SPLC’s Ben Carson on their Extremist File List

SPLC’s Ben Carson Blunder Resurfaces

The Southern Poverty Law Center’s old decision to place Dr. Ben Carson on its “Extremist File” is back in the spotlight. The move, made in 2014, sparked a wave of criticism at the time and still stands out as one of the group’s most controversial calls.

Carson was not some fringe political agitator. He was a widely known pediatric neurosurgeon with a long medical career and a strong public reputation. That is part of why the label hit so many people the wrong way. To a lot of observers, calling him an extremist seemed wildly out of step with reality.

After the backlash grew, the SPLC pulled the profile down. It also issued an apology and said the entry did not meet its standards. The group said it had reviewed the file and decided it should not have been posted.

Even so, it still suggested that Carson’s views should be watched closely.

Read about Ben...