Politico made GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson the media’s target yesterday when it published a piece alleging that Carson admitted to fabricating a scholarship to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Politico eventually appended a lengthy editor’s note to its scoop, but not before sparking a feeding frenzy among journalists.
On Saturday, though, The Guardian had a shiny new object to distract from the West Point scandal — a photo gallery of the interior of Carson’s home. The Guardian’s heading suggested that Carson’s ego was larger than Donald Trump’s, and that the decor in his home was “an homage to himself – in pictures.” It’s no surprise that a portrait of Carson with Jesus was featured prominently in the paper’s coverage.
Ben Carson: inside the worldview of a political conundrum https://t.co/z26Musw6ec pic.twitter.com/fIBbgkM2gj
— The Guardian (@guardian) November 7, 2015
Numerous profiles of Trump in the last four months have noted his “me-wall”, his in-office shrine to himself. In Carson’s Maryland home, the “me-wall” was a “me-basement”, the walls covered with plaques. Upstairs, Carson’s Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, had pride of place near the front door. A painting of Carson in a surgeon’s coat hung over a mantle where a misspelled Bible verse was engraved. On another wall was a painting of Carson with Jesus Christ – his hand on Carson’s shoulder.
Carson believes in God. But he also believes in himself.
What sort of politician believes in himself? We’re reminded of Carson’s victory speech, at which he said his nomination was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal. No, wait … that was someone else.
The Guardian laughs at Carson's "wall of fame." Fools fail to realize it hides the secret entrance to his Bat Cave. pic.twitter.com/pljuIfkgXt
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) November 7, 2015
If only they were Oscars or Grammy Awards or something important, they’d have to mop the reporter’s drool off the floor.
@guardian Creepy……just SO creepy.
— Barb Dignan (@barbdignan) November 7, 2015
@bcuban @DennisG_Shea Not only does Carson have way too many of himself…the one where he's with Jesus is bizarre, IMO.
— Laura McGinnis (@TxsleuthUSA) November 7, 2015
@JamesFallows Is Carson claiming he posed for portrait with Jesus and was painted by Da Vinci?
— Brock Avery (@CosmicBrock) November 7, 2015
https://twitter.com/campbell_kang/status/663137077945470976
@guardian What can 1say this picture was "approved by God"???No humility there @BenCarson3 sits on right-hand side of God #We R mere mortals
— JusPlainTalk101 (@JusPlainTalk101) November 7, 2015
https://twitter.com/prodigal_punk/status/663135908565135360
#Carson in a painting w Jesus is very disturbing. God complex on a whole new level.
— Peggy Jags (@peggyjags) November 7, 2015
https://twitter.com/cardiactissue/status/663129655541522432
Question everyone is afraid to ask is whether Jesus has a portrait of Ben Carson in his house.
I blame the liberal mainstream media.
— John Macintosh (@jamacintosh) November 7, 2015
Ben Carson and "Klingon Jesus" in Bathrobes from Trump Towers. https://t.co/tKiH2dA2Zu
— Ginger Mcfall Air Force Vet-Helicopters (@GingerMcFall) November 7, 2015
I thought for sure that the Carson/Jesus portrait was self painted.
— Scott Gordon #Resist (@scottrgordon) November 7, 2015
That painting of Ben Carson and Jesus – he's got to be trolling, right?
— matt vidal (@ChukkerV) November 7, 2015
https://twitter.com/ChrisMayhugh20/status/663114729368510468
.@RealBenCarson has some major self-esteem issues. Imagine electing a weirdo who has paintings of himself with Jesus https://t.co/qy4KzLZI5X
— Tommy Lee Edwards (@tommyleeedwards) November 7, 2015
Ironically, it may be Black Jesus that finally takes Ben Carson down with the GOP supporters.
— Karen Hunter (@karenhunter) November 7, 2015
That would explain why he still shares front-runner status with Donald Trump; the Black Jesus portrait hasn’t gone sufficiently viral yet.
One question: The first picture in The Guardian’s gallery is of “Ben Carson inside his home in Upperco, Maryland, in November 2014. All Photographs by Mark Makela.” So are the rest of these photos from a second visit to Carson’s home, or has The Guardian been sitting on all of these pictures for a full year?
In either case, we think this theory carries the most weight.
Maybe Ben Carson's mom painted the Ben-n-Jesus painting, and he has to display it prominently in case she visits…?
— brx0 ??? (@brx0) November 7, 2015
Or maybe it’s not Jesus at all.
Guys are we sure the Ben Carson portrait is with Jesus & not a 1980s-era Chuck Norris? Because that would be awesome pic.twitter.com/yxRaRvAecx
— Sarah Rumpf (@rumpfshaker) November 7, 2015
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