Unsurprisingly, Ben Carson Has No Earthly Idea What The Debt Limit Is
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Republican Presidential candidate and soft-spoken crazy man Ben Carson. Since surging towards the top of the Republican polls, the retired neurosurgeon has found himself constantly in the middle of self-made controversies due to his own crazy-ass comments. Whether it is his insistence that America should never have a Muslim president or victim blaming those killed in mass shootings, much of Carson’s time has been spent clarifying and explaining the insane shit he constantly mutters out.
Well, it looks like the good doctor just tossed another tire into the raging dumpster fire that he’s created. In a Wednesday interview with NPR’s Kai Ryssdal, Carson found himself unable to accurately explain what the debt ceiling is, seemingly confusing it with the budget. Once again revealing how utterly unqualified he is to be President of the United States, the Tea Party darling tried to bullshit his way through Ryssdal’s questions by spouting vague conservative talking points, claiming that he’d show leadership and cut spending. Fortunately, Ryssdal wasn’t having any of it and kept pressing Carson.
Below is an excerpt from the show’s transcript:
Ryssdal: All right, so let’s talk about debt then and the budget. As you know, Treasury Secretary Lew has come out in the last couple of days and said, “We’re gonna run out of money, we’re gonna run out of borrowing authority, on the fifth of November.” Should the Congress then and the president not raise the debt limit? Should we default on our debt?
Carson: Let me put it this way: if I were the president, I would not sign an increased budget. Absolutely would not do it. They would have to find a place to cut.
Ryssdal: To be clear, it’s increasing the debt limit, not the budget, but I want to make sure I understand you. You’d let the United States default rather than raise the debt limit.
Carson: No, I would provide the kind of leadership that says, “Get on the stick guys, and stop messing around, and cut where you need to cut, because we’re not raising any spending limits, period.”
Ryssdal: I’m gonna try one more time, sir. This is debt that’s already obligated. Would you not favor increasing the debt limit to pay the debts already incurred?
Carson: What I’m saying is what we have to do is restructure the way that we create debt. I mean if we continue along this, where does it stop? It never stops. You’re always gonna ask the same question every year. And we’re just gonna keep going down that pathway. That’s one of the things I think that the people are tired of.
Ryssdal: I’m really trying not to be circular here, Dr. Carson, but if you’re not gonna raise the debt limit and you’re not gonna give specifics on what you’re gonna cut, then how are we going to know what you are going to do as president of the United States?
Carson: OK, let me try to explain it in a different way. If, in fact, we have a number of different areas that are contributing to the increasing expenditures and the continued expenditures that are putting us further and further into the hole. You’re familiar I’m sure with the concept of the fiscal gap.
Geez Louise! You have to feel sorry for the Marketplace host for realizing just how fucking stupid Carson really is and, therefore, attempting to save Carson’s dignity a little bit. The fact is, Ryssdal still had a lot of interview time left and had to at least let the White House hopeful look semi-competent at some point. He eventually let Carson spew some gibberish about the “fiscal gap” and then just steered the conversation towards Carson’s Bible-inspired tax plan.
Look, the average person likely doesn’t know the differences between the debt limit, budget and deficit. Your everyday American may even think they are all the same thing. However, your normal person off the street isn’t attempting to procure the most powerful position in the world. At the very fucking least, we should expect that anyone running for the White House should know the very basics. However, in the Cloud Cuckoo Land known as the Tea Party, willful ignorance and proud stupidity are seen as virtues and will push you to the top of the GOP heap.
If you’re feeling masochistic, feel free to listen to the interview in its entirety, courtesy of NPR:
