Carson Responds to Outrage Over ‘Muslim President' Comments

Dr. Ben Carson plans to reach out to members of the Muslim community after his comments on Islam in America sparked a national call for Republican presidential candidate to drop from the race. 

"He did not say that a Muslim should be prevented from running, or barred from running in any way," Carson campaign spokesman Doug Watts said. "He [Carson] just doesn't believe the American people are ready for that."

Responding to a question on MSNBC's "Meet the Press," Carson said: "I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that." 

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement Sunday that Carson should withdraw from the race. "Mr. Carson clearly does not understand or care about the Constitution, which states that 'no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office,'" the group's national executive director, Nihad Awad, said.

The retired neurosurgeon also said that Islam, as a religion, is incompatible with the Constitution.

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