Black Dr. Who Performed First Surgery to Separate Siamese Twins Lectures Obama at Prayer Breakfast
by Yvette Carnell
Dr. Benjamin Carson, who has long been heralded in the black community and elsewhere for his successful 1987 surgery to separate 
siamese twins, took President Obama to task over health care and the debt during Thursday’s National Prayer Breakfast.
Carson, a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins University, lectured President Obama for 25 minutes on how to implement free market principles to enhance health care. He also proposed a pro-growth overhaul of America’s tax policy in order to reduce the deficit.
With Obama present, Carson first attacked politically correct speech as a “horrible” and “dangerous” thing. Then he discussed the scholarship program he heads and discussed how education is the key to avoiding poverty.
“Our deficit is a big problem,” Carson said. “Think about it — our national debt — $16 and a half trillion dollars.”
Carson believes that the Bible lays out the best case for a flat tax over a progressive tax.
“When I pick up my Bible, you know what I see? I see the fairest individual in the universe, God, giving us a system. It’s called tithe,” Carson explained. He says that the 10 percent flat tax that the Bible lays out is what we should adopt.
Carson also seemed to imply that part of the problem with taxation is class envy.
“Well some people say, ‘well that’s not fair,’ because it doesn’t hurt the guy who made 10 billion dollars,” Carson said, anticipating the counterargument. “Where does it say you have to hurt the guy? He just put $1 billion in the pot. We don’t hurt him. It’s that kind of thinking that has resulted in 602 banks in the Cayman Islands.”
Next, Carson offered his ideas on how to overhaul health care.
“What can we do? Here’s my solution; when a person is born, give them a birth certificate, an electronic medical record, and a health savings account.” Carson said. “To which, money can be contributed pre-tax to the time you’re born to the time you die. When you die, you can pass it on to your family members so that when you’re 85 years old and you have six diseases, you’re not trying to spend up everything. You’re happy to send it on and there’s nobody talking about death panels.”
Yvette Carnell is a former Capitol Hill and campaign staffer turned writer. She is currently an editor and contributor to Yourblackworld. You can reach Yvette via Twitter @YvetteDC or on Facebook.
Comments
26 Responses to Black Dr. Who Performed First Surgery to Separate Siamese Twins Lectures Obama at Prayer Breakfast
Leave a Reply
Follow Us!
With due respect to Dr. Benjamin Carson, I would recommend the Dr. Carson not to criticize President Obama on the ACA. Carson is lucky to have education and insurance in case he gets sick. Some us Black folks don’t have insurance and dare we become sick, we end up with huge bill to be paid all our lives. You can’t play with people lives by advocating voodoo economics as solution to treat people. All developed countries in Europe and Asia have almost single payer medical insurance. It’s only this country, with selfish republicans, that want continue private medical insurance. Even if you have insurance, these same private insurance give you trouble once you need them. Carson should also remember the deficit is caused by billionaire investing and shipping jobs abroad. They don’t pay tax on their investment abroad. Some even bank in Swiss banks like our WH loser Romney. These billionaires are not on deficit. They are on surpluses. The IRS should get on task on billionaires hiding money abroad. I am asking Dr. Carson to withdraw his criticism of ACA and should study more what causes deficits.
Pastori Balele
February 8, 2013 at 10:59 pm
I don’t understand why it’s everyone else’s responsibility to provide for other peoples total needs.
Dr. Carson said if you have 10 billion you give back 1 billion, but for some that’s not enough, I’ve even heard someone say no one needs a billion dollars, everyone should get the same amount of money! I guess that means the person who refuses to learn, (we do get free education don’t we) get’s not earns, the same as the dishwasher.
Where do you think the President keeps his money, after 4 years in office and 2 books he has a net of $11.8 million, when he leaves office in 2016 the estimate is 30 million and as much as 18-40 each year afterwards, do you think he will hide his money so he will not have to pay for his Health Care Plan! Put your hands in your pockets and get your own Insurance!
Onesilverbac
February 9, 2013 at 4:22 am
I totally agree with Pastori on this. And it is sad that Dr. Carson takes this stance, especially having lived his childhood in Detroit like myself. He once was poor and now he has turned his back on those and on his own past. Has he not forgotten where he came from. I don’t expect him to return to his roots nor does he have to, but he can at least advocate for those less fortunate.
Herman Hawkins Jr.
February 9, 2013 at 6:11 am
I think Dr. Benjamin Carson should stick to medicine and let the President run the country. Being talented in one field does not translate into being intelligent in other areas.
Diann Kirby
February 8, 2013 at 11:19 pm
Amen…
Amina
February 9, 2013 at 4:07 am
It didn’t seem to stop President Obama I think he was a “Community organizer” or some other non job! I don’t think he had then or now anything on Dr. Carson! Intelligence has no boundaries.
