Highland Lakes group rallies for presidential hopeful Ben Carson
Brooks Blanton of Marble Falls organized a roadside rally May 4, the day retired neurosurgeon and Fox News contributor Ben Carson announced he was seeking the Republican nomination for president.
CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Brooks Blanton said he had given up on the GOP shortly after he found himself disagreeing too often with the politics of party leaders.
“I actually left the Republican Party during the second George W. Bush term. I didn’t believe in Romney,” Blanton said. “I didn’t believe in McCain, so I voted Independent.”
When Blanton heard that retired neurosurgeon and Fox News contributor Ben Carson would announce his bid to seek the Republican Party nomination for president in the 2016 election, he changed his mind.
“I’m back,” he said. “They got a candidate I believe in.”
Carson, 63, announced May 4 he is running for the nomination. On that day, Blanton invited the community to a roadside rally to show their support for the candidate. The rally was held in the 1100 block of U.S. 281 just off Main Street.
About a dozen supporters appeared during rush hour, held signs, waved at motorists and talked about their support for the candidate, who has joined the race with a handful of other GOP hopefuls.
Other big names who have announced they are running for president include Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.
Carson, formerly on the staff at Johns Hopkins University, touts a faith-based ideology with appeal among Tea Party affiliates.
In 2008, Carson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.
In 2013, he delivered a controversial and well-publicized speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, where he appeared to challenge the narrative and leadership of President Obama, who was seated a few feet away from Carson at the event.
Carson is also a bestselling author of books including “Gifted Hands,” “America the Beautiful” and “Take the Risk.”
Ben Redler, who lives in the unincorporated area of Timber Ridge in Burnet County, attended the rally to express his support.
“I think he has the basic values this country needs. He’s got a lot of great ideas. He’s not a politician like everyone else,” Redler said. “He believes in faith-based government, the Second Amendment, a balanced budget.”
In a March Gallup Poll, about 36 percent of Republicans surveyed expressed a “favorable” opinion of Carson; however, in the same poll, about 40 percent claimed they were not “familiar” with him.
“It’s getting his name out in front of people and showing people he is a good candidate,” Redler said.
While some political pundits have dismissed Carson because of his lack of political experience, Blanton views him as an underdog and a potential contender.
“He’s more collected, calm and cool, and that’s going to appeal to more people,” Blanton said. “I had read one of his books in the past, and read another one, and he sold me. He has conservative values. He’s kind of like (Ronald) Reagan. He’s conservative about economics, lower taxes, the Constitution and liberty.
“We’re not in very good shape right now,” he added. “(A Carson presidency) is going to be a total 180 from what we’ve had the last eight years.”
To find out more, go to www.runbenrun.org.
connie@thepicayune.com