BREAKING: Ben Carson Officially Withdraws from the Race

Carson Changes the Race in His Exit Speech

by Josh Guckert

During his speech to CPAC on Friday, Ben Carson officially announced his withdrawal from the presidential campaign after giving perhaps his most eloquent and insightful speech thus far.

During the speech he sounded off on many libertarian issues, including a reference to the United States’ highest-in-the-world incarceration rate, as well as the Federal Reserve’s devaluing of the dollar, which has led to a growth in the disparities between the rich and poor.

He described an ideal candidate which he would be willing to endorse, but did not endorse any of the four remaining candidates in the GOP field.

Carson stated that it must be “somebody who has demonstrated significant accomplishment in their life,” and someone “whose ideas and policies are clear and easy to find.”

He said it should also be considered “how they treat others and how they treat their family, because that’s how they’re going to treat the American people.” He also said voters should evaluate the people with whom the candidates surround themselves, and who is “ethical, because what we need in America is trickle-down ethics.”

“Someone who can check the box on all of those is going to make an incredible leader,” Carson said.

Carson’s campaign ends after the pediatric neurosurgeon rode a wave of populist anger to the top of the polls early in the race. With his soft-spoken rhetoric, he appealed to grassroots conservatives who were tired of more of the same.

However, Carson’s lack of political experience seemingly caught up to him, as he made several tactical mistakes, most notably in defending his past. The doctor seemed easily rattled and allowed the press to control the narrative after a number of strange stories from his angry youth emerged.

While Carson will not be president, he will likely use this election as a learning experience. He is considered by many to be one of the leading candidates to become the next Surgeon General.