I don’t understand we could and were critical of every other President why is it such a crime to do the same to President Obama!
James Johnson
February 9, 2013 at 4:37 am
As an educator,mother,and wife to a retired military personnel,Dr.Benjamin Carson is a very gifted and God-fearing man.His comments are sincere and from lips that speak no guile.Time out for those folks who keep on being politically correct but spiritually bankrupt.Our country needs to be debt free and only returning to the bible will set us free to prosper and be in health.The prayers of the righteous avails much.If my people who are called by my name would humble themselves and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,then I will heal their Land.
Rita Lovett
February 8, 2013 at 11:21 pm
We just have to adopt and stick wi th the Biblica rule – Pay the tenth of our income and God cannot lie on Hi word. Trust His word believe His word and e all will be alright. I am no exemption. I believe in tithing. bUT THERE were times when I would SKIP…lookinng at th problem instead of God. We have to trust whom Created us. Obama is not our saviour. God loves us or none of would be here. We have to pray and believe submission to God only. I do not submit to any mans auathority without haviang a reward and we are not suppose to. Thse who made it to the top by inveting in worldly vision kissed plenty of ass. I am not kissin no ass. Maybe thats why I got stuck for a while. Oh well. NOT DOING IT! Only a fool will kiss ass. an IDIOT! If God can’t provide for me then He needs to take me up and out of here. AMEN! But HE IS ABLE!
Kim
February 8, 2013 at 11:23 pm
I am somewhat surprised at Dr. Carson’s lecturing the President of the United States regarding running the Country. How would he take it if the President dare lecture him on some medical procedure that he has been involved in that did not come out as he would have desired. Dr. Carson has been blessed and nobody I know is begrudges his fame or fortune, however he should read the entire Bible and not just use verses pf his liking as that is known as text-proofing. He maybe a great Doctor but the Doctor is no theologian or is he is a good Bible student. My recommendation to the good Doctor is to be grateful to God for God has blessed him with and leave his GOP Talking Points in his locker where they belong. Perhaps he would be well served by reading the New testament passage where Jesus have a serious conversation with the Rich Young ruler regarding his vast possessions. I don’t recall Jesus lecturing anybody about attempting to help the poor and the needy. Perhaps the good Doctor should read where Jesus said He to preach news to the poor, offer a helping hand i.e health care to the needy and to give sight to the blind. Perhaps the good Doctor needs to read his Bible a little more and not rely on the talking points that folk readily associate with the GOP. In closing Dr. Carson please don’t forget from whence you have come and was responsible for bringing you thus far along the way. It was God the same God who is going to hold you accountable for your DEEDS AND ACTIONS while here on earth. Remember the Bible says “whatever a Man/Woman soar so shall he/she reap!
Jeremiah Williams
February 9, 2013 at 12:36 am
People, lets not allow ourselves to be persuaded by everything that sounds good. A flat tax sounds good but it is more beneficial to those who are rich. Lets learn to think.
Wakeup
February 9, 2013 at 12:55 am
Why does everyone have a problem with the rich?
How would you feel if 63 cent of every dollar you earn was taken by the government?
That’s why most of us will never get rich, you can’t seem to do anything on your own, the government has to help you.
The government will never allow you to gain wealth if they are a part of your dream.
James Johnson
February 9, 2013 at 4:48 am
Dr. Carson is gifted and well respected and I’m sure he would have gotten the president’s ear. I find it disrespectful of him to ‘dress down’ the president in any way because he had the podium. Just plain disrespectful. Maybe he does stuff for the poor but the policies the president is putting forward will reach more poor people than Dr. Carson can. He already made made it. Give someone else a chance to do the same.
Erica
February 9, 2013 at 1:05 am
Come on, the President berates people about every time a microphone is placed in front of him.
No one in his circle think much about it because he is talking about Republicans. But he does it all of the time!
James Johnson
February 9, 2013 at 4:53 am
A flat tax is already implemented for the most part. Don’t believe me, look at your next paycheck. If you are bring home less than $3,000 before taxes, believe me, you are going to be hurting for every penny taken out.
Elem
February 9, 2013 at 4:02 am
I thought Dr. Carson made some valid points that President Obama should consider. Even Michelle applauded him on several comments that he made.
Here is the link to his speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFb6NU1giRA
s'ann
February 9, 2013 at 4:34 am
If you would stop acting as if the President is the 2nd coming and look at him in the same way you looked at the last President you might see he is not all that great!
In my opinion the only thing he has done correctly has been to use the drones to kill the terrorist, you know the ones that don’t exist any more since Osama Bin Laden was killed two years ago.
James Johnson
February 9, 2013 at 5:03 am
The BiBle says the ten percent is to given to the church not taxes.
fred sims
February 9, 2013 at 4:41 pm
I agree with Erica and disagree with James Johnson, who I believe is wrong. We never did so much scrutiny or criticizing of any other president.
