Ben Carson announces his bid for the 2016 presidency 03:02

Washington (CNN)Ben Carson wants to convince voters that a doctor is best positioned to fix what's ailing America.

"I'm Ben Carson, and I'm a candidate for president of the United States," he told a crowd in his hometown of Detroit on Monday, making his presidential bid official to wild applause.

The retired neurosurgeon and unlikely conservative star signaled that he'll make his medical career and political inexperience a key part of his pitch to voters, telling local news outlet WKRC before his announcement: "I'm not 100 percent sure 'politics as usual' is going to save us."

Carson is so far the only African-American presidential candidate from either party. He cuts an unusual figure for the GOP, but that's part of his appeal for conservatives.

He made his name in medicine by becoming the first surgeon to successfully separate conjoined twins at the head, and was played by Cuba Gooding, Jr. in a TNT adaptation of his memoir.

Carson grew up poor in Detroit and went on to get degrees from Yale and the University of Michigan, ultimately going on to become the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins by the age of 33. He's written six best-selling books, is a regular on the paid speaking circuit and was ranked the sixth most admired man in the world in a 2014 Gallup poll.

And he has been brazenly critical of President Barack Obama's policies — often to the point of getting himself in trouble with his borderline incendiary comments, including times he's compared Obamacare to slavery and the U.S. to Nazi Germany.

RELATED: Ben Carson stands by Nazi Germany comparison

That unapologetic bluntness has made Carson a conservative star. He typically polls in the middle of the GOP presidential pack, ahead of second-timers like Rick Santorum and Rick Perry, and came in fourth at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference.

But it's also the thing that could halt his rise in its tracks. He faces strong skepticism from the GOP establishment over his penchant for controversial comments, which many Republicans worry could create headaches for the whole party and jeopardize their chances in the general election.

He told WKRC, however, that he's learned his lesson from those controversies.

"I don't wander off into those extraneous areas that can be exploited. I have learned that," he said.

"Moral decay and fiscal irresponsibility"

Two years ago, however, it was Carson's signature brashness that brought him to national prominence and launched his rise as a conservative star.

Standing just feet from the president at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, Carson knocked Obama's policies, lamented the nation's decline and warned of the "moral decay and fiscal irresponsibility" confronting America.

The comments drew widespread plaudits from conservative commentators and, according to Carson, the ire of the White House. He refused to back down, and has struck a similarly aggressive tone in criticizing everything from gay marriage — which he's likened to beastiality — to Obamacare, which he's called "the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery."

Carson did, however, recently apologize after telling CNN that being gay is a choice because people "go into prison straight — and when they come out, they're gay." In a subsequent Facebook post, Carson said that "my choice of language does not reflect fully my heart on gay issues."

"I do not pretend to know how every individual came to their sexual orientation. I regret that my words to express that concept were hurtful and divisive," Carson wrote.

But he rarely walks such comments back because, he says, he has no use for the "PC Police."

While critics may see Carson as unpolished, he and his advisers believe his plainspoken style contributes to his appeal as a political outsider up against a spate of Washington and Republican Party insiders.

That crusade against political correctness and the Washington establishment has helped him amass a strong grassroots conservative following that his advisers believe will help him lock down the funds he'll need to compete.

His campaign reportedly plans to raise $65 million between now and the Florida GOP primary, and another $65 million after that. Carson's presidential exploratory committee ended March with nearly $1.7 million cash on hand, after raising over $2.1 million in the first three months of the year.

But with his more prominent primary opponents planning to raise upwards of $100 million for their campaigns, Carson may struggle to break through the noise of an increasingly crowded Republican presidential primary.

African American appeal

Still, the appeal of an African American Republican presidential candidate for a party looking to widen its reach is undeniable.

Black voters traditionally back Democrats in presidential contests, but Republicans acknowledged following their surprising losses in 2012 that they'll need to do more to appeal to minority voters if they hope to compete nationally.

Some presidential contenders, most notably Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, have been working to reach out to African Americans and are pushing policy proposals they believe will appeal to that demographic, like criminal justice reform.
Ben Carson: Prison proves being gay is a choice

But Carson's ability to connect with African Americans may be hard to match. And though it's unlikely Republicans will make significant inroads with minorities this cycle, African Americans could help nudge a Republican candidate across the finish line in a tight primary, like South Carolina, or a tough general election swing state, like Michigan.

Monday's announcement events signal Carson will embrace his heritage and profile as an African American Republican.

He'll start the day with a breakfast with local pastors at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, then will attend an assembly at a science-focused high school bearing his name. The day culminates in his official announcement event, at the Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, where his campaign has teased an expected audience of 2,000.

Carson is planning to head to Iowa after he announces for a three-day swing intended to cultivate support in what's likely to be a make-or-break state for him. Iowa's evangelical conservatives offer fertile ground for Carson's message, and he'll likely need to place in the top third of the field to prove his candidacy is viable.

But the prospect of failure doesn't seem to faze Carson anyway. He's often said that he's only looking at the race because he's gotten strong encouragement from supporters and a nudge from God — not because he actually covets the White House.

