Republican presidential aspirant Ben Carson on Sunday took on two controversial topics, which he said should both be considered illegal: abortion and slavery.
In an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," the retired neurosurgeon even went to the extent of comparing abortion 'in all forms and regardless of circumstances' to slavery, in the sense that the killing of unborn children should also be banned just like slavery.
Carson also explained that in dealing with the issue of abortion, one should look at earlier perceptions on slavery: it was once considered acceptable, and it took years for this mindset to be reversed.
"Think about this. During slavery—and I know that's one of those words you're not supposed to say, but I'm saying it—during slavery, a lot of the slave owners thought that they had the right to do whatever they wanted to that slave. Anything that they chose to do," Carson said, as quoted by CNN.
"And, you know, what if the abolitionist had said, you know, 'I don't believe in slavery. I think it's wrong. But you guys do whatever you want to do? Where would we be?" he added.
The Republican presidential hopeful further said that he wants to see the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade overturned, noting that this was the ruling that made it difficult for state and federal authorities to impose restrictions on abortion in the United States.
Carson, who is neck-to-neck with front-runner Donald Trump in various pre-election popularity surveys, said he opposes abortions in all forms and regardless of circumstances, including those involving pregnant women who were raped.
NBC host Chuck Todd further pressed Carson on his stand on abortion by asking this question: "Whose right, I guess, should be superseded? The mother or the unborn child? Whose right, who has greater rights?"
To this, Carson replied: "In the ideal situation, the mother should not believe that the baby is her enemy and should not be looking to terminate the baby. You know, things are set up in such a way that the person in the world who has the greatest interest in protecting the baby is the mother."
"We've allowed the purveyors of the vision to make mothers think that that baby is their enemy and that they have a right to kill it. Can you see how perverted that line of thinking is?" the retired neurosurgeon added.
'Seeking presidency is God's plan for me'
In a separate interview, Carson said he had to forego of retirement and decided to seek the American presidency, believing that it is God's plan for him.
"Well, I must admit that Candy [Carson] and I were really looking forward to retirement, and we bought a beautiful home in Florida on a country club on a 17-hole [golf course]. I bought an organ, I was going to learn how to play the organ, and read all those books you never read, and see all those movies, and not have to set the alarm clock," Carson said in a recent appearance on Daystar Television's "Marcus and Joni" programme.
"But you know, sometimes the Lord has a plan that is different for us," he continued, as quoted by The Gospel Herald.
