Ben Carson Cancels Johns Hopkins Speech

Blaming the controversy on “political correctness,” Tea Party hero Ben Carson has canceled his commencement address at his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University. Last week Carson made a “sincere” apology after a Fox News appearance in which he compared gay people to pedophiles and animal-fuckers.

“Given all the national media surrounding my statements as to my belief in traditional marriage, I believe it would be in the best interests of the students for me to voluntarily withdraw as your commencement speaker this year,” he said in an email sent Wednesday to Paul Rothman, the dean of the medical faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins medicine. “My presence is likely to distract from the true celebratory nature of the day. Someday in the future, it is my hope and prayer that the emphasis on political correctness will decrease and we will start emphasizing rational discussion of differences so we can actually resolve problems and chart a course that is inclusive of everyone.”