Right-Wing Media Are Furious That CNN Vetted Ben Carson's Autobiographical Claims Of His Violent Past

Written by Nick Fernandez

Published

Right-wing media attacked a CNN report that was “unable to independently confirm” incidents described in Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson's autobiography about his violent past -- including claims that he attempted “to kill somebody” -- calling the report “ruthless” for “dissecting” Carson's life, and using the report to attack President Obama and Hillary Clinton.

CNN Reported That Carson's Childhood Friends Have No Recollection Of The Violence That Carson Described In His Autobiography  

“CNN Was Unable To Independently Confirm Any Of The Incidents, Which Carson Said Occurred When He Was A Juvenile.” CNN reported that they were “unable to independently confirm” claims made by Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson in his 1990 autobiography, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, about “his acts of violence as an angry young man” that are “at the core of his narrative of spiritual redemption.” According to CNN's November 5 report, “nine friends ... who grew up with Carson [said] they have no memory of the anger or violence the candidate has described”:

Ben Carson, the soft-spoken, Yale-educated brain surgeon who has surged in the GOP presidential race, has written and spoken powerfully of divine intervention at several pivotal moments in his life.

At the core of his narrative of spiritual redemption are his acts of violence as an angry young man -- stabbing, rock throwing, brick hurling and baseball bat beating -- that preceded Carson's sudden transformation into the composed figure who stands before voters today.

In his 1990 autobiography, “Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story,” Carson describes those acts as flowing from an uncontrollable “pathological temper.” The violent episodes he has detailed in his book, in public statements and in interviews, include punching a classmate in the face with his hand wrapped around a lock, leaving a bloody three-inch gash in the boy's forehead; attempting to attack his own mother with a hammer following an argument over clothes; hurling a large rock at a boy, which broke the youth's glasses and smashed his nose; and, finally, thrusting a knife at the belly of his friend with such force that the blade snapped when it luckily struck a belt buckle covered by the boy's clothes.

[...]

But nine friends, classmates and neighbors who grew up with Carson told CNN they have no memory of the anger or violence the candidate has described.

That person is unrecognizable to those whom CNN interviewed, who knew him during those formative years.

All of the people interviewed expressed surprise about the incidents Carson has described. No one challenged the stories directly. Some of those interviewed expressed skepticism, but noted that they could not know what had happened behind closed doors. 

[...]

CNN was unable to independently confirm any of the incidents, which Carson said occurred when he was a juvenile. [CNN, 11/5/15]

Right-Wing Media Reacted To CNN's Report With Claims Of Liberal Media Bias And Double Standards

Breitbart News: “CNN's Attack On Ben Carson's Biography Is Racially-Motivated.” In a November 5 article, Breitbart News editot-at-large John Nolte claimed CNN's report on Carson's autobiography was “racially motivated,” labeling CNN a “left-wing network.” Nolte also used the report to criticize Obama, claiming “CNN buried” reporting on President Obama's alleged “relationship with a TERRORIST”:

[T]he left-wing cable news network CNN has already slammed its Kill Ben Carson Machine into fifth gear.

CNN's recent and troubling history of anti-black bias is well documented. The left-wing network has been sued for racial bias, is infamous for ginning up violence in predominantly black neighborhoods, and has faced scrutiny by the National Association of Black Journalists for its treatment of black staffers. It is no surprise, then, to discover that CNN is currently on a racially-motivated rampage to undermine Ben Carson's biography, and by extension, his presidential ambitions.

Over the years, Carson has written a number of books, many of them auto-biographical. One famous part of Carson's extraordinary story involves his temper as a very young man. Prior to turning 14 or 15 (we are talking 50 years ago, Carson is 64 today), Carson writes eloquently and honestly about, among other things, hitting his own mother with a hammer, almost stabbing someone, throwing rocks, etc.

The man who would grow up to be America's foremost pediatric neurosurgeon credits the saving grace of Jesus Christ for saving him from a violent life, and what would have surely been a violent and untimely death.

All day long, CNN's Scott Glover and Maeve Reston have appeared on the left-wing network, with various left-wing CNN anchors, to report that they cannot corroborate Carson's stories about his violent pre-high school past.

The insinuation in every report is that Carson is a liar, and maybe a little crazy.

[...]

The bottom line here is that CNN is on an obvious racist witch hunt to destroy a politically conservative black man who has dared to stray from The Leftwing Thought Plantation.

[...]

