Ben Carson at NRB: Planned Parenthood Leaders 'Should be in Prison'
Republican presidential hopeful Dr. Ben Carson said at an evangelical Christian media gathering that Planned Parenthood leadership should be imprisoned for their harvesting of aborted baby body parts.
At the National Religious Broadcasters "Proclaim 16" convention in Nashville, Tennessee last week, the retired neurosurgeon stated that he believes Planned Parenthood "should be defunded and should be dismantled."
"What they did with selling of body parts and dismembering fetuses I believe is criminal activity," commented Carson, with the audience applauding in response.
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"I believe those people should be in prison and we should be doing everything we can to make sure that we don't encourage that."
Carson also told those gathered at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center that if elected president he would select judicial appointees "who believe in life, not people who believe in death."
"And the way that you find that out is by looking at their lives," continued Carson, referencing the Bible verse about judging people by the fruits of their labors. "You look at all the fruit that they have borne."
The annual NRB convention boasted about 200 Christian media outlets and numerous notable speakers.
As part of the event, Carson spoke for several minutes and then had a question and answer segment that included author and radio host Eric Metaxas as the moderator.
Those asking questions included Metaxas, as well as conservative columnist Star Parker and NumbersUSA President Roy Beck.
In addition to Carson, other speakers at the multiday NRB event included Media Research Center President Brent Bozell, actress and producer Roma Downey, Hobby Lobby President Steve Green, Answers in Genesis President Ken Ham, Fox News social commentator Judge Jeannie Pirro, and former Iraqi-based Anglican clergyman Canon Andrew White.
Carson was not the only presidential candidate present, as U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz also gave remarks at the evangelical gathering.
Carson is one of five remaining candidates in the once-crowded Republican primary field and in polling data is placed well below front runner Donald Trump and other hopefuls including Cruz and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.
When Metaxas asked Carson why he was still in the race given how far behind he was, Carson responded that he has "millions of people" telling him "not to drop out."
"Two days ago we had our largest fundraising 24-hour period since the campaign began, so the people are saying stay in there," said Carson.
"I would not have run had it not been for the people. But the same people who told me not to run are the people who are saying 'get out.' And the people who said do run are the one who are saying 'stay there.'"
