GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson says President Barack Obama was "raised white" — making his "claim" to identify with the experience of black Americans "is a bit of a stretch."
In an interview for an "Off Message" podcast with
Politico, the retired pediatric surgeon says his experience as a black child raised in poverty by a working single mother who sometimes relied on government aid is something Obama could never understand.
"He's an 'African' American. He was, you know, raised white," he says.
Carson says he was "proud that we broke the color barrier when he was elected, but … he didn't grow up like I grew up."
"Many of his formative years were spent in Indonesia," he says. "So, for him to, you know, claim that, you know, he identifies with the experience of black Americans, I think, is a bit of a stretch."
Carson also says he grew up seeing "what real racism is."
Politico notes the comments on race are the most extensive since Carson launched his White House bid; after an early surge, he now is at the bottom of the five-candidate field in an average of
polling results.
Carson denies any racism in the Republican Party, pointing the finger of blame on those who can't accept a conservative black voter.
"They assume because you're black, you have to think a certain way," he tells the Politico podcast. "And if you don't think that way, you're 'Uncle Tom,' you're worthy of every horrible epithet they can come up with; whereas, if I weren't black, then I would just be a Republican."
"I don't find any particular problem being an African American in the Republican Party," he says. "Maybe I'm just very nonobservant. You know, I don't go around looking for things, and you have to understand that whatever you think is going on is probably what you're going to see."
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