Ben Carson addresses San Joaquin Community Hospital physicians
By Steve Levin, The Bakersfield Californian | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Sunday night nearly 300 attended to hear celebrated pediatric neurosurgeon, best-selling author, Presidential Medal of
In an hour-long talk at the
He spoke against political correctness, the "left wing media" and the Affordable Care Act, dropped names --
When asked during a brief question-and-answer session following his talk if he were running for president, Carson, 63, said "I'm still assessing the situation.
"This is not my desire but I do see my life being directed that way. If that is the direction God wants me to go, I'd be willing to put off my retirement."
Carson normally charges a minimum of
A hospital spokeswoman said Carson agreed to speak for "substantially less" than his normal fee.
Plus, he's a Seventh-day Adventist, and the hospital is part of
It's the first time the physician's group has had an outside speaker, Duffield said. The speaking fee was partially paid for through medical staff dues, he said.
"It's nice that as an Adventist hospital we have the chance to have an Adventist physician who's outspoken..." Duffield said.
Carson's story is stirring. He grew up in poverty in
What followed were
Dozens of physicians Sunday night waited in line for a chance to have him autograph copies of his latest book, "One Nation," while hors d'oeuvres were served by white gloved staff.
Medicine, he told the physicians, is "intervening in the lives of people.
"You can play a role in helping preserve a life that God has seen fit to place on earth."
But the current medical system, he said, needs to be changed "to focus more on wellness than sickness."
Carson is not without controversy. In
Carson said he visits "four or five states" each week. A political action group for him has raised more than
The audience was attentive throughout, whether Carson spoke about energy development and America's potential to put
And the end of his talk he invoked the Ten Commandments and warned that the country was "giving away all the values and principles that made us a great nation.
"We must stop giving away our values."
He received a standing ovation when he finished.
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