Ben Carson: I Didn’t Want To Endorse Trump, But He Promised Me A Position

[ehrnst]

YUUUUGE violation of federal law

"Carson told the conservative online site NewsMax TV on Monday that he backed Trump based on a practical calculus. “I didn’t see a path for [John] Kasich, who I like, or for [Marco] Rubio, who I like. As far as [Ted] Cruz is concerned, I don’t think he’s gonna be able to draw independents and Democrats unless has has some kind of miraculous change… Is there another scenario that I would have preferred? Yes. But that scenario isn’t available.” Pressed to clarify, Carson said he meant he’d prefer to have backed one of the other candidates.

Carson then said that Trump had promised him a role in his administration, “certainly in an advisory capacity.” Asked by NewsMax’s Steve Malzberg whether this meant a cabinet position, Carson declined to “reveal any details about it right now, because all of this is still very liquid.”

Federal law expressly prohibits candidates from directly or indirectly promising “the appointment of any person to any public or private position or employment, for the purpose of procuring support in his candidacy.” The penalty for violations could include fines or a year in jail — two years if the violation was willful."

Video at the link:

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/03/15/3760261/carson-offered-position-by-trump/

[CanonRay]

1. Laws only apply to us peons

Not VIPs

[valerief]

5. That's right. Laws are made to protect the wealthy. nt

[Jackie Wilson Said]

2. Can we draw the conclusion from this that therefore Donald Trump has promised Sarah Palin

a position in his cabinet as well?
I think we can.

Now, whether he would do that or not, who knows.

He never tells the truth, unless by coincidence.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

13. No one has to promise her anything. Just turn on the camera

and she'll be wherever she thinks she will get the most adoration.

[tblue37]

21. Christie, for sure. nt

[Merryland]

26. that's the creepiest of all n/t

[JFKDem62]

3. Rats being bribed to return to ship. nt

[vdogg]

4. Not really

Advisory position could mean he just gets a phone call every now and then. This sort of horse trading goes on in politics all the time. So long as money hasn't exchanged hands I'm not really sure it could be considered a crime. It's just weird to hear a politician come out and state it so explicitly.

[valerief]

7. I clicked on the link.

From the link provided in the OP.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/599

Whoever, being a candidate, directly or indirectly promises or pledges the appointment, or the use of his influence or support for the appointment of any person to any public or private position or employment, for the purpose of procuring support in his candidacy shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 721; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), (L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

[Erose999]

19. Trump bragged about buying/peddling influence at the first debate. I doubt any fucks are given as to

the appearance of impropriety.

[NightWatcher]

6. To be fair, the position he wanted him to take was on his knees

[AxionExcel]

8. Secretary of Sellouts (R)

[KamaAina]

9. Drumpf's jumpsuit would match his face and hair!

[Blue_Adept]

10. Yeah, this is the instance where Carson is telling the truth

Cause he's been so reliable so far.

[RobinA]

18. Really

If you're Trump, what the heck do you care about an endorsement from Ben Carson, who would be a Loser in your book. I can't see the megalomanic Donald giving two craps about a lesser mortal like Ben. Look how he's treated Christie, whose endorsement might arguably be worth more than Carson's. Trump don't need no stinkin' endorsements, he's The Donald.

[Solomon]

24. He needs Carson to prove he loves the blacks.

-

[SummerSnow]

11. Ass kissing Czar?

[eShirl]

12. I wonder what he promised my governor?

Less than a week before endorsing him, Gov. Paul LePage urged fellow Republican governors in a closed-door meeting to condemn presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, the New York Times reported Saturday.

It’s a schizophrenic twist made public just after LePage’s Friday endorsement of Trump, the billionaire businessman who the governor has criticized in the past, and a potential example of the campaign horse-trading over the past week.

At a meeting last Saturday with Republican governors in Washington, the Times reported, LePage “erupted in frustration” over Trump’s rise, urging governors to draft a letter “to the people” that condemned Trump and his politics.

His idea, however, didn’t go anywhere. Then, on Friday, LePage became the second governor to endorse Trump hours after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who LePage backed and campaigned for until he dropped out of the presidential race earlier this month.

http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2016/02/27/report-lepage-wanted-to-stop-trump-a-week-before-endorsing-him/

[tblue37]

22. Don't forget, he believed he had been offered a West Point scholarship, too.

[struggle4progress]

15. Carson for Secretary of Ancient Egyptian Grain-Storage Technology!

[AxionExcel]

20. Bingo!

[underpants]

27. Secretary of Rocket Surgery

[imanamerican63]

16. There is an old saying "be careful of what you want "

Carson has also said that Trump may not be the best president choice! Ya think!

[Erose999]

17. "Very liquid," indeed. Hey Carson, is that Trump peeing down on you, or is it raining?

[ruralsteve]

23. Raise your hand if you USED TO think brain surgeons were smart.

Okay, you can raise both hands if one isn't enough......

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

25. It was a misunderstanding

Trump told Carson to assume the position.