Chait: Carson Might Just Be A Profiteering Scam Artist
Jonathan Chait makes the case that Ben Carson isn’t really running for president.
Click here for reuse options!the notion that Carson could be president is preposterous. The problem is not only that he has never run for elected office. He has never managed a large organization; he has not worked in and around public policy, and he lacks a competent grasp of issues. His stance on health care, the closest thing to an issue with which his professional experience has brought him into contact, is gibberish. He mostly thrills audiences by scoffing at evolution and insisting Muslims be barred from the presidency, stances he cannot even defend coherently…
It is also possible that Carson is being manipulated by staffers who stand to profit off their association with him. But the most likely explanation for his behavior is that Carson himself is in this thing to make a lot of money.
Carson is doing a lot of things that seem puzzling for a presidential campaign, but quite logical for a brand-building exercise. He is taking weeks off the campaign trail to go on a book tour. His campaign itself is structured much more like a scamming venture than a political one. An astronomical 69 percent of his fund-raising totals are spent on more fund-raising. (Bernie Sanders, by contrast, spends just 4 percent of his intake on fund-raising.) In addition to direct mail, Carson seems to have undertaken a massive phone-spamming operation. Spending most of your money to raise more money is not a good way to get elected president, but it is a good way to build a massive list of supporters that can later be monetized. Perhaps it is a giveaway that the official title for Armstrong Williams, the figure running the Carson “campaign,” is “business manager,” as opposed to “campaign manager.” It does suggests that Carson is engaged in a for-profit venture.
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
16 responses to Chait: Carson Might Just Be A Profiteering Scam Artist
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Obewon November 4th, 2015 at 09:25
Birther Ben certainly grifts like a flim-flam scam man having a “0% True & 0% Half-true” rating. An astronomical 69% of his fund-raising totals are spent on more fund-raising. (Bernie Sanders, by contrast, spends just 4% of his intake on fund-raising.) In addition to direct mail, Carson seems to have undertaken a massive phone-spamming operation.
$31.3 M grifted
Disbursements $20,002,458 spent on spam.
Cash On Hand $11,272,534
Size of Contributions $200 and Under $23,480,909
Not so smart money $2000 and Over $2,209,489 http://www.fec.gov/disclosurep/pnational.do
rg9rts November 4th, 2015 at 10:37
Look above
Tommie November 4th, 2015 at 09:33
Gotta sell those books!
Leslie Foster November 4th, 2015 at 10:31
rg9rts November 4th, 2015 at 10:37
OOOOBBBBIEREEWWWWOOOONNN
whatthe46 November 4th, 2015 at 11:04
you are cracking me up the way you are attempting to get the attention of the mods.
Linda McLaren November 5th, 2015 at 07:25
Larry Schmitt November 4th, 2015 at 09:49
Serious candidates give concrete answers to policy questions. Carson mumbles something about god, and tRump just yells louder and calls everyone dumb.
Warman1138 November 4th, 2015 at 10:34
He probably gets to write himself checks for his time spent campaigning, travel, food and other expenses.
Dwendt44 November 4th, 2015 at 11:35
Not to mention as a consultant.
rg9rts November 4th, 2015 at 10:36
I’m leaning that he is suffering from some form of dementia…Like St Ronnie…that will come out over time
whatthe46 November 4th, 2015 at 11:04
well, we already know it. he keeps forgetting he has it.
Suzanne McFly November 4th, 2015 at 10:40
It is a good hint that its not about running for the Presidency when he is doing book signings.
robert November 4th, 2015 at 10:55
a bible thumper with aspirations to be a profiteer ?
No way
bushputz November 4th, 2015 at 18:55
“might be”?
fahvel November 5th, 2015 at 02:38
carson may be a neophyte but what have the professional politicians anywhere done?