Presidential hopeful Ben Carson said he would not advocate for a Muslim to become president. Photo: Facebook.

JNS.org – Dr. Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon and Republican presidential candidate, was blasted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for his remark that he “would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation.”

“Dr. Ben Carson’s statement that a Muslim American should not serve as president is deeply offensive, un-American and contrary to the Constitution,” ADL National Director Jonathan A. Greenblatt said in a statement. “There is no religious litmus test for candidates seeking political office, and that includes the highest office in the land.”

Greenblatt continued, “The U.S. Constitution makes clear that any American citizen can run for president provided that he or she is a natural born citizen, age 35 or older, and resided for at least 14 years within the U.S….Dr. Carson’s statement directly contradicts the Constitution and the values embodied in it. In America, personal characteristics—whether race, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion—should have no bearing on person’s ability to serve. Rather, fitness to serve should be based on the individual’s merit: intellect, ethics, experience, and achievements….Whether directed against Jews, Muslims or others, such baseless comments breed hate and have no place in a presidential campaign or in public discourse.”