Ben Carson worries patriotism has taken ‘back seat’ to politics

PHOENIX — A ranking member of the White House Administration, Dr. Ben Carson, said national politics had to find a way out of its usual degree of party rancor to protect its citizens and move forward.

“There’s no question that politics has taken the front seat and patriotism has taken a back seat and it’s something we all need to be concerned about on both sides of the aisle,” the Secretary of Housing said Tuesday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News.

Nearly a week after Republican lawmakers were shot at (Rep. Steve Scalise was seriously wounded) during baseball practice for a charity game, Republicans and Democrats have returned to fighting about health care.

“When our political party and ideology becomes more important than the things that made this into a great nation, we’re in trouble,” Carson said.

The 2016 GOP presidential candidate said concern for the country was what prompted him to run for the highest office in the land and that concern remained.

He was chosen by President Donald Trump to head up the Department of Housing and Urban Development in December and was confirmed by the Senate in March.

Although he has no experience in governing, Carson knows the state of political discourse has become alarming.

“(Our nation) is being torn apart.”

Quoting President Abraham Lincoln, the retired neurosurgeon said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand. We have to have voices of reason, we have to have common sense.

“I think the majority of Americans still do have common sense, it’s just they just don’t necessarily have the biggest voice.”

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