Speaking yesterday at an Iowa town hall event, Ben Carson pined for the good old days of DADT and denounced soldiers who “have to go around flouting their sexuality.” Carson’s statement was triggered by a question about military service for transgender Americans.

“You know, we have too many important things to do,” Carson said at a “Veterans and Military Town Hall” hosted by the Concerned Veterans for America. “When our men and women are out there fighting the enemy, the last thing that we need to be doing is saying what would it be like if we introduced several transgender people into this platoon.” “You know, give me a break. Deal with the transgender thing somewhere else,” Carson said before saying he prefers the old “don’t ask, don’t tell” military philosophy that ended in 2011. “I mean, why do you have to go around flouting your sexuality? It’s not necessary, you don’t need to talk about that, we need to talk about how we eliminate the enemy,” Carson said at the town hall.

Carson’s polling numbers have nosedived in several recent surveys. (Tipped by JMG reader DM)