Finally someone came forward and said it loud and clear. Jonathan Chait of New York Magazine has stepped forward to call out Ben Carson and his ludicrous, self-interested "presidential" campaign.
But now Carson actually is running for president. Or is he? It is hard to tell. Conservative politics are so closely intermingled with a lucrative entertainment complex that it is frequently impossible to distinguish between a political project (that is, something designed to result in policy change) and a money-making venture. Declaring yourself a presidential candidate gives you access to millions of dollars' worth of free media attention that can build a valuable brand. So the mere fact that Carson calls himself a presidential candidate does not prove he is actually running for president rather than taking advantage of the opportunity to build his brand. Indeed, it is possible to be actually leading the polls without seriously trying to win the presidency.
And 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.
Truly, there is nothing to add to Chait's assessment. Carson is a major-league grifter, trying to fob himself off as a serious contender for the highest office in the land. That he is ahead in many polls is a reflection on the pitiable state of the Republican party, eager to let themselves be played by a world-class phony.
And truly, once you read Chait's article there is nothing more to say.
UPDATE:Talkingpointsmemo has picked up the scent of grifter.
There is a lot of evidence, coming from a variety of angles, that Carson for President is actually a direct mail scam. Or at least that it started that way.