Retired neurosurgeon and former 2016 presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson is President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. In the face of a growing rental affordability crisis, a rapidly declining homeownership rate, and enduring discrimination within the housing market, the role of the secretary of housing and urban development demands an individual with extensive housing or community development experience. Ben Carson is not that individual. In fact, he even admitted it. On top of being woefully unqualified for the job, Carson holds some extreme ideas that could dictate his decision-making as HUD secretary.
4 reasons Ben Carson is unfit to be HUD secretary
- Ben Carson is so woefully unqualified that he admits it.
Although it didn’t deter him from seeking the highest office in the land, Dr. Carson’s adviser released a statement saying he wouldn’t consider a position in Trump’s administration given his lack of government experience: “The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency.”
- Dr. Carson considers fair housing to be communism.
Under Carson, millions of low-income Americans and residents of color could stand to lose critical protections and housing resources. First on the chopping block are the Fair Housing Act and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, which Carson criticized. In 2015, Dr. Carson acknowledged that discrimination in housing practices exists, creating damage in communities of color, but he sharply disagreed with the Obama administration’s handling of antiquated housing laws meant to equalize the market.
Dr. Carson said in a Washington Times piece:
These government-engineered attempts to legislate racial equality create consequences that often make matters worse. There are reasonable ways to use housing policy to enhance the opportunities available to lower-income citizens, but based on the history of failed socialist experiments in this country, entrusting the government to get it right can prove downright dangerous.
The possible future U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, secretary asserts that the federal government’s commitment to ensuring equal housing is overreaching and reminiscent of communist countries. So much for fair housing.
- FEC filings showed Ben Carson spent campaign money frivolously. Is this what awaits HUD?
Although the Carson campaign cranked out a large fundraising operation, Federal Election Commission, or FEC, fillings show that the neurosurgeon and presidential hopeful’s team routinely spent its money frivolously. And HUD will become a lightning rod under Trump. HUD has been known to be a turbulent place under Republican administrations. With Carson at the helm, this would be no exception, especially with Trump’s own financial interests in real estate development. HUD could become a deal-making machine poised to set up Trump allies for years to come.
- Aside from believing fair housing policies are “communist,” Carson also believes prison manufactures gays and war crimes are imaginary.
Yep, he said it: Prison manufactures gays. War crimes are imaginary. Muslims can’t hold public office. And Jews could have stopped Hitler if they owned guns.
How you can #ResistCarson
The secretary of housing and urban development must be confirmed by a majority of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and a majority vote on the floor of the Senate.
Call, write, or tweet:
- Richard Shelby (R-AL) at 202.224.5744
- Mike Crapo (R-ID) at 202.224.6142
- Bob Corker (R-TN) at 202.224.3344
- Pat Toomey (R-PA) at 202.224.4254
- Dean Heller (R-NV) at 202.224.6244
- Tim Scott (R-SC) at 202.224.6121
- Ben Sasse (R-NE) at 202.224.4224
- Tom Cotton (R-AR) at 202.224.2353
- Mike Rounds (R-SD) at 202.224.5842
- David Perdue (R-GA) at 202.224.3521
- Thom Tillis (R-NC) at 202.224.6342
- John Kennedy (R-LA) 202.224.4623
and demand that they examine and question Carson’s record before deciding how they will vote.