Did Dr. Carson make a huge mistake by saying the Marine Corps isn't ready?

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 17:52:10 -0400

Dr. Carson made a comment intending to reference the depletion of the military and difficulty to sustain operations with cuts. Instead he recieved a TON of backlash on social media from a number of Marines.

Is this something that's going to follow him and hurt him with veterans in general, Marines specifically? Or will it blow over as not being what he meant?

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/09/17/marines-fire-back-carsons-readiness-comment-gop-debate/32554929/

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 17 at 2015 6:04 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 18:04:21 -0400

I think the Good Doctor should have said the Marine Corps Readiness Forces have been cut but that doesn't mean the Marines are NOT ready for deployment.....They are still our Nation's 911 Forces and dam good at it...LCDR Mulcahey....IMHO

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2015 6:09 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 18:09:10 -0400

As a Marine, we are always ready. I think Dr. Carson may have to clarify his remark about the Marines not being ready.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 17 at 2015 6:12 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 18:12:05 -0400

Dr. Carson "misspoke badly" and the level of this mistake is likely huge.

The country doesn't have a whole lot of sacred cows, but one of them is the belief that we can have Marines anywhere within short order. Saying we can't is the proverbial "turd in the punchbowl."

It's not just Marines that are going to eat him alive for this poorly worded comment. I have a feeling, he just bled into the ocean and the sharks are coming...

Response by TSgt Marco McDowell made Sep 17 at 2015 8:24 PM

TSgt Marco McDowell — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:24:17 -0400

Most people don't consider what is being said, they hear words and fly off the handle. I understood what he was trying to get across. Doesn't mean I will or won't vote for him, but it helps to have an open mind during debates instead of starting off listening for what you want to hear.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Sep 17 at 2015 9:08 PM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 21:08:25 -0400

He's a twit. It is a misstatement made by someone ill advised. Not CINC material IMHO

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Sep 17 at 2015 9:15 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 21:15:25 -0400

I don't believe that he meant that any individual Marine or Marine unit was not ready. I thing that he was referring to needing more manpower, more and better equipment and adequate funding.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Sep 17 at 2015 10:59 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 22:59:19 -0400

He's having to backtrack what he's said on more than one occasion. While this is an interesting faux pas, Carson's 2nd Amendment gaffe is the one I'm least impressed by, so far.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Sep 18 at 2015 2:08 AM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 02:08:38 -0400

That shows his total lack of understanding about forces in readiness and the Marines in general, we're always ready.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 18 at 2015 9:13 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:13:25 -0400

I definitely think Dr Carson should clarify his statement!

Response by Cpl Harry Larsen made Sep 19 at 2015 2:59 PM

Cpl Harry Larsen — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 14:59:52 -0400

Unfortunately, most of the candidates for president rely on "bites" of information that they blab about because either they think something may be controversial and act as a rallying point for their cause, or it'll get them added attention from the general public and thereby gain them some name recognition or some support. All the candidates seem to do it and sometimes it works in their favor and sometimes it blows up in their faces. Sometimes they tell the truth, sometimes they lie...and sometimes they tell half-truths, so the public has to be discerning.

Likewise, if the voters perceive a candidate as both "viable" and "likable," then they'll forgive a few TV debate gaffes. If not, then they may jump all over those one-liners and crucify those candidates as unelectable or unworthy. Jeb Bush is a recent example; Donald Trump jumped all over him during the last debate about one of his comments about "not supporting women's issues." No matter how many times Jeb tries to correct his stance to the Donald, you can bet "But you said" will continue to come up again and again. (I'm NOT saying I'd vote for either of these candidates, I'm just using it as an example.)

It all depends on the glasses we use to review our world...whether rosy or otherwise, we all filter what we see, hear, smell through our own experiences and knowledge base.

I think Ben Carson is highly intelligent. He obviously possesses great medical skills and experience. Whether it translates into "good presidential material" is for everyone to decide, if he gets that far in the primary process. I doubt his comment will be sufficiently negative amongst the military to eliminate him from contention. I give our military personnel enough credit to be able to read between the lines of his comment.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 3:42 PM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 15:42:39 -0400

No, but they are only showing part of his answer. Islamic ;aw is NOT compatible with the Constitution. Carson just did a piss poor job of explaining his position and reasoning.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Sep 24 at 2015 4:01 AM

Cpl James Waycasie — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 04:01:28 -0400

Sir , you being in the Navy, I am sure you have experience with Marines. We are highly confident, bold, cocky , and have a sense of great pride. Yes he made a mistake. Our Politicians hinder the Corps a lot in support, growth, and equipment but as far as the spirit of the Corps that dwells in every Marine who ever stepped on those yellow foots goes, in every Marines mind they are ready, lol, Sir. So I'm sure his comment was not welcomed with a heartfelt touch of gratitude.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 24 at 2015 4:04 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 04:04:40 -0400

I'm beginning to ignore everything Dr Carson says...

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 1:15 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 13:15:51 -0400

I think it wasn't phrased adequately - not Marines, but the organization, as in not getting what it should to get the job done. It entails the entire DoD, not just the USMC....