A Case for and a Case against each GOP Presidential Candidate: Ben Carson

     Ben Carson's outsider approach to the Presidency started off well. His rise in the polls created a feeling of optimism and possibility for his campaign. After the Paris attacks, however, his lack of experience in foreign policy and strong leadership skills became a glaring issue, and he fell drastically in the polls. As he barely hangs on now, drifting between fourth and fifth in popularity, his chance at the Presidency is all but gone. Here are his pros and cons.    

     Case For: Many people believe Ben Carson's greatest attribute is his honesty and integrity. He has gained a reputation for being an honest and morally upright man who has spent his life helping and saving others. He also has a common sense, gentle approach on many issues and doesn't complicate them like other politicians. His early rise in the polls showed how many people related to him. Unlike the other outsider, Donald Trump, Carson took the high road many times during debates and tried to keep his campaign clean.
     Case Against: Ben Carson's lack of experience in the political field has served as a disadvantage for his campaign. His understanding on current issues is far below that of his fellow candidates. Two of Carson's advisers even said that he is in over his head in foreign policy. When pressed, he could not name one of our allies helping in the fight against ISIS. He also claimed that China was involved in Syria; a claim that has no evidence.
     Most of the other GOP candidates all have a deep understanding of how the political system works, while Carson most likely had very little knowledge on the subject before he began running. He also does not have the preferred dynamic persona of Commander in Chief. Many fear he would give America a weak and naive form of foreign policy.
     Ben Carson's assertion of humble integrity was challenged when his claim of a full-ride West Point scholarship was proven to be a lie. He also exaggerated accounts of surgeries that were less-than successful in his autobiography. Followers and prospective followers need to consider that if one's greatest attributes are his honesty and integrity, and then he is proven to have been deceitful, his reputation and campaign are at stake and rightly so.
     Summary: Ben Carson's rise and fall in the polls have echoed my thoughts about him. He started off strong, but global and national issues revealed his lack of experience in multiple fields. Ben Carson is not the right choice for President. Many of the American people have come to this conclusion; it's about time he did as well.