Ruby from NJ
February 9, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Give Dr.Carson a standing ovation for his successful medical career. However, beyond that let him, President Obama and all of Black America’s financial elite put their money where their mouths are. I consider the lecture Dr. Carson gave President Obama as two rich Black folks whose rhetoric is disconnected with the 400-year-old reality of what it is to be Black and living in racist America. What many Black financial and intellectual elites don’t know or don’t care to know is that White Priviledge is the difference maker in America. On average, regardless of education, personal and/or professional accomplishment a white person with less education and accomplishments in any field will make on average 25-30 percent more money at the end of their career than a Black person. Therefore, there will always be the need for those at the financial top to help those poor folks struggling at the financial bottom. What Dr. Carson should be telling President Obama and all–the nose in the air Black folks–is that God wants us to help the least of those among us. And when we do, like Matthew we “shall know the tree by the fruit that it bears”. Right now throughout Black America the fruit trees are bear to the bark!!!
George Benson
February 9, 2013 at 5:12 pm
So what! Why are you not a black elite?!!
If you are not you could be if you would do what is necessary to become successful and rich! It’s call work ethic! mostly we don’t have it, or at least not enough to make it to the next level!
You need to stop talking about what happen 400 years ago, not forget, but go over, under, around or through any thing that’s in your way!
White privilege is a cop out! If it mattered to any degree their would be no blacks of any note in any career area. We excel in all areas, business, finance, legal, Education, medical, every area!
c
James Johnson
February 10, 2013 at 3:20 am
White privilege is a reality and Black ignorance is a cancer that slowly eats away critical thinking. Go back and carefully read the post and focus on the 25-30 percent and then, if can rationally, explain how does one “excel” when having a Black skin ensures they will make 25-30 percent less over his/her career in the areas of “business, finance, legal, education, medical and every area”? One, among the many reasons there is a “Black History” month is so, hopefully, intellectually challenged Negroes such as yourself can educated on the criticallity of understanding your 400-year old past so that you can comprehend your present. All too often Negroes such as yourself conflated the propaganda of being “educated” and being “rich” with being wealthy. If you should dare to elevate your mind pick up a 2012 listing of Forbes’ 400 wealthiest families in America and examine it very closely, then ask yourself how many of the wealthiest white people in the top twenty listed, possess a college degree? Next, ask yourself how many listed in the top 10 possess more combined net wealth than the net wealth of all of America’s 36 million Black folks. Once you have the answers to those 2 questions you will began to understand what White Priviledge is and hopefully, you will put down the white folk’s Kool Aid, take off the white folk’s glasses and seek to understand Black America’s 400 year old past so that you mentally began to move from Negro to Blackness. And Oh by the way, I hold an undergrad in Electrical Engineering from Standford University, and double Masters… MS in Physics, MIT and MS in Math, MIT and none of my credentials or professional accomplishments change my skin color or the 400 years of reality tied to it.
George Benson
February 10, 2013 at 10:47 am
G-D says their is a cure for every ailment, and also a cure or solution for every problem. The way of man can never be above the way of G-D.
jaleel shakir
February 9, 2013 at 10:28 pm
someone need to talk to the President!!
Do you remember when he and the AG wanted to bring the terrorist from Gitmo to New York, to read them their rights and try them with a jury?
Now we find out that if the terrorist is an American, they get no rights, they get killed!
I think he is out of control, and that he is in way over his head!
I mean he keeps promising things like, he would tax the rich only, and no sooner than he was elected again he was taxing the rich and everyone else! He said the Healthcare plan would insure that everyone is covered, now we learn 7 million will not be covered!
We were told his new healthcare plan would be less expensive, and now we learn it will cost up to 3 times as much as the employers are paying now, so they may well not offer health insurance any more and we will have to all get the government plan.
Yes, someone need to dress the President down, or should we now cll him King Obama!
James Johnson
February 10, 2013 at 2:57 am
Gentle Ben — stay in your lane!
Carolyn M.
February 10, 2013 at 3:35 pm
I feel compelled to express why I felt [Rev.] Dr. Carson made some valid points in his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast and to fill in some of the blanks. While his speech was intended and directed to both President Obama and Congress, it is relevant to us all. Secondly, to put things in context, understand [Rev.] Dr. Carson is a Seven Day Adventists and affiliates with the Independent Party, which are known to be economically conservative and socially liberal. President Obama on the other hand is a professed Christian and our honorable elected Democratic President.
Traditionally, Democrats favor social liberalism and advocate for the poor, working class, labor unions, “minorities,” civil rights, affirmative action, social freedoms, internationalism, and now environmentalism. The Democrats oppose unregulated business and finance, but favors a balanced budget, free enterprise with government intervention, and a progressive taxation (unlike the proportional tax system suggested by [Rev.] Dr. Carson).
