Republican presidentialfrontrunnerBen Carson’s lack of political experience is not an issue for his supporters.
"How many people have we had that has a lot of experience? And look what they have done to our country,” says real estate consultant Verna Miller, who attended Carson's book signing in Fort Lauderdale Thursday night.“No, [his lack of political experience] doesn’t concern me. In fact, it intrigues me,” says Carson supporter Karen Kopecki while holding a signed copy of his new book “A More Perfect Union.” Kopecki says she is voting for Carson instead of other GOP candidates because he represents integrity.
Carson and his staff were at a Barnes and Noble in Fort Lauderdale as part of his book tour in South Florida.
Since the tour stop, Politico published a piece that raises questions about Carson's claims to have received a full scholarship to West Point.
Prior to the book tour in South Florida, the retired pediatric neurosurgeon was baffled by questions from Miami Herald reporters about the wet-foot, dry-foot policy.
“You’re going to have to explain to me exactly what you mean by that,” Carson said. This policy grants permanent residence to Cuban migrants who arrive on U.S. soil.
Miami Herald political reporter PatriciaMazzeisays “it’s unclear whether that was the campaign or the book tour staff's responsibility” to brief Carson about Cuba policy ahead of coming down to South Florida.
Mazzeiadds “he’s not the first candidate to come to Florida unprepared for those questions,” which particularly concern local politics.However, for the hundreds of people who lined up at his book signing, this doesn’t affect their views of his candidacy for the Republican party. In fact, people who attended the event said he is “brilliant” and “intelligent” and that he has enough time to catch up.
Donna Anderson, a Carson supporter and an avid reader of his books, says “if he won, by the time he was in office he would know about all those things.” Anderson adds: “I mean, he’s a brain surgeon, he’ll figure it out.”
“I think that in time he will be up to date on [policies]. I think that he will handle things as well as anyone an insider or another outsider, like Donald Trump,” says supporter MichaelMcIlroy.
“I’d like to see somebody that’s outside of Washington and is not in the political circle that has the best interest for this country at heart. And I believe that Ben Carson is that person,” saysKopecki.
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