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Truth to power or disrespecting the presidency?
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New reaction to criticism of doctor at National Prayer Breakfast
- Duration 8:21
- Date Feb 11, 2013
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New reaction to criticism of doctor at National Prayer Breakfast
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Did you find anything offensive with.
That was certainly each if it's America is entitled -- opinion it you know with the a lot of talk was about was this the right place to do it and there was lots of applause from Republicans -- finally somebody stood up and sent it.
Well that question was posed by CNN's Candy Crowley yesterday in the wake of a new controversy in -- -- panel did believe there was disrespect.
This all has been sparked by the appearance of world renowned -- neurosurgeon pediatric neurosurgeon doctor Benjamin Carson.
At Thursday's national prayer breakfast an event also attended by President Obama and the vice president.
The president sitting just a few feet away as doctor Carson criticized Obama care and teed off on political correctness.
And taxes.
-- -- When that person is born my birth certificate and electronic medical record and the health savings account.
To which money can be contributed pretax from the parent you're born to time you die when you -- you compare to going to your family members.
So that when you're 85 years so -- -- got six diseases you're not trying to spend up everything you're happy that this -- and is nobody talking about death panels.
We've reached a point where people are afraid to actually talk about what they want to sacked because somebody.
People afraid to marry Christmas at Christmas time doesn't matter whether the person you're talking to is that it is -- sure.
You know whether -- any -- We've got to get over the sensitivity.
You make ten billion dollars you've put -- a billion.
You make ten dollars you put in one -- you gotta get rid of the -- Now that some people say.
That's simple that's up because it doesn't hurt the guy who make ten billion dollars as much of what the guy who -- -- where does that say you have to hurt the guy.
Joining me now -- -- and he's a former deputy assistant to president George W.
Bush and Dan Bernstein who is president of Gotham ghost writers.
So what did you should question posed by -- rally yesterday on on whether this was disrespectful and some on her panel said.
Absolutely it was disrespectful for doctor Carson to speak this way.
Before the president at the national prayer breakfast and your thoughts.
While -- and I teach a class act and -- you on communications ethics and the first thing I tell my students as we're talking about judging ethical behavior the context is the most important thing.
If doctor Carson had said this at the RNC convention if it said this at The Heritage Foundation even -- for the senate.
Fair game totally appropriate actually agree with some of the things he set.
But to do it at the national prayer breakfasts.
Which is a place were supposed to be celebrating humility.
Harmony national unity it was totally out of place.
And I am afraid it was such an indictment of what's wrong with Washington is there's no safe space -- -- -- for comedy there's no safe space.
For to be free of ideological.
Partisanship polarization all that stuff that turns the American people off ballots even at the national prayer breakfast -- Well the president gave.
-- an opportunity to be heard is that.
What democracy's all about truth to power the president so thin skinned that -- can't sit there and listen to another American.
Giving his vision of what America can be any any type it all back to religion -- he talked about.
-- the humility and and the respect.
Not blaming others for your problems he talked about the danger.
And the -- humane treatment of others by by accumulated debt.
For people who are yet to be born bred brat -- on the -- captive on the topic that is that it was germane to a national prayer breakfast actually -- heating -- together.
They're not dividing the American people -- -- here.
-- it was a very ideological speech but again I -- -- to me it's not so much that was disrespectful for the president it was disrespectful.
Of the up the political process and any sense of comedy and having a safe space for there is no faith based on ethics -- -- That's exactly right says the -- used to be back with perhaps.
When I want where I'm -- point I had read that national national prayer breakfast is -- is a place to talk about.
America and the fabric of America and what brings us together but also what's the what divides us and and we -- divided we not only have a divided government.
But we have a division in blaming others and it's seeming to to have a victim.
For everything that happens in America and not only victim but somebody who's responsible to that victim -- you really aren't -- -- -- really yeah.
It was the question -- then again because you know he was talking about what divides us in terms of I can't we say Merry Christmas anymore that's a salutation and why -- -- you have to make the billionaire feel pain why is that necessary.
Because it -- it it was a very ideological speech again which is not inappropriate in in in other settings but in this place.
It was actually very divisive because it pointed out to our differences not what we're just -- -- let me.
-- -- make them the most important point which is situational ethics is what's at play here and tribalism.
If a liberal preacher got up at the prayer breakfast and denounce the Iraq war in front of President Bush conservatives would have been howling and rightly so be with you it.
And howling if he did that absolutely today in front of president a -- last Thursday.
Absolutely it doesn't matter I would guess that if if he got up there -- -- has its enterprise -- this is a compassionate president who is helping unemployed who has extended unemployment benefits that extend well there's extended food stamps.
USA Bravo that's appropriate and that Norton -- is that he -- -- said no I condemn that that was inappropriate.
I would have said that they did there should -- a time at a national curve activists to celebrate our unity and not make it about the president I'll make you departed I've had.
-- and -- you know me I'm consistent I'm equal opportunity critic of both -- parties.
When they go overboard when that I thought the Democrats often treated President Bush very disrespectfully policy at the same time Republicans doing.
-- it that this stuff for you talking about you know disunity and so on so -- -- -- Dan says he's being divisive.
What I heard was somebody who was criticizing divisive behavior and -- president that's what I heard but he didn't keep it all too religious themes and he did talk about.
Obama -- you heard that at the beginning of that clip talking about has his solution.
To the national health care crisis he talked about the deficit here's a clip where he's talking about the -- -- and I want this clip I want a different every -- about.
Ancient Roman how we may become just like it was -- -- Ancient wrong.
Very powerful nobody could even challenged them militarily.
But what happened to them.
He destroyed themselves from within.
Moral decay.
Fiscal it's your responsibility.
To destroy things.
And if you don't think that can happen to America.
You get out your books and you start reading.
Well awkward in Minnesota president -- barely get that you feel a little like can't.
Now.
No not at all because that would look he said something that's very true learn from history or you condemned to repeat it he talked about learning from the mistakes that other.
Others have made including.
Your own administration.
And what we're doing not only the administration but there's a lot of blame to go around and the other thing when he talked -- obamacare he.
Why would you talk about obamacare the guy's a doctor it's something he knows something about so -- credit religion talking.
About obamacare he shouldn't be doing it in that setting week we should have placed -- little -- talk about foreign policy.
And policy differences can't we just actually have one place where celebrate.
The almighty and the things that buying doesn't have -- it's -- it's it's called Christmas time I went up when I went when you when you have the opportunity.
Two to talk about something you know something about why would use that opportunity talked about him and -- why because it's got -- himself as.
Where -- you cannot let that -- gave an imitation he's got a book out it's not.
You know it would be easy to understand what where he was that I'm not saying they didn't run I don't think -- -- around it invited and I want to.
They invited I just think it was inappropriate a mr.
Carson to doctor Carson and use that platform.
At a time worked really should be focused on unity humility the things that bring Americans together celebrating god day he was.
Still it was a good president partisan agenda did when I was just doing what the president tells us he's open to all the time if you got a better idea.
Let me hear about a welcome to edit I don't get excited when I do however however viewing -- doctor Carson he's on your world you know committed and you've -- -- --