative star Dr. Ben Carson impressed the audience of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Saturday, delivering a 22-minute speech outlining his political ideals, which included hinting that he might run for President in 2016.
“Let’s say somebody were (in The White House), and they wanted to destroy this nation,” he said. “Let’s say you magically put me, you know, into the White House,” he said, earning cheers from the crowd.
Carson, a practicing neurosurgeon at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, shot to the top of the political spectrum last month, when he lectured President Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast.
“This is a country for, of, and by the people not for, of, and by the government. If we turn it over to them we cannot complain about what they’re doing because this is a natural course of men and we have to hold their feet to the fire,” Carson said in Washington.
The black conservative also dismissed the idea that he should talk about race, saying,“When did we reach a point when you have to have a certain philosophy because of the color of your skin?”
Though he did not admit to any political plans, Carson announced that he will retire from medicine this year to dedicate time to his education scholarship program. Still, he teased at the possibility, multiple times during his address.
“Once we get that taken care of, who knows what I’ll do,” Carson said. “I want to quit while I’m at the top of my game and there are so many more things that could be done.”
Carson again accused President Obama of attempting to ruin the country, presenting a hypothetical situation while again hinting at his political aspirations.
“I would encourage a culture of ridicule for basic morality,” he continued. “I would undermine the financial stability of the country and drive it so far into debt that there was absolutely no chance that it could recover.
“It appears coincidentally that those are the very things that are happening right now.”
