Ben Carson Imagines His Debate Opponents as ‘Cute Little Babies’
Ben Carson Imagines His Debate Opponents as ‘Cute Little Babies’
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Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson speaks to reporters in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, before the first Republican presidential debate.Andrew Harnik—AP
As a neurosurgeon, Ben Carson was famous for his steady hands. As a Republican presidential candidate, he’s developed a reputation for a calm and steady demeanor, even during televised debates.
An aide told TIME that staying calm and refusing to attack his opponents has been a deliberate strategy of the campaign since the beginning of his campaign.
But as it turns out, Carson has a trick up his sleeve.
During a wide-ranging interview with TIME in Nantucket at the end of September, Carson revealed his trick for maintaining a smile and an almost sleepy demeanor even while standing next to Donald Trump.
“I’ve learned that I don’t mind being attacked,” Carson said. “It doesn’t bother me at all. … I just kind of look at them and I say, can you imagine that used to be a cute little baby? I wonder what happened to that?”
Then Carson laughed, no doubt picturing a certain 13 little babies.
See Ben Carson's Life in Photos
An early childhood photograph of Ben Carson.Courtesy of Ben Carson CampaignBen Carson's graduation from Southwestern High School, Detroit circa 1969.Courtesy of Ben Carson CampaignBen Carson with his mother, Sonya, and his future wife, Candy after his graduation from Yale University, circa 1973. Courtesy of Ben Carson CampaignDr. Donlin Long, director of neurosurgery, left, and Dr. Ben Carson director of pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital, with brain model of the Siamese twins separated in a 22-hour surgery at Hopkins, Sept. 7, 1987, in Baltimore.Fred Kraft—APDr. Ben Carson shares his personal story with middle school students on March 17, 2000 in Roswell, N.M.Aaron J. Walker—APDr Dennis Rohner, Dr Beat Hammer, Dr Ivan Ng, Dr Ben
Carson, Prof. Walter Tan, and Dr Keith Goh rehearse an operation to
separate conjoined twins Ladan and Laleh Bijani from Iran at Raffles
Hospital on July 5, 2003 in Singapore.ReutersDr. Keith Goh (left) adjusts the frame on conjoined twins Ladan and Laleh Bijani as Dr. Ben Carson observes the start of neurosurgery proceedings at the Raffles Hospital on July 6, 2003 in Singapore. Getty ImagesTen-year-old Indian twins Sabah and Farah sit beside Ben Carson (C), Managing Director, Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, Anne Marie Moncure, their father Shakeel (L), their brother (R) and senior child specialist of Apollo Hospital, Dr. Anupan Sibal, on Oct. 4, 2005 in New Delhi.Raveendran—AFP/Getty ImagesGeorge W. Bush presents a Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ben Carson for his work with neurological disorders on June 19, 2008 at the White House in Washington.Alex Wong—Getty ImagesBen Carson officially announces his candidacy for President of the United States on May 4, 2015 in Detroit.Bill Pugliano—Getty ImagesBen Carson poses for a photo during the Iowa Republican Party's Lincoln Dinner on May 16, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa.Charlie Neibergall—APBen Carson speaks during the Energizing America Gala at the 2015 Southern Republican Leadership Conference May 22, 2015 in Oklahoma City, Okla.Alex Wong—Getty ImagesBen Carson at a political fund-raiser for GOP candidates on June 6, 2015, in Boone, Iowa. Jabin Bostford—The Washington Post/Getty ImagesRepublican presidential candidates from left, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Scott Walker, Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and John Kasich take the stage for the first Republican presidential debate on Aug. 6, 2015, in Cleveland. Andrew Harnik—APBen Carson prays during church services at Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church on Aug. 16, 2015 in Des Moines , Iowa. Justin Sullivan—Getty ImagesBen Carson rides the Sky Glider with a reporter while touring the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 16, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa.Justin Sullivan—Getty ImagesBen Carson and his wife Candy on Aug. 18, 2015 in Phoenix.Ross D. Franklin—APBen Carson is greeted by supporters at a rally on Aug. 27, 2015 in Little Rock, Ark.Danny Johnston—APBen Carson at a service at Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church on Aug. 16, 2015 in Des Moines.Daniel Acker—Bloomberg/Getty Images
