ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) – Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson says he’s faced more discrimination because he’s a black conservative than because of his race alone.
“That’s an easy one: conservative ideology by a long shot,” he said, when asked which factor generated more prejudice.
“In this country, you are not supposed to be black and be a conservative,” added Carson, the only black candidate in the 2016 presidential field. “If you are, you are fair game for any vile thing, for lies and twisting your words.”
Carson’s comments came during an all-day campaign swing in South Carolina, the first of the early voting states with a significant African-American population. Black voters here and nationally trend overwhelmingly to Democrats.
Carson alluded to that disadvantage Wednesday. He did not specifically cite the Democratic Party, but argued that “secular progressives” – terminology he uses often when criticizing various aspects of U.S. liberalism – “are only interested in one thing, and that’s voting blocs. They don’t really care two hoots and a holler about people.”