Carson: The Syrian refugee camps “are really quite nice”
Today on CNN’s State of the Union, republican presidential nominee Dr. Ben Carson, joined anchor, Brianna Keilar to discuss his recent trip to Syria and the Colorado Springs shooting.
For more information, see http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/. Also, text highlights and a transcript of the discussion are below.
MANDATORY CREDIT: CNN’s “State of the Union”
Contacts: Lauren Pratapas — Lauren.Pratapas@turner.com; 202.465.6666; Zachary Lilly – Zachary.Lilly@turner.com
TEXT HIGHLIGHTS
Carson on the Syrian refugee camps: “Yes their desire, their true desire is to be resettled in Syria. But they are satisfied to be in the refugee camps if the refugee camps are adequately funded. Recognize that in these camps they have schools, they have recreational facilities that are really quite nice. And their all kind of things that make life more tolerable. Would it be better to integrate them into society? Yes, and I’ve certainly talked to some people about that. But you have to make progress as you go.”
Carson responds to the Colorado Springs shooting: “It’s certainly is an act of extreme hatred and violence. The family research council according to some government agencies is a terrorist group so let’s get away from the rhetoric and talk about the real problem. The real problem is that we have become coarse and hateful toward each other we’ve allowed the purveyors of division to put us in separate corners and have us hurl hand grenades at each other rather than being able to sit down at a table and talk about our differences. In a pluralistic society everyone isn’t going to agree but the way that we can create harmony is to be able to actually sit down discuss the rational for our approaches and work together at finding a solution that’s what we really should be thinking about.”
FULL TRANSCRIPT
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CNN ANCHOR BRIANNA KEILAR: Dr. Carson you traveled to Syria to Jordan to visit Syrian refugees how was this visit shaped your thinking
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE DR.CARSON: well it was wonderful to have the opportunity to visit some of the camps and talk to the people themselves. First off very impressed with the humanitarian spirits of the Jordanians who’ve been that way for decades but their outreach to the Syrians is very touching. But having an opportunity to talk too many of the Syrian refuges themselves and ask them questions like, what is your supreme desire? And to see how much they want to be resettled in their own country and also what can other nations like the United States to be helpful to you. And the answer that was really overwhelming was that they can support the efforts that are already in place by the Jordanians and others in terms of these refugee camps. They don’t have enough money. You look at last year there was a 3 billion dollar short fall. That’s the same amount of money we spent last month on Halloween candy. So it is possible to sure this up but we really need to look at the things that actually solve the problem. Bringing 10000 refugees to America or 25000 doesn’t even begin to solve the problem there already 1.4 million refugees in Jordan and they can handle even more than that to be honest with you.
(Crosstalk)
BRIANNA: I know that you were speaking to these refugees. Did you ask them if they would rather remain in these refugee camps than in resettled in America? Is that their desire as you understand it?
CARSON: Yes their desire, their true desire is to be resettled in Syria. But they are satisfied to be in the refugee camps if the refugee camps are adequately funded. Recognize that in these camps they have schools, they have recreational facilities that are really quite nice. And their all kind of things that make life more tolerable. Would it be better to integrate them into society? Yes, and I’ve certainly talked to some people about that. But you have to make progress as you go.
BRIANNA: I want to ask you about something were hearing from Tennessee. One of the top lawmakers there actually suggested using the National Guard to round up the refugees who are already settled in the U.S. and send them back. And I wonder given your concern with the screening process if you would favor such a move.
CARSON: I think that may be a little bit extreme. But rather than face situations like that, let’s go ahead and support the efforts and will really take care of millions of people. And why would we increase the complexity of the situation in this country and without solving the problem by bringing people over here that aren’t adequately screened. That doesn’t make a lot of sense.
BRIANNA: we’re seeing in the latest Quinnipiac University poll in Iowa Dr. Carson that you’ve actually slipped 10 percentage points over the last month. That’s what various polls are showing, various q polls. You’ve told the New York Times that you believe you’ve slipped because voters don’t see you as the right person to be president in a time of terrorism. Do you think that this short trip is enough to change the mind of Iowans, Americans and to show that you have a grasp of the challenges that ISIS poses to American security?
CARSON: the trip is about fact finding. About getting an opportunity to see firsthand without having things reinterpreted over something that is really important. It really isn’t about me. It’s about these individuals and what’s happening to them and it’s also about the United States of America and the people of our country and the leadership that these people deserve.
BRIANNA: do you feel that the trip has given you I guess if you can talk about the new facts that you’ve found the trip has given you a better grasp of the challenges ISIS poses.
CARSON: yes, yes I think it really has its very similar to the trip I took the summer to the border of Mexico. And of course wave all heard about the difficulties there but to be able to talk to the ranchers we have been terrorized to be able to talk to the sheriffs and sheriff deputies who put their lives on the line just to have (inaudible) come tell them you have to release these people.
(Crosstalk)
BRIANNA: what informed you on this trip about what ISIS poses to American security?
CARSON: the thing that I really learned in listening to the refugees themselves is their intense desire is to return to their country and repatriated. There’s so many people who think the ideal for everybody is to come to America and be resettled here but that is not the ideal for everybody. And we need to be looking at mechanisms that already exist. Why do you want to recreate the will when you have something that’s working lets maximize that and then let’s think about if we need recreate other wills.
BRIANNA: I do want to turn to the shooting that took place that took place in a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs. Planned Parenthood is calling this an act of domestic terrorism. Do you agree with that assessment?
CARSON: it’s certainly is an act of extreme hatred and violence. The family research council according to some government agencies is a terrorist group so let’s get away from the rhetoric and talk about the real problem. The real problem is that we have become coarse and hateful toward each other we’ve allowed the purveyors of division to put us in separate corners and have us hurl hand grenades at each other rather than being able to sit down at a table and talk about our differences. In a pluralistic society everyone isn’t going to agree but the way that we can create harmony is to be able to actually sit down discuss the rational for our approaches and work together at finding a solution that’s what we really should be thinking about.
BRIANNA: Dr. Ben Carson thanks so much for joining us from Jordan we appreciate it.
CARSON: A pleasure
###END INTERVIEW###