[Rev.] Dr. Carson opened his speech using biblical scriptures found in Proverbs 11:9 (hypocrisy), Proverbs 11:12 (righteousness), Proverbs 11:25 (benevolent giving), and 2 Chronicles 7:14 (repentance), using ‘his’ bully pulpit, stepping on toes, while offering words of wisdom concerning the spiritualty and direction of our country, in which he concluded uniformity was the answer.
But what captured my attention most about his speech was its substance and how he presented some of the priorities of our nation, namely, education, poverty, deficit reduction, and healthcare. He outlined them using humor, his child rearing, his educational and life experiences, and his Independent political affiliation (though he left out jobs, domestic violence (i.e., terroristic gun violence in the U.S.) and environmental stewardship).
With respect to education, I heard him say WHY 30% of “our students” (Title I schools) do not graduate from high school and WHY 44% of “our students” do not finish college. He courageously pointed out the reason “our students” do not complete their education are the same reasons our ancestors were prohibited from learning to read during slavery. I heard him say when you are educated you are truly free and you can think for yourself. He further stated schools today do not teach “our children” to be critical thinkers and problem solvers, rendering them to be dependent and powerless. I also heard him say his mother (parental involvement) was his primary and his most adamant advocate, who ensured his academic success by praying, observing others, and removing obstacles. She made him and his siblings read, write, and critically think for themselves by solving everyday problems, and she never allowed them to make excuses or consider themselves as victims. [Rev.] Dr. Carson also indicated through self-advocacy by reading and learning about other peoples’ lives, he discovered how to “control” his own destiny. He pointed out, too, that academics and sports accomplishments should be put into proper perspectives. Specifically, academic success should be popularized just as much as sports rather than being hidden and reserved.
What really sent up red flags for me, though, was when he stated schools are dumbing down education. Without apology, indirectly, he warned, if parents, guardians and those concerned do not get involved with “our children’s” education, our children will be left behind and I add, they will be replaced, just like a strikebreaker replaces an employee protesting unsatisfactory wages and working conditions. As Cicely Tyson, in character, admonishes her family in Tyler Perry’s “Family Reunion,” it is also time for our young men and women to TAKE their places, starting now! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR5WbkC74Ss).
Lastly, with regard to education, [Rev.] Dr. Carson not only expressed his concern about the quality of education, but he put his money where his mouth is. Through the Carson Scholarship Fund, he has provided over 5,000 scholarships to educate [“our] students” in over 50 states.
[Rev.] Dr. Carson stated, too, that it is important to educate “our people,” not only to become problem solvers, but to become fiscally responsible, at which point he followed by raising the deficit problem and the broken tax system, where he suggested proportionality fairness and the elimination of loop holes. He used the biblical tithe of 10% as an example of a proportional fair tax system. The state of Alabama is another example of the proportional tax system. But he failed to tell you the difference between the current tax system and the proportional tax system.
A proportional tax system has a flat tax structure where everyone pays the same percentage or share of income taxes and everyone is supposed to be treated equitably. However, the problem with the proportional tax system, it cuts directly into the low income families’ ability to make ends meet, but does not affect wealthy families. The progressive tax system, on the other hand, exempts low income families entirely and tax rates are graduated — the higher the income level, the higher the tax rate. The state of Georgia is an example of a progressive tax system as well as our federal income tax system. Conversely, the federal income tax system has become less progressive as the income of the rich, the 1%, has substantially increased, while their taxes have drastically been reduced; whereas, the remaining 99%, pays as much in taxes as the rich 1%.
Additionally, [Rev.] Dr. Carson stated healthcare is the most important thing a person can have and without it nothing else matters.
In closing, like Jesus, he spoke in parables, using a naval destroyer and a lighthouse. The naval ship exerted its power ordering navigation assistance. In response, the lighthouse revealed itself, deflating the naval ship’s authority. The naval ship was forced to recognize that it needed the lighthouse in order to safely enter the harbor. I ask you, who represents the naval ship and who represents the lighthouse? And who has the power and control? I promise it is not a trick question.
His final analogy, using the bald eagle, he pointed out how lawyers were trained to win (referring to Congress and political parties), and suggested, instead, that it was better to work in unity and to be loyal to God using the Pledge of Allegiance as an additional parable. AFTER ALL, they all made the same commitment and took the same oath. With that being said, they are all accountable, but TO WHOM I ASK and I add, so are we. May God bless the good [Rev.] Dr. Carson and the United States of America.
s'ann
February 12, 2013 at 12:44 am
S’Ann, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your response, and thank you for your careful but deliberate answer. I am going to follow up with some research about a couple of things that you mentioned! Thanks again.
Lakita
February 12, 2013 at 11:53 pm