If he lost, he recently told the magazine of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, "I would say 'Whew!'"

"Because it's not something I ever really wanted to do, and the only reason I'd consider it is because there's so many people across the nation clamoring for me to do it," he added.

Source: http://edition.CNN.com/2015/05/04/politics/ben-carson-2016-presidential-announcement/

Amazing for a renowned surgeon to run for US President black is representing everywhere

From Obama to Ben Carson. That is how it will be

My brother is a medical student. If a doctor can be a President. There is hope for doctors o!

When the righteous iڪ in power, the people rejoice

.

I love transformation
I hate "change"

w
ex1983:
When the righteous iڪ in power, the people rejoice

That is true but will the Clinton's allow him. Soon women will be asking for female leader.

To me Ben deserve the Presidency. He works his entire life in selfless service

nice one

Nice

OREMUSSANCTUS:
I love transformation
I hate "change"

In other words you are pdp

Pinocchioo:
nice one

Let all blacks join hand and support him. I hope women will not favor Hillary over Ben. The Clintons have rule enough. Is time a professional take a lead

Isaac2009:
From Obama to Ben Carson. That is how it will be

Many reasons why Carson's candidature is merely symbolic. One reason is he's a born again christian.
The white house is for sinners not saints, even the highly venerated George. Washington was a high level Freemason, also Thomas jefferson. Abraham Lincoln was head of AMORC worldwide, the trend continues down to the current president a 33 degree Prince Hall mason.

Unless Carson can prove that he has the Sang raal -Royal blood in his veins he doesn't stand a chance. Hilary, on the other hand has merovingian blood well rooted in her family tree.

nice one I hop he win

He obviously can't have ity

stevecantrell:


Many reasons why Carson's candidature is merely symbolic. One reason is he's a born again christian.
The white house is for sinners not saints, even the highly venerated George. Washington was a high level Freemason, also Thomas jefferson. Abraham Lincoln was head of AMORC worldwide, the trend continues down to the current president a 33 degree Prince Hall mason.

Unless Carson can prove that he has the Sang raal -Royal blood in his veins he doesn't stand a chance. Hilary, on the other hand has merovingian blood well rooted in her family tree.

my fear exactly. The bush and Clinton's always get the backing of big corporation and Media support. Well Obama have proof a black man can rule in a country control by white. The Freemason may try to convert ben

ige101:
He obviously can't have ity

Why is that? Are u God

stevecantrell:


I was reading Daily Beast, the other day an homeone wrote : If a Bush married a Clinton, there would no need to hold elections anymore in the U.S

honestly.
That will be end-time things o!

Wish him goodluck but i don't see him cliching the GOP ticket.

major466:
Wish him goodluck but i don't see him cliching the GOP ticket.

He will. GOP don't have any formidable candidate to go toe to toes with Hillary. There is growing out cry for black discrimination. And women will quickly rally around Clinton. If not Ben republicans have no hope for victory in 2016

Isaac2009:
my fear exactly. The bush and Clinton's always get the backing of big corporation and Media support. Well Obama have proof a black man can rule in a country control by white. The Freemason may try to convert ben

Obama descends from European kings on his mother's side. He was more 'royal' than Romney, that's why he won. Can Carson match that ? US presidents are selected by blood, not by vote.

stevecantrell:


Obama descends from European kings on his mother's side. He was more 'royal' than Romney, that's why he won. Can Carson match that. US presidents are selected by blood, not by vote.

Well Carson has medical royalty. He is world renowned in his field and he has the king of kings backing him. Even before he declare there are enormous pressure on him to run. I didn't know Romney till he won GOP nomination

Isaac2009:
my fear exactly. The bush and Clinton's always get the backing of big corporation and Media support. Well Obama have proof a black man can rule in a country control by white. The Freemason may try to convert ben

It depends on the next agenda of the brotherhood. Obama was given the presidency on the premise that he will use his influence as US first black President to further implement their plans by bringing Africa under the fold of the NWO. If recent development in Africa is anything to go by, i think their agenda is a success. Therefore i don't see a black making it to the US Presidency in 2016.

major466:

It depends on the next agenda of the brotherhood. Obama was given the presidency on the premise that he will use his influence as US first black President to further implement their plans by bringing Africa under the fold of the NWO. If recent development in Africa is anything to go by, i think their agenda is a success. Therefore i don't see a black making it to the US Presidency in 2016.

Hillary has too much skeleton the GOP could use to keep her off the race. I strongly believe no one draws the masses affection like Ben. Hillary might bear the consequences of Obama mistakes and failed policies

The only sympathy hillary enjoys is a call for a female President among women but if it is leadership Ben has the global qualifications

Unfortunately for him, the general feeling is that It's time for a female President and most women know if Hilary does not win now it may be a long time before another woman will come close to the White House

I still think Obama could be the last elected U.S president, if the country is taken down by economic, natural or nuclear disaster before november 2016.

So all this hot air might be waste of time.