Famed neurosurgeon Ben Carson said Wednesday that he would no longer be talking about gay marriage because, in his view, he was taken out of context by "liberal press" when he claimed that prisons prove that being gay isn't a choice.
“First of all, it was a 25-minute interview, they chopped -- and you see what part they emphasized. We talked about some really important things, none of that was brought up. But, I did learn something very important, for certain networks, never do a pre-taped interview," he said on the Sean Hannity radio show.
The likely 2016 presidential contender said in an interview with CNN that being gay was a choice "because a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight -- and when they come out, they're gay. So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question."
Carson later apologized, stating that he did "not pretend to know how every individual came to their sexual orientation."
In his interview with Hannity, Carson said that he believed that the Constitution protected all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation, but that marriage ought to be defined as a union between a man and a woman. He then took the issue of gay rights off the table entirely.
“I simply have decided, that I’m not going to really talk about that issue anymore because every time I’m gaining momentum, the liberal press says ‘let’s talk about gay rights.’ And I’m just not going to fall for that anymore," he said.
Carson's remarks follow his formation of an exploratory committee to raise funds ahead of a potential White House bid.
Listen to Carson's interview above.
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