Source: (Photo by Richard Ellis/Getty Images) / Getty
On Monday Ben Carson said he could indeed support a Muslim for president despite his contradictory words on Sunday should they pledge fealty to the Constitution. Carson, has been under fire for seeming to suggest that he couldn’t support anyone who subscribes to Islam to lead the White House.
The Republican presidential candidate said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that there are some Muslims who could be president if they effectively renounced their faith. Carson said:
“If someone has a Muslim background and they’re willing to reject those tenets and to accept the way of life that we have and clearly will swear to place our Constitution above their religion … I would then be quite willing to support them.”
Carson reiterated that position on a post on Facebook:
“I could never support a candidate for President of the United States that was Muslim and had not renounced the central tenant of Islam: Sharia Law,” he wrote. “I know that there are many peaceful Muslims who do not adhere to these beliefs. But until these tenants are fully renounced…I cannot advocate any Muslim candidate for President.
Carson, who made the initial remark on Sunday, told Hannity that his focus on radical Islamic beliefs was “implied in the comment.” Carson also said “I don’t care what religion or faith someone belongs to. If they’re willing to subjugate that to the American way and to our Constitution, then I have no problem with that.”
Before Carson appeared on Hannity to clarify his remarks, a presidential candidate who had his own faith scrutinized as a potential barrier between him and the presidential office swiped at Carson’s statement. Mitt Romney, who is Mormon, tweeted “Of course, no religious test for the presidency — every faith adds to our national character.”
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, also defended Muslim Americans’ right to political office.
“I personally know, first of all, that there are Americans that are Muslims and that are also very patriotic and they love the United States of America and they don’t want to see any Sharia law and they don’t want to see anything like that happen in this country. I don’t believe anyone should be disqualified from the presidency because of their denomination or because of their faith. I believe in that strongly.”
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