Ben Carson Explains Why He Won’t Drop Out: ‘Remember the Story of the Tortoise and the Hare?’
As someone whose job requires constant monitoring of cable news, I’m in a good position to notice trends across all of the major channels. Lately, the biggest trend has become reporters and anchors straight-up asking Ben Carson why he hasn’t dropped out of the presidential race yet like so many before him have.
Carson has been pretty diplomatic through this in spite of his poll numbers, which have been low for months. Today, he appeared remotely on Fox & Friends and faced the questioning of Anna Kooiman, Steve Doocy, and Brian Kilmeade.
They played video of a speech given by Carson recently. In it, he can be seen pointing out that he has remained in the race as 11 others have dropped out, so he clearly is not going to give up now.
He told the hosts, “There’s a reason we have a process like this. If we’re going to call it after three or four primaries and caucuses, why don’t we just change the system and say we’re just going to do it for three or four states and that’ll be it? Doesn’t make any sense, really!”
Then, he asked if they were familiar with the tale of the tortoise and the hare, insisting, “If you give up on the tortoise too early, you’re only going to have a hare who is exhausted and not very effective.”
It’s worth noting that the trend I mentioned isn’t just the anchors being spiteful. Rather, it is a reflection of viewers’ questions.
@foxandfriends @FoxNews Why is he staying a race he’s not winning and not helping others by dropping out?
— Spencer Scott (@IslandDog) February 23, 2016
@foxandfriends @RealBenCarson why are you still in? Book sales?
— scot (@scotsinnen) February 23, 2016
@foxandfriends When will he do the patriotic thing and end his campaign instead of the personal thing for his personal gain.
— Butforthe (@butforthe) February 23, 2016
[image via screengrab]
For more from Lindsey, follow her on Twitter.
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com
