White House slams Carson’s ‘offensive views’ on Muslims

The White House on Monday denounced Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson for saying a Muslim should not be president of the United States.

Press secretary Josh Earnest said Carson’s comments are “entirely inconsistent with the Constitution” and the First Amendment.

{mosads}Earnest predicted that Republicans would pay the price at the ballot box if the party’s presidential candidates continue to “countenance offensive views all in pursuit of political support.”

“Ultimately, there will be consequences, and those views will be taken into account by voters, not only in the primary, but also the general election,” Earnest told reporters.

Carson said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” this weekend that a Muslim should not be elected president because Sharia law conflicts with the U.S. Constitution.

Earnest claimed other GOP candidates have refrained condemning Carson’s “offensive” statements because they are vying for the same votes.

“It is particularly disappointing to many observers … that we haven’t seen a significant outcry from other candidates in the Republican race,” he said.

Several of Carson’s rivals have rebuked him over the remarks. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the remarks are evidence that Carson is “not ready to be commander in chief,” while Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) noted that the Constitution explicitly rules out a religious test for office.

Carson’s comments drew the ire of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent Muslim advocacy group, which called on the candidate to withdraw from the race.

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton said Muslims are eligible to be president and those claiming otherwise need to “move on.”

Tags Hillary Clinton Lindsey Graham Rand Paul Ted Cruz

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