CNN proved Obama lied about his adult relationship with an unrepentant domestic terrorist. And what was the result? Nothing. Nada. Crickets. CNN dropped the issue immediately. And none of the rest of the DC Media dared pick it up. What would have been an election game-changer had Obama been a Republican, was swept under the rug.

Obama lied about his relationship with a TERRORIST.

CNN caught him lying.

Obama lied about his ADULT relationship with a TERRORIST.

CNN buried it.

Today, however, CNN is pulling out all the stops to brand Ben Carson as a liar because they can't corroborate a few nothingburger events that happened more than 50 years ago when Carson was between the ages of 7 and 14.

Of course this is an act of racism of CNN's part. [Breitbart News, 11/5/15]

Fox's Todd Starnes: CNN's Investigation Of Carson's Claims Is “Sinister” and “Ruthless.” In a series of tweets on November 5, Fox News Radio host Todd Starnes called CNN “ruthless” and argued that "[t]here's something rather sinister about CNN's investigation of" Carson. Starnes also used the report to criticize Obama,lamenting that CNN did not investigate “Barack Hussein Obama as much as they have” Carson:

[Twitter, 11/5/15; 11/5/15; 11/5/15]

The Blaze's Dana Loesch Defended Ben Carson By Using CNN's Report To Attack Obama. The Blaze host Dana Loesch complained that “the media is suddenly obsessed” with Carson's past, claiming they previously have “not cared about  'life stories'” during President Obama's time in office:

[Twitter, 11/5/15]

Fox's Jedediah Bila Criticized CNN Saying The “Same Media People” Who Dismissed “Obama's Past Ties To A Domestic Terrorist” “Are Now Dissecting” Carson's Life. Fox News contributor Jedediah Bila suggested media bias in CNN's reporting on Carson's autobiography, claiming “the same media people” who dismissed “Obama's past ties to a domestic terrorist” “are now dissecting” Carson's life:

[Twitter, 11/5/15]

RedState's Jay Caruso Suggested Media Bias In CNN's Reporting On Carson's Book, Arguing That “We Still Don't Have Obama's Grades From College.” RedState contributor Jay Caruso defended Ben Carson, using CNN's report to attack Obama, saying “we still don't have Obama's grades from college, but we'll know what kind of diapers Ben Carson wore”:

[Twitter, 11/5/15]

Fox & Friends Claimed The Media Is “Turning A Blind Eye To Hillary Clinton ... And Hyper-Focusing On Dr. Ben Carson.” On the November 6 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-hosts Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Steve Doocy claimed that the media is “hyper-focusing” on Ben Carson while dismissing Hillary Clinton. They also claimed that the media failed to investigate Barack Obama's alleged wrongdoings in 2008:  

ELISABETH HASSELBECK: Well, you know what, the mainstream media turning a blind eye to Hillary Clinton in all of this and hyper-focusing on Dr. Ben Carson as a seven-year-old. It's just so transparent to, I think, most people.

STEVE DOOCY: Well, sure, just go back to when Barack Obama was running for President of the United States, where was CNN digging into his relationship with Bill Ayers? Essentially an unrepentant domestic terrorist. I mean, did they go into that?

HASSELBECK: Steve, do you remember? In 2008 they actually shut down a reporter who was actually trying to dig into the details, live. They actually shut someone down who was trying to--

DOOCY: I think Anderson Cooper kind of poo-pooed it, saying “yeah, not a big story.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 11/6/15]

Media Research Center's Dan Gainor Decried A Double Standard In CNN's Reporting. Dan Gainor of the conservative Media Research Center, attacked CNN's reporting to criticize Obama's past, saying “If media had gone after Obama bio like [Ben Carson], Romney would be president”:

[Twitter, 11/6/15]

Mark Levin Lamented The “Disgusting Lib Media Relentlessly Attacking Ben Carson While Ignoring Hillary's Infinite Crimes.” Conservative radio host Mark Levinattacked the “Disgusting lib media” for “relentlessly attacking Ben Carson while ignoring Hillary's infinite crimes”:

[Twitter, 11/6/15]

HotAir's Allahpundit Used CNN's Report On Carson To Call For President Obama's College Transcripts. Conservative blogger at HotAir.com, Allahpundit, suggested Carson “offer the knife he used to try to stab that guy in exchange for Obama's college transcripts”:

[Twitter, 11/6/15]

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough: “Ben Carson Changed A Few Names. Barack Obama Made Up Entire Girlfriends.” Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, attacked President Obama, comparing claims that the president “made up entire girlfriends” to CNN's report on Carson's questionable autobiographical claims, calling the president “the Manti Te'o of American politics”:

[Twitter, 11/6/15]