Editor's Note:

Ben Carson in 2016? See His Vision.

Editor's Note:

Ben Carson in 2016? See His Vision.

American people are too afraid, in this time of political correctness, to stand up and speak for what they believe, says Dr. Ben Carson, the renowned neurosurgeon and conservative commentator."It's time for people to stand up and proclaim for what they believe and stop being bullied," said Carson, a potential contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, at Saturday's Conservative Political Action Conference.Carson, the former director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, said that most people in this country have common sense, but "the problem is, they have been beaten into submission" by the "PC police," and are afraid to speak up for what they believe."I thought last year when I retired that I would learn to play the organ, and learn some new languages and play golf," said Carson. "I think the good Lord had a different plan. I'm not sure what the culmination of that plan is, but I am having a good time as I go all all over the country. Enormous crowds coming out, like they're saying 'finally, there is someone with common sense.' But I'm not the only one."He said he's often asked if he misses practicing medicine, but he said he does not miss what it has become."The most important thing people have is their healthcare," Carson said. "We need to fight to see that that stays in their hands and not in the hands of the government."But being a doctor did prepare him for "out-of-the-box" thinking and controversy."The difference in medicine was, we talked about it," said Carson. "When the facts were shown, people made adjustments. That does not happen in the political world because you are dealing with ideologues."But Carson told the enthusiastic audience members — some of whom were waving "Run Ben Run" signs — that he hates political correctness and he will continue to defy the "PC police" who try to shut him up, saying he finds them "pretty amusing.""I still believe marriage is between a man and a woman," said Carson. "They said 'Carson said gay marriage and bestiality are the same thing.' That's preposterous, and anybody who says that is a dummy, and anybody who believes someone who said someone said that is a dummy.""Of course gay people should have the same rights as everybody else," he said. "But they shouldn't get extra rights."Carson also took offense to reports that claimed he said Obamacare is the worst thing since slavery "Of course they're not the same thing. Slavery was much worse. But bear in mind, what happens with Obamacare is that we the people have shifted the power of the government," said Carson. "This is the most massive shift of power that has ever occurred. We need to put the power back in the hands of the people and make sure it stays there."Carson said that it's important for the American people to understand where such accusations come from, "the rule book for radicals, to never have a conversation with your enemies because it humanizes them."The retired doctor noted that he's been invited by another physician, Dr. Melanie Cooper, to speak at her banquet in Atlanta, and organizations are calling for a boycott because Carson is coming to it, and "they say they don't want him spreading his poison."Would that be the poison of self reliance and self respect that people should have?" said Carson. "Would that be the poison of telling people in minority communities that they need to learn how to turn over the dollar a few times, and they should reach back and pull others up with you … they won't have to depend on anybody else?"Or, "would that be the poison of talking about how education is the key, and you don't have to be the victim. And that the most important person in your future is you."Maybe, though, Carson said, it could be the "poison of putting what God says in front of what any man says."In addition to fighting political correctness, people need to fight against the constantly rising national debt."We have a $17.5 trillion national debt," said Carson, noting that even if the debt was paid off at $10 million a day, it would take 4,700 yeas to pay it off."We are killing the next generation," said Carson. "We have to know who our reps are and the ones who are voting to keep raising that debt ceiling vote and keep them out of office."