November 06, 2015 11:44 AM UTC

Is Ben Carson Hosed?

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• by: Colorado Pols

The big story in the 2016 Republican presidential primary hunt today is an apparent major “factual error” (euphemism for “load of bullshit”) in the bio of Ben Carson, the retired Detroit neurosurgeon who recently overtook Donald Trump in national polls. Politico:

Ben Carson’s campaign on Friday admitted, in a response to an inquiry from POLITICO, that a central point in his inspirational personal story was fabricated: his application and acceptance into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The academy has occupied a central place in Carson’s tale for years. According to a story told in Carson’s book, “Gifted Hands,” the then-17 year old was introduced in 1969 to Gen. William Westmoreland, who had just ended his command of U.S. forces in Vietnam, and the two dined together. That meeting, according to Carson’s telling, was followed by a “full scholarship” to the military academy.

West Point, however, has no record of Carson applying, much less being extended admission.

“In 1969, those who would have completed the entire process would have received their acceptance letters from the Army Adjutant General,” said Theresa Brinkerhoff, a spokeswoman for the academy. She said West Point has no records that indicate Carson even began the application process. “If he chose to pursue (the application process), then we would have records indicating such,” she said.

When presented with these facts, Carson’s campaign conceded the story was false.

Needless to say, it’s a huge problem for Carson to have lied about this, and the real question is how much damage this will do in a presidential race so far dominated by the bombastic and often factually-challenged Trump. Carson has paid considerable attention to Colorado Republican caucusgoers/primary voters in recent months, and has been rewarded with support–even being called “Christ-like” in his oratorical style by a local conservative. In August, Carson drew a large crowd to a park in Durango to vilify the Environmental Protection Agency in the aftermath of the Animas River minewater spill.

What say you, Polsters? Has Carson cooked his own goose with this not-so-little embellishment, or might GOP primary voters be willing to overlook it to keep a Trump alternative in contention?

Don’t worry, your anonymity is safe with us. So speak your mind, Carson won’t be able to shank you.