The Carson question: To run or not to run?

With all the speculation swirling around whether Ben Carson will run for president next year, many people have called me or stopped me on the street to seek my opinion. So, I decided to put on my “political” hat and give my analysis of his possible candidacy.

Dr. Carson is a 63-year-old native of Detroit, an accomplished author and a retired, trailblazing neurosurgeon. On Sept. 6, 1987, Dr. Carson made history when he became the first surgeon in medical history to successfully separate conjoined twins. He led a team of surgeons during a 22-hour procedure on Patrick and Benjamin Binder, eight-month old twins from Ulm, West Germany. Dr. Carson and his team spent months evaluating the twins before agreeing to undertake the very risky surgery — and many more months planning the execution of the procedure once they’d decided.

As a political operative with many decades of campaign experience, I am alarmed at the number of candidates who seek elective office with little thought or planning. They seem to get intoxicated with people whispering “sweet nothings” into their ear about how great a candidate they would be and how they would be a great senator, congressman, etc.

So I would strongly caution Dr. Carson: Tread carefully before deciding to run for president. Most of the people who are telling you to run will refuse to give you money if and when you throw your hat into the ring. They will come up with all types of excuses as to why they are financially unable to give you a contribution, despite all the months of exhorting you to run. Remember, “When all is said and done, there’s more said than done.”

Dr. Carson burst upon the political scene last year at the National Prayer Breakfast, where he made a speech criticizing President Obama’s health plan, with Mr. Obama seated nearby on the same dais from which Dr. Carson spoke. Many conservatives and whites cheered; many liberals and blacks jeered. All of a sudden, Dr. Carson became the “flavor of the month” for conservatives and Fox News. I would strongly remind Ben that this is short-lived, as Jason Riley of the Wall Street Journal is now the new flavor of the month. He, too, will soon be cast aside in turn.

Remember Luke 6:26: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Remember, too, that Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on a donkey to shouts of “Hosanna, Hosanna to the King” — and the very next day these same people shouted, “Crucify him.”

I would hope that Dr. Carson has both blacks and white folks advising him in his deliberations. I am thoroughly embarrassed that most black Republicans and conservatives rarely, if ever, have any “real” blacks around them. They rarely, if ever, have blacks in any positions of authority or power. Let me emphasize that I am not just talking about having blacks who are personal friends; I am referring to blacks who are actually political operatives.

I would warn Dr. Carson: Don’t be another Herman Cain or Sarah Palin. They were both very talented people, but they refused to study the issues deeply enough to be taken seriously as candidates. Talking in “bumper sticker” sound bites does not make you a viable candidate.

When I sign a new client who is a professional athlete, an entertainer or a politician, I help him do what I call a “forensic assessment” of his life to supply me the basis for the strategic plan I then put together on his behalf. Here are a few questions that Dr. Carson should consider before deciding whether to run or not:

In one sentence, why do you want to be president of the U.S.?

What unique skills do you possess that would make you a good president?

What encounters with law enforcement have you ever had in your life?

What encounters with law enforcement have you ever had in your life?

Are there any legally, morally or ethically disqualifying things in your past that the public is unaware of? (Herman Cain should have never run for president with all the issues with women in his past. He allowed his ego to cloud his judgment.)

Finally, what are the top three issues that you will base your campaign on?

In Dr. Carson’s case, I would add a second phase to this assessment. I would strongly encourage Dr. Carson to make his own argument against running for president. In other words, play devil’s advocate with himself. If he can withstand this exercise, then and only then would I encourage him to move forward.

As with a complicated surgery, it takes months of planning just to make a decision to mount a campaign for the presidency; and just as much time to plan the execution of it.

Dr. Carson must begin to lay out his vision for America in very specific details. He will have to convince America that he is not just another Obama — a great life story, a good speaker, but no relevant experience. America doesn’t need another great speech. We need a great vision and someone who can execute it.

Winston Churchill once said: “To every man, there comes a time when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a great and mighty work; unique to him and fitted to his talents; what a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the moment that could be his finest hour.”

Winston Churchill once said: “To every man, there comes a time when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a great and mighty work; unique to him and fitted to his talents; what a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the moment that could be his finest hour.”

EDITORS NOTE: The featured image is courtesy of LifeNews.com.