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U.S. NEWSMonday 21 September 2015
Republicans want to broaden appeal; candidates hurt effort
KEVIN FREKING America. Responding to Donald Trump in nation-
JULIE PACE a question during an inter- wide and early-voting state
Associated Press view broadcast Sunday on polls. He has been picking
WASHINGTON (AP) — A NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the up support by appealing to
leading Republican presi- retired neurosurgeon de- socially conservative evan-
dential candidate says he scribed the Islamic faith as gelical voters, a key Re-
doesn’t believe that a Mus- inconsistent with the U.S. publican voting bloc in the
lim should be elected to the Constitution. Iowa caucuses which lead
nation’s top office, stirring “I would not advocate that off the state-by-state nomi-
up yet another controversy we put a Muslim in charge nating contests next year.
for a party that professes a of this nation,” Carson said Republican leaders had
commitment to broaden its in an interview aired Sun- hoped that the 2016
appeal and promote toler- day on NBC’s “Meet the campaign would offer a
ance. Press.” ‘’I absolutely would chance at redemption
Presidential candidate Ben not agree with that.” He and the opportunity to
Carson, a devout Chris- did not specify in what way make a fresh pitch to mi-
tian, says a president’s Islam ran counter to consti- norities, gays, women and
faith should matter to vot- tutional principles. others beyond the party’s
ers if it runs counter to the Carson has been running traditional core supporters.
values and principles of right behind businessman After a blistering examina-
Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon
Ben Carson speaks during a forum, in Manchester, N.H. Re-
sponding to a question during an interview broadcast Sunday,
Sept. 20, 2015, on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Carson, a devout
Christian, said Islam is antithetical to the Constitution and he
doesn’t believe that a Muslim should be elected president.
(AP Photo/Jim Cole)
tion of the 2012 election, It can be tough, though,
a report commissioned by to avoid getting drowned
Republican National Com- out by language sure to
mittee Chairman Reince stir up people. Front-runner
Priebus concluded that “if Trump declined to correct
our party is not welcom- a town hall participant
ing and inclusive, young who wrongly said Presi-
people and increasingly dent Barack Obama was a
other voters will continue to Muslim. Days later, Carson
tune us out.” spoke about Muslims and
But it hasn’t unfolded ac- the presidency — remarks
cording to the leadership’s described as “un-Ameri-
hoped-for script, with some can,” by a spokesman for
high-profile candidates the Council on American-
inviting lots of eyebrow- Islamic Relations, Ibrahim
raising. Just in the past few Hooper. Hooper said the
days, their comments have Constitution expressly bars
underscored that the prob- religious tests for those
lems extend beyond Re- seeking public office.
publicans’ well-document- “To me this really means he
ed troubles appealing to is not qualified to be presi-
Hispanics. dent of the United States,”
To be sure, former Florida Hooper said. “You cannot
Gov. Jeb Bush and sever- hold these kinds of views
al other candidates have and at the same time say
disavowed some of that you will represent all Ameri-
rhetoric or tried to stake out cans, of all faiths and
more moderate positions. backgrounds.”q
