On Sunday Dr. Ben Carson was on “Meet the Press.” Naturally the subject of Donald Trump’s failure to engage in submissive urination with a questioner at his Rocherster, N.H. town hall meeting expressed some exotic opinions about Obama.

From the transcript:

CHUCK TODD:

Let me wrap this up by finally dealing with what’s been going on, Donald Trump, and a deal with a questioner that claimed that the president was Muslim. Let me ask you the question this way: Should a President’s faith matter? Should your faith matter to voters?

DR. BEN CARSON:

Well, I guess it depends on what that faith is. If it’s inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter. But if it fits within the realm of America and consistent with the constitution, no problem.

CHUCK TODD:

So do you believe that Islam is consistent with the constitution?

DR. BEN CARSON:

No, I don’t, I do not.

CHUCK TODD:

So you–

DR. BEN CARSON:

I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that.

CHUCK TODD:

And would you ever consider voting for a Muslim for Congress?

DR. BEN CARSON:

Congress is a different story, but it depends on who that Muslim is and what their policies are, just as it depends on what anybody else says, you know. And, you know, if there’s somebody who’s of any faith, but they say things, and their life has been consistent with things that will elevate this nation and make it possible for everybody to succeed, and bring peace and harmony, then I’m with them.

I think Carson answered this question correctly. While it is not permissible for the government to forbid Muslims from holding high office, it is certainly within the prerogative of each citizen to make that choice for himself. What Carson said is really no more extraordinary than saying you would not vote for a communist for president because their beliefs are antithetical to the Constitution and American culture. No matter what the form of governance, there are zero Muslim nations where there is freedom of speech (think Draw Mohammed Day) and freedom of religion (which includes the ability to proselytize and convert). Only one, Turkey, grants full political freedom to women– at least on paper.

Enter [mc_name name=’Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’G000359′ ] from low earth orbit. To say that his quixotic campaign for president hasn’t caught on is an exercise in understatement. In his home state of South Carolina he places seventh and 80% of Republicans want him to drop out of the race. So on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo,” Graham went on the attack:

Graham said, “During the second election of  Karzai, I had an opportunity to go to a polling station during the election with military members in charge of security. One was a young man who grew up in Kabul, went to this particular high school. He came to America. He was a member of the United States Army. He was so proud of what happened in Afghanistan. He was proud to wear the uniform. I had a cup of coffee with him, and, yes, one day, I hope that young man could grow up to be president of the United States.”

He continued, “America is an idea not owned by a particular religion, race or anything else. Out of many comes one. I think Dr. Carson needs to apologize to this young man and every other Muslim serving their country and to the American Muslim community. And if he understood the world and how dangerous it is he would not say things like this. We have to partner with people in the faith to destroy radical Islam. And most Muslims throughout the world reject what radical Islam is trying to do to the world and their faith. This is an example to me that Mr. Carson may be a good doctor, but he is not ready to lead a great nation.”

He continued, “what would he say to the young man I met in Kabul who left Afghanistan, became an American citizen, joined the United States army? What would he say to the approximately 3,500 American Muslims who have been to Iraq and Afghanistan fighting for our freedom, risking their lives. What he should say is thank you for serving our great nation. We’re all in this together.”

This is not only nonsense of stilts it doesn’t even address the issue. Why would the actions of Muslims who served outweigh the actions of those who have worked hard to damage America and American interests.

CAIR, of course, is on the job. It took some time out from advocating radical Islamic positions to demand everyone and their dog repudiate Ben Carson:

“I think his remarks should be repudiated by everyone on the political spectrum and that he should withdraw,” Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Islamic advocacy group, told the Washington Examiner on Sunday.

Carson, who is third in the Washington Examiner‘s presidential power rankings, spoke on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday and said that he wouldn’t “advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation.”

Hooper said that Carson’s comments were unconstitutional according to Article Six of the Constitution, which forbids a religious test as a requirement for qualification to any public office.

Note to Hooper: Before you quote the US Constitution you should be at least vaguely aware of what it says. The Constitution applies to government action. From ratification until 1961, some states did apply religious tests for public office.

While Carson is apologizing the Muslims, like the unnamed and maybe real soldier, should he apologize to that fat toad from CAIR, Ibrahim Hooper? How about Nidal Malik Hasan? How about Hasan Akbar? How about the guys who tried to shoot up the art exhibit in Garland, Texas. How about the good folks in Dearborn, Michigan who tried to jail a couple of Christian pastors for handing out Bibles?

I think Carson is on solid ground in saying that Islam runs contrary to American culture and to a great extent it is hostile to America. Whether Graham wishes to admit it or not America was founded by Christians and our laws and our Constitution are imbued with that religious tradition. It should be self evident that someone who is raised within a religious tradition that epitomizes group-think would be out of step in a pluralistic society. The fact that the “American Muslim community” continues to try to carve out Muslim majority neighborhoods shows they have no desire to assimilate, to actually become Americans, and that they don’t consider themselves to be part of the social and political life of the nation.

CAIR is just doing what it does, trying to tear down and debase America and turn us into a Islamic hellhole.

Lindsey Graham has decided the only way anyone is going to notice him is if he tries to tear down others.