Ben Carson: Freedom of Speech Should Be a Two-Tier Right

what eye thynk:  Ben Carson seems to be having a little trouble understanding the First Amendment.  It appears he believes it is there to protect his right to say anything he wants, and that includes stopping the rest of us from disagreeing with him.  

The chronology of his statements on freedom of speech and political correctness make for interesting reading.

2012, during an interview at Patrick Henry College: "(People) need to rise up, they need to say to political correctness: 'Take a hike.  This is who we are, this is what we believe in..."

2013, in an interview with Star Parker, founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education:  "(One) thing we have to realize is we're being crucified by political correctness--because you're not supposed to say anything to that young woman who's having a baby out of wedlock, because 'that lifestyle is equivalent to any other lifestyle.'"

2014, speaking at CPAC: "It's time for people to stand up and proclaim for what they believe and stop being bullied...(Common sense has) been beaten into submission (by the) PC police."

2014, during an interview on BreitbartTV, after being criticized for comparing the U.S. to Nazi Germany:  "We now live in a society where people are afraid to say what they actually believe.  And it's because of the PC police, it's because of politicians, it's because of news.  All of these things are combining to stifle people's conversation.  The reason that is so horrible is because the only way you have harmony and reach a consensus is by talking."

February 2015, talking to Bill O'Reilly:  "We need to be in a place where people feel free to express themselves and not to be intimidated by political correctness.  It's destroying our nation, and there is a reason that our founders, one of the very first amendments, freedom of speech, freedom of expression."

September 2015, speaking on a Michigan university campus:  "Political correctness is imposed by the secular progressives and those who wish to fundamentally change our society.  Therefore, they make things off limits to talk about..."

October 2015, talking to Glen Beck who asked whether Mr. Carson would eliminate the Department of Education as other GOP candidates have proposed:  "I actually have something I would use the Department of Education to do.  It would be to monitor our institutions of higher education for extreme political bias and deny federal funding if it exists." 

It is interesting that he made so many of his calls for an end to bullying opposing views into silence through political correctness at schools and universities or while discussing issues of education, but then says he'd use the Department of Education to silence political discourse in places where education is supported by federal funds.

So, is he trying to say that, if you attend a publicly funded school or university you will be expected to give up your First Amendment rights?  Is he proposing an America where only those affluent enough to afford a private school education would be permitted the right to an opinion of our political system?

During a town hall meeting in Des Moines, a student asked President Obama about candidate Carson's plan for the U.S. Department of Education.  The President replied, "I have no idea what that means, and I suspect he doesn't either."

Aaaannnnd